Grants

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A RESOURCE FOR YOUTH ORGANIZERS

How You Can Provide Financial Resources for Youth Programs

The CFY Grant Program is the cornerstone of our mission, accounting for nearly 75% of CFY’s total community investment. This initiative provides critical financial support to a wide range of youth programs, helping to keep registration fees affordable so that children and families of all economic backgrounds can participate. By reducing financial barriers, we enable coaches, instructors, and leaders to focus on what truly matters—creating meaningful early life experiences for young people.

THE IMPACT OF GRANTS

This Year's Youth Activity Funding

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Athletic Registration Scholarships

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Equipment Supplement

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Travel Assistance

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Arts & Community Assistance

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Facility Enhancement Grant

GROWTH OVER THE YEARS

Funding Success Since the 1970s

Originally founded as a youth athletics provider in the 1970s, CFY has evolved into a funding resource for a growing number of recreational and competitive organizations dedicated to their sport or activity.

Through this grant program, donations to CFY are directly distributed to groups across Pinellas County, connecting donors who are passionate about positive youth experiences with an extensive network of organizations committed to healthy growth and development.

Youth Programs-2

WHY SPONSOR SUPPORT MATTERS

Explore Our Different Grants

Youth Athlete Reimbursement

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Sponsored by BayStar Restaurant Group

Athlete registration reimbursement maximum $15,000 per organization, per year. 

 

Apply for a Grant Here

Youth Sport Equipment Supplement

Phillies Bell Logo

Sponsored by the Philadelphia Phillies/Clearwater Threshers

Matching funds to help absorb the costs of safe and effective equipment for growing organizations.

Maximum matching award $10,000 per year (up to $5,000 for new organizations).

Apply for a Grant Here

Competitive Sport Travel AssistanceScreenshot 2025-03-11 at 11-12-13 AM 3

Sponsored by Congruity HR

Assisting athletes to reach higher levels of competition and the costs associated with regional/national travel.

Up to $2,500 per team, multiple team organizations each season (one award per team) $200 per child, single team organization each season.

Apply for a Grant Here

Facility Enhancement GrantsScreenshot 2025-03-11 at 11-12-13 AM 4

Sponsored by Ferg's Sports Bar & Grill

Fund community/recreational youth athletic organizations in Pinellas County who are partnering with their local community and CFY on the construction of a facility infrastructure enhancement that will be of benefit to the youth of the program at their primary facility. 

Up to $50,000 per year.

Contact eric@cfypinellas.org 

Youth Arts & Community Assistance

CGS 100 YEARS Logo Full Color

Sponsored by Clearwater Gas System

Promoting growth and diversity in youth programming with funding to support program expansions.

Maximum $10,000 per organization, per year.

Contact eric@cfypinellas.org 

SEE IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE

Funding Categories & Criteria

*Qualified participants must be students enrolled at a Pinellas County Title One School
Athlete registration reimbursement: Up to $15,000 per organization/year

Presented by the BayStar Restaurant Group

  • CFY’s priority is to fund community/recreational youth athletic organizations. Any funding provided to competitive teams will be based upon available funds and may change from time to time based upon budget availability. Competitive teams should check with CFY office to determine if funding is available prior to submission.
  • Community/recreational youth athletics organization
    • A community/recreational youth athletic organization is defined as a youth athletic organization playing a minimum of one half of its competition on or at its home facility.
    • Registration fees may not include the cost of uniforms that are retained by the participant the conclusion of the season.
    • Available to all participants who qualify*
    • Pinellas County youth athletic based organizations only.
  • Competitive team
    • Individual player grants availability are contingent on available funds.
    • Competitive teams should check with CFY office to determine if funding is available prior to submission.
    • Request maybe modified by CFY in its sole discretion based upon available funds.
    • Competitive teams are identified as teams that play more than one half of their competition at a facility other than their host facility.

     

  • Requests must be made at the conclusion of the organization’s registration cycle and must include the CFY Registration Ledger detailing registrants.

  • Funding under Athlete Registration Reimbursement is to cover the portion of the typical registration fee not funded by the participant.

  • Nonresident fees are ineligible for Athlete Registration Reimbursement (whether stand alone or embedded). If fees are embedded, they must be removed from the request in this category or the request will be denied.

  • Only Pinellas County Title One eligible youth will be considered for Athlete RegistrationReimbursement. For more information on which schools are Title One please go to; https://www.pcsb.org/Page/10735.

  • For facility cost to be included in the Athlete Registration Reimbursement program, the submitting organization needs to show evidence of their attempt to be “co-sponsored” by their host community and the reason for the community’s denial. This expense is typically not an expense funded by CFY and that cost will be denied without providing the requested documentation. This provision may be waived by the CFY Board of Trustees in their sole discretion.

  • Limited to one scholarship per fiscal year per program*

Equipment matching award: Up to $10,000/year ($5,000 for new organizations)

Presented by the Philadelphia Phillies/Clearwater Threshers

  • CFY’s priority is to fund community/recreational or competitive youth athletic organizations equipment needs and any funding provided to other programs for equipment supplement should first be vetted through the CFY office and will only be funded based upon budget availability.
  • Large equipment purchase to be used by participants at host facility
  • Uniforms are eligible for equipment supplement and are not eligible for athletic registration reimbursement funding.
  • Any equipment funded through this program may only be used by the requesting program for the express purpose the grant was approved for during the lifecycle of the equipment by the requesting organization and its participants as part of that program. Any unauthorized use of equipment funded with this program may render the applicant ineligible for future CFY funding.
  • Award not to exceed fifty percent of total cost
    • Evidence of matching specific to purchase is required prior to approval. Applicant must identify the specific funding and origin of the funding to be utilized to provide the match.Funding may not be “double counted” as a potential source as it must be specific to the match.
    • Equipment price quote from three vendors must be submitted with application

     

  • Limited to one award annually

  • Grant funds paid directly to approved vendor

  • Storage plans to ensure longevity must be detailed in application

Travel assistance: Up to $2,500 per team (one award per team), $200 per child
  • Youth athletes competing on the state/regional/national level where a qualifier or a qualifying invitation from the national office is required to advance
    • Number of qualified athletes and proof of qualification must be submitted with application
  • Awards may be for a team or individual, but not both
    • Individual awards are granted on a need basis, only to participants on the original roster
  • Evidence of matching fundraising specific to the travel event is required prior to approval
  • Funds are issued as a reimbursement to the organization contingent on the submission of receipts showing travel expenses paid
Arts & culture registration: Up to $10,000 per organization/year
  • Community arts and culture organizations engaging Pinellas County youth programming such as after school activities or camp
    • Available to all participants who qualify*
    • Limited to one scholarship per fiscal year per program
  • Requests must be made at the conclusion of the organization’s registration cycle and must include the CFY Registration Ledger detailing registrants
Youth community assistance: Up to $25,000/year

Presented by Clearwater Gas System

  • New athletic program or initiative meeting any of the following criteria:
    •  Established within an existing program serving youth in Pinellas County
    • Working with an established nonprofit affiliated with a professional sports organization
    • Partnership sponsorship program working in conjunction with the Juvenile Welfare Board
  • New program or initiative can only receive funds under this category one time.
  • Evidence of matching grants is required prior to approval

THE PEOPLE MAKING AN IMPACT

CFY Grant Committee

Bill Fisher, Chair

  • Craig Gilman
  • Chad Burgess
  • Daniel Slaughter
  • Danny Fisher
  • Hoyt Hamilton
  • Miguel Diaz
  • Sean Overton

 

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Presented by: Advent Health
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IMPORTANT DATES

Grant Applications Timeline

Applications are reviewed on a bi-monthly basis throughout the year with the following deadlines for each cycle:

Cycle 1

February 25

Cycle 2

April 25

Cycle 3

June 25

Cycle 4

August 25

Cycle 5

October 25

Cycle 6

December 18

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Who We Serve

CFY is proud to support the following organizations dedicated to providing positive outlets for active and creative youth in the Pinellas County community. Click to learn more about specific grant awards and their impact.

Arts School

QUESTIONS?

Grant FAQs

Does CFY do Sponsorships?

No, CFY is a grant funder only. Programs need to submit utilizing the CFY Grant Guidelines to be considered for funding.

What does Pinellas County Title 1 School eligible mean?

Participant must be currently enrolled in a Pinellas County School that is designated by PCS as a Title 1 school to be eligible for Athletic Registration Reimbursement.

Are participants who attend charter schools in Pinellas County eligible?

Yes, if the Charter School is an approved Title 1 School by Pinellas County Schools.

If my entity is not a 501©3 Non-Profit, am I still eligible to apply for a grant?

CFY funds may ONLY be distributed to not-for-profit organizations.

When can I expect to receive funding?

In most cases, funding will be provided within 15 days following the execution of the Partnership Agreement. The agreement is sent immediately upon approval following the nearest Board of Trustees meeting.

 

Apply for a Grant Today

Provide a wide range of youth programs the financial resources needed to keep registration fees low, ensuring accessibility to children and families of all economic backgrounds.