Inspired by legendary Stanford University women’s basketball coach Tara VanDerveer, this Fund honors her remarkable legacy by providing grants aimed at enhancing the advancement of women coaches across all collegiate sports. From basketball and volleyball to water polo and fencing, the Fund provides opportunities through fellowships, mentorship, and professional development.
Discover more about this year’s cohort of WSF VanDerveer Fellows here.
About the VanDerveer Fund
The WSF Tara VanDerveer Fund for the Advancement of Women in Coaching addresses a key challenge of Title IX: while the landmark legislation opened doors for girls and women in sports, the percentage of women in collegiate coaching has declined sharply. In 1971, women held 90% of head coaching roles for women’s college teams; by the 2024-25 academic year, that figure is just 41% in the NCAA. The gap is even more stark for BIPOC women, who account for only 8% of head coaching roles in women’s NCAA sports. Women also hold just 29% of NCAA assistant coaching positions, with BIPOC women making up only 7% of assistants across women’s and men’s teams. All the while, women head coaches of men’s collegiate teams have remained relatively stagnant during the same time frame.
This grant program works to close that gap by prioritizing investment, professional development, networking, and mentorship over a 10-month fellowship, from August through June. Grants are awarded to institutions of higher education in the United States committed to the objective of the Fund.
The Tara VanDerveer Fund is proudly administered by WSF and supported through generous private and public donations.
We are grateful for the philanthropic support of generous donors who believe in the power of sport to empower girls and women.
Support the impact of the Tara VanDerveer Fund, learn more about donating here.
Financial Award
Funds are given directly to colleges and universities to provide stipends for their WSF VanDerveer Fellows. These stipends can be utilized for salary, tuition, housing, or professional opportunities. Each institution will receive $15,000 to support their Fellow, along with an additional $2,500 dedicated specifically to the Fellow’s professional development.
The awarded institution is responsible for determining how to distribute the funds to the Fellow and may choose to offer extra financial support from their institutional budget.
To meet grant requirements, each VanDerveer Fellow must participate in at least two professional development opportunities, such as relevant coaching association conferences, sport specific training, or women’s coaching networking events.
WSF Programming
Beyond the required professional development opportunities, WSF creates meaningful opportunities for VanDerveer Fellows to learn and build relationships. These exciting opportunities include:
- An immersive trip to New York City for WSF’s Annual Salute to Women in Sports and related events in October with travel and accommodations fully covered and coordinated by WSF.
- Monthly connection meetings with other Fellows and Mentor Coaches, with an emphasis on building the cohort’s community and shared learning.
- Inspirational guest speakers who are experts in coaching and leadership, offering valuable insights and advice.
- Each Fellow receives a book for our book club; this year’s selection is Life’s Work: How Tara VanDerveer and Stanford Women’s Basketball Changed the Sport by Michelle Smith.
Grant Application Timeline
The application period is currently closed. Please return in January 2027 for our next funding opportunity.
- January 6, 2027 – Applications open.
- March 10, 2027 – Deadline to applications submissions.
- April 7, 2027 – Completion of the first round review, with notifications sent to all applicants.
- April 12 – April 23, 2027 – Conducting the second round review and interviews.
- May 7, 2027 – Final decisions communicated to applicants.
- August 1, 2027 – Official start of the grant period.
This timeline may be adjusted as necessary.
Who Can Apply
- Institutions of higher education with athletic programs located within the 50 United States, District of Columbia and U.S. Territories, including tribal colleges and universities.
- All NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA and other athletic association member institutions are encouraged to apply.
- Applications must be submitted by an approved representative; individuals cannot apply for the Fund on their own and must be sponsored by a university or college which would submit the application.
Grant Expectations
- Recipients are expected to utilize the grant for its designated purpose.
- Recipients must allow the selected Fellow to attend two required professional development opportunities.
- The chosen Fellow should be made available to participate in WSF’s programming, including the trip to NYC in October.
- All promotional materials regarding the Fellowship must acknowledge this grant and the Women’s Sports Foundation.
- Fellows will be available for interviews on behalf of WSF, provided there is advance notice and availability.
- Recipients are required to submit two progress reports throughout the duration of the Fund.
How to Apply
During the program application period, an authorized representative of the college or university can submit an application via Foundant GLM. Each application will be assessed based on the provided information, including the following criteria:
- Profile of the institution’s proposed mentor coach and the perceived mentorship experience for their chosen Fellow.
- Proposed job description for the WSF VanDerveer Fellow.
- The institution’s plan and process for selecting a WSF VanDerveer Fellow.
- The institution’s commitment to providing additional support to the their chosen Fellow.
- The institution’s demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion within its athletics department, faculty, and overall student body.
Notification of Application Acceptance
You will receive an email at the address provided in your profile once your application has been received. Applications that are late, incomplete or request funds for an ineligible request will not be accepted. Additional conditions under which an application will not be accepted include:
- Applications submitted via email or fax
- Applications for programs that require compulsory religious participation
- Applications requesting funding towards the purchase of land, construction of buildings, event sponsorships, and/or the purchase/care of animals
- Applications seeking retroactive funding
Contact
For questions about the Fund, contact Morgan Powell at MPowell@WomensSportsFoundation.org.
If you have questions about making a donation, contact Lisa Thuer-Winkelfoos at LThuer@WomensSportsFoundation.org.