Funding Opportunities

North Carolina Amateur Sports – Youth Sports Grants

(For youth sports equipment or facility upgrades)

The State of North Carolina and North Carolina Amateur Sports have established an annual youth sports grant fund from a percentage of the sports wagering tax revenues.  Youth sports grants will be provided annually to local government agencies and 501(c)(3) nonprofits in all 100 North Carolina counties.  These grants may be used for youth sports equipment, or facility upgrades and improvements that primarily benefit youth sports.  The total amount available per North Carolina county is $20,000 for state fiscal year 2024-2025 and $10,000 annually after state fiscal year 2024-2025. All applications submitted for the November 1 deadline are currently under review. Recipients will be notified if their request has been approved no later than 8 weeks after the application deadline (Dec. 28). The application for the April 1 deadline will be posted on January 1, 2025.

North Carolina Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission – Youth Sports Grants

(For team travel and hosting events)

The Youth Sports Grant fund for travel and hosting events was established by the North Carolina General Assembly and the N.C. Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission. Up to $5,000 in travel funding for nonprofessional teams to attend in-state or out-of-state sporting events. Up to $25,000 to attract State, regional, area, and national sporting events, tournaments, and programs for nonprofessional sporting participants. This fund has a rolling deadline for applications and is managed by the N.C. Youth Outdoor Engagement Commission.

Major Events, Games and Attractions Fund

(For attracting major events to North Carolina)

The Major Events, Games, and Attractions Fund was established by the North Carolina General Assembly to stimulate economic activity by attracting events that can, in turn, attract out-of-state visitors to North Carolina, strengthening the state’s travel and tourism industry. Local governments in North Carolina will soon be able to apply for funds designed to support their efforts to attract major events to the State of North Carolina and to their regions.

NCAS Amateur Sports Grants

(Open to organizations or individuals to fund any Amateur Sports Project)

The NCAS Endowment Fund was established within the Triangle Community Foundation in February 1988 with a contribution from North Carolina Amateur Sports (NCAS), host of the US Olympic Festival in 1987. Fifty percent of the proceeds from the Festival were given to the United States Olympic Committee to advance the Olympic movement in the United States. The North Carolina Amateur Sports Board of Directors voted to place the remaining profits in a permanent endowment that would promote amateur athletics in North Carolina. To date, more than $1 million has been distributed to individuals and organizations in North Carolina. The deadline to submit your application is July 21 at 11:59pm EST. The maximum grant award for this fund is $5,000.

North Carolina Amateur Sports (NCAS), BODYARMOR and Bojangles have teamed together to present educational scholarships to participants of the 2024 BODYARMOR State Games who have excelled academically, athletically, and are active in community service. Eligibility requirements include:
– Registered for the 2024 BODYARMOR State Games and currently have a minimum 3.0 GPA (unweighted)
– Be a rising high school senior or older
– Must be presently attending or planning to attend an institution of higher learning.

The deadline to submit your application is July 21 at 11:59 EST.

BODYARMOR State Games Team Participation Stipend

The Team Participation Stipend was created to provide financial assistance to teams from North Carolina that are interested in competing in the BODYARMOR State Games but that find themselves unable to do so due to their financial circumstances. The goal of the stipend is to provide funding to reimburse teams for entry fee costs, travel and/or lodging expenses. The application for the 2025 Team Participation Stipend will be posted in December.