Women's Sports Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $400,000+ (minimum for Sports 4 Life program alone)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: 2-3 months (varies by program)
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $15,000 (varies by program)
• Geographic Focus: United States (50 states, D.C., and U.S. Territories)

Contact Details

• Website: www.womenssportsfoundation.org
• Phone: (646) 813-7238
• Address: 247 West 30th Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10001
• Sports 4 Life Contact: Anne Peltier at APeltier@WomensSportsFoundation.org

Overview

Founded in 1974 by tennis champion Billie Jean King, the Women's Sports Foundation is a leading advocate for women and girls in sports. As an accredited charity with the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, a 4-star rating on Charity Navigator, and a Platinum Seal from Candid, the foundation has been transforming lives through sports participation for 50 years. The organization operates as both an advocacy organization and a grant maker, providing direct funding to athletes, teams, and organizations while championing gender equity in sports. Their mission is to enable girls and women to reach their potential in sport and life, serving as "the ally, advocate and catalyst for tomorrow's leaders."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Sports 4 Life Program: $400,000+ annually

• Funds 40 organizations serving girls in underserved communities
• Focuses on girls of color and underrepresented populations
• Covers coaching, curriculum, equipment, uniforms, transportation, facility rental, tournaments, and team-building activities

Tara VanDerveer Fund: $17,500 per fellowship

• $15,000 to the institution + $2,500 for fellow's professional development
• Coaching fellowships for women at colleges and universities
• 11 fellowships awarded in 2025
• Application deadline: March 11

Travel and Training Fund: Amount varies

• Supports individual athletes and teams
• Covers coaching, travel, and equipment costs
• Removes financial barriers for athletes with elite potential

Scott Pioli & Family Fund: Amount not specified

• Financial assistance for women pursuing careers in collegiate/professional football
• Application deadline: May 1

Rusty Kanokogi Fund: Up to $5,000

• Specifically for judo athletes

GoGirlGo! Grants: $1,000 - $10,000

• Community-based sports programs for girls

Dorothea Deitz Endowed Memorial Scholarship: $1,000 per recipient

• Individual scholarships for female athletes

Priority Areas

• Improving sports access for girls, particularly girls of color
• Supporting BIPOC women in coaching positions
• Elite athlete development and Olympic/Paralympic preparation
• Community-based sports programs in underserved areas
• Women in non-traditional sports roles (e.g., football coaching)

What They Don't Fund

• Religious programs with compulsory participation
• Land purchases
• Building construction
• Event sponsorships
• Individual scholarships (except specific scholarship programs)
• Animal-related expenses
• Organizations that have received three consecutive years of Sports 4 Life funding (must wait until following year)

Governance and Leadership

Leadership:

• Founder: Billie Jean King (1974)
• CEO: Danette Leighton
• Board Chair: Muffet McGraw
• President: Meghan Duggan (Olympic gold medalist)
• Development Contact: Cheryl Bliss

The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees composed of individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, though complete current board composition was not available in public sources.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Sports 4 Life Program:

• Two-step process: Letter of Intent (LOI) followed by full application
• Applications submitted through Foundant GLM grant management system
• Must use We Play Interactive educational platform
• 2025 application currently closed

Tara VanDerveer Fund:

• Apply through Foundant GLM system
• Institution must sponsor candidate (individuals cannot apply directly)
• Applications open: January 7
• Application deadline: March 11
• Decisions announced: May 8
• Grant period begins: August 1

Other Programs:

• Most programs use the Foundant GLM grant management system
• Specific application windows vary by program

Decision Timeline

• Sports 4 Life: Approximately 2-3 months from LOI to final decision
• Tara VanDerveer Fund: 2 months from deadline to announcement
• Other programs: Varies

Success Rates

Specific success rates not publicly available. In recent years:

• 2022: 58 grants awarded
• 2021: 40 grants awarded
• 2020: 30 grants awarded

Reapplication Policy

• Sports 4 Life: Organizations receiving three consecutive years of funding must wait one year before reapplying
• Other programs: No specific restrictions mentioned

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's funding patterns and requirements:

• Demonstrate clear impact on underserved communities, particularly girls of color
• Show institutional commitment - for coaching fellowships, institutions must demonstrate support infrastructure
• Include evaluation components - willingness to complete program evaluations and surveys is required
• Provide proper acknowledgment plans - detail how you'll recognize WSF support
• Focus on removing barriers - emphasize how funding removes financial obstacles to participation
• Align with diversity and inclusion goals - WSF prioritizes BIPOC women and underrepresented groups

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• WSF operates multiple distinct grant programs with different deadlines - research which best fits your needs
• Strong emphasis on serving girls of color and underserved communities across all programs
• Two-step application process for major grants allows initial screening before full proposals
• Organizations can receive up to three consecutive years of Sports 4 Life funding
• Coaching fellowship applications must come from institutions, not individuals
• All programs require use of WSF's online grant management system (Foundant GLM)
• Focus proposals on barrier removal and expanding access rather than general program support

References

• Women's Sports Foundation Official Website (www.womenssportsfoundation.org) - Accessed January 2025
• Women's Sports Foundation Programs Pages - Sports 4 Life, Tara VanDerveer Fund - Accessed January 2025
• GuideStar Profile (EIN: 23-7380557) - Organization overview and grant history - Accessed January 2025
• Women's Sports Foundation About Us page - Historical information and mission - Accessed January 2025