AFYF Grant Focus Areas and Application

Investing across Georgia, the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation helps nonprofit organizations reduce childhood obesity and improve youth fitness. If your organization is a fit for one of these funding programs, we encourage you to submit an application or a letter of inquiry.

During the first six months of 2009, AFYF will be considering new approaches to support youth-fitness efforts around the state of Georgia, outside of the Falcons Fitness Zones.  If your organization would like to share ideas or examples of novel and effective approaches to improving youth fitness, please send a two-page summary to LBond@Falcons.nfl.com.  These ideas will not be considered applications for funding and will not be reviewed for funding. The ideas may help AFYF shape its statewide grant making going forward.  AFYF is especially interested in hearing about two areas of work.

First, AFYF is interested in information on specific public schools in Georgia that are exceeding the state's minimums in delivering physical education.  Please include contact information for the principal and P.E. teacher in any submissions.

Second, AFYF is interested in hearing about ways that new equipment or supplies would expand opportunities to engage more kids in physical activities.  AFYF is open to examples involving any type of fitness equipment or supplies.  The critical feature is how the acquisition of equipment or supplies would increase the number of kids participating in physical activities.

Athletic Field Development
AFYF expects the National Football League to make at least one grant award for an athletic field development project. 

The National Football League funds field development projects annually in Atlanta and other NFL markets. In partnership with LISC, the NFL Youth Football Fund makes field grants through its Grassroots Program. Since 1998, the program has contributed more than $12.5 million to support more than 100 field projects in 40 cities. To learn more about the Grassroots Program and how to apply, please visit the LISC site at http://www.lisc.org/section/goals/healthy/youth.

Signature Program
In fall 2005, the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation launched the Falcons Fitness Zones as the Foundation's Signature Program initiative.  In partnership with local nonprofits. The Foundation has established four Fitness Zones within the City of Atlanta, with the focus in neighborhoods surrounding Atlanta's Georgia Dome, and one Fitness Zone in Hall County, home to the Atlanta Falcons.

In all, as of the 2008-09 school year Falcons Fitness Zone partners expect to deliver services at more than 30 sites across the Zones. Through in-school physical education and after-school programming, the Foundation is serving approximately 10,000 children during the school year. The Fitness Zones provide youth with opportunities to participate in sports and fitness programs, and help deliver high-quality physical education. The Foundation has invested nearly $2 million a year to children in the Fitness Zones.

For the first six months of 2009, AFYF will focus its grant making on strengthening programming within the Falcons Fitness Zones.  If you have an idea for the Falcons Fitness Zones, please consider submitting a letter of inquiry. The Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation seeks letters of interest from nonprofit organizations that can heighten the Foundation’s impact on fitness and obesity levels of youth across Georgia, with an emphasis on kids living in the Falcons Fitness Zones and an ability to collaborate with other nonprofit organizations.

The Foundation seeks to reach youth not currently served by existing programs and to deepen the engagement of youth already touched in some way. Interested organizations should submit a letter of inquiry that summarizes how their work could impact youth. Programming may be delivered through existing service delivery sites, in collaboration with current Fitness Zone partners, or may be delivered through new means.

Send letters of inquiry to:
Lea Bond
Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation
4400 Falcon Parkway
Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542
lbond@falcons.nfl.com

Falcons Fitness Zones Neighborhood Fund
Understanding that many times solutions are found closest to the individuals the Foundation aims to serve, the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation partners with the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta to provide technical assistance, small grants ($500 to $3,000) and leadership awards to individuals and groups ready to put their ideas into action.

The Fund targets neighborhoods that are part of the Falcons Fitness Zones, with an emphasis on those near Atlanta’s Georgia Dome. The Fund helps neighborhoods provide youth with fitness activities and opportunities for healthy lifestyles. Recipients do not have to be organized as a nonprofit organization. The Community Foundation administers the Fund. Submit a letter of inquiry to Tené Traylor at ttraylor@atlcf.org or download an application at http://www.atlcf.org/www/Documents/falconsapp06b.doc.