The Pirates Charities Fields for Kids Signature Matching Grant

The Fields for Kids Signature Matching Grant is a specialized program administered by Pirates Charities, the philanthropic arm of the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball team. Pirates Charities was established to support communities in the Pittsburgh region and Bradenton, Florida, with a particular focus on youth and sports. The Fields for Kids initiative, launched in 2009, underscores the organization’s commitment to enhancing access to quality baseball and softball facilities for young athletes. Since its inception, the program has awarded more than 500 grants across the Pittsburgh region and nearly 50 in Bradenton, Florida, positively impacting tens of thousands of children. This grant program supports the renovation, improvement, and expansion of youth baseball and softball fields. It offers two funding categories: General Matching Grants and Signature Matching Grants. The Signature Matching Grant, covered here, is intended for more substantial field projects, with awards ranging from $11,000 to $25,000. Eligible uses include field improvements such as new sod, infield, fencing, dugouts, and irrigation systems, as well as upgrades to facilities including lighting, bleachers, batting cages, scoreboards, and concession stands. Projects like land purchases, parking lots, press boxes, and restrooms are explicitly excluded. Uniforms and equipment may also be supported but are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Eligibility for this grant is limited to nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations, schools, and local government units operating youth baseball and/or softball programs in specific counties within Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. These include counties such as Allegheny and Beaver in Pennsylvania, Belmont and Jefferson in Ohio, and Brooke and Hancock in West Virginia. Applications from outside these designated counties may be considered depending on need and application volume from eligible areas. A matching contribution—monetary, in-kind, or labor—is required to demonstrate shared investment in the proposed project. Applications are accepted three times annually, with funding rounds scheduled for April, June, and August 2025. All projects receiving grants must be completed within one calendar year of award, and a final project report must be submitted before a recipient is eligible to reapply. Organizations may receive only one grant per calendar year. Application reviews may include follow-up contact from Pirates Charities, and applicants must ensure their contact details remain accurate and monitored. Submissions must be completed via the online portal, and applicants will be asked to specify whether they are applying for a General or Signature Matching Grant during the process. Assistance or paper applications can be requested by contacting Jacqueline Damrow, Manager of Pirates Charities, at Jacqueline.Damrow@pirates.com. Pirates Charities aims to maximize impact by funding as many field renovation projects as possible each season, subject to project scope and available resources. There is no public-facing PDF or downloadable application document; all materials must be accessed and submitted through the program’s online portal. The review process may include inquiries for additional information, and successful applicants will be expected to demonstrate their project’s impact and completion through formal reporting within the year following award disbursement.