Game On Community Places to Play Initiative

The Game On Community Places to Play Initiative is a national grant program led by The DICKS Sporting Goods Foundation in partnership with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation. The foundation provides funding while LISC administers the program and offers technical assistance. The initiative is designed to address disparities in access to safe and high quality youth sports facilities by investing in the development and renovation of multi use athletic spaces in under resourced communities across the United States. The program specifically focuses on serving youth ages six through twenty four and emphasizes equitable access to organized sports and youth development opportunities. The primary objective of the initiative is to improve the quality safety and accessibility of local athletic facilities. Funding supports capital improvement projects such as the construction or refurbishment of indoor and outdoor sports courts and fields. Eligible uses include physical upgrades like new playing surfaces lighting bleachers fencing scoreboards and related infrastructure. Funds are strictly limited to capital expenditures and cannot be used for ongoing maintenance costs. However applicants must demonstrate long term maintenance planning and financial commitment to ensure the sustainability and safety of the facility for at least three years after project completion. Grant awards range from 50000 to 100000 dollars and require a mandatory one to one matching contribution from the applicant. Matching funds may include both cash and in kind contributions such as donated labor or materials. Proposals that exceed the minimum match requirement are viewed more favorably during evaluation. The program prioritizes projects that upgrade underutilized or deteriorating facilities demonstrate strong community usage and incorporate youth development programming such as academic support workforce readiness leadership development and civic engagement activities. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit community based organizations with federal tax exempt status under section 501c3 as well as elementary middle and high schools with equivalent tax exempt status. Eligible applicants must operate in low to moderate income communities within the United States and meet several organizational requirements including having at least one full time staff member a minimum of three years of operational history and demonstrated experience in real estate development or parks programming. Public agencies other than schools are not eligible to apply directly but may participate through partnerships with qualified nonprofit organizations. Colleges and universities are explicitly excluded. The application process requires submission of a complete proposal via email as a PDF attachment. Required components include a cover sheet organizational narrative project description budget and supporting documentation such as financial statements IRS forms board lists and letters of support. Applicants must also provide detailed project plans including timelines community impact projections and maintenance strategies. Evaluation criteria include project feasibility readiness community impact strength of matching funds organizational capacity and long term sustainability of the facility. The timeline for the funding cycle begins with the release of the request for proposals in early May followed by an informational webinar in mid May. Applications are due by August fifteenth with no exceptions. The review process takes place from mid August through the end of September and award notifications are issued at the end of October. The program operates on an annual cycle and applicants may direct questions to the program email provided by LISC. This structured process ensures that selected projects are well prepared to deliver meaningful improvements to youth sports infrastructure and community engagement outcomes.

Emphasize strong match funding beyond minimum demonstrate clear community impact provide detailed maintenance plan and show project readiness with confirmed funding sources