The NFL Foundation Grassroots Program is a partnership of the National Football League Foundation (NFL Foundation) and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to provide non-profit, neighborhood-based organizations, middle schools and high schools with financing and technical assistance to improve the quality, safety, and accessibility of local football fields.
Donor Name: NFL Foundation
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 03/30/2026
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Strong preference will be given to those proposals that (1) seek to upgrade existing facilities that are in poor condition or otherwise underutilized; (2) demonstrate active use of the fields; (3) attract matching funding that exceeds the minimum required match of 1:1; (4) involve local partnerships with nonprofit community partners (e.g., USA Football, Parks and Recreation Departments, YMCA branches, etc.) to promote youth sports safety and community programming on the fields; (5) provide for continuing maintenance and field safety; and (6) involve youth football programs that are currently registered and compliant with USA Football’s Football Development Model education program.
Objectives
- Athletic fields can serve as tremendous community assets by offering opportunities for recreation, education, and relaxation that contribute to the local quality of life. The NFL Foundation Grassroots Program seeks to redress the shortage of clean, safe, and accessible football fields in low and moderate-income neighborhoods.
- Nonprofit neighborhood-based organizations can play a leading role in the improvement of existing or creation of new athletic playing fields. With experience in both real estate development and community building, many of these organizations possess the capacity to address both the capital aspects of playing fields’ development and the program elements(i.e., youth football leagues, sports tournaments, science fairs, summer festivals, community celebrations, and after-school events). Equally important to this experience, neighborhood-based organizations have connections to their community that legitimize their operations and draw resident support for their work. If local residents have a sense of ownership and see themselves as stakeholders in the creation and maintenance of playing fields, these community assets are more likely to be protected and preserved for long-term use. The NFL Foundation Grassroots Program is intended not only to respond to the immediate shortage of playing fields, but also to build an infrastructure through partnerships and resident involvement that will sustain these open spaces for community use.
- To incorporate and improve health and safety on community football fields, the NFL Foundation Grassroots Program collaborates with USA Football, the governing body of American football in the United States, the sole U.S. member of the International Federation of American Football, and a recognized sports organization of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Its nonprofit mission includes designing and delivering premier educational, development, and competitive programs for American football. USA Football partners with leaders in medicine, child advocacy, and athletics to support positive football experiences for youth, high school, and other amateur players. USA Football’s mission is to grow, unify and advance America’s favorite sport.
Funding Information
There are two levels of funding available: 1) general field support (e.g., irrigation, bleachers, lights, etc.); and 2) field surface grants.
- General Field Support: applicants may submit requests of up to $50,000 for capital projects not associated with the actual field surface. This support includes the installation/refurbishment of bleachers, concession stands, lights, irrigation systems, etc.
- Field Surface Grants: Matching grants of up to $250,000 are available to help finance the resurfacing of a community, middle school, or high school football field. Matching grants of up to $250,000 will be available to applicants seeking to install new synthetic sports turf surfaces. The ability of these new surfaces to withstand constant use and require little ongoing maintenance costs makes this an attractive option for communities, schools, and youth groups to consider.
A smaller number of matching grants of up to $100,000 will be available to help finance the resurfacing of a community, middle school or high school football field utilizing natural grass/ sod surfaces
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the NFL Foundation Grassroots Program, organizations applying for grant funds must meet all the criteria listed below:
- Be a community-based organization, middle school or high school serving a neighborhood consisting primarily of low and moderate-income families and individuals. Please note:
- Schools must demonstrate the ability of the community to also utilize the field.
- Universities and college campuses are not eligible to apply for NFL Foundation
- Grassroots grants and will not be considered for funding.
- Have at least one-full time staff (all-volunteer organizations will not be considered)
- Be in existence for at least three years.
- Have a proven track record in real estate development and/or parks programming.
- Have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status/school status; and
For more information, visit LISC.
