There are only a few weeks left to request support for summer and fall 2021 tennis programs from the USTA Florida Section Foundation. The Foundation’s first grant cycle of the year will close on April 30.

The Foundation, which is the giving arm of the USTA Florida Section, provides financial support to organizations that help people of all ages and abilities improve their health and quality of life through the game of tennis. 90% of the annual contributions collected from the “Play Tennis!” license plate are directly returned to the Florida tennis community, largely through local grassroots community program grants. The grants offer funding for youth tennis programs, adaptive tennis programs for those who are uniquely enabled, community tennis programs in economically challenged areas, along with facility assistance in the renovation, refurbishment and building of quality public tennis facilities.

“Programs across the state have slowly begun to resume play, while also still dealing with the lingering impacts from the pandemic,” said USTA Florida Section Foundation Executive Director Alexis Johnson. “We understand resumption has been difficult for many wheelchair, adaptive, and under-resourced programs and we want them to know we are here to support them as they regain their footing and help them flourish in 2021.”

Types of grants available:

Equipment Grants

Equipment grants provide tennis equipment for youth tennis, Junior Team Tennis, Masters Tennis,  adaptive and wheelchair tennis programs for special populations of all ages and tennis programs promoting healthy and active lifestyles. Learn more about Equipment Grants here.

Program Support Grants

Program support grants provide funding to youth tennis and adaptive tennis programs for special populations of all ages and under-resourced children and adults in economically challenged communities. Learn more about Program Support Grants here.

Wheelchair Grants

Wheelchair grants provide funding for youth and adult wheelchair tennis programs, programs placing an emphasis on wheelchair offerings that attract new players, and programs made available for under-resourced wheelchair athletes in economically challenged communities. Learn more about Wheelchair Grants here.

Click Here to Apply for Grants

The Foundation closed out 2020 by granting approximately $80,000 back into the Florida grassroots tennis community. Since 2005, the USTA Florida Section Foundation has awarded more than $1,750,000 in grants for tennis programs serving people of all ages and abilities throughout Florida.

“Whether you’re in a municipality, in a school, running a nonprofit grassroots tennis program, need wheelchair or adaptive programming support or just general support and equipment, we’re here to help you and I am personally here to offer up my time to ensure a smooth application process,” added Johnson. “Applying for grants may seem daunting, but I go out of my way to walk new grant applicants through each step of the process to make it as enjoyable and effortless as possible.”

In addition to the current Feb.1-April 30 grant window, a second grant cycle in 2021 will open from Aug. 1-Oct. 31.

To support Florida recreational grassroots tennis with a “Play Tennis!” license plate, click here. You can also sign-up for the RoundUp App, where 100% of the change received from rounding-up your purchases goes straight back into the communities needing it the most through grant award opportunities.