Grantseekers
Heisman Trophy Youth Development Grants
Heisman Trophy Youth Development Fund
Through a partnership with the Heisman Trophy Trust and The New York Community Trust, The Community Foundation is seeking letters of interest (LOI) from nonprofits in Northeast Florida operating year-round, sports-based youth development programs. Grants are available for charitable organizations that integrate athletics, academics, and youth development activities to help young people up to age 18 develop social, emotional, ethical, cognitive, and physical skills.
Please read below to learn how to be considered for funding. Letters of interest will be accepted through April 14, 2026.
Program staff of The Community Foundation visited Protential Foundation, one of the Northeast Florida nonprofits who received support through the Heisman Trophy Trust in 2025.
In 2017, the Heisman Trophy Trust—which awards the prestigious Heisman Memorial Trophy to the best player in college football every season—established the Heisman Trophy Youth Development Fund at The New York Community Trust. Through the fund, the Heisman Trophy Trust works with local grantmakers, including The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, to support youth development programs that integrate athletics and academics.
Through this partnership, The Community Foundation is seeking letters of interest from nonprofits in Northeast Florida operating year-round, sports-based youth development programs. The Fund supports charitable organizations that integrate athletics, academics, and youth development activities to help young people up to age 18 develop social, emotional, ethical, cognitive, and physical skills.
Program staff of The Community Foundation visited Protential Foundation, one of the Northeast Florida nonprofits who received support through the Heisman Trophy Trust in 2025.
Eligibility
The goals of the Fund are:
- engage young people in academics;
- teach teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership, and excellence with integrity; and
- make sports widely available to young people regardless of athletic ability.
Eligible programs will meet the following criteria:
- Work with participants under the age of 18
- Operate in at least one of the following Florida counties: Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam, or St. Johns
- Encompass athletic activity*
- Provide formal competitive opportunities
- Provide academic enhancements beyond homework assistance
- Operate beyond a summer program
The review and selection process is competitive. Priority will be given to sports-based youth development projects that:
- have the potential for scale, i.e., serve substantial numbers of young people;
- are based in disadvantaged communities or operate on a minimum of five public school campuses;
- and integrate academics with youth development and athletics
*Athletic activity is defined as physical activity directed by adult or youth coaches that involve rules, formal practice, in areas including but not limited to: such as baseball, cycling, boxing, basketball, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, martial arts, rowing/crew, gymnastics, and track and field.
Timeline
- April 14, 2026: Letter of interest form closes
- April 30, 2026: Selected organizations that completed the letter of interest form are invited to apply
- May 19, 2026: Applications are due for first-time applicants
- June 8, 2026: Applications are due for nonprofits with existing Heisman grants
- August 2026: Expected timeline for nonprofits to be notified about grants, for programs taking place within the following year
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