Key Takeaways
- Little League is distributing $180,000 in SAFE to Play Grants for the 2026 season, funded by Musco Lighting
- Two grant tracks cover AED procurement and facility safety improvements
- Applications are open now through May 15, with funding expected in Fall 2026
- Leagues must complete the SAFE Summary Builder and Annual Facility Survey to qualify
- Grant reviews weigh safety compliance, training participation, and projected impact
What the SAFE to Play Grant Program Covers
Little League International launched applications on March 16 for its new SAFE to Play Grant Program, offering local leagues two paths to financial support focused on safety infrastructure. The program is funded entirely through a partnership with Musco Lighting, Inc., the commercial sports lighting manufacturer that has maintained a long-standing relationship with Little League around player safety initiatives.
The first track, the AED Grant Program, helps leagues purchase Automated External Defibrillators for use at fields. The second, the Facility Improvement Grant Program, funds safety-related upgrades to fields and facilities used for games and practices. Both fall under the broader Little League SAFE framework.
“We are grateful for the continued support of our friends at Musco Lighting for making these grants possible, and for their commitment to helping make local Little League programs and communities safer,” said Joy Reynolds McCoy, Little League Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer.
How Leagues Qualify and What Reviewers Look For
Eligibility requires two steps through the Little League Data Center: completing the SAFE Summary Builder and the Annual Facility Survey. Once both are finished, leagues receive an invitation to apply.
Little League evaluates applications based on completion of safety requirements, participation in Little League training programs, and the expected impact of the proposed project on player and volunteer safety. The emphasis on “resource-based challenges” in Little League’s messaging suggests the grants are designed to reach programs that may lack the fundraising capacity to address safety gaps independently.
McCoy noted the grants are “intended to support a wide range of leagues, including those demonstrating strong safety practices as well as leagues facing resource-based challenges.”
AED Access Matters at the Local Level
AED availability at youth sports facilities has become a growing priority across organized sports. Cardiac events, while rare in youth athletes, carry high fatality risk without immediate access to defibrillation. For many local leagues operating on tight budgets, the cost of an AED unit and associated training can be a real barrier.
The inclusion of a dedicated AED grant track signals that Little League views emergency preparedness equipment as a baseline need, not a luxury line item. For leagues in smaller communities or those without access to municipal recreation infrastructure, this type of funding can close a critical gap.
Applications close May 15, 2026. Grant recipients will be notified directly, with funding expected to be distributed in Fall 2026. Little League notes that funding is limited, so not all applicants will receive awards.
Leagues interested in applying should begin with the SAFE Summary Builder and Annual Facility Survey in the Little League Data Center. More information on the program, including full eligibility details, is available at LittleLeague.org/SAFE.
Source: Little League SAFE to Play Grant Applications Now Open, Little League International, March 18, 2026
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