MOVE Fund 2026: Apply for Two-Year Grants of $40,000–$150,000 for Sport and Youth Development Coalitions

Applications are now open for the MOVE Fund 2026, a grant programme designed to strengthen coalitions and collaborative initiatives working to advance equitable access to sport, play, and youth development opportunities across the United States. The fund provides two-year operating grants ranging from $40,000 to $150,000 to support organizations working collectively to improve systems that benefit children and young people through sport and physical activity.

The MOVE Fund recognizes that long-term, community-wide change requires collaboration rather than isolated interventions. Instead of funding individual organizations working independently, the programme invests in coalitions that bring together multiple partners to address structural barriers limiting access to sport and play. These partnerships may include nonprofit organizations, schools, local governments, youth-serving institutions, community groups, and advocacy organizations.

Through flexible operating support, the MOVE Fund aims to strengthen collaborative leadership, promote systems change, and expand opportunities for young people—particularly those from historically underserved communities—to benefit from safe, inclusive, and high-quality sport and play environments.

About the Grant Programme

The MOVE Fund was established to help collaborative initiatives build stronger local and regional ecosystems that promote equitable access to sport and youth development. Rather than supporting short-term projects alone, the programme focuses on strengthening the capacity of partnerships working toward lasting policy, systems, and community change.

Successful coalitions are expected to demonstrate how they work collectively to address challenges affecting access to sport and physical activity. These challenges may include racial and economic disparities, limited recreational infrastructure, lack of youth programming, inadequate investment in community sports, or barriers affecting girls, children with disabilities, and other underserved populations.

The grant encourages organizations to move beyond direct service delivery by building stronger partnerships, improving coordination among stakeholders, influencing policy, and creating sustainable solutions that continue beyond the funding period.

Grant Benefits

Successful applicants will receive:

• Two-year operating grants ranging from $40,000 to $150,000.
• Flexible funding to strengthen coalition activities.
• Support for collaborative planning and implementation.
• Resources to improve organizational capacity.
• Opportunities to advance systems-level change.
• Support for community engagement and advocacy efforts.
• Funding to strengthen equitable access to sport and youth development.
• Opportunities to expand partnerships across sectors.

Priority Areas

The MOVE Fund is interested in supporting collaborative initiatives working in areas such as:

• Youth sport development.
• Community recreation.
• Play equity.
• Physical activity promotion.
• Youth leadership.
• Community health.
• Inclusive sport participation.
• Equity in access to recreation.
• Systems change.
• Policy advocacy.
• Cross-sector partnerships.
• Community capacity building.

Projects should demonstrate how collaboration can improve opportunities for children and young people while creating lasting change within communities.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must generally meet the following requirements:

• Be a coalition, collaborative, network, or partnership rather than a single organization acting independently.
• Be working to improve sport, play, or youth development systems.
• Demonstrate collaboration among multiple organizations or stakeholders.
• Operate within the United States.
• Show commitment to advancing equity and inclusion.
• Have a clear plan for strengthening community impact over the two-year grant period.

Coalitions may include nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, local governments, community organizations, and other partners working together toward shared objectives.

Required Application Materials

Applicants should prepare:

• Completed online application form.
• Information about participating coalition members.
• Description of the coalition's mission and activities.
• Project or strategic work plan.
• Organizational and partnership information.
• Budget information.
• Additional supporting documents requested during the application process.

Applicants should ensure that all submitted information clearly demonstrates how their coalition advances equitable access to sport and youth development.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on:

• Strength of the coalition and partnerships.
• Commitment to equity and inclusion.
• Potential for systems-level impact.
• Quality of collaborative planning.
• Community engagement strategy.
• Sustainability of proposed activities.
• Organizational capacity.
• Potential to improve opportunities for young people through sport and play.

Preference will be given to partnerships capable of creating long-term change that extends beyond the grant period.

How to Apply

To apply for the MOVE Fund 2026:

1. Review the programme guidelines and eligibility requirements.
2. Confirm that your coalition or collaborative meets the eligibility criteria.
3. Gather the required organizational and partnership information.
4. Complete the online application form.
5. Prepare the required supporting documents.
6. Submit your application before the deadline.