Womens Sports Foundation
Womens Sports Foundation is a New York, NY-based public charity founded in 1974 by Billie Jean King. It supports girls’ and women’s access to sports through community programs and grants, athlete support, research, and advocacy for gender equity in sports.
Womens Sports Foundation at a glance
In short: Womens Sports Foundation gave $765K across 66 grants in 2024 (avg $12K), top state New York. 73% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $764,531
- +45.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 66
- +24.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $11,584
- +17.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $17,602,639
- +71.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 73% first-time grantees (48 of 66, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (19% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Womens Sports Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 247 West 30Th Street 5Th Floor, New York, NY 10001
Phone: (646) 845-0273
Website: https://womenssportsfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Womens Sports Foundation
Who Womens Sports Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Junior Tennis Foundation Inc ($50K). Together the top 10 received $209K.
Grant Size Distribution
364 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 359 grants of 364 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states. The largest reported shares by recipient state were New York (19%), California (16%), Texas (8%), Massachusetts (7%), and Pennsylvania (5%). The Foundation describes Sports 4 Life as supporting youth sports organizations in under-resourced communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 66 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Womens Sports Foundation open to new grantees?
73%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 48 of 66 grantees (73%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $525K (2023) to $1.6M (2021). In 2024 it made 66 grants totaling $765K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Tennis Foundation Inc White Plains, NY | Gainbridge/Parity | $50,000 |
| Challenged Athletes Foundation San Diego, CA | CJ Share Your Spotlight Program | $20,000 |
| Eastern Mennonite University Harrisonburg, VA | Tara Program | $17,500 |
| Adelphi University Garden City, NY | Tara Program | $17,500 |
| Texas Woman's University Denton, TX | Tara Program | $17,500 |
| The Howard University Washington, DC | Tara Program | $17,500 |
| Trustees of Clark University Worcester, MA | Tara Program | $17,500 |
| College of the Holy Cross Worcester, MA | Tara Program | $17,500 |
| University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL | Tara Program | $17,500 |
| Central College Pella, IA | Tara Program | $16,031 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $17,602,639 | $15,001,728 | $7,457,864 | $764,531 | 66 | $322,403 |
| 2023 | $10,291,005 | $7,651,405 | $6,558,739 | $524,720 | 53 | $88,759 |
| 2022 | $9,209,167 | $8,517,660 | $6,615,182 | $820,119 | 83 | $118,364 |
| 2021 | $6,988,365 | $6,164,478 | $6,483,000 | $1,607,115 | 113 | $215,730 |
| 2020 | $7,344,111 | $5,573,376 | $4,804,324 | $604,396 | 49 | $308,237 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation states that it is “a powerful voice and catalyst for ensuring all girls and women have equal access to physical activity and sports and the benefits they provide.” Its work includes community programs to support girls’ engagement and retention in sports; advocacy on Title IX, gender equity, equal pay, and investment in women’s sports; and research on girls and women in sports and physical activity.
Sports 4 Life provides community funding, leadership training, and capacity-building for youth sports organizations serving girls and mixed-gender teams in under-resourced communities. The Foundation also lists grants for athlete travel and training, women in coaching and scouting, and other athlete-serving programs. Its program listings include scholarships and a student-athlete mentoring program.
The 2024 grants include support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Junior Tennis Foundation says it promotes amateur sports competition and tennis for underprivileged children. Starfinder Foundation says it uses soccer to support underserved youth, while City Schools Sports Association says it supports New York City schools’ extracurricular athletics and performing arts. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not descriptions of the Foundation’s own work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 66 grants totaling $764,531. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $50,000, with a median of $10,000.
The largest reported award was $50,000 to Junior Tennis Foundation Inc. for “Gainbridge/Parity.” Other notable awards included $20,000 to Challenged Athletes Foundation for the “CJ Share Your Spotlight Program”; $17,500 each to Eastern Mennonite University, Adelphi University, Texas Woman’s University, Howard University, Trustees of Clark University, College of the Holy Cross, and University of North Florida for the “TARA PROGRAM”; and $11,000 to Starfinder Foundation for “SPORTS 4 LIFE PROGRAM.”
Sports 4 Life eligibility generally includes nonprofit schools, parks and recreation departments, nonprofit organizations, and amateur sports leagues. Applicants must be able to provide structured developmental sports programming for girls ages 11–18, plan to sustain programming after the funding period, and meet applicable federal civil-rights requirements. The Foundation’s Sports 4 Life page says the application is closed and invites interested organizations to request notice of the 2027 cycle; a separate program listing marks the grants active. The Travel & Training Fund listing says individual grants range from $2,500 to $10,000, with up to $100,000 awarded per calendar year. Its eligibility criteria include U.S. citizenship or legal residency, amateur status, financial need, and a successful competitive record.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Billie Jean King as Founder and Honorary Chair; Ilana Kloss as Past Chair; Jim Wilkinson as Co-Chair – Development; Joan Haffenreffer as Vice Chair – Development; Kathleen Kunkler as Chair – Audit; Meghan Duggan as Past President and Chair Advocacy; Michael Gregoire as Chair – Investment; Portia Archer as Chair – Governance; Robin Harris as Chair – Board of Trustees; and Scott Pioli as Treasurer and Chair – Finance.
Womens Sports Foundation is led by Danette Leighton, CEO on every filing since 2022; 9 of 42 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Danette Leighton
CEO
On filings since 2022
50 hrs/week
$357K (2022) → $496K (2024)
Scout Bassett
President
Trustee → President, 2024
On filings since 2022
10 hrs/week
$18K (2024)
Meghan Duggan
Past President & Chair Advocacy
Trustee → President, 2022
President → Past President & Chair Advocacy, 2024
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$18K (2023) → $0 (2024)
Billie Jean King
Founder & Honorary Chair
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Gregoire
Chair - Investment
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Portia Archer
Chair - Governance
Trustee → Chair - Governance, 2023
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robin Harris
Chair - Board of Trustees
Trustee → Chair - Advocacy, 2021
Chair - Advocacy → Chair - Board of Trustees, 2022
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott Pioli
Treasurer & Chair - Finance
Secretary & Treasurer → Treasurer & Chair - Finance, 2021
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen Kunkler
Chair - Audit
New on the 2024 filing
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Natoya Curd
Senior Director of Ops & Administrator
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$106K (2020) → $137K (2024)
Brett Goodman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carol Stiff
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Darcie Glazer Kassewitz
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kate Johnson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lachina Robinson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Molly Van Wagenen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phaidra Knight
Trustee
President & Chair - Audit → Past President & Audit Chair, 2022
Past President & Audit Chair → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shawna Ryan
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bernard Muir
Trustee
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Henderson
Trustee
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Muffet McGraw
Trustee
Trustee → Chair - Advocacy, 2023
Chair - Advocacy → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Swin Cash
Trustee
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jill Nash
Trustee
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brenda Villa
Trustee
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ralph Andretta
Trustee
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rosetta Ellis-Pilie
Trustee
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vanessa Wallace
Trustee
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrea Brimmer
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Arielle Chambers
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ashlyn Harris
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elana Meyers Taylor
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katy Knox
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicole Jeter West
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jean Tatge
Chief Development Officer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$121K (2020) → $195K (2024)
Karen Issokson-Silver
Vice President, Research & Education
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$167K (2020) → $179K (2024)
Olga Harvey
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Strategy & Impact Officer → Chief Operating Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$186K (2020) → $228K (2024)
Patricia Bifulco
Vice President & Communications
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$137K (2020) → $153K (2024)
Sarah Faultless-Axelson
Vice President & Advocacy
Senior Director of Advocacy → Vice President & Advocacy, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$117K (2020) → $137K (2024)
Erin Casey
Vice President & Community Impact
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$141K (2022) → $151K (2024)
Ilana Kloss
Past Chair
On filings since 2020
7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Wilkinson
Co-Chair - Development
Chair - Development → Co-Chair - Development, 2021
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joan Haffenreffer
Vice Chair - Development
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (23)
- Former: Elana Meyers-Taylor (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Fiona Carter (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Kathleen Kayse (2020–2023) — Past Chair Board of Trustees
- Former: Nefertiti Greene (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Alana Nichols (2020–2022) — Past President
- Former: Aleia Taylor (2020–2022) — CMO
- Former: Andrea Perez (2020–2022) — Chair - Governance
- Former: Catherine Aker (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Deborah Antoine (2020–2022) — CEO
- Former: Gloria Nevarez (2020–2022) — Chair - Advocacy
- Former: Katrice Albert (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Sasha Digiulian (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Jeffrey Gewirtz (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Mori Taheripour (2020–2021) — Co-Chair-Diversity & Inclusion
- Former: Jayma Meyer (2020) — Chair - Advocacy
- Former: Kathryn Olson (2020) — Past Chair
- Former: Kelley Cornish (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Larissa Fontaine (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Larry Scott (2020) — Chair - Tara Fund
- Former: Lauren Lubin (2020) — Senior Director of Community Impact
- Former: Richard Lapchick (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Sarah Hughes (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Warde Manuel (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $496K, to Danette Leighton (CEO). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Womens Sports Foundation
How much does Womens Sports Foundation give each year?
Womens Sports Foundation gave $765K across 66 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $525K across 53 grants.
What is Womens Sports Foundation's typical grant size?
Womens Sports Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $11,584, across 66 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Womens Sports Foundation that year got $12K on average.
Where does Womens Sports Foundation give grants?
Womens Sports Foundation's top state is New York, with 19% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (16%) and Texas (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (6 grants), Philadelphia, PA (3 grants), Brooklyn, NY (3 grants) and Worcester, MA (2 grants).
Does Womens Sports Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 66 grants with a stated purpose on Womens Sports Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Sports 4 Life Program" (50 grants), "Tara Program" (8 grants) and "CJ Share Your Spotlight Program" (4 grants).
Who are Womens Sports Foundation's largest grantees?
Womens Sports Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Junior Tennis Foundation Inc ($50,000), Challenged Athletes Foundation ($20,000) and Eastern Mennonite University ($17,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 11% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Womens Sports Foundation?
Womens Sports Foundation reported $17.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $15.0M.
What does Womens Sports Foundation fund?
The Foundation states that it is “a powerful voice and catalyst for ensuring all girls and women have equal access to physical activity and sports and the benefits they provide.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Womens Sports Foundation?
Womens Sports Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check womenssportsfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Womens Sports Foundation's EIN?
Womens Sports Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7380557. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 26, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 29, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Womens Sports Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Womens Sports Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/womens-sports-foundation-morg_ecfdf16e7b604b4781d82668dbfc89a2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237380557_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Womens Sports Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/womens-sports-foundation-morg_ecfdf16e7b604b4781d82668dbfc89a2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Womens Sports Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Womens Sports Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?