Grants Guide

The how and where to secure funding for your physical fitness program.

Why grants can help your program

When districts and schools have the need for educational tools and experiences beyond current budgets, outside funding in the form of government and private grants can be the answer for teachers and their students. Before you begin, there are things to bear in mind.

What to know before filling out your applications

Administrator approval

Grants that are over a few thousand dollars usually require the signature of a senior administrator and government grants always require administrative permission. Some school districts limit the number of state and federal grants you can apply for, so check with administrators before you begin your funding search.

Not-for-Profit

Find out if your school is a not-for-profit. If your school or district doesn't have a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization formed, you may want to consider creating one. There is cost, time, and energy involved, but some private foundations, particularly at the state and local level, may provide grant support only to non-profit groups. To find out about forming a non-profit entity to raise funds for your classroom, school, and district needs, click here.

Local sources

Before looking for national grants, find out if there is a grant administrator in your district. A strong school to community connection is key to grant success. Contact your PTA/PTO to see if they provide in-house grants. Your local public library and Chamber of Commerce may also be able to provide a list of business ready to provide grants.

Halliburton Foundation

The Halliburton Foundation makes direct donations to U.S.-based elementary and secondary schools as well as colleges and universities. At its discretion, the Foundation board of trustees also provides a limited number of grants to health and health-related charities. Grant requests are reviewed on a quarterly basis.

Anthem Foundation

The Anthem Foundation supports programs that raise awareness for, educate on, and encourage new behaviors, resulting in healthy, active lifestyles that offer long-term benefits. Regular physical activity helps reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, colon cancer and diabetes. It also improves mental well-being, assists with weight control, reduces depression and anxiety, and helps healthy muscles and joints. The Anthem Foundation’s support of healthy, active lifestyles for individuals with disabilities seeks to reduce healthcare disparities and improve access to care.

Kaiser Permanente Foundation

For 70 years, Kaiser Permanente Foundation has shown thier commitment to improving total community health through a variety of grants for charitable and community-based organizations.

Most of the grant making in the below areas happens at the local and regional levels.  National grants most often support policy, advocacy and technical assistance. We are particularly interested in having applicants discuss how their work in these areas includes the social determinants of health and addresses the elimination of health disparities and inequities.

Reiman Foundation

The Reiman Foundation continues to provide significant support to hundreds of non-profit, charitable and civic initiatives in Denver, Milwaukee and across the United States.

They are proud of the important and remarkable work done by the organizations they’ve partnered with over the years. From providing scholarships to students in need to supporting medical facilities and helping develop young leaders, they are exceedingly honored to work with so many extraordinary organizations that make a difference every day.

The Reiman Foundation considers grant applications that align with its core mission and also proactively identifies programs and organizations to which it allocates resources.

Brinker International Charitable Giving

Brinker International’s goal is to "Serve the World A Great Taste of Life," and one of the ways they strive to accomplish that is through Generosity of Spirit.  They are a global business, but their heart is rooted in the communities they serve. Giving back to those communities is one of Brinker’s core values. Besides the monetary contributions they make to 501c(3) organizations, our Team Members contribute thousands of hours of volunteer time. Their main areas of giving are health, social services, arts and education, and diversity.

Donors Choose and National Fitness Foundation

Starting October 31st, the National Fitness Foundation invites you to submit an innovative gym and fitness project for the chance to receive matched donations and win a $10,000 DonorsChoose.org gift card. As part of this Innovation Challenge, the National Fitness Foundation will match donations to qualifying gym and fitness projects that get students active, Projects submitted before the end of the year will be considered for one of three gift card prizes: $10,000 for the first place project, $7,000 for the second place project, and $5,000 for the third place project.

• Create a project that gives your students the opportunity to get moving, active, and fit.
• Your project must request sports or fitness equipment.
• Keep your total project goal under $800, including taxes, shipping, and the suggested donation to support DonorsChoose.org.
• Select “Gym & Fitness” as your subject area.

Filling out your applications

When evaluating grants, look for opportunities that match your program’s goals and objectives. Understand the mission of the grantor, review previously funded programs, and determine the range of grant awards typically awarded by that agency. The following best practices will help you score a winning grant application!