Find Grants for Your Cheer Squad

The Complete Guide to Finding and Winning Grants for Cheer Squads

Finding grants for cheer squads can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Unlike larger, more established nonprofit categories, cheer programs often fall into a funding gray area—too niche for broad youth sports grants, yet competing with traditional athletics for community funding. You're likely juggling coaching, fundraising, and administration all at once, and the last thing you need is to spend hours sifting through irrelevant grant listings. The good news? With the right approach and tools, you can streamline your search and significantly improve your success rate.

Quick Stats About Grants for Cheer Squads

Cheer squads typically compete within the broader youth sports and recreation funding landscape, where thousands of small nonprofits vie for limited resources. According to sector trends, youth sports organizations report success rates between 10-20% for grant applications—meaning you might need to apply to 5-10 grants to secure one award. The challenge is compounded by the fact that many traditional sports funders prioritize established athletics like soccer, basketball, or baseball, leaving cheer programs to seek funding from youth development, community recreation, or general youth empowerment sources. Understanding where your program fits in this landscape is your first step toward finding the right opportunities.

How to Find Grants for Cheer Squads

Start with Zeffy's Grant Finder Tool

Your best free starting point is Zeffy's Grant Finder. Unlike generic Google searches that return outdated or irrelevant results, Zeffy's tool is specifically designed for nonprofits like yours. You can filter by your specific focus area, location, and eligibility requirements—saving you from the "find 100, eligible for 10, win 1" cycle that plagues most grant seekers.

Understand Free vs. Paid Databases

• Free options (Grants.gov, foundation websites, Zeffy): Great for getting started, but may require more manual filtering
• Paid databases (Candid/Foundation Directory, GrantWatch): Offer more comprehensive listings, but can cost $40-$100+ per month. Only worth it if you're applying to 10+ grants annually
• Reality check: One user reported that GrantWatch showed 9,000+ grants, but only about 10 were actually relevant—don't let volume fool you into thinking paid is always better

Filter Strategically

When searching any database, use these filters to narrow results:

• Mission alignment: Look for youth development, sports access, community recreation, or character-building programs
• Geographic fit: Many funders restrict by state, county, or even zip code
• Eligibility requirements: Check if you need a physical location, specific 501(c)(3) status, or minimum operating budget
• Deadline: Focus on grants with at least 4-6 weeks until deadline—rushing applications rarely works
• Funding amount: Match the grant size to your capacity. A $50,000 grant might require 20+ hours of application work; a $2,500 grant might take just 2 hours

Pro tip: Set up a simple tracking spreadsheet with columns for grant name, deadline, amount, eligibility, and application status. This prevents you from losing track of opportunities or accidentally applying twice.

Tips to Win More Grants as a Cheer Squads Nonprofit

1. Position Your Program Beyond "Just Cheer"

Frame your cheer squad as a youth development program that builds confidence, teamwork, discipline, and leadership. Funders respond to outcomes like improved school attendance, increased self-esteem, or community engagement—not just athletic achievement. Include specific examples: "Our program helped 15 at-risk youth maintain B+ averages to stay on the team."

2. Document Your Community Impact with Numbers

Track and report measurable outcomes:

• Number of youth served (broken down by age, demographics if relevant)
• Retention rates (how many kids stay in the program year-over-year)
• Academic improvements or school engagement metrics
• Community service hours or performances at local events
• Scholarship or college acceptance rates for program alumni

3. Build Partnerships with Schools and Recreation Departments

Grants love collaboration. If you can show your cheer squad partners with local schools, parks departments, or youth centers, you demonstrate sustainability and community buy-in. Even a simple letter of support from a school principal can strengthen your application significantly.

4. Start with Smaller, Local Grants

Don't jump straight to competitive national grants. Local community foundations, small family foundations, and corporate giving programs in your area often have simpler applications and better odds. Success with a $1,000 grant builds your track record for larger applications later.

5. Reuse and Refine Your Core Content

Save every grant narrative you write. Most applications ask similar questions: mission statement, program description, budget narrative, impact metrics. Create a master document with polished versions of these answers, then customize for each funder. This can cut your application time in half.

6. Show Financial Responsibility

Even small cheer squads need clean financials. Make sure you can provide:

• A simple annual budget showing income and expenses
• Proof of 501(c)(3) status (or fiscal sponsor agreement)
• Basic financial statements (even if it's just a treasurer's report)
• Clear explanation of how grant funds will be used

7. Apply Only When You're Truly a Good Fit

One experienced grant-seeker shared: "Are we like the orgs who got this grant before?" If the answer is no, don't waste your time. Check the funder's past grantees (often listed on their website) to see if organizations like yours have been funded. If they only fund established programs with $500K+ budgets and you're a $50K startup, move on.

How to Tell If a Grant Is a Good Fit

Before investing hours in an application, run through this checklist:

✅ Do you meet the basic eligibility requirements? (Location, nonprofit status, program type, budget size)

✅ Does the funder's mission align with your program's goals? Read their website and past grant descriptions carefully.

✅ Can you realistically complete the application? Some grants require extensive documentation, multiple letters of support, or detailed program evaluations. Be honest about your capacity.

✅ Is the funding amount worth the effort? A $500 grant requiring 10 hours of work might not be strategic if you're a volunteer-run organization.

✅ Can the grant funds be used for your actual needs? Some grants only fund specific expenses (equipment, not salaries) or require matching funds you don't have.

✅ Are the reporting requirements manageable? If a grant requires quarterly reports with detailed metrics and you're a one-person operation, think twice.

✅ Is the deadline realistic? Rushing an application rarely results in success. If you have less than two weeks, it's often better to wait for the next cycle.

Grant-Related Keywords & Search Tags

When searching grant databases like Zeffy, Grants.gov, or Foundation Directory, use these targeted keywords to find relevant opportunities:

Primary search terms:

• "youth sports grants"
• "cheerleading program funding"
• "youth athletics grants"
• "recreation program grants"

Broader category terms:

• "youth development grants"
• "after-school program funding"
• "community sports funding"
• "youth empowerment grants"
• "character education grants"

Specific focus areas:

• "girls sports grants" (if applicable)
• "underserved youth athletics"
• "rural youth sports funding"
• "Title IX sports equity grants"

Geographic modifiers:

Add your state, county, or city name to any of the above terms (e.g., "youth sports grants Ohio" or "community recreation funding Los Angeles County")

---

Ready to start your search? Head to Zeffy's Grant Finder and filter by your location and program type. You'll find active, relevant grants without the noise—and you can start applying with confidence knowing you're focusing on opportunities that actually fit your cheer squad's mission and capacity.