OAL Community Sports Support Grant

The 2025–26 OAL Community Sports Grant is a funding opportunity designed to support community-based organizations (CBOs) in delivering youth sports programs in Oakland public middle schools during Fall 2025. This grant initiative is part of a collaborative effort between Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), Eat. Learn. Play. (ELP), and the Oakland Athletics League (OAL). Grant funds are provided by Eat. Learn. Play. and administered by PCA. The goal of this funding cycle is to strengthen local capacity for sports like Cross Country, Girls Volleyball, Cheerleading, Futsal, Girls and Boys Flag Football, and Swimming, thereby enhancing access to equitable and high-quality afterschool sports programs in underserved communities. To be eligible, applicants must be nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations or fiscally sponsored programs that serve Oakland youth and have a minimum of two years of experience in youth sports programming. CBOs must demonstrate the capacity to implement inclusive, equity-centered, and culturally responsive programming while adhering to Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) compliance standards. These include proof of insurance, fingerprinting, TB testing, health and safety training, and vendor registration with OUSD’s Community Partner Platform. Grantees are also expected to submit detailed rosters of staff and coaches, coordinate daily with afterschool program leads, and share attendance records and safety plans. The application process includes multiple components. Interested CBOs must download the 2025 OAL Sports Grant Application Packet, which includes the grant overview, a worksheet template, a narrative template, a budget template, and a FAQ. The application must be completed and submitted via email in a single package to youthsportsgrants@positivecoach.org by 5:00 p.m. PST on July 25, 2025. The application should address program goals, community impact strategies, inclusion and safety protocols, and funding needs. Incomplete or late applications may be reviewed at the discretion of the committee, but this is not guaranteed. The review and award process will occur quickly. The application period opens July 7, 2025, and closes July 25, 2025. A Community Board will review submissions from July 22 to July 29, 2025, with final grantee announcements and onboarding commencing on July 31, 2025. Program delivery is scheduled for the August through November 2025 period, and grantee orientation will take place August 5–7, 2025. Selected grantees will also gain access to PCA’s technical assistance, be featured in OAL publications, and be paired with PCA coaches for leadership development. Eligible uses for grant funds include coaching and staff stipends, uniforms and equipment, facility rentals, and administrative or insurance costs directly related to program implementation. The OAL strongly favors applicants who can serve multiple school sites or collaborate across school clusters and those with the ability to maintain programming beyond the primary season and into Summer 2026. Priority will also be given to programs that foster family engagement and track youth participation outcomes. During the grant cycle, PCA maintains an unbiased process and will not meet individually with applicants to discuss project ideas. All inquiries related to eligibility or application logistics must be submitted via email. All applicants, regardless of funding outcomes, will be added to OAL’s preferred partner list for consideration in future opportunities. This grant cycle is not rolling, but it is likely to recur annually based on the structured seasonal timeline and repeated references to future partnership opportunities.

Late or incomplete applications may be considered at the discretion of the review committee, but there is no guarantee.