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Kids Run the Nation Grant Fund

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The goal of the RRCA’s Kids Run the Nation Grant Fund is to provide financial assistance to running clubs, schools, and community-based nonprofits interested in implementing or currently hosting youth running programs. The RRCA awards these grants on an annual basis through an application and selection process.

Kids Run the Nation Logo

Since 2007 the RRCA has:

  • Granted over $310,000 to more than 400 youth running programs in the U.S.
  • Been instrumental in getting more than 155,000 kids running as part of a healthy lifestyle
  • Donated more than 88,600 copies of the Running Guide for Kids to youth running programs

Grant Application Criteria

  • Small grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 will be awarded to youth running programs throughout the U.S.
  • Running clubs, events, or other organizations with the IRS 501(c)(3) designation are eligible to apply
  • Elementary and middle schools that provide an organized after-school running program are eligible as well
  • All applicants must be an official 501(c)(3), school, parent booster club, PTA, or a similar entity
  • No grants will be given to individuals under any circumstances

Review the following criteria before submitting your grant application below:

  • Your program should have kids running regularly, more than once each week for multiple weeks, as opposed to participating in a one-time event. The program may culminate in a goal fun run or other organized running event.
  • Your program should be a structured running program incorporating educational topics and running activities, ideally utilizing the RRCA’s Kids Run the Nation curriculum.
  • Your program may be a startup program or an established program.
  • Your program must be gender-inclusive, encouraging and welcoming participation by children of all genders. The program may not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ethnic origin, or economic status. The program may outline age groups and may indicate a minimum and maximum age for participation.
  • Your program must meet SafeSport Act requirements, including completion of sexual abuse awareness and reporting training and ideally requiring criminal background checks on all adult program staff and volunteers.

Kids Run the Nation

will fund:

  • Marketing materials, brochures, posters, fliers, and other printed or digital materials informing parents about the program
  • Advertising the program in a community newspaper or website
  • Hosting a program website
  • Permit or usage fees to use a local park or running track
  • Hydration supplies, including water bottles, cups, or coolers
  • Snacks and meals for program participants
  • Incentives and awards such as Toe Tokens®, ribbons, shirts, water bottles, backpack tags, patches, etc.
  • Mileage logs, worksheets, and other written and digital materials for program participants
  • Other items that the RRCA Grant Selection Committee sees fit to fund

will not fund:

  • Sports drinks or other high sugar, high sodium beverages
  • Sponsorship for individual runners
  • Travel to competitive events
  • Race entry fees for individual participants
  • Social events for program staff or volunteers
  • Salaries or travel costs for paid program staff
  • Competitive Track and Cross Country Teams that are governed by a statewide school athletic federation
  • Youth sports programs in which the primary focus is not the sport of running
  • Other items the RRCA ​Grant ​Selection ​Committee determines to be ineligible for funding

2023 Kids Run the Nation Grant Application

The 2023 grant application period closes at 5:00 PM EDT on August 1, 2023.

"*" indicates required fields

Program Contact Person*

Program Details

Is this a new or existing youth running program?*
Is your youth running program a 501(c)3 nonprofit or a program of a 501(c)3 organization?*
If you answered "No 501(c)3 designation" to the question above, is your program school-based?*
If your program is school-based, is the school designated as Title I?*
Is your program part of an RRCA member running club or event?*
Is your program gender-inclusive? For the RRCA's purposes, a gender-inclusive program welcomes children of all genders to participate in the youth running program together.*
What grade range(s) does your program serve? Select all that apply.*
Select the most applicable grade range(s). You may select more than one option.
If your program is new or did not operate during the pandemic, please enter "N/A."
Please include the program's URL. If the program does not have a website, include a link to its Facebook page or other social media account(s). If the program does not have an online presence, type "N/A".

Financing, Funding, and Insurance

Are your program activities insured?*
Do you charge a fee for participation in your program?*
If you do not charge a fee for participation, please choose "This is a free program."

Leadership and Staffing

How will your program be staffed? Select all that apply.*
Commonly referred to as the SafeSport Act, Congress enacted the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 on February 14, 2018. This act requires the following: Any adult (mandated reporter) who is authorized to interact with youth athletes is required to report suspicions of abuse to the appropriate law enforcement agencies within 24 hours. All adults working with youth are required to go through abuse prevention training of some sort that is pro-active rather than re-active. The abuse prevention training must include educational material about the process of sexual grooming, how to recognize it, and how to prevent it. Organizations working with youth should have a criminal background check policy in place that addresses obtaining background checks for those that will have direct contact and oversight of children during a youth program or race. Do you require all adults working with children in your program to complete sexual abuse awareness and reporting training? The RRCA's free training resource is compliant with these federal requirements.*
Does your program or organization perform comprehensive background checks on all adults working with children in your program?*

Grant Details

Has your program previously applied for a Kids Run the Nation grant?*
If you have previously applied for a Kids Run the Nation grant, were you awarded funds?
If awarded a grant, to whom should the check be mailed?*
Address*
Application Certification*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
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