The Scout Bassett Grant, established by The Scout Bassett Fund in partnership with the Women’s Sports Foundation and Athletes for Impact, will provide much-needed financial support to women athletes with disabilities and spotlight these athletes’ extraordinary achievements through original and compelling storytelling.
The Scout Bassett Fund is dedicated to breaking down financial barriers that prevent women athletes with disabilities from reaching their full potential in elite athletic events and competitions while amplifying their stories and remarkable achievements through storytelling.
Deadlines and Relevant Dates
Grant Eligibility and Criteria
Individuals applying for this grant are evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Individual applicants must be U.S. citizens, dual citizens, or legal residents.
- Women athlete with a disability/disabilities with elite paralympic aspirations in disability classes and sports recognized by the International Paralympic Committee.
- Financial need and/or lack of support from traditional sources.
- Description of how the grant contributes to the athlete’s ongoing involvement and progress in their sport.
- Grant recipients must agree to have their name and likeness used in promotional assets in perpetuity, which could be shared by the Scout Bassett Fund, Scout Bassett, Women’s Sports Foundation, and Athletes For Impact.
- Grant recipients must agree to promote the Scout Bassett Fund on their social media and in interviews when appropriate
- Selected grantees will be featured by the Scout Bassett Fund through its channels and network in order to uplift inspiring stories of how sport has transcended human ability and includes those with disabilities.
Important Note: Any grant funds awarded to an individual or organization are subject to all IRS regulations. Therefore, all grantees will be required to fill out the appropriate forms (e.g., W-9), and all funds must be reported to the IRS at the end of the calendar year as they may be subject to income tax regulations. Grants awarded that cannot be used by the recipient for its intended purpose must be returned to the Women’s Sports Foundation.
College Eligibility
Per the NCAA, for Division I and Division III athletes, receipt of this fund for general training expenses will jeopardize a prospective student-athletes or an enrolled student-athlete’s amateur status and make the individual ineligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics at the Division I or Division III level. However, in Division I and III NCAA Amateurism rules allow an individual to receive expenses provided they do not exceed the individuals’ actual and necessary expenses and are related to competition, or practice in preparation for competition. If an individual accepts actual and necessary expenses it is the responsibility of each institution to ensure that its student-athletes comply with NCAA legislation.
Per the NCAA, for Division II athletes, prior to initial full-time enrollment at any collegiate institution, a prospective student-athlete may use her athletics ability for pay without jeopardizing her amateur status provided the competition occurs during her one-year grace period. The one-year grace period is the year between the prospective student-athlete’s date of high school graduation, as determined by the NCAA Eligibility Center, and the next opportunity to enroll after the one calendar-year period has elapsed. However, if a prospective student-athlete delays full-time collegiate enrollment following the one-year grace period and continues to participate in organized competition involving an amateur or professional team(s), the prospective student-athlete may use a season of intercollegiate competition and could be subject to an academic year in residence. (NCAA Division II Bylaw 14.2.4.2). However, in Division II NCAA Amateurism rules allow an individual to receive expenses provided they do not exceed the individuals’ actual and necessary expenses and are related to competition, or practice in preparation for competition. If an individual accepts actual and necessary expenses it is the responsibility of each institution to ensure that its student-athletes comply with NCAA legislation.
Athletes applying for the grant are responsible for checking the financial aid regulations of the NCAA or sports organization governing their current or future high school, college or university to avoid jeopardizing their eligibility for sports participation. For specific questions about your collegiate eligibility, please contact the NCAA or your collegiate institution directly.
Grant Allocation
Grants can be used for equipment, training, travel, and costs associated with participating in elite sporting events and competitions for women athletes with disabilities.
Grant Award
- A total of $40,000 will be awarded in five (5) grants of $8,000 each. The Scout Bassett Grant is administered by the Women’s Sports Foundation.
- Recipients of the Scout Bassett Grant can reapply in subsequent years, offering them the chance for multiple attempts, even if they have already received funding in the current year.
How to Apply
To apply for the grant, go to the Women’s Sports Foundation’s grant-management system, Foundant GLM, during the program application period. Follow the instructions to register a new user profile or update an existing one. Limit one (1) profile per person/email address. Once your profile is registered, you can save and submit your application on the website.
Please read carefully through the full eligibility requirements, college guidelines, and program criteria before starting a Foundant account and applying.
Special note: Please enter the contact information for your National Governing Body (NGB) under the organization information. A Tax ID number is not required to register, so you may leave that space blank.
Applicants will be judged on what information is available or provided at the time of application submission.
Notification of Application Acceptance
Upon receipt of your application, you will receive a confirmation email at the address listed in your profile.
Applications submitted via email or fax or incomplete, late, or requesting retroactive funding will not be accepted.
2024 Recipients
| Alexis Johnson, Para Alpine Skiing | Western Springs, Ill. |
| Andie Sue Roth, Para Equestrian | Sanger, Calif. |
| Femita Ayanbeku, Para Track & Field | Freeport, N.Y. |
| Jaleen Roberts, Para Track & Field | Chula Vista, Calif. |
| Julia Gaffney, Para Swimming | Conway, Ark. |
Contact
If, after reading these guidelines carefully, you still have questions, please contact Elizabeth Flores-Amaya at 516.307.3915 or EFlores-Amaya@WomensSportsFoundation.org.
For more information about the Scout Bassett Fund, please visit here.
For general inquiries about the Scout Bassett Fund, please email info@athletesforimpact.com.