Key Takeaways
- The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation selected nine youth sports organizations across major U.S. markets to receive three-year tiered grants totaling $175,000 each
- Each organization will receive $100,000 in 2025, $50,000 in 2026, and $25,000 in 2027 through the Sports Matter Program
- Markets include Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Durham, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Pittsburgh, with one organization selected per city
- The Foundation also renewed national partnerships with Every Kid Sports, Good Sports, LISC, and DonorsChoose to expand reach beyond the nine focus markets
- Rick Jordan, VP of The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation, emphasized the value of consistent, long-term investment over one-time grants
Tiered Funding Model Aims for Sustainable Growth
The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation Sports Matter Program has launched a new multi-year partnership initiative focused on nine U.S. markets. Through a selective process, the Foundation identified one youth sports organization per market to receive a three-year grant totaling $175,000.
The funding follows a tiered structure: $100,000 in 2025, $50,000 in 2026, and $25,000 in 2027. This approach gives organizations upfront capital to scale operations while maintaining support through the implementation phase.
“By committing to multi-year partnerships, we’re not just giving, but also growing with these organizations,” said Rick Jordan, VP of The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation. “When we invest long-term, we’re able to show up consistently, build real trust and make a bigger impact where it really counts.”
Nine Organizations Selected Across Key Markets
The Foundation selected organizations with established track records in their respective communities. The 2025 cohort includes:
- Atlanta, GA: L.E.A.D. Center for Youth
- Boston, MA: Shooting Touch
- Chicago, IL: Beat the Streets Chicago
- Durham, NC: Bridge II Sports
- Houston, TX: Houston reVision
- Los Angeles, CA: Sloane Stephens Foundation
- Miami, FL: Boys & Girls Club of Miami-Dade
- New York, NY: Play Rugby
- Pittsburgh, PA: Steel City Squash
Each organization serves different sports and demographics, from wrestling and squash to adaptive sports and rugby. The geographic spread targets both coastal and interior markets with varying youth sports infrastructure needs.
Expanded National Partnerships Support Broader Reach
Beyond the nine-market focus, the Foundation renewed partnerships with four national organizations to address systemic barriers in youth sports access.
The renewed agreements include Every Kid Sports, which helps cover registration fees for families, and Good Sports, which provides equipment to under-resourced communities. Projects with Good Sports and LISC, which builds fields and courts in high-need neighborhoods, will prioritize the nine focus markets. Partnerships with Every Kid Sports and DonorsChoose, supporting educators and coaches in equity-focused schools, will operate nationwide.
This dual approach allows the Foundation to support deep, localized impact in select markets while maintaining broad national reach through established distribution networks.
Strategic Support Beyond Grant Funding
The Foundation designed the program to provide more than financial resources. Participating organizations will receive strategic guidance, visibility opportunities, and access to capacity-building resources. Local DICK’S Sporting Goods locations in each market will have opportunities to engage directly with partner organizations.
This operational support aims to strengthen organizational infrastructure, helping grantees maximize the impact of their funding and build sustainable programs that extend beyond the three-year partnership window.
via: DSG
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