PROGRAM

Our Mission

The Level Field Fund strives to bridge gaps in funding for uniquely talented athletes, following the belief that opportunities to pursue excellence in sport should not be limited by an athlete’s financial situation.

Overview

While an athlete’s success is clearly driven by their ability to perform at the highest level, it is also dependent upon financial support.

Individual commitment and costs during entry level stages of participation in a sport are relatively minimal.  However, as athletes progress and their potential rises, so too do the related development demands and associated costs for training and competing – including more specialized instruction, equipment, event entry fees and travel.

Many athletes with the potential to compete at world-class levels have had to face the challenges of securing funding to pay for support essential to their continued development.  Far too often, resource gaps have proven to be an impassible barrier for promising, yet financially challenged athletes.

The Level Field Fund is designed to offer qualified support to uniquely talented athletes whose opportunity to pursue excellence in sport would otherwise be limited by their financial situation.

Funding Criteria

Grants may be awarded to cover costs related to training, coaching, equipment, and / or event participation, including related travel expenses

Funding evaluation shall include assessment of an applicant’s:

  • financial need
  • unique athletic potential
  • requested use of funds
  • availability of alternative sources of funding
  • NCAA amateur eligibility status

Benefits of the Level Field Fund shall be limited to uniquely talented applicants who are current residents of the United States

Benefits under this program shall not duplicate or displace benefits available from other sources, except that benefits may be given to supplement otherwise available funding where it can be shown that  such funding does not or only partly meets a demonstrated need

Recipients  shall not use grant funds in any manner other than to cover the expenses specified in the grant award