Adult Learn-to-Swim Grant

The Adult Learn-to-Swim Grant, a collaboration between the USA Swimming Foundation and U.S. Masters Swimming, aims to enhance adult swimming safety and reduce drowning risks. By consolidating fundraising efforts, the initiative provides vital resources and support for swim instructors and programs serving adults aged 18 and over. This grant empowers communities through education and outreach, ensuring that more adults have access to essential swim lessons and water safety training.

The USA Swimming Foundation and U.S. Masters Swimming entered into a new philanthropic partnership to create greater support for learn-to-swim efforts.
The Foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of USA Swimming and has a mission to save lives and build champions, has long dedicated itself to raising funds and awareness for childhood learn-to-swim programs. In January 2021, U.S. Masters Swimming will move its fundraising efforts for adult learn-to-swim programs from its USMS Swimming Saves Lives Foundation to the USA Swimming Foundation. Bringing all learn-to-swim fundraising efforts under the USA Swimming Foundation umbrella will create a greater generational impact by providing swim lessons to people of all ages.
If a parent doesn’t know how to swim, there’s only a 19 percent chance that a child in that household will learn how to swim, according to a 2009 study by Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, and more than one-third of American adults can’t swim the length of a pool, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The combined efforts of U.S. Masters Swimming and USA Swimming under the USA Swimming Foundation aim to change those statistics.
U.S. Masters Swimming will continue to own and administer adult learn-to-swim curriculum and certification for instructors and provide resources to programs offering adult lessons throughout the United States, and the USA Swimming Foundation will continue to provide water safety education, grant support to youth learn-to-swim programs and fundraise for National Team athletes.

Eligibility

The Adult Learn to Swim Grant Application is open to all swim instructors, facilities, and programs that want to help make more adults safer around water, with a goal to reduce adult drowning risk through education, financial support, and community outreach.Program must have a valid Federal Tax ID Number/Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Social Security Number (SSN) under which they do businessProgram must serve adults ages 18 and overProgram must adhere to the following: Instructors and lifeguards hold current CPR and First Aid certificationsMaximum 3:1 student-to-instructor ratioMinimum four (4) hours in-water instruction which supports, at a minimum, acquisition of the following skills: Step or jump into deep water and return to the surface;Float or tread water for one minute;Turn around in a full circle and find an exit;Swim 25 yards to the exit;Exit from the poolProgram has and maintains throughout the grant calendar year, current liability insurance for swim lessons operations with the following minimum limits, or be self-insured:Each Occurrence: $1,000,000General Aggregate: $3,000,000Program maintains formal, practiced Emergency Action Plans for each location or program siteProgram operates in pool facilities regulated by the Department of Health or similar governing agencyParticipants who complete the Program should be provided an opportunity to continue swimming with aUSMS program

Ineligibility

Learn to Swim Grant funds are not intended to provide budget relief, support facility overhead, construction or renovation, aid in the purchase of material goods (including equipment, apparel, etc.), or be used for advertising, promotional, or marketing purposes.