Travel & Training Fund

Travel & Training Fund

Since 1984, we have awarded grants to more than 1500 individual athletes and teams – including figure skaters Michelle Kwan and Tarah Kayne, diver Mary Ellen Clark, track sprinter Scout Bassett, bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor, the U.S. Women’s National Water Polo Team and U.S. Deaf Soccer Women’s National Team.

Special thanks to our Travel & Training Fund partner Michelob ULTRA, who helps to fuel the athletic performance of women athletes with its generous support.

Funding

Individual grants will vary between $2,500 and $10,000. Up to $100,000 in grants will be awarded each calendar year.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

• Who is Eligible to Apply?
  • Individual applicants and all members of a team must be female U.S. citizens or legal residents and be eligible to compete for a U.S. national team.
  • Applicants must have amateur status.
  • Applicants must demonstrate financial need.
  • The WSF approves grants that will have a significant and lasting impact on the applicant.
  • A request needs to demonstrate a visible, apparent and immediate financial need and be consistent with the Travel & Training Fund’s mission.
  • Applicants must have a successful competitive record within their sport and/or age group.
  • Applicants must demonstrate the ability, based on competitive record and years in training, to reach and compete at an elite level.
  • Those that have competed regionally (outside their state), nationally and/or internationally and/or are ranked by a national governing body.
  • In order to qualify for a team application, a team must consist of two or more females.
  • An individual or team may be awarded only one grant per calendar year and a maximum of three grants to an individual or team in a lifetime.
• Grants can be used for coaching, specialized training, equipment, attire and/or travel.
• College Eligibility -
  • Per the NCAA, for Division I and Division III athletes, receipt of this fund for general training expenses will jeopardize a prospective student-athletes or an enrolled student-athlete’s amateur status and make the individual ineligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics at the Division I or Division III level.
  • However, in Division I and III NCAA Amateurism rules allow an individual to receive expenses provided they do not exceed the individuals’ actual and necessary expenses and are related to competition, or practice in preparation for competition.
  • If an individual accepts actual and necessary expenses it is the responsibility of each institution to ensure that its student-athletes comply with NCAA legislation.
  • Per the NCAA, for Division II athletes, prior to initial full-time enrollment at any collegiate institution, a prospective student-athlete may use her athletics ability for pay without jeopardizing her amateur status provided the competition occurs during her one-year grace period.
  • The one-year grace period is the year between the prospective student-athlete’s date of high school graduation, as determined by the NCAA Eligibility Center, and the next opportunity to enroll after the one calendar-year period has elapsed.
  • However, if a prospective student-athlete delays full-time collegiate enrollment following the one-year grace period and continues to participate in organized competition involving an amateur or professional team(s), the prospective student-athlete may use a season of intercollegiate competition and could be subject to an academic year in residence. (NCAA Division II Bylaw 14.2.4.2).
  • However, in Division II NCAA Amateurism rules allow an individual to receive expenses provided they do not exceed the individuals’ actual and necessary expenses and are related to competition, or practice in preparation for competition.
  • If an individual accepts actual and necessary expenses it is the responsibility of each institution to ensure that its student-athletes comply with NCAA legislation.
  • Athletes applying for the grant are responsible for checking the financial aid regulations of the NCAA or sports organization governing their current or future high school, college or university to avoid jeopardizing their eligibility for sports participation.
  • For specific questions about your collegiate eligibility, please contact the NCAA or your collegiate institution directly.
• Team Grant and College Eligibility
  • NCAA Amateurism rules allow an individual, on an outside team, to receive expenses from that team provided they do not exceed those individuals’ actual and necessary expenses and are related to competition, or practice in preparation for competition.
  • For example, “general” training expenses would not qualify for this exception, but actual and necessary expenses for meals, lodging and transportation that are directly related to competition would fit within this exception.
  • If an individual accepts actual and necessary expenses it is the responsibility of each institution to ensure that its student-athletes comply with NCAA legislation.
  • Please note that if an individual receives preferential treatment, and/or a benefit or service because of the individual’s athletic reputation or skill, or pay-back potential as a professional athlete this may affect the student-athlete’s amateur status.

Ineligibility

• Who is Not Eligible to Apply?
  • High school, college, university (intercollegiate or club) or community recreation sports teams cannot apply.
  • Any athlete who is a member of a team already applying for a team grant may not also apply for an individual grant in the same grant period.