Apply for Financial Assistance

We have an open enrollment policy. You are invited to submit applications all year. Applications will be reviewed quarterly.

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Application Guidelines

To provide financial and other assistance to existing sports programs that wish to expand participation and paid employment opportunities to those who otherwise would not be able to participate in their programs.

In general, the applicant should be a 501-(C)-3 non-profit, school, parks and recreations department, non-profit organization or an amateur sports league.

Eligible applicants must demonstrate that their program meets the following criteria:

Is currently operating a sports program in Bennington County for area youth.
Has committed and experienced adult leadership, each of whom have Safe Sport or comparable certificates and have passed police background checks.
Shows proof of insurance.
Has the ability to provide ongoing funding to implement sports programming after the life of the funding has expired.
Complies with all of the applicable Federal Civil Rights laws, including the requirements pertaining to developing and submitting an Equal Employment Opportunity Plan (EEOP), reporting Findings of Discrimination, and providing language services to Limited English Proficiency (LEP) persons.
Participates in BSF program evaluation, reporting and promotional activities.
Will acknowledge that financial assistance was provided by the BSF.

The BSF will award a total of up to $20,000 yearly; consisting of participation funds of up to $2,000 each to accepted programs and up to three (3) employment funds per program of up to $1,000, recommended pay at $15.00/hr.

Financial assistance for participation fees, athletic equipment, transportation, and other approved costs for youth who face barriers preventing their participation. Financial assistance for paid employment for youth 16+ to work in the program.

We have an open enrollment policy. You are invited to submit applications all year. Applications will be reviewed quarterly.

You will need your organization’s primary address, Employer Identification Number (EIN), IRS tax-exempt determination letter and IRS Form W-9 and email address in order to apply.

About the Financial Assistance Program

Beginning in 2022, the BSF will award a total of up to $20,000 annually through an application process overseen by BSF board and community members.

Financial assistance will be available to cover participation, equipment, and other costs to help eliminate barriers that prevent youth from attending programs.

Financial assistance will be available to hire teens to work at the programs. This will provide leadership and mentoring for the participants and give the teens a good work experience.

Application Procedure Webinar

We will offer an interactive webinar for all designated program personnel interested in learning more about the application process before the application deadline. Notice of the webinar will be provided to all interested programs.

Notification of Application Acceptance

You will receive an e-mail at the e-mail address provided in your profile when your application has been received.
Conditions under which an application will not be accepted:
- Applications that are faxed, incomplete or late (we will make every effort to notify you before the deadline if we see problems with the application);
- Applications for programs that require compulsory religious participation;
- Applications whose programs discriminate against youth based on economic, ethnic, gender or language;
- Applications requesting retroactive funding.

Questions?

After reading the above guidelines carefully, if you have any questions, please contact Deborah Larkin deborahslarkin@gmail.com or Jeannie Jenkins jeanniejenkins829@gmail.com

Financial Assistance Program FAQs

The Bennington Sports Foundation.

Sport is generally recognized as system of activities based in physical athleticism or physical dexterity.

Currently operating, non-profit, youth-sport programs that have committed and experienced adult leadership and are committed to giving girls and boys participatory and employment opportunities who otherwise would not be able to participate without financial or other support.

We have an open enrollment policy. You are invited to submit applications all year. Applications will be reviewed quarterly.

Financial assistance to programs to increase participation may be up to $2,000 per program. Financial assistance for teen employment may be for up to three (3) teens per program at a rate of up to $15.00/hr., with a cap at $1,000.00.

We may award a total of up to $20,000 per year

This is a very good question that may vary by program. The BSF will be looking at the ways the sports programs seek out and recruits participants.

Yes. Programs are encouraged to reapply if they find the program is meeting the goals for the program and the new participants.

Absolutely. It’s not uncommon for children to try more than one sport and its very healthy for children to play different sports. We strongly encourage programs to offer participants multi-year opportunities in either their program or encourage kids to play other sports so they have a better chance to fully integrate with the community through sports.

There are many reasons why participants drop out. Each application will be reviewed based on the merits of the application and reasons why the participants didn’t continue will be discussed.

We encourage you to reach out to the board members listed on this website.

You would contact the BSF. We would make decisions on a program-by-program basis.

Analyzing the evaluations from all the participating sports organizations will give us a better understanding of how the programs are working and enable us to provide constructive feedback to the programs.