LISC Receives $2M Grant from The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation to Renovate Sports Spaces for Youth in Under-Resourced Communities
With a new $2 million grant from The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation, LISC opens a second application round for Game On-Community Places to Play, an initiative that funds the renovation of indoor and outdoor athletic spaces for young athletes, particularly in under-resourced communities. The deadline to apply for a grant is September 5, 2024.
NEW YORK, NY (June 5, 2024)—The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation are deploying a new round of funding to fuel the renovation of indoor and outdoor athletic spaces that serve thousands of young athletes, particularly in under-resourced communities.
The funding is part of the Game On-Community Places to Play initiative, which the two organizations launched in 2023. The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation is making a new $2 million grant to LISC for the program, which will then award grants between $50,000-$100,000 to non-profit community-based organizations leading renovation projects. Projects must be in low-wealth communities to be eligible.
"Reaffirming our partnership with LISC fills us with immense pride as we both believe in the transformative power of sports," said Rick Jordan, VP of The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation. "With this renewed commitment, we're not just providing funding, but offering opportunities for young athletes nationwide to pursue their passions and learn life skills in safe, supportive environments."
Applicants could include schools, parks, and municipal recreation departments that are collaborating with local non-profits. Grants can be used to meet a range of needs, including new court surfaces, nets, hoops, lights, bleachers, public address systems, fences, locker room facilities, goalposts and scoreboards. In addition to managing the program, LISC also provides technical assistance to grantees to help them successfully complete their projects.
“These investments are about much more than fixing facilities and fields. They are about fueling healthy families and communities,” said Michael T. Pugh, LISC president and CEO. “For youth, in particular, they offer the chance to engage in positive activities that can have a lasting influence on their mental, physical and emotional well-being. You can’t put a price tag on that kind of impact.”
The Game On-Community Places to Play Initiative funded 15 projects in 14 cities in its inaugural year, with another 17-20 sports spaces expected to be funded in 2024. Over the past three decades, LISC has worked with philanthropic and investment partners to build or renovate 500 athletic fields and recreational spaces, serving more than one million youth and community residents.
“A program like this, with a committed partner like The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation, can truly be catalytic,” said Beverly Smith, LISC’s vice president who leads its sports and recreation programs. “Year after year, we see the lasting positive impact of sports and recreational investments, both on the young people who participate in programs and on the communities where fields and facilities operate,” she added.
The RFP for the program is now available on the LISC website, where potential applicants can sign up for an informational webinar on June 26, 2024, at 1 p.m. EDT. Applications are due Sept. 5, 2024.
About The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation
The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with a mission to inspire and enable sports participation. It was created by DICK’S Sporting Goods as a private corporate foundation to support DICK’S charitable and philanthropic activities. Driven by its belief that sports have the power to change lives, The DICK’S Foundation champions youth sports and provides grants and support to under-resourced teams and athletes through its Sports Matter program and other community-based initiatives. Additional information about The DICK’S Foundation can be found on sportsmatter.org and on Instagram, Facebook and X.
About LISC
LISC is one of the country's largest community development organizations, helping forge vibrant, resilient communities across America. LISC works with residents and partners to close systemic gaps in health, wealth, and opportunity and advance racial equity so that people and places can thrive. Since its founding in 1979, LISC has invested $32 billion to create more than 506,000 affordable homes and apartments, develop 82.5 million square feet of retail, community, and educational space, and help tens of thousands of people find employment and improve their finances. For more, visit www.lisc.org.