SportsFun(d)

What SportsFun(d) does

SportsFun(d) is a nonprofit grant-making partnership initiative based in Louisville, Kentucky, overseen by the Louisville Sports Commission (LSC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999. The organization exists to expand access to affordable, recreational-level youth sports for children in Louisville's marginalized neighborhoods, where distance from safe play spaces and participation costs create structural barriers. It addresses these barriers by funding facility availability, equipment, coaching, and skill development through two grant products: Expansion Grants for existing 501(c)(3) nonprofits seeking to grow current programs, and New Program Grants for individuals or organizations with a concept and identified partners. Grants are capped at 50% of a program's overall revenue and limited to three consecutive years of similar programming.

The organization has no proprietary technology platform, no app, and no AI components; its operational footprint is a WordPress website (sportsfundky.org) with downloadable grant applications, plus direct outreach through LSC personnel (Julie Howell, Lisa Mills). All operational costs are covered by private support, enabling 100% of donations to flow directly to funded programs. Revenue is derived entirely from individual, philanthropic, and organizational donations — there is no fee-for-service or commercial pricing model. Program partners have grown from 6 in 2021 to a cumulative roster exceeding 18 organizations across soccer, swimming, tennis, volleyball, fencing, cycling, pickleball, wheelchair basketball, and (as of 2025) literacy, with Louisville Parks & Recreation as the most consistent repeat recipient.

The GTM motion is sales-led and relationship-driven: prospective grant applicants reach the organization via the website or through direct contact with LSC, while donor acquisition runs through the website and the LSC's existing philanthropic network, including the Humana Foundation, YMCA, Louisville City FC, and other regional supporters. Management consists of a small Grants Committee (Lisa Mills, Beth Bush, Julie Howell, Ben Johnson) embedded in LSC rather than a dedicated executive team.

Name

SportsFun(d)

Legal name

SportsFun(d)

Website

https://sportsfundky.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SportsFun(d) is a Louisville, Kentucky nonprofit grant-making initiative overseen by the Louisville Sports Commission that funds 501(c)(3) organizations to expand affordable, recreational-level youth sports access in marginalized neighborhoods. It operates through Expansion Grants and New Program Grants funded entirely by donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Sports Grant Programs

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAKAKAK

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

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Management & Promotion Services

SECONDARYMPAKACAF

Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Collegiate & Amateur Sports Organizations (NCAA, Federations, Clubs)

SECONDARYMPAKACAG

Recreational & Intramural Sports Programs

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Collegiate & Amateur Sports Organizations (NCAA, Federations, Clubs)

SECONDARYMPAKALAJ

Cause, Community & CSR-Linked Sports Partnerships (Foundations, Youth Programs)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Sponsorship & Endorsements

Keywords

• Youth sports grants
• Nonprofit grant programs
• Recreational youth athletics
• Community sports funding
• Charitable sports access

Headquarters

HQ city

Louisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: SportsFun(d) generates revenue entirely through donations from individuals, philanthropists, and organizations. All operational costs for SportsFun(d) are covered by private support, meaning 100% of donations go directly to youth sports programs. The organization is overseen by Louisville Sports Commission, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

SportsFun(d) is a grant-making partnership that awards Expansion Grants to existing 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to increase access to youth sports programs and New Program Grants to individuals or organizations with a concept for a youth sports program. Grants are limited to 50% of a program's overall revenue and capped at three consecutive years of similar programming, targeting affordable, sustainable, recreational-level sports in Louisville's marginalized neighborhoods. The program is overseen by the Louisville Sports Commission, with 100% of donations going directly to youth sports programs.

Product overview

SportsFun(d) is a grant-making partnership program, not a technology product. It offers two types of grants: Expansion Grants for existing 501(c)(3) organizations to increase access to sports programs, and New Program Grants for individuals or organizations with youth sports program concepts. The program is overseen by the Louisville Sports Commission and works to create affordable recreational-level sports opportunities for marginalized youth in Louisville.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Expansion Grants

Quantifiable outcome

• Youth actively involved in sports are 3x more likely to graduate than non-athletes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Louisville Sports CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sports Fun(d) is overseen by the Louisville Sports Commission, a Kentucky-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 to build a legacy of economic and social vitality through sports. This is the primary organizational partnership, with LSC providing administrative oversight and management of the SportsFun(d) grant program.
• Flaget Rams FootballminorOthersYouth football program partner receiving SportsFun(d) grant in 2021 to provide affordable sports activities in Louisville's marginalized neighborhoods.
• Louisville Fencing CenterminorOthersFencing program partner receiving SportsFun(d) grant in 2021. Part of non-traditional sports development initiative.
• Louisville Parks & RecreationcoreOthersKey program partner providing multiple sports programs (Soccer, Swimming, Volleyball, Pickleball, Rolling with a Purpose) across multiple years (2021-2024). Major recipient of expansion grants for accessible recreational sports.
• Team ShaanminorOthersYouth sports program partner receiving SportsFun(d) grant in 2021.
• West Louisville Tennis ClubminorOthersTennis program partner in West Louisville receiving SportsFun(d) grant in 2021.
• DELTA / KIVA VolleyballminorOthersVolleyball program partner receiving SportsFun(d) grant in 2022.
• West Louisville SportsminorOthersYouth sports organization partner receiving SportsFun(d) grant in 2022.
• Boys and Girls HavenminorOthersYouth services organization receiving SportsFun(d) grant in 2023 for sports programming.
• Junior Mustangs Wheelchair BasketballminorOthersAdaptive sports program partner receiving SportsFun(d) grant in 2023, providing wheelchair basketball opportunities.
• Louisville Sting CyclingminorOthersCycling program partner receiving SportsFun(d) grant in 2023. Part of non-traditional sports development.
• Nativity AcademyminorOthersEducational institution receiving SportsFun(d) grant in 2023 for sports programming.
• Team CGMminorOthersYouth sports program partner receiving SportsFun(d) grant in 2023.
• West Louisville SoccerminorOthersSoccer program partner in West Louisville receiving SportsFun(d) grant in 2023.
• 502 EaglesminorOthersYouth sports organization receiving SportsFun(d) grant in 2024.
• Adversity Skills Sports AcademyminorOthersSports academy partner receiving SportsFun(d) grant in 2024.
• West End SchoolminorOthersEducational institution receiving SportsFun(d) grant in 2024.
• I'd Rather be ReadingminorOthersLiteracy program partner receiving SportsFun(d) grant in 2025, demonstrating cross-program collaboration.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• US Soccer Foundation: National grantmaking foundation funding safe playing spaces and soccer programs for youth in underserved urban and rural communities. Comparable mission, grant-based distribution model, and focus on access barriers SportsFun(d) explicitly targets.
• Laureus Sport for Good Foundation: Global foundation that funds sport-for-development programs serving underprivileged youth. Direct comparable to SportsFun(d) as a grantmaking organization channeling philanthropic capital to community sports nonprofits to address youth disadvantage.
• Tony Hawk Foundation: Foundation funding skatepark construction and youth programs in low-income communities. Comparable as a sport-specific grantmaker for under-resourced youth, though narrower sport scope than SportsFun(d).
• Aspen Institute Project Play: National initiative that researches and advances youth sport access, particularly for underrepresented communities. Peer in mission and adjacent operating model (research + ecosystem convening + funding influence for youth sports access).
• Good Sports: Nonprofit that provides sports equipment, apparel, and footwear grants to youth programs serving low-income families. Comparable in being a pass-through grantmaker addressing participation-cost barriers in youth sports.
• Beyond Sport: Global nonprofit that funds and convenes organizations using sport to drive social impact, including grants to youth-focused sport-for-development programs. Peer in the sport-for-social-change grantmaking and capacity-building space.
• Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation: Foundation that funds youth development programs including sports infrastructure, mentoring, and STEM for at-risk kids. Direct peer as a youth-focused sports foundation using grantmaking plus direct program delivery.

Broad incumbents

• MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation: League-and-union-backed foundation funding youth baseball/softball programs, with emphasis on underserved communities. Comparable league-affiliated youth sports foundation model, but with broader resources and national footprint.
• Dick's Sporting Goods Foundation: Corporate foundation associated with a major national sporting goods retailer that funds youth sports access and equity initiatives. Broad incumbent funder in the same space with far greater scale and geographic reach.
• National Basketball Association Foundation: NBA-affiliated foundation funding youth basketball and sport-based development, including access for underrepresented communities. Comparable league-backed youth sports philanthropy structure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 SportsFun(d)