U.S.A. Track & Field Foundation

What U.S.A. Track & Field Foundation does

USA Track & Field Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation incorporated in Ohio (2005) that operates as the private fundraising and grant-making arm supporting USA Track & Field athletes across the performance spectrum, from youth club participants through Olympic and World Championship competitors. The Foundation's core products are organized across a portfolio of grant programs — Elite Athlete Development Grants, Stephen A. Schwarzman Grants, Maternity Grants, Adopt An Athlete, Youth Club Grants, Tuition Reimbursement, National/World Masters Travel Grants, and discipline-targeted funds (Jump to Glory, Operation Hammer Sweep, John W. James Endowment, Michael Venning Hammer, Dirk Rohloff 800m/1500m) — supplemented by the Run With US! in-school/after-school mentorship program in which Olympic athletes serve as teachers and role models. The technology stack is minimal: a WordPress-based public website on usatffoundation.org functions as the donation and grant-application platform, with no proprietary software, AI, or API surface of any kind.

The Foundation's revenue model is donation-driven and concentrated on major gifts. Capital inflows come from Board of Directors contributions, large named gifts (most notably Stephen A. Schwarzman's $15 million multi-year pledge), family foundation grants (e.g., Burgess Family Foundation), and individual fan donations ranging from $50 to $1,000+ via one-time or recurring gifts, including checkout-flow donations through partner Running Warehouse. Over 20 years it has disbursed more than $24.5M in direct grants; 2024 disbursements exceeded $4.1M, and 2025 disbursements totaled approximately $4.5M ($3.65M Schwarzman Grants to 100 elite athletes plus $750K Elite Athlete Development Grants and $102,550 to 46 youth clubs). Go-to-market is led by the website, PR/press releases, donor communications, and Run With US! events; flagship commercial partnerships (Skechers, Sound Running) and event-tied activations (LA Track Fest at UCLA's Drake Stadium) extend distribution into mass-participation running audiences. Customer segments comprise elite/professional athletes, youth track clubs, masters athletes, and athlete-mothers — none of which pay the Foundation; rather, the Foundation pays them via grants, while donors are the paying constituency.

Name

U.S.A. Track & Field Foundation

Legal name

USA Track & Field Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://usatffoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The USA Track & Field Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds direct grants, career mentorship, and youth-development programs for USA track-and-field athletes, from Olympic-hopefuls to youth club participants, relying on major gifts and individual donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Athletic Foundation / Nonprofit Sports Grants

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Athletics Fundraising, Sponsorships & NIL Support (EDALAIAN), Cause, Community & CSR-Linked Sports Partnerships (Foundations, Youth Programs) (MPAKALAJ)

Keywords

• Athletic foundation grants
• Elite athlete grants
• Youth track and field
• Olympic athlete support
• Nonprofit sports foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The Foundation depends upon donations from its Board of Directors, major gifts, and from generous fans of track & field. The Foundation attracts and guides funds to new and innovative track and field programs.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The USA Track & Field Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) foundation that raises charitable donations and disburses them as direct financial grants and supporting programs to track and field athletes, youth clubs, and related causes in the United States. Its core offerings include Elite Athlete Development Grants, Stephen A. Schwarzman Grants, Maternity Grants, Youth Club Grants, Adopt an Athlete, Run With US! mentorship, and Tuition Reimbursement, with all programming supported by donor contributions.

Product overview

The USA Track & Field Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides a portfolio of financial grant programs supporting track and field athletes at all levels. The Foundation operates as a coordinated ecosystem of programs including elite athlete grants (Stephen A. Schwarzman Grants, Elite Athlete Development Grants), youth development programs (Youth Club Grants, Run With US!), specialized support (Maternity Grants, Adopt an Athlete), and masters athletics funding. Programs are funded through donations from the Board of Directors, major gifts, and generous supporters of track and field, with the Foundation having awarded over $24.5 million in direct grants over 20 years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Elite Athlete Development Grants Financial grants to elite track and field athletes who meet income-threshold and performance-standards criteria, supporting training and competition costs for Olympic, World Championship, and Team USA events.
• Stephen A. Schwarzman Grants Premier grant awards of $40,000 and $30,000 to top-tier Olympic-hopeful track and field athletes; in 2025 awarded $3.65 million to 100 elite athletes (65 at $40,000, 35 at $30,000).
• Maternity Grant Grants supporting elite athlete-mothers during postpartum recovery and return to competition, covering coaching, training, and competition-related costs after childbirth.
• Adopt an Athlete Donor-sponsorship program allowing individuals and organizations to underwrite specific elite athletes' Olympic training expenses (minimum contribution $5,000), with optional event-specific designation.
• Youth Club Grant Program Annual financial grants to U.S. youth track clubs and programs to provide competitive opportunities for young athletes; in 2025 awarded $102,550 to 46 clubs and in 2026 awarded $100,000 to 50 programs nationwide.
• Run With US! In-school and after-school running, exercise, nutritional, and goal-setting program directed by Olympic athletes who serve as teachers, mentors, and role models, including classroom brain-breaks and youth club visits.
• Tuition Reimbursement Program Educational financial support for athletes pursuing academic advancement alongside their athletic careers.
• Masters Track & Field Travel Grants Travel grants for masters athletes competing at U.S. national and world masters athletics championships; includes both National Masters and World Masters Travel Grants.
• Jump to Glory Fund Targeted supplemental grants of $1,000 to elite American athletes in high jump, long jump, triple jump, and pole vault, conceived by Board Member Henry Park to elevate U.S. performances in vertical and horizontal jump disciplines.
• Operation Hammer Sweep Initiative funding American hammer throwers with phased $100,000 releases aimed at achieving Team USA hammer-throw dominance at the Olympics.
• John W. James Endowment Grants Annual endowment-funded grants for elite U.S. throwers, modeled after the Foundation's successful thrower support initiatives such as Operation Hammer Sweep.
• Michael Venning Hammer Grant Named grant program supporting aspiring NCAA graduates making the transition into professional hammer throwing, in honor of Michael Venning.
• Dirk Rohloff 800m/1500m Grant Named grant program honoring lifelong track and field supporter Dirk Rohloff, providing financial support to athletes competing in 800m and 1500m middle-distance events.
• Burgess Family / USATF Foundation Educational and Vocational Tuition Reimbursement Program Multi-year funded program providing financial support to USATF Foundation grantees pursuing educational and vocational opportunities alongside their athletic careers.

Quantifiable outcome

• USATF Foundation grantees earned 23 gold, 9 silver and 4 bronze medals at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• SkechersflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 March 2026Skechers named Official Footwear and Apparel Sponsor for LA Track Fest through a multi-year partnership with Sound Running. In collaboration with the USATF Foundation, Skechers introduces its Skechers AERO Series of performance running shoes and supports the running community at UCLA.
• Sound RunningflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2026Sound Running organizes LA Track Fest, a World Athletics Silver Label event and part of the USATF Tour. The USATF Foundation provides prize money and competition support to US athletes from the Foundation. Drake Stadium at UCLA hosts the event.
• Running WarehouseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership extends significant discounts to grant recipients on purchases of uniforms, warm-ups, and general gear via runningwarehouse.com. Running Warehouse has integrated a donation option for customers at checkout to donate to USATF Foundation.
• Health TeacherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Run With US! program, an in-school/after-school based running/exercise, nutritional and goal setting/self-esteem program directed by Olympic athletes as teachers, mentors and role models.
• LPGAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUSATF Foundation grantees attended the LPGA Commissioner's Reception during the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, presented by P&G and hosted by Rapiscan Systems.
• USATF Masters Track & Field CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to launch the Nationals Masters Travel Grant Program, designed to expand access to national-level competition for Masters athletes by providing financial assistance to compete at USATF National Indoor and Outdoor Championships.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Athletes for Hope: Nonprofit founded by Andre Agassi, Muhammad Ali, Lance Armstrong and others connecting professional athletes with charitable causes, including direct athlete grant and service programs. Peer in mission of supporting professional athletes' charitable engagement and well-being.
• USA Swimming Foundation: National sport-specific 501(c)(3) foundation providing financial support to U.S. elite and youth swimmers via grants and Make-a-Splash programming. Direct peer in sport-foundation fundraising, athlete lifecycle coverage, and youth-club grantmaking.
• USA Gymnastics Foundation: Fundraising arm supporting U.S. gymnasts across elite and developmental levels. Direct peer operating the same sport-foundation model of donor-driven athlete grants under a national governing body brand.
• Women's Sports Foundation: Founded by Billie Jean King to advance equity and opportunity for women and girls in sport, including direct athlete grants and Travel & Training funding. Comparable as a sport-focused grantmaking foundation serving athletes, with overlapping donor and program structures.
• US Soccer Foundation: National sport-specific foundation supporting soccer field-building, programming, and athlete development grants in the U.S. Direct peer in the U.S. sport-foundation landscape with youth-grant and athlete-support programs.
• U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation: The fundraising arm of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic movement, providing direct financial support to Team USA athletes across all sports. Closest analog to USATF Foundation in mission (athlete financial support), donor model (major-gift philanthropy), and program structure (elite athlete grants, endowment funds).

Broad incumbents

• Laureus Sport for Good Foundation: Global sport-for-development foundation using sport to address social issues, with both programmatic and grantmaking activities. Broader in scope (international, multi-sport) but directly comparable in fund-and-grant athlete/community sport model.
• Right To Play: International nonprofit using sport and play to educate and empower children in disadvantaged communities. Comparable in donor-driven sport philanthropy and youth-development programming, though globally focused.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/usatffoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/usatffoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about U.S.A. Track & Field Foundation