There are many women who are great athletes, but they may not have the money to hire a coach to develop their skills. They may also not have the funds needed to travel around and participate in athletic events. The good news is that there is a grant that they can apply for that may help them. The $10,000 Travel and Training Athlete Grant helps numerous female athletes each year. To apply for the grant, click here.
The Travel and Training Athlete Grant is offered through the Women’s Sports Foundation. The program is also funded in part by Gatorade. Each year, they give away up to $100,000 in athletic grants. The grant amounts vary between $2,500 and $10,000 per athlete. Non-professional female athletes who are low income and don’t have the funds necessary to develop their skills may qualify for this grant. The grant is open to veterans who meet the eligibility requirements
What the Grant Covers
The Travel and Training grant is aimed at helping non-professional female athletes to develop their skills through such things as coaching, travel, and equipment. The grant award will pay for coaching fees, athletic-related travel expenses, equipment, and other related costs. The grant program is open to individual female athletes who are low income and need financial assistance to further their skills or be able to compete.
To qualify, you will need to demonstrate your athletic record, prove you have a financial need for the assistance, and show that you have competed athletically by a governing body. This grant is ideal for a female veteran athlete who, for example, wants to compete athletically, but may not have the funds to do so. This grant will help pay for you to hire the coach you need, pay for your travel, purchase your equipment and more. If, for example, you are a female athlete who wants to qualify to run the Boston Marathon, and you can prove you have competed in such events before, this grant may help make that dream come true.
The grant is not open to professional athletes. It’s also not open to high school or college athletes. It is primarily for individuals who have an athletic talent, but lack the funds to chase after their dream.
How to Apply
You can apply for the Travel and Training athletic grant online. You can re-apply for it each year as well. Any grant that is awarded must be used for its intended purpose. If you are awarded funds, you will have to meet with them once. In order for that to happen, they will match you with a program ambassador that is closest to where you live. Grant recipients also need to give recognition to Gatorade and the Women’s Sports Foundation when they are competing.
Grant winners are also expected to submit two progress reports. These reports will let the program know how you are doing with reaching your goal. This is where you will report what the money has been being spent on and how your athletic goals are advancing. You may also need to do an interview and make a personal appearance on behalf of the organization.
The criteria that is used for them to select who gets the grants includes the financial need, the present and potential athletic ranking, what role the grant will play in advancing their participation in the sport, and if the grant is advancing women in sports. There is a priority given to those who express the idea that they plan to reimburse the grant in the future if their financial situation changes.
Online applications must be submitted each year by the end of May. It takes up to three months before a decision is made regarding who will receive the grants. Those who are awarded a grant will be notified. If you do get awarded a grant, be sure to keep proper records on where the funds are spent, so you can share that information with the organization. This grant program is for amateur female athletes, making it a perfect opportunity for veterans who have athletic dreams. Numerous awards are given out each year, thus increasing your chances of being approved for one. If you are an amateur athlete with a dream, this is the grant program for you to apply for.