Step into Swim Funding Grant

Step into Swim Funding Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: National Swimming Pool Foundation
Last Updated: September 16, 2025

Summary

The Step Into Swim initiative aims to increase swimming participation among underserved communities by providing learn-to-swim programs. With over 300,000 swim lessons delivered, the program partners with various organizations to ensure children learn vital water safety skills. Funding is strictly for swim lessons, with a focus on developing safe swimmers who understand essential safety rules. Grants will prioritize facilities with certified pool operators, ensuring quality instruction and community engagement in aquatic activities.

Overview

The Step Into Swim Mission Our mission is to create more swimmers. By investing in the next generation of swimmers through learn-to-swim programming in underserved communities, the Step Into Swim initiative works to instill confidence; empower long-term participation in water activities; tout the positive benefits of water play; and advocate for safe practices in and around the water. Apply To date, Step Into Swim has provided more than 300,000 swim lessons. We are extremely proud of this accomplishment, but we aren’t done with our mission. Through our program, we create a strong partnership with swim programs and grant them funding to provide swim lessons. We work with programs such as the American Red Cross, Jewish Community Centers, School Districts, State Parks, USA Swimming, YMCAs, and more. Purpose These restricted funds are to be utilized ONLY for relevant expenditures concerning providing a quality, multi-level learn-to-swim program which expands opportunities for children to learn to swim who otherwise could not afford to participate in swim lesson programs. Program Objectives Grantee acknowledges the following Program objectives: Prepare young children to be safer in, on, and around bodies of water by teaching water safety skills that could ultimately save lives.Positively impact young people in the Grantee’s community by developing lifelong skills that combat childhood obesity by increasing health, recreational, and fitness opportunities.Utilize a multi-level, progressive swimming program to teach children the process of achieving – encourage them to dream, set worthy goals, work towards those goals, be a good teammate, and achieve measurable results.Enhance the positive impact of the Grantee’s aquatic program by offering learn-to-swim opportunities to young people who otherwise would not participate in swim lessons. Upon completion of the program, participants will be able to perform key swimming skills, including but not limited to learning how to safely enter and exit the water, learning how to safely swim to the wall by themselves, the ability to put his/her face into the water, having forward movement in the pool, having knowledge of different pool/lake situations, and understanding STEP INTO SWIM’s important safety rules. Grant Period The Grant period will be for one year, pending the signing of this agreement by Grantee, unless otherwise agreed upon arrangement has been made. Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Eligibility

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Minimum Grant Requirements: The Program will follow Grantee’s learn-to-swim curriculum with no less than one (1) hour of in-water instruction for each participant.Each resulting ‘safe swimmer’ shall have the following basic skills:To be able to enter the water safely.To get to the wall and safely exit the water.Putting his/her face into the water.The ability to have forward movement in the water.To have knowledge and training to adapt to different water situations.Each resulting ‘safe swimmer’ shall also have the understanding of STEP INTO SWIM’s important safety rules:Kids always swim with an adult.Never swim alone.Wear life jackets in and around open water.Grantee must validate the swimming capability of each graduating ‘safe swimmer’ and provide photos of students, classes, or families participating in the grant.

Ineligibility

Grantee may use the grant funds ONLY for the purpose of swim lessons, and in no case can the funds be used for other religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes within the meaning of Section 170(c)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended.