Best Youth Sports Grants in Utah

National Geographic Society: Request for Proposals

Award Overview

The National Geographic Society (NGS) is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) for academic researchers and graduate students investigating topics related to geography education in select states and locations. Awards of up to $10,000 (for researchers) and $5,000 (for graduate students) are available to support research projects.

At NGS we spark curiosity, empower exploration, and inspire change. We fund inspiring changemakers around the world who use the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. 

We welcome submissions from researchers across disciplines but successful proposals must include research related to educational approaches or processes including but not limited to specific learning activities, learning outcomes, or educational tools that advance knowledge. Research that illuminates barriers and/or advances access for those farthest from opportunity is encouraged. 

Research proposals should generate new knowledge, and can either be new or scaled up versions of existing successful projects (e.g. evaluating a different group of learners or geographic area). 

The Robanna Fund, established in 1992 by Robert and Deanna Levy, supports students pursuing careers in healthcare. Administered by the Hawai‘i Community Foundation, the fund awards scholarships averaging $6,000, depending on various factors such as the number of qualified applicants and donor preferences. Eligible applicants must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, reside in Hawai‘i, intend to major in a health-related field, and demonstrate financial need. This initiative aims to cultivate future healthcare professionals in the community.

The Marc C. and Deborah Bingham Foundation supports charitable 501(c)(3) organizations and higher education institutions in Utah. Their mission focuses on advancing higher education, conducting medical research to combat diseases like cancer, and promoting sustainable conservation of fish and wildlife. Grants are awarded annually, emphasizing that funding is not guaranteed for previous recipients and that applications must align with the foundation's goals.

About The Wilkes Center for Climate Science & Policy, University of Utah

The Wilkes Center leverages the University of Utah’s unique position and environment to drive world-class research on climate change forecasting, impacts, and solutions and places this science in the hands of decision-makers. Drawing on multidisciplinary centers of excellence at the University of Utah, the Wilkes Center strives for practical, integrative, and solutions-oriented research that can translate into policy around climate extremes, including wildfire and drought, air quality, natural ecosystems, carbon and water cycling, human environment and health. The Center is fostering educational and research training programs that support climate innovation and developing a new generation of solution-oriented leaders.

Wilkes Center Postdoctoral Program

This postdoctoral scholar program will help create the next generation of leaders in climate science and policy. It endeavors to attract spectacular recent PhDs in sciences that address studies with relevance to the Wilkes Center climate research and climate policy goals.

Postdoctoral scholars will perform cutting-edge and impactful research in climate science and/or policy, with particular priority areas on data informed climate forecasting, wildfire and climate extremes such as heat waves, droughts, and floods, climate impacts on local communities, economies, ecosystems, and human health, and the development of tools to mitigate, adapt, and manage climate impacts. These can include analysis of past, current, or possible future climate variability and change as well as the study of the underlying social, physical, chemical, and biological processes.

Postdoctoral scholars will identify 1-2 faculty sponsors at the University of Utah, these faculty members will provide mentoring and a collaborative environment to carry out the research project. Communication with potential faculty sponsors is required prior to the submission of your application.

The program offers two-year postdoctoral fellowships, reviewed annually. Fellows receive a fixed annual salary of $64,000. Benefits include health and dental insurance, paid time off and paid holidays. A relocation allowance is provided as well as an allowance for scientific travel and other support costs.

The Shigeo and Winifred Ito Scholarship Fund, established by a former recipient of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation, aims to support students from Hawaii pursuing higher education on the U.S. mainland. With awards averaging around $6,000, the fund prioritizes residents demonstrating financial need and maintaining good academic standing. The scholarship reflects a commitment to fostering educational opportunities and giving back to the community, ensuring that deserving students can achieve their academic goals.

The Region 4 Technology Improvement Projects Award Year 5 aims to enhance access to health information resources through technology improvement projects. It encourages innovative solutions to improve health literacy in underserved communities, aligning with the NNLM mission and the NLM 2017-2027 Strategic Plan. Project ideas include creating community networks for digital resource access, improving Wi-Fi availability in low-income areas, and providing health information workstations to address the digital divide and promote health equity.

The Wetlands Protection and/or Restoration Grant, managed by the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands (FFSL) and the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Trust (GSLWET), offers up to $3 million to support projects aimed at protecting and restoring wetlands and habitats surrounding the Great Salt Lake. This funding is essential for enhancing the hydrology of the lake and ensuring the health of its ecosystem, benefiting both local wildlife and communities.

The Mosaic Company Foundation Community Investment Grant aims to create a lasting impact in communities by supporting initiatives in three key areas: Food, Water, and Local Community. With an annual investment of approximately $12 million, the foundation addresses food security, promotes water conservation, and enhances community sustainability. Eligible applicants must be recognized charitable organizations, primarily in North America, committed to improving quality of life through innovative solutions and partnerships.

The Creative West Artist Fund supports artists and cultural practitioners across 16 states, providing essential funding and resources to enhance their emotional and financial well-being. Rooted in values of Democracy, Wellness, and Belonging, this initiative offers no-strings-attached funding alongside coaching and community care. It aims to empower artists as vital contributors to the creative economy, while promoting equitable and trust-based grantmaking practices. The fund serves to foster a rich creative community through collaboration and support.

The RMEF Grant Program lies at the core of advancing our mission.

RMEF established the program in 1986 to provide financial and logistical support to projects that align with our priorities and goals. Grant funds raised by RMEF members, volunteers and generous donors from across the country translate into significantly more conservation accomplishment when matched with partner funds. The RMEF Grant Program also aims to build recognition for RMEF’s work, grow engagement, and boost local fundraising efforts.

Governed by clear guidelines and criteria, the RMEF Grant Program seeks to foster meaningful collaborations and long-term impacts in the conservation of natural resources and outdoor traditions. Grant project partners include federal, state, local, and tribal wildlife and land management agencies, private landowners and local stakeholders, sportsmen and women, and conservation organizations, universities, foundations and the outdoor industry. Eligible projects primarily focus on habitat stewardship, land conservation and access, wildlife management, and hunting heritage.

We support organizations recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a 501(c)3 entity, federal, state, local, or tribal government entities, sportsmen’s organizations, or educational institutions. All applicants must have a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) issued by the IRS. RMEF does not offer grants to individuals.

Wildlife Management and Research

RMEF funds wildlife management and research to keep big game healthy and thriving, including disease surveillance, big game-friendly fencing, road management, and scientific studies that expand our understanding of big game habitat, movement, interactions, and overall herd health.

RMEF’s 2026 priorities include:

• Research on migration + connectivity, critical habitat + nutrition, big game population trajectories, challenges to big game populations, and big game management solutions
• Big Game-Friendly Fencing

The Ethnic Minorities and Women’s Internship Grant supports entry-level athletics administrative positions for one academic year, promoting diversity in NCAA Division II. It provides $30,000 for intern salaries and $3,000 for professional development, benefiting six schools annually from a total budget of $180,000. Eligible applicants must be active NCAA members, with a focus on enhancing ethnic minority and gender representation in athletics administration. This initiative encourages professional growth and compliance in diverse environments.

The Washington Federal Foundation offers Community Service Micro Grants aimed at supporting nonprofits that assist low- and moderate-income communities. Eligible organizations must have been operational for at least 12 months and be located near a WaFd Bank branch. The grants focus on essential services like housing assistance, financial literacy, and basic needs support, while excluding medical, animal welfare, and arts-related funding unless tied to employment for low-income populations.

The C. Scott and Dorothy E. Watkins Charitable Foundation supports educational, research, and charitable organizations in Utah. Focused on promoting self-reliance, the foundation provides financial assistance for local programs in education, healthcare, and community support. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt and serve the Utah area. The foundation does not fund endowments, capital campaigns, or political lobbying, ensuring resources are directed towards impactful local initiatives.

The C. Scott & Dorothy E. Watkins Charitable Foundation Grant supports new organizations in Utah focusing on education, health care, and community services. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profits serving local areas. The foundation prioritizes programs promoting self-reliance through scholarships and humanitarian aid. Applications are accepted annually until August 15, with notifications by November 30. Notably, it does not fund endowments or multi-year pledges, ensuring targeted support for immediate community needs.

The Intermountain Community Care Foundation offers Utah Education Innovation Grants aimed at enhancing K-12 educational outcomes through innovative approaches. These grants support programs focused on mental health, early childhood education, technology, and workforce development. Organizations with a 501c3 designation in Utah can apply, but must ensure long-term sustainability of funded projects. This initiative aligns with Intermountain Health’s mission to foster healthier communities and improve access to quality education.

The School-based Mental Health Qualifying Grant Program (SBMHQGP) aims to enhance mental health support in Utah schools by providing funding for clinical services and trauma-informed care. Established under House Bill 373, it targets Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to employ qualified personnel for early intervention in students' academic and mental health needs. The initiative seeks to remove barriers to learning and foster essential skills for academic achievement, ensuring comprehensive support for students.

The Willard L. Eccles Charitable Foundation focuses on improving the well-being of individuals in Utah and the Intermountain West. Established in the early 1980s, it has contributed over $40 million to non-profits in various sectors including education, healthcare, and environmental preservation. The Foundation particularly favors projects that simultaneously address multiple areas of interest, with a strong emphasis on healthcare initiatives for underserved populations.

Intermountain Community Care Foundation

Our mission: Helping people live the healthiest lives possible.

Intermountain Health is the largest nonprofit health system in the Intermountain West. We’re dedicated to creating healthier communities and helping our patients thrive.

Intermountain Health was established in 1975, but our legacy of compassion and care extends well beyond that, going back to the late 1800s and the early 1900s in Colorado and Utah respectively. We have since become a 60,000+ person strong nonprofit health system, with operations in six states across the interior West with a shared vision to be a model health system that inspires the future of health.

Intermountain Healthcare, SCL Health, and HealthCare Partners Nevada have now come together to serve communities in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming.

Grants

The Intermountain Community Care Foundation awards grants to organizations whose programs align with Intermountain Health’s mission, our national community health areas of focus, and priorities identified through our Community Health Needs Assessment. By supporting evidence-based programs and services that strengthen communities, the Foundation is dedicated to helping people live the healthiest lives possible.

What We Fund

We provide grants to organizations whose programs align with Intermountain Health’s mission, our national community health areas of focus, and priorities identified through our Community Health Needs Assessment.

• Healthcare Access Grants
• Social Drivers of Health Grants
• Child & Family Mental Well-Being Grants
• Utah Education Innovation Grants

Child & Family Mental Well-Being Grants

To qualify for Child and Family Mental Well-Being funding, your program or service must focus on families with children. Funding priority areas include:

• Mental well-being for children, including: reducing suicide deaths; reducing frequent mental distress, anxiety, and depression; decreasing substance misuse
• Advance prevention and early intervention addressing risk and protective factors
• Expand comprehensive, family-centered, mental well-being programs
• Build trauma-informed systems for young children including evidence-based prevention, behavioral health treatment, or related interventions or programs
• Strengthen community behavioral health capacity and collaborations through coalition-building

Requirements

• A full and complete financial audit conducted within the last two years. Submission must include the entire audit, including any findings and the auditor's letter
• A copy of the organization's 501(c)(3) designation letter or a comparable government designation
• A completed W9
• A completed Supplier Form (a blank copy will be provided in the application)

Additional information

• In Utah and Idaho, applicants can request a total grant award between $5,000 to $100,000 per year for 3 years (up to $300,000 total) for the entire project period. Projects can last between 12 and 36 months and must begin upon receipt of funding.
• In Colorado, Montana, and Nevada, applicants can request a total grant award between $5,000 to $50,000 per year for 2 years (up to $100,000 total) for the entire project period. Projects can last between 12 and 36 months and must begin upon receipt of funding.
• A funding request may not exceed 20 percent of an organization’s annual operating budget, e.g., to be eligible for a $50,000 grant, your organization’s annual operating budget must be at least $250,000.
• In general, small equipment and materials are eligible at no more than a total $5,000 cost, but large equipment, construction, and capital costs are not eligible. Consideration will be given if computer equipment is necessary and vital to the success of the project.

Intermountain Community Care Foundation

Our mission: Helping people live the healthiest lives possible.

Intermountain Health is the largest nonprofit health system in the Intermountain West. We’re dedicated to creating healthier communities and helping our patients thrive.

Intermountain Health was established in 1975, but our legacy of compassion and care extends well beyond that, going back to the late 1800s and the early 1900s in Colorado and Utah respectively. We have since become a 60,000+ person strong nonprofit health system, with operations in six states across the interior West with a shared vision to be a model health system that inspires the future of health.

Intermountain Healthcare, SCL Health, and HealthCare Partners Nevada have now come together to serve communities in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming.

Grants

The Intermountain Community Care Foundation awards grants to organizations whose programs align with Intermountain Health’s mission, our national community health areas of focus, and priorities identified through our Community Health Needs Assessment. By supporting evidence-based programs and services that strengthen communities, the Foundation is dedicated to helping people live the healthiest lives possible.

What We Fund

We provide grants to organizations whose programs align with Intermountain Health’s mission, our national community health areas of focus, and priorities identified through our Community Health Needs Assessment.

• Healthcare Access Grants
• Social Drivers of Health Grants
• Child & Family Mental Well-Being Grants
• Utah Education Innovation Grants

Social Drivers of Health Grants

To qualify for Social Drivers of Health grant funding, your program or service must align with at least one of these social drivers of health priorities:

• Improve nutrition security
• Improve stable and quality housing through wraparound and support services

Requirements

• A full and complete financial audit conducted within the last two years. Submission must include the entire audit, including any findings and the auditor's letter
• A copy of the organization's 501(c)(3) designation letter or comparable government designation
• A completed W9
• A completed Supplier Form (a blank copy will be provided in the application)

Additional information

• Applications will be accepted for new or existing programs that clearly address a social driver of health. New programs may include pilot initiatives.
• In Utah and Idaho, applicants can request a total grant award between $5,000 to $100,000 per year for 3 years (up to $300,000 total) for the entire project period. Projects can last between 12 and 36 months and must begin upon receipt of funding.
• In Colorado, Montana, and Nevada, applicants can request a total grant award between $5,000 to $50,000 per year for 2 years (up to $100,000 total) for the entire project period. Projects can last between 12 and 36 months and must begin upon receipt of funding.
• Budget Limitation - A funding request may not exceed 20 percent of an organization’s annual operating budget, e.g., to be eligible for a $50,000 grant, your organization’s annual operating budget must be at least $250,000.
• In general, small equipment and materials, such as jump ropes or cooking utensils are eligible, at no more than a total $5,000 cost, but large equipment, construction, and capital costs are not eligible. Consideration will be given if computer equipment is necessary and vital to the success of the project.

The Mental Health/Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, administered by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, aims to enhance mental health services statewide. This grant facilitates the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders through comprehensive local programs, including education, counseling, and medical referrals. By focusing on individual and community needs, it promotes a seamless system of support to improve overall mental health and well-being across Utah.

The California Casualty Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant aims to support public middle and high school sports programs facing funding challenges due to budget cuts. Established by California Casualty, this grant provides financial assistance for purchasing equipment and covering travel costs for competitions. Eligible applicants must be active employees of public schools and members of affiliated education associations. Awards cannot be used for individual student recognition or fundraising projects.

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) Digital Teaching and Learning (DTL) Grant Program provides funds to Utah schools for technology-powered learning, guided by Utah Code 53F-2-510 and USBE Board Rule R277-922. The Utah Education and Telehealth Network conducts an inventory of the state public education system's current technology resources and other items as determined by UETN, including software. It performs an engineering study to determine the technology infrastructure needs of the public education system to implement a digital teaching and learning program, including the infrastructure needed for the state board, UETN, and LEAs; and as funding allows, UETN provides infrastructure and technology support for school districts and charter schools.

The Digital Teaching and Learning Grant Program was created to improve educational outcomes in public schools by effectively incorporating comprehensive digital teaching and learning technology. There is no federal funding, federal requirement, federal education agreement, or national program included or related to this state adopted program.

The Strategic Alliance Matching Grant - Division II offers financial support to enhance ethnic minority and gender representation in mid- to senior-level athletics administration roles across NCAA Division II institutions. With an annual budget of $860,000, the grant aims to fund up to 20 schools and conferences each year. Eligible applicants must be active Division II members and are encouraged to collaborate with their human resources departments during the proposal process, ensuring compliance with grant requirements.

The Coaching Enhancement Grant - Division II aims to enhance diversity in NCAA coaching by providing financial support for new assistant coaching positions. This grant specifically targets increased representation of ethnic minorities and women in athletics. Selected schools receive funding for three years to cover salaries and benefits, totaling $370,000 annually for up to 21 institutions. Eligible schools must be active NCAA Division II members committed to these diversity efforts.

Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation

Recognizing the growing importance of outdoor recreation to Utah’s economy and quality of life, the Utah State Legislature established the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation in 2022. As part of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, the division unites the nation’s first Office of Outdoor Recreation with key state programs, including Utah’s Boating Program, Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Program, and outdoor recreation grants and planning. We also work collaboratively with DNR's Division of Law Enforcement Rangers.

Dedicated to fostering a healthy and active lifestyle for all Utahns, the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation focuses on four key areas: expanding recreational access, promoting safety and education, ensuring responsible stewardship and sustainable visitation, and driving economic growth through outdoor recreation.

Youth Engagement Grants

The Utah Children’s Outdoor Recreation and Education (UCORE), UCORE Educator, and Nature-Based Learning Infrastructure Grants provide outdoor recreation and learning experiences to youth in Utah. This funding aims to teach youth the physical skills that can make outdoor recreation part of a healthy and active lifestyle. 

UCORE Educator 

Utah Children’s Outdoor Recreation and Education Grant – For Educators

The UCORE Educator Grant was created to provide a more equitable opportunity for educators to apply. With teachers up against time restraints, funding shortages and limited resources, the UCORE Educator Grant is a streamlined application. The application, although streamlined, does provide educators plenty of opportunity to share the details of their programming, how they plan to work with school administrators, track student participation and progress, while demonstrating competency in program development.  

Applicants must hold a current educator license or certification.

Age Range of Youth Served: 6-18 yo

The NCAA Division II Degree Completion Award provides financial assistance to student-athletes who have exhausted their athletics eligibility, enabling them to complete their first undergraduate degree. Since its inception in 2001, nearly $9 million has supported approximately 1,875 athletes, with a remarkable 90 percent graduation rate among recipients. The award covers tuition costs up to $15,000 for remaining credits and may be used in the summer term or short terms surrounding the final undergraduate year.

The Peter E. Palmquist Memorial Fund Grant provides vital support for research into under-researched women photographers and Western American photographers from the Great Depression era. Open to both individual researchers and nonprofit institutions, this grant emphasizes the importance of quality proposals and the ability to execute projects efficiently. Recipients will contribute their findings to the Humboldt Area Foundation, thus enriching the Peter Palmquist Archive and promoting the legacy of photography history.