Grant and Scholarship Programs
The Grant and Scholarship Program debuted in 2003 by giving financial assistance to individuals and small organizations in need. Support for the program is funded through donations and fundraising.
Grant Program
The Lewis Sports Foundation (LSF) grant program is designed to promote leadership, active youth education, extra-curricular programming and sport in Minnesota and nationwide. The program was developed to support teachers, coaches, administrators, groups, teams, organizations, or services. The grant is intended to alleviate the financial burdens associated with planning and implementing extracurricular programs, supporting extracurricular activities, or managing physical activity and sport.
Scholarship Program
Scholarships are awarded to recognize excellence in active youth programming, sport competition and leadership among individuals in the various communities in Minnesota. Deserving students and athletes are recognized and supported for their excellence and success despite the odds they had to overcome.
Grant and Scholarship Program Application Process
Scholarship funding will be allocated upon receipt of designated expenses requested for funding. In other words, LSF will reimburse grants or scholarships the amount requested after an expense report is submitted. There may be exceptions for LSF events.
Grant funding is awarded to organizations that have 501(c)(3) tax exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service and have provided receipt of designated expenses for funding.
Scholarship funding is allocated upon receipt of designated expenses requested for reimbursement.
Organizations and activities outside of Foundation Guidelines: The decision to decline a request may not imply that the applicant’s program is not needed or valued. Rather it may not fall within our giving guidelines or priorities, or that funds are not available. The Board of Directors may make exceptions to this rule. LSF does not support:
Organizations without 501(c)(3) status
Conferences, seminars and workshops
Tuition to non-LSF sports camps
Fundraising events
Religious programs or events
Political events
Deadlines for the submission of all information for Grants and Scholarships are April 30, July 31, and November 31. The number and size of scholarships allocated each year depends on the budgeted allotment, the number of applications received, and the amount of funding requested. Each request will be reviewed 2-3 weeks after being submitted. A decision on each funding request occurs sometime after the deadline and before the end of the reward period. The recipient will be notified by email or postal mail as soon as the request for funding has been determined. No new applications are reviewed after the application deadline. Requests received after each application deadline are forwarded to the next application period for review.
(Requests for assistance at LSF sports camps and events are reviewed on separate timelines).
Grant and Scholarship schedule:
Application period open Application period deadline Results notified and/or Awarded
March 1 April 30 May 1-June 1
June 1 July 31 August 1-September 31
October 1 November 31 January 1-February 28
If you are awarded funding, your project or event must be completed within 12 months of the scholarship. Final results of your project should be submitted 30 days after the project has concluded or 12 months after the scholarship has been issued. Funding renewals are not automatic and cannot be guaranteed. If you are applying for a funding renewal, you must submit a report of the final results from the prior scholarship with your new funding request. Scholarships are awarded only once to each applicant. Incomplete funding requests will be returned and will not be considered for funding until complete.
