Diversity and Inclusion Grant—Wheelchair & Adaptive Programming

The 2025 USTA Eastern Adaptive & Wheelchair Grant is available to USTA Eastern Member Organizations committed to growing tennis participation levels through inclusive adaptive and/or wheelchair programs that ensure those with behavioral/emotional, physical, developmental, and sensory impairment disabilities and disorders have opportunities to play and enjoy the game. 

Funding is intended to support efforts that promote tennis and education in your local USTA Eastern territory and deliver sustainable programs focused on participation and retention such as junior and/or adult tennis lessons, social or competitive playing formats either for individuals or as structured team events, and virtual learning environments. Pictures, testimonials and/or videos of the event are required. 

Eligibility & Requirements

• The organization applying for grant funds must be a current USTA Eastern Member Organization. 

• If awarded funds for an adaptive program, it must be registered with USTA Adaptive Tennis. Please note that annual registration is not required.

  • To see if your program is already registered, click here

  • To register your program, click here

• The individual or individuals who will be instructing or coaching must be Safe Play approved for both youth and adult programming. Click here to access Safe Play.

• Applicants must demonstrate: (1) a clear use of funds in a detailed itemized budget for instructors, court time, tennis equipment or other supplies, (2) a plan for program sustainability and (3) a plan for program growth. Please note that this funding can't be used for cash prizes, individual scholarships, membership fees, registration fees, transportation costs, insurance costs, or medical equipment. 

• The applicant must submit a valid and current W9 form for address verification. (All grant checks will be sent to this address.)

• The applicant must be able to spend grant funds during the 2025 calendar year.

The applicant must be willing to provide an accountability form before December 31, 2025, even if the program has not been completed by that date. Note: If you have been awarded funding from USTA Eastern or the USTA in the past, we must have a completed accountability form on file from you for that previous project.

USTA Eastern reserves the right to fully fund, partially fund or not fund grant requests based on funding criteria, the amount of funding available, the quality of funding requests received, etc.

Grant amount: $2,000 maximum award

Deadline: Ongoing (Final date to submit: December 5, 2025)

Award Notifications: Allow up to 30 days (Please plan your submissions accordingly)

Apply Here

**View our "Grant Best Practices" webinar to get a sense of what an ideal application looks like.

For any questions regarding this grant, please contact David Williams at williams@eastern.usta.com.