Apply for Grants
The USTA Florida Section Foundation grants are designed to provide funding to organizations and entities who are working to promote tennis in their communities. Tennis is a wonderful way to stay active and healthy, and it’s also a sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. With these grant offerings, we hope to encourage more people to play tennis by supporting programs that provide coaching, equipment, and other resources.
To be eligible for the grants, applicants must be involved in a tennis program that is open to the public and serves the community. This can include programs for children, adults, seniors, or any combination of these groups. We are particularly interested in programs that promote diversity and inclusion, and that help break down barriers to participation in tennis.
The grant will provide funding for a range of activities, including coaching and instruction, equipment and supplies, and outreach and promotion. We believe that these activities are essential to building a strong and vibrant tennis community in Florida, and we’re excited to support the efforts of those who are working to make tennis more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Since 2005, USTA Florida Section Foundation has had a community impact of over $2,000,000 by assisting community tennis associations, parks and recreation agencies, national junior tennis and learning locations, tennis clubs, service organizations, schools, colleges, and many other tennis entities.
If you are interested in applying for program support, equipment, and/or wheelchair grants and have questions please visit our website for more information, FAQs, instructions on how to apply, and application forms.
New this year for a single program, you can now apply for program support, equipment, and/or wheelchair grants with a single application submission! No need to submit multiple applications for a single program. Separate submission are still required for multiple programs and programs in different locations.
Grants Offerings
Equipment Grants
Tennis program providers may apply for Equipment Grants for their youth tennis, Masters Tennis, and adaptive and wheelchair programs.
Program Support Grants
Charitable nonprofit organizations or government agencies may apply for our Program Support Grants.
Wheelchair Grants
Charitable nonprofit organizations or government agencies may apply for our Wheelchair Grants.
How To Apply
The USTA Florida Section Foundation utilizes online grants management system, Submittable. All stages of our grant process will be submitted online. Grantees will have the ability to draft, save, and submit online as well as upload documents and reports, such as budgets and financial information. Below you will find the steps to our process along with other helpful information.
1. Create An Account
All applicants are required to create an account. At the time of registration, you are required to enter the following information:
- Email address
- Create password
2. Starting An Application
Once an account has been created, you will select the 2024 Grants – Program Support/Equipment/Wheelchair application by clicking the Submit button. Note that this year the application for all grant types has been reduced to one single application per program and/or location of an applying organization.
At the time of submission, you are required to enter and provide the following information:
- The organization’s EIN Number
- If working with Youth, SafePlay Certificates for each staff member. Find out more at USTA.com/SafePlay.
- Copies of your evaluation tools.
- IRS Letter of Determination of Tax Status
- IRS Form 990 or applicable tax documents
- W9
- Current list of officers and members of the Board of Directors
- Organizational operating budget
- Budget information.
- If you are applying for an Equipment Grant, please complete the Equipment Order Form in advance to include with your application. Click here to download the form
Once you begin, you will be prompted to enter your organization’s EIN number. If you do not see your organization, you will have the option to skip this step.
3. Grant Requirements
- Must be a charitable nonprofit organization as designated by the IRS or be a government entity (schools, parks & recreation sites)
- Must be a USTA Organizational Member in good standing. Please visit Membership.USTA.com
- Have a broad base of community support and meet a compelling need in the community
- Align with the Foundation’s focus on youth tennis and tennis for adaptive populations of all ages
- If working with Youth, must be SafePlay approved. Please visit USTA.com/SafePlay to get approved today!
4. Grant Cycle
Step 1: Submission
Applicants interested in securing grant funding for a eligible tennis program will start by completing and submitting an application through our grant management system, Submittable, following the steps provided above.
Step 2: Review
During this stage of the process, we may contact you with questions we may have about your submission or if we need any additional information to complete your submission. Once an application is deemed complete, we will internally review your application and send to the next review stage or next stage in the grant cycle depending on the grant type. For Program Support and Wheelchair grant submissions, applications are reviewed by the USTA Florida Section Foundation Board before moving to the next grant cycle stage.
Step 3: Decision
For Program Support and Wheelchair grants, all final funding decisions are made by the USTA Florida Section Foundation’s Board of Directors. You be notified by e-mail through our grant management system of the Board’s decision and follow-up steps needed.
Step 4: Reporting
We always look forward to hearing from you about the effectiveness of the grant(s) awarded. When your program has ended you will receive an e-mail from your grant management system asking you to complete your end of program Accountability Report. All reports are due within 30 days from the completion of your program. A guide is provided on how to complete your Accountability Report. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Additional Funding Opportunities
USTA Grant Funding Opportunities
The USTA offers a variety of grants and scholarships to help grow the game of tennis in many ways. A complete listing with details is posted here. For additional information, please email grants@usta.com for further information and questions.
Available Assistance Through USTA:
- Diversity Grants
- USTA Wheelchair Tennis Grassroots Grants
All questions specific to diversity grants or adaptive and wheelchair tennis program and should be directed to William Speed.
USTA Foundation Grant Opportunities
In addition, USTA Foundation awards college scholarships and player incentive awards to deserving youngsters who have participated in United States Tennis Association (USTA) and/or other organized youth tennis programs.
For more information on USTA Foundation grant and scholarship opportunities please visit their website at www.ustafoundation.com or email the staff at foundation@usta.com.
Available Assistance Through USTA:
- Foundation and NJTL Grants
Questions specific to NJTL grants, after-school programs or Net Generation should be directed to Ashley Shaw.
USTA Facility Services Program
The USTA Facility Services Program can offer you and your community assistance with business, development, technical, advocacy and financial resources. In addition, communities are appointed project consultants from the USTA National staff, who deliver personalized support and service to help take your project from dream to reality.
A complete listing with details is posted here. To fully understand the process by which communities receive assistance from the USTA and what is expected from communities, please review the Guide to USTA’s Tennis Venue + Design Group.