Grant Guidelines

Thank you for your interest in applying for a grant from the National Winter Sports Education Foundation (NWSEF). We encourage you to review the following grant guidelines and funding priorities before you start your application. NWSEF forms close relationships with our grantees, so before you apply, make sure you're ready to become best friends. If you're ready:

(1) Download and Complete the Application

(2) Email the Completed Application and ALL Attachments to by midnight (Eastern) on September 15, 2018 - late applications will NOT be considered.

(3) Email Subject Line: GRANT APPLICATION (Name of Organization). NOTE: If sending multiple emails, please note 1 of (2, 3, etc.) so that we can keep track of all emails & attachments.

Download Grant Application

Am I Eligible?

NWSEF Grants are awarded only to United States non-profit organizations (including non-profit ski and recreation areas) that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or public schools. Furthermore, NWSEF only provides funding for winter activities, specifically “Learn To” Ski (Nordic or Alpine) or Snowboard Programs for youth ages 5-18. We do not provide grants for individual scholarships, team fees, competitions, "one day only" events, research efforts or Ski and Snowboard Club general operating costs.

Options:

Nordic Skiing (note, new applications for the "Nordic Rocks Program" are on hold until the 2019/2020 season).
Alpine Skiing
Snowboarding

At this time, NWSEF funds only LEARN TO programs, meaning first time on snow through basic ski/snowboard competency. Moreover, NWSEF relies on data tracking (attendance, skills progression, etc.) to secure funding, if your organization cannot track attendance, skills, and other basic information and provide that information (de identified data is acceptable) to NWSEF throughout the program, your program should NOT apply for a grant.

For more information, email to get on the "Webinar Call List" to attend upcoming eligibility webinars.

What can I use Grant Money For?

Examples:

Lift Tickets
Equipment (including warm jackets, snow pants, gloves etc.) including specialized Nordic Rocks skis for In-School PE Programs.
Equipment Storage and Transportation
Participant Transportation
Lessons/Coaching
Supervisory Staff
Data Collection (via software and/or staff)
Healthy Snacks for Program Participants
Insurance
For non-profit ski areas, grant money may be used (on a case by case basis) for certain infrastructure upgrades.

Funding Priorities

NWSEF grants are highly competitive, so do not be discouraged if you aren't awarded a grant the first time around. NWSEF supports winter sports programs that serve all youth, but funding priority is given to programs that provide access to diverse and under resourced populations. Moreover, in an effort to encourage an early introduction to snow sports, funding priority is also given to programs serving youth ages 5-12. NWSEF funding must be spent on "Learn To" activities, meaning first time on snow experiences through basic ski/snowboard competency (can ski/snowboard greens/blues safely without assistance). Generally NWSEF prefers programs that serve 100 or more youth, and provide more than 4 ski/snowboard sessions per season, and have strong community ties (retailers, ski areas, etc.). If you run a national program, NWSEF prefers funding programs on a national, rather than regional level.

Grant Amounts & Multi-Year Funding

NWSEF seeks to utilize grantmaking as a means of empowering organizations and schools to develop strong, sustainable programs without continued, significant annual support from the NWSEF. Initial grant amounts generally range from $5,000 - 50,000, with some exceptions. A good rule of thumb is to apply for no more than $100 per participant for Nordic Programs and $250 per participant for Alpine Skiing/Snowboarding. We advise that you start small and prove your ability to scale before asking for larger grant amounts. NWSEF strongly favors programs that will make substantial progress towards establishing a long term, sustainable winter sports program within 5 years or less. Grantees that continue to show growth and promise may re-apply for funding, with the understanding that NWSEF will continue to encourage the programs to move beyond NWSEF’s contributions within 3-5 years.

Grantee Expectations

If selected as a grantee, you will be expected to work closely with NWSEF staff to make improvements to, monitor and raise funding for your programs. Youth must attend an average of
4 sessions (1 hour long for nordic, 3 hours long for alpine/snowboarding) and you will be expected to take attendance, track progress, and provide a year end report. Failure to do so will impact eligibility for future funding. Programs that are unable to track attendance, skills progress, and other data should not apply for a grant.

Timeline

Applications are accepted until September 15, 2018 for the upcoming winter. We may contact you directly for further clarifications or questions during our grant review.

Decisions will be announced in November. If you have questions, email for help.