Youth Sports and Education Grant Program

The Allegany County Youth Bureau is soliciting proposals for Youth Sports and Education Opportunity Funding supporting youth team sports in Allegany County. The funding originates from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services through a grant-making fund supported by state tax proceeds from mobile sports wagering. State law directs a portion of those proceeds toward annual grants for sports activities and education for youth. For the 2026-2027 program period, the funding is intended to support sports programs for underserved children and youth younger than 18, with an emphasis on local nonprofit organizations and municipal-operated youth programs. The Allegany County Youth Bureau has received a total of $51,329 across two state grants for this purpose and states a priority of distributing available funding across a wide network of partners. The RFP specifically requests proposals supporting Allegany County youth sports teams serving participants ages 6 through 17. Funded programs must advance positive youth development, physical health and well-being, mental health and well-being, and community cohesion. Eligible activities are expected to provide team sports opportunities for youth under age 18 in under-resourced communities and to serve youth in New York State and Allegany County. The funding is intended to address sports programs that may otherwise be scarce or under-resourced. Approved expenditures may include coaches, instructors, direct service staff, mentors, referee fees, equipment, uniforms, instruction or coaching needed to help youth participate in team sports, facility or field space, and state-approved medical equipment such as automated external defibrillators. Funding may not support research or project-planning activities, elite or private sports camps, programs or teams, endowments, memorials, budget deficits, fundraising activities, lobbying, political or fraternal activities, or non-secular sports programming operated by religious organizations. For-profit businesses, private foundations as defined under section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, and organizations that unlawfully discriminate are also ineligible. The formal eligibility criteria state that an applicant must be a not-for-profit organization recognized as a 501(c)(3), or another not-for-profit with an IRS Tax ID that meets IRS standards for not-for-profit organizations. Programs must provide team sports activities for youth under age 18 in under-resourced communities and serve youth in New York State and Allegany County. Eligible organizations must have a child protection policy that adheres to applicable local city, school district, and state child protection guidelines. They must also collect registration and participant demographic information required by OCFS in a way that permits accurate reporting of anonymized aggregate data. The RFP also describes the underlying state funding as supporting local nonprofit organizations and municipal-operated youth programs, although the formal applicant eligibility list specifically identifies not-for-profit organizations. Matching funds are not required. However, the RFP states that the strongest proposals will demonstrate support from other sources in addition to Youth Bureau funding, and collaboration with other partners is encouraged. Award amounts will depend on final allocations received from OCFS, and the Allegany County Youth Bureau reserves the right to cap the amount awarded to any program based on the total amount requested by all applicants and the funding available. A single entity may receive multiple awards when the awards support different, distinct purposes or costs. Funding is reimbursement-based. Approved expenses must be incurred during the period beginning October 1, 2026 and ending September 30, 2027. Claims should be submitted to the Youth Bureau Office by the 15th of the month following the expenditure, all award funds must be expended by September 30, 2027, and final claims must be received by November 15, 2027. Applicants are directed to submit proposals to the Allegany County Youth Bureau, Attention Brian Perkins, Office 111-A, County Office Building, 7 Court Street, Belmont, New York 14813. Proposals must be received by August 27, 2026, and late proposals will not be considered. Applicants will complete NYS OCFS-5011 (09/2023) for the year ending September 30, 2027. The RFP does not state an application opening date, a pre-application requirement, an award notification date, an email address, or a telephone number. Funded programs must maintain adequate records on program activities and participant outcomes, will be monitored annually by the Youth Bureau Advisory Board, and may receive a site visit. Required measures include the Physical and Emotional Health life area, Year-Round/Seasonal Activities service classification, unduplicated youth participation, program completion percentage, and the percentage reporting improved ability to socialize or interact with peers, family, or other community members.

Demonstrate support from other sources even though matching funds are not required; consider collaboration with other partners; clearly show service to under-resourced Allegany County youth through team sports; align activities with positive youth development, physical and mental well-being, and community cohesion; demonstrate ability to meet child protection, participant data collection, and outcome reporting requirements.