Grant Program

GRANTED!

The YAF recognizes that some organizations may have durable equipment needs while others may have non-equipment, financial needs that address the rising participation costs or fees for youth involved in the organization’s activities. 

Since 1990, the YAF has awarded nearly $640,000 to our community’s youth and recreational athletic organizations through the grant program.
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Organizations may apply for both scholarship and equipment funds on the same application, not to exceed $3,000. The YAF will consider applications for grants for participation scholarships as well. Please send grant applications to Sarah Culver via email at [email protected].

Organizations who have received a grant from the YAF in the past are eligible to reapply after at least 2 calendar years. The YAF Committee meets on the 2nd Wednesday of every odd-numbered month, to review grant applications. 

2025
Duluth Alpine Club — $3,000
Duluth Curling Club — $3,000
Duluth Figure Skating Club — $1,196
Kids Golf Legacy — $3,000
Northwestern Elementary PTO — $3,000

2024
Bentleyville Tour of Lights — $3,000
Boy Scouts of America — $1,750
Cloquet Nordic Ski Club — $3,000
Club Hunters — $3,000
Club Superior Volleyball — $3,000
Duluth Denfeld Hoops Club — $3,000
Duluth Devo Mountain Bike Program — $3,000
Duluth East HS Football — $750
Duluth Girls Hockey Association — $2,983
Duluth Heights Hockey — $2,880
Duluth Rowing Club — $3,000
East Select Soccer — $3,000
Girls on the Run — $3,000
Gitchi Gummi Soccer Club — $3,000
Homer’s Hoop Stars — $3,000
Salvation Army Rookie Basketball — $1,008
Superior Curling Club — $3,000
Superior Soccer Association — $3,000
Two Harbors Soccer Club — $3,000
Valley Youth Center — $3,000
Woodland Area Hockey Association — $3,000

2023
Bentleyville Tour of Lights — $3,000
Chester Bowl Improvement Club — $3,000
Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores (COGGS) —$3,000
Duluth Area Family YMCA — $2,992.97
Duluth Girls Fastpitch — $3,000
Duluth Nordic Ski Club — $1,500
Duluth-Vaxjo Soccer Exchange — $3,000
Girls on the Run Minnesota — $3,000
GND Community & Activity Center — $3,000
Hartley Nature Center — $2,998.90
Kids Golf Legacy Fund — $3,000
Lakewood PTA — $3,000
Minnesota Expos Youth Baseball Club — $3,000
Piedmont Youth Hockey — $3,000
Proctor Rails Junior Football — $3,000
Twin Ports Gymnastics Club — $3,000
Two Harbors Baseball Boosters — $3,000
Western Duluth Little League — $3,000

2022
Cloquet HS Pep Squad — $2,057.34
Duluth 709 Baseball — $3,000
Duluth Area Family YMCA — $2,815.40
East Select Soccer — $3,000
Family Freedom Center — $3,000
Gitchi Gummi Soccer Club — $2,926.47
North Country RIDE — $3,000
Proctor Synergy — $3,000
Woodland Area Hockey Assn. — $3,000

2021
Chester Bowl Improvement Club — $3,000
Cloquet Nordic Ski Club — $3,000
Duluth Wolfpack Lacrosse — $400
Giving Back to Junior Golf — $3,000
Jungle Boy Boxing — $3,000
University Nursery School — $750

2020
Duluth 709 Baseball — $3,000
Duluth Chargers Lacrosse — $1,375
Duluth-Superior Sailing Assn. — $1,100
Korkki Nordic — $3,000
Woodland Hockey Assn. — $3,000

2019
Chester Park Improvement Club — $3,000
Duluth-Vaxjo Soccer Exchange — $750
Duluth XC Ski Club — $3,000
Gitchi Gummi Soccer Assn. — $2,739.98
Jungle Boy Boxing — $3,000
North Country RIDE — $3,000
North Shore Wrestling Club — $3,000
Two Harbors Heat Softball — $3,000

2018
Carlton Amateur Hockey — Assn. $2,726.02
Congdon Park Foundation — $975
Congdon Park Recreation Assn. — $2,584.70
Duluth 709 Baseball — $2,335
Duluth Area YMCA — $3,000
Duluth Chargers Lacrosse — $1,000
Duluth Curling Club Junior Program — $3,000
Duluth-Superior Sailing Assn. — $3,000
GND Development Alliance — $3,000
Lake Superior Swim Club — $3,000
Lifehouse — $2,450
North Shore Rugby — $2,821
Seeds of Hope Youth Ranch — $3,000
Superior Amateur Hockey Assn. — $2,000

2017
Jungle Boy Boxing — $814.10
Korkki Nordic — $3,000
Morgan Park Youth Softball — $1,300
Northwood Children Services — $500
West Duluth Little League — $2,785

2016
Cloquet Youth Baseball — $3,000
Duluth Chargers Lacrosse — $3,000
Duluth-Superior Sailing Assn. — $3,000
Encounter Skate Park & Youth Center — $2,880
Jungle Boy Boxing — $2,185.90
North Country RIDE — $3,000
Salvation Army Rookie Basketball — $3,000
South Ridge HS Nature Club — $2,890
Washington Elementary — $500
Woodland Hills — $3,000

2015
Boys and Girls Club — $491.39
Carlton Area Hockey — $2,800.91
Cromwell Area Community Club — $3,000
Duluth Area YMCA — $2,750
Duluth Curling Club — $3,000
Duluth-Vaxjo Soccer Exchange — $750
Lifehouse — $3,000
Minnesota Biathlon — $2,900
Positive Energy Outdoors — $3,000
South Ridge Hoops Club —$2,636.23
Valley Youth Center — $2,600

2014
Bentleyville — $3,000
Duluth Area YMCA — $2,600
Courage Kenny Rehab Institute — $3,000
Encounter Skate Park & Youth Center — $3,000
Jungle Boy Boxing — $1,746.97
Salvation Army Rookie Basketball — $3,000
St. James Home of Duluth — $3,000

2013
Bentleyville — $3,000
Boys and Girls Club — $718.92
Carrie Tollefson Camp — $3,000
Choice Unlimited — $1,050
Cloquet Ski Club — $3,000
Courage Center Duluth — $3,000
Duluth Amateur Youth Basketball — $2,000
Duluth Area YMCA — $2,500
Duluth YMCA Youth Corps. — $496
Harbor City International School — $375
Jungle Boy Boxing — $2,284
Korkki Nordic — $2,990
Lumberjack Laps — $300
North Country RIDE — $3,000
Residential Services — $3,000
Salvation Army, Duluth — $3,000
Seeds of Hope Youth Ranch — $2,775
South Ridge HS Nature Club — $3,000
Superior HS Basketball Rec League — $950
Valley Youth Center — $1,000

2012
Chester Bowl Improvement Club — $1,680
Congdon Cougar Chase — $471.98
Duluth-Superior Sailing Assn. — $3,000
Duluth Rowing Club — $3,000
Jungle Boy Boxing — $1,805
Korkki Nordic — $2,976
Lakeview Christian Academy — $250
Minnesota Biathlon — $2,955
Neighbors of Lower Chester Park — $3,000
North Shore Wrestling — $3,000
North Shore Youth Rugby Assn. — $2,000
Piedmont Youth Hockey Assn. — $3,000
Salvation Army Toy Drive — $750
Woodland Hills — $3,000
YMCA — $1638.73

2011
Active Kids Association of Sport — $500
Alborn Youth Baseball — $1,600
Boys and Girls Club — $584.41
City of Proctor — $3,000
Cloquet Area Youth Wrestling Assn. — $3,000
Courage Center Duluth — $2,846
Duluth Area Youth Basketball Assn. — $1,600
Encounter Youth Center — $1,000
Jungle Boy Boxing — $1,250
Lumberjack Laps — $108
North Shore Wrestling Club — $3,000
Piedmont Hockey Assn. — $1,110
Positive Energy Outdoors — $570
Salvation Army Rookie Basketball — $3,000
South Ridge Cross Country — $1,200
South Ridge HS Nature Club — $1,602
St. John’s School — $1,440
St. Michael’s School — $1,107
Twin Ports Boxing Club — $1,000
Two Harbors Kayak Festival — $400

2010
Boys and Girls Club — $550
Carlton Amateur Hockey Assn. — $1,000
Chester Bowl Improvement Club — $1,200
Congdon Cougar Chase — $601.20
Duluth Rowing Club — $1,625
Duluth-Superior Sailing Assn. — $3,000
Encounter Youth Center — $2,000
Grant Community School Collaborative — $500
Junior League of Duluth — $2,671
Lumberjack Laps — $275
Salvation Army, Duluth — $3,000
Twin Ports Miracle League — $3,000
Woodland Hills — $3,000
YMCA, Duluth Olympic Spirit Celebration — $1,500

2009
Boys and Girls Club — $1,000
Courage Center Duluth — $2,950
Duluth Amateur Youth Basketball Assn. — $2,000
Duluth Rowing Club — $2,000
Duluth-Superior Sailing Assn. — $3,000
Duluth XC Ski Club — $2,340
East Duluth Girls’ Hoops Club — $1,500
Nemadji Golf Club — $2,000
Proctor-Hermantown Girls’ Hockey — $1,089
Salvation Army Rookie Basketball — $2,837
Seeds of Hope Youth Ranch — $3,000

2008
ARC Northland — $750
Arrowhead Alpine Club — $1,600
Chester Bowl Improvement Club — $1,928
R.E.A.C.H. — $1,550
Seeds of Hope Youth Ranch — $2,000
Superior Amateur Hockey Assn. — $292.50

2007
Cloquet Area Youth Wrestling Assn. — $1,000
Duluth-Superior Sailing Assn. — $2,000
East Duluth Girls’ Hoops Club — $939.03
North Country RIDE — $1,993.93
YMCA — $925

2006
Courage Duluth — $1,260
Cloquet Area Youth Wrestling Assn. — $5,000
Duluth Heights Hockey — $500
Duluth Girls’ Hockey Assn. — $600
East End Girls’ Fastpitch Club — $2,040
North Country RIDE — $2,959.92
R.E.A.C.H. — $2,000
Twig Hockey Assn. — $700
Upper Shore Center for Athletics — $4,547.15
YMCA, Camp Miller — $4,000

2005
Carlton PTA — $2,000
Cloquet Ski Club — $4,200
Courage Duluth — $2,000
Duluth-Superior Sailing Assn. — $5,000
East Duluth Girls’ Hoops Club — $1,500
Mesabi East Swimming — $2,000
Salvation Army, Superior — $2,210
West Duluth Little League — $2,000
Youth for Christ Encounter — $2,000

2004
Cloquet Area Youth Wrestling Assn. — $5,000
Duluth Boat Club — $2,900
“Learn to Golf” Program, Nemadji GC — $800
Muscular Dystrophy Assn. — $3,591
Neighborhood Youth Services — $1,000
North Shore Swim Club — $2,500
Twin Ports Gymnastics — $2,500

2003
Boys and Girls Club — $500
Courage Duluth — $1,100
Duluth Boat Club — $1,800
Duluth Junior League Football — $2,462.70
North Country RIDE — $3,000
Salvation Army, Superior — $500

2002
Arrowhead Youth Soccer Assn. — $1,000
Boys and Girls Club — $500
Courage Duluth — $1,960
Duluth Biathlon Education Assn. — $1,500
Duluth-Superior Sailing Assn. — $4,100
LPGA Girls’ Golf Club — $300
Neighborhood Youth Services — $1,500
Proctor Little League — $2,225
Salvation Army Bike Drive — $600
Woodland Hills — $2,500

2001
Arrowhead Alpine Club — $1,100
Duluth Biathlon Education Assn. — $1,350
Duluth Curling Club — $1,932
Duluth Speedskating Club — $500
East End Basketball Assn. — $922
Hermantown Little League — $1,179
LPGA Girls’ Golf Club — $300
North Shore Swim Club — $1,000
Proctor Area Softball Assn. — $1,400
Salvation Army Bike Drive — $315.20
Salvation Army, Superior — $1,500
Tourney Sport USA — $200
Twin Ports Gymnastic Club — $1,500

2000
Chester Bowl Improvement Club — $2,500
Duluth Denfeld Youth Basketball — $300
Duluth Denfeld Soccer Club — $2,257.15
Duluth Speedskating Club — $2,187
Eastern Little League — $500
LPGA Girls’ Golf Club — $337.50
ML-WR Junior Olympic Volleyball — $1,000
Proctor Area Flag Football — $1,000

1999
Courage Duluth — $1,500
Duluth Denfeld Youth Basketball — $300
Duluth Friends of Tennis — $1,500
East Duluth Girls’ Hoops Club — $1,000
Eastern Little League — $500
North Shore Swim Club — $750
Salvation Army, Superior — $2,500
US Team WGD — $250

1998
Central American Legion Baseball — $250
Central Area VFW Baseball — $250
Central Little League — $600
Courage Duluth — $1,250
Duluth High School Nordic Coaches — $5,000
Duluth Speed Skating — $2,000
Junior Olympic Volleyball — $250
LPGA Girls’ Golf Club, Lake Superior Region — $1,250
North Shore Swim Club — $3,000
St. Scholastica Basketball Camp — $30

1997
Gitchi Gummi Soccer Assn. — $200

1996
Duluth Central Cross Country — $100

1995
Neighborhood Youth Services — $200

1994
Mont du Lac Ski Club — $200

1993
n/a

1992
Boys and Girls Club — $500
Children’s Miracle Network — $100
Proctor Area Community — Center $250

1991
East End Basketball Association — $100

1990
Duluth Speedskating Club — $750

Active Kids Association of Sport
Alborn Youth Baseball
ARC Northland
Arrowhead Alpine Club
Arrowhead Youth Soccer Association
Bentleyville Tour of Lights
Boy Scouts of America
Boys & Girls Club
Carlton Amateur Hockey Association
Carlton PTA
Carrie Tollefson Camp
Central American Legion Baseball
Central Area VFW Baseball
Central Little League
Chester Bowl Improvement Club
Children’s Miracle Network
Choice Unlimited
City of Proctor
Cloquet Area Youth Wrestling Association
Cloquet HS Pep Squad
Cloquet Nordic Ski Club
Cloquet Youth Baseball
Club Hunters
Club Superior Volleyball
Congdon Cougar Chase
Congdon Park Foundation
Congdon Park Recreation Association
Courage Center Duluth
Courage Kenny Rehab Institute
Cromwell Area Community Club
Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores (COGGS)
Denise Smith
Duluth 709 Baseball
Duluth Amateur Youth Basketball
Duluth Biathlon Education Association
Duluth Boat Club
Duluth Central Cross Country
Duluth Chargers Lacrosse
Duluth Curling Club
Duluth Denfeld Hoops Club
Duluth Denfeld Soccer Club
Duluth Denfeld Youth Basketball
Duluth Devo Mountain Bike Program
Duluth East Girls Basketball
Duluth East HS Football
Duluth Friends of Tennis
Duluth Girls Fastpitch
Duluth Girls Hockey Association
Duluth Heights Hockey
Duluth Junior League Football
Duluth Nordic Ski Club
Duluth Rowing Club
Duluth Speedskating Club
Duluth Wolfpack Lacrosse
Duluth-Superior Sailing Association
Duluth-Vaxjo Soccer Exchange
East Duluth Girls Hoops Club
East End Basketball Associaition
East End Girls Fastpitch Club
East Select Soccer
Eastern Little League
Encounter Youth Center
Family Freedom Center
Girls on the Run Minnesota
Gitchi Gummi Soccer Club
Giving Back to Junior Golf
GND Development Alliance
Grant Community School Collaborative
Harbor City International School
Hartley Nature Center
Hawks Pride, In Memory of Jeremy Burns
Hermantown Little League
Hillside Soccer Club
Homer’s Hoop Stars
Jim Moore Memorial Fund
Jungle Boy Boxing
Junior League of Duluth
Junior Olympic Volleyball
Kids Golf Legacy Fund
Korkki Nordic
Lake Superior Swim Club
Lakeview Christian Academy
Lakewood PTA
Learn to Golf Program, Nemadji GC
Lifehouse
LPGA Girls Golf Club
Lumberjack Laps
Madison Reynolds
Mesabi East Swimming
Minnesota Biathlon
Minnesota Expos Youth Baseball
ML-WR Junior Olympic Volleyball
Mont du Lac Ski Club
Morgan Park Youth Softball
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Neighborhood Youth Services
Neighbors of Lower Chester Park
Nemadji Golf Club
North Country RIDE
North Shore Rugby
North Shore Swim Club
North Shore Wrestling
North Short Youth Rugby Association
Northwestern Elementary PTO
Northwood Children Services
Piedmont Youth Hockey Association
Positive Energy Outdoors
Proctor Area Community Center
Proctor Area Flag Football
Proctor Area Softball Association
Proctor Little League
Proctor Rails Junior Football
Proctor Synergy
Proctor-Hermantown Girls Hockey
R.E.A.C.H.
Residential Services
Salvation Army Bike Drive
Salvation Army Holiday Gift Drive
Salvation Army Rookie Basketball
Salvation Army, Duluth
Salvation Army, Superior
Scholarship — Bryan Lindquist
Seeds of Hope Youth Ranch
Shrine Circus
South Ridge Cross Country
South Ridge Hoops Club
South Ridge HS Nature Club
St. James Home of Duluth
St. John’s School
St. Michael’s School
St. Scholastica Basketball Camp
Superior Amateur Hockey Association
Superior Coast Special Olympics
Superior Curling Club
Superior HS Basketball Rec League
Superior Soccer Association
Tourney Sport USA
Twig Hockey Association
Twin Ports Boxing Club
Twin Ports Gymnastics
Twin Ports Miracle League
Two Harbors Baseball Boosters
Two Harbors Heat Softball
Two Harbors Kayak Festival
Two Harbors Soccer Club
University Nursery School
University of Minnesota
Upper Shore Center for Athletics
US Team WGD
Valley Youth Center
Washington Elementary
Western Duluth Little League
Woodland Area Hockey Association
Woodland Hills
YMCA Camp Miller
YMCA Duluth
YMCA, Duluth Olympic Spirit Celebration
Youth for Christ Encounter

YOUNG ATHLETES FOUNDATION
The mission of the Young Athletes Foundation (YAF) is to assist in the promotion, development, and growth of youth athletics and activities that encourage physical fitness, mental, and emotional well-being.

Since its inception in 1990, the YAF has contributed more than $1.8 million of community support through our grant program, running shoe program, and both the Eleanor Rynda and Steve & Carolyn Mather scholarships. The organization also hosts several kids’ events throughout the year including our Wednesday Night & Saturday Morning at the Races series.

The YAF’s mission is helped and funded by various road races throughout the year — KP Challenge, Saint Fennessy 4K, Fitger’s 5K, Park Point 5-Miler, Minnesota Mile, and Superior Nightmare 5K.

If you are interested in volunteering for any of our YAF events or have any other questions, please contact our Program Director Alivia Nelson via email at [email protected] or call our office at (218) 727-0947.