Foot Locker Foundation Community Empowerment Program

LISC and Foot Locker, Inc., through the Foot Locker Foundation, are launching a fourth round of grants for the Foot Locker Foundation Community Empowerment Program, which funds nonprofit community organizations offering a range of services for young people, including health and wellness, education and life skills, mentoring, and career development. The program is part of Foot Locker Inc.’s Leading Education and Economic Development (LEED) initiative, a $200 million commitment to enhance the lives of their team members and the communities they serve. To check out the grantees from rounds one, two and three, click here.

In its fourth round, the Foot Locker Foundation Community Empowerment Program will provide grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 to organizations in 13 cities. The funding will help organizations create opportunities for youth to learn, grow and thrive.

What we’re offering

The Foot Locker Foundation Community Empowerment Program offers two types of grants:

• Grants to support current youth programming, create new programming or extend existing programming. These grants will range from $25,000 to $75,000 over one year.
• Grants to support capital improvement projects that enhance the impact of youth programming. These grants will range from $25,000 to $100,000 over one year.

Grants cannot be used to pay administrative costs (e.g., salaries, overhead). All grant proceeds must support the proposed project or programming.

Who is eligible for support?

This funding opportunity is open to 501c3 nonprofit organizations that:

• Primarily serve youth in underserved communities where support and opportunity are scarce
• Deliver programs and services to youth focused on health and wellness, education and life skills support, mentoring, or career development
• Maintain at least one full-time staff person focused on youth programming
• Can engage local Foot Locker store team members in volunteer activities tied to the proposed program
• Operate in underserved communities within the following 13 cities:
  • Atlanta, GA
  • Baltimore, MD
  • Chicago, IL
  • Dallas, TX
  • Detroit, MI
  • Houston, TX
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • New York City, NY
  • Newark, NJ
  • Oakland, CA
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • San Francisco, CA
  • Washington, DC

  If a potential applicant does not have its own 501c3 status, it may apply through a fiscal agent, which must be a 501c3 nonprofit organization. If awarded, the entire grant must pass through the fiscal agent to the applicant.

  How to apply for a grant

  Interested organizations must submit an online application by September 30, 2024.

  We strongly encourage potential applicants to read the Frequently Asked Questions and watch the informational webinar before applying.

  Timeline for the selection process

  Key dates include:

  • May 29, 2024 – application opens
  • June 18, 2024 – informational webinar
  • September 30, 2024 at 11:59 pm EST – deadline to submit proposals
  • By January 2025 – applicants notified of grant awards
  • By April 2025 – public announcement of grant awards

  Learn more

  Potential applicants may direct questions to SportsandRec@LISC.org.