How can you help or donate?
The Southern Tennis Foundation accepts individual donations and recognizes the categories (below). All donations to the Southern Tennis Foundation are tax deductible. Click here to donate.
- Donate by check: Any donations by check should be mailed to: Southern Tennis Foundation, 5685 Spalding Drive, Peachtree Corners, GA, 30092. Please list any funds, honorees or memorial donations in the check’s note.
- Charitable Remainder Trust or other Estate Planning: If you are interested in creating a Charitable Remainder Trust or other Estate Planning options to benefit the STF, please contact Jaime Kaplan at 478-960-3409 or kaplan@sta.usta.com.
Where does your money go?
- College Scholarships: Ten $1,000 scholarships for four years awarded to junior players living in USTA Southern. We have college funds a wide variety of Southerners. Please go to Scholarships/Funds & Endowments from the menu above to see all scholarships.
- Financial Aid to Junior Players and Zonal Support: Grants ranging from $2,000 (sectional level players) to $5,000 (national level players) to reimburse players for travel expenses to sectional and national tournaments.
- Matching Grants to State Foundations: $1,000 Grant-State foundation must match this grant in funds given to players regardless of ranking and $2,000 Grant-State foundation must match this grant in funds given to players regardless of ranking, but an amount equal to the Southern grant must be awarded to players who are ranked outside the top 100 in the South.
- Community Tennis: Grants to promote growth and to assist community tennis associations and other organizations in initiating and/or expanding USTA tennis programming at the grass roots level, and educating the public on sportsmanship, character and the health benefits tennis provides.
- Quick Start Line Grants: Matching grants to assistance with lining courts for 36’ and 60’ play.
- Facility Assistance Build It Forward Grants: Grants to assist the USTA Southern “Build It Forward” grant program to refurbish and construct new public tennis courts. Grants are funded 66.6 percent by USTA Southern and 33.3 percent by the Southern Tennis Foundation. Click here for more information.
- Excellence Program: Funding to cover the cost of a NJTL player and chaperone to attend the Winston-Salem Open.
- NJTL: Funding to support facility building for programs in the South in partnership with the USTA Foundation.
- Other Grants: Support the USTA Southern junior programs.
- The STF awards grants to individuals and worthy organizations, such as the Special Olympics Southeast Region Tournament and the Adopt-A-Court matching grant programs. In addition, grants have been awarded for special tennis needs, such as Hurricane Katrina.
Description
The applicant will determine the amount of the grant request. The minimum grant is $1,000 in year one; the maximum grant is $5,000 in year one. The grant will be awarded in consecutive years with the second year being 50 of the amount awarded in year one. A second year grant will be offered if the program meets or exceeds goals and the program continues. Matching funds are not required.
Qualifying Organizations/Programs
The grant is intended for organizations/programs that provide grass roots tennis in communities of all sizes. Examples are 10U programs, Junior Team Tennis leagues, School and After School programs, NJTL, Special Populations, etc. Adult programs (other than Special Populations) do not qualify.
Process
Grant applications will be distributed to CTAs and other potential organizations by e-mail and by individual contact from state staff and Tennis Service Representatives. Programs must be focused on growing tennis at the grass roots/local level and educating the public on good sportsmanship, character and the health benefits tennis provides. Participation goals and expectations will be required.
Deadline, Notification & Award
Decisions will be made by the Southern Tennis Community Grants Committee and approved by the state. The most deserving applications as determined by the STF Grants Committee will be selected for funding within budget and without consideration of equal state distribution. All grant applicants will be notified and funding provided on or before April . An in-person meeting with the state TSR prior to the start of the program is required.
Selection
Grant recipients will be selected by the Southern Foundation Community Grants Committee and must be approved by the state. The major criteria will include:
- Organization
- Potential growth
- Education of the benefits tennis can offer for a healthy lifestyle
- Continuity in the communities served
Accountability
All grants recipients must be accountable for the proper use of these funds. All applications must include goals and these goals must be measurable, either through growth in USTA membership or through participation numbers. Accountability forms must be received by the following January for recipients to be eligible for the second year grant. Recipients who perform well in comparison to their goals and expectations will qualify for a second year grant. Recipients who do not complete a first year accountability form will not be eligible for the second-year grant. For further information contact USTA Southern’s Cee Jai Jones at Jones@sta.usta.com.