Full Court Community Basketball Alliance

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Executive Summary

Full Court Community Basketball Alliance is a nonprofit in Delaware that gives young people a safe, affordable, welcoming place to play basketball all year, and a team of adults who care about how they do in school and in life. We run leagues for ages 7 to 18 at neighborhood recreation centers, school gyms and parks, offer skills clinics and a summer camp, train coaches, help with homework before practice and guide older players through the college planning process. Every young person who wants to play can play, whatever their skill or their family's budget.

Basketball is the sport young people in our community already love. They play on cracked courts with bent rims, in pickup games with no adults around and in leagues that charge fees many families cannot pay. Too many give up when they do not make a team or cannot get a ride. Meanwhile, the number of safe, supervised places to play has shrunk. A good basketball program does more than teach a jump shot. It gives a young person a coach who knows their name, teammates who show up for them, a place to be in the afternoon and evening, and a reason to stay on track in school. We do not recruit, we do not charge required fees and we do not promise anyone a college scholarship.

With this grant we will serve about 1,100 young people in Year 1 at about 8 community sites, on about 90 teams, with about 60 part-time coaches who pass background checks and complete our Coach Training. Our seasons include a fall and winter league, a spring skills academy, and a summer league and day camp. Before every practice, a 30-minute Hoops and Homework study hall helps with school work, and our Academic and Mentoring Coordinator works with players and their families. Older players learn about the college process, financial aid, NCAA eligibility and how to avoid recruiting scams. With the city's permission, we also repair nets, backboards and safety hazards on community courts so that places to play are safe.

Our Year 1 budget is about $554,500, growing to about $791,500 by Year 5 as we grow to about 16 sites and about 2,500 young people. Each year's budget is planned to balance, with a small surplus each year. We have 7 paid staff in Year 1 and 10 by Year 5. City and county contracts, corporate and team sponsors and pay-what-you-can family contributions add steady support, so grants fall from about 77% of our income in Year 1 to about 60% in Year 5.

We are asking the First State Youth Development Fund for $100,000 for one Site Basketball Coordinator, coach stipends, court and gym rental, uniforms and equipment, Hoops and Homework academic support and athletic training and first aid coverage. The city, sponsors, other grants and donors cover the rest, so this grant is one part of a shared funding plan.

I am Terrell Washington, the Executive Director, and I played and coached in these gyms for 20 years. The numbers in this proposal are estimates based on the assumptions listed at the end, not promises.

Company Description

Full Court Community Basketball Alliance is a nonprofit organization in Delaware. We are a 501(c)(3) public charity (or a program of one, through a fiscal sponsor), governed by a volunteer board of directors. We will provide our IRS determination letter, board list and most recent financial statements with this proposal.

Our mission. To use basketball to help young people grow in character, confidence and opportunity.

What we believe. Basketball is a way in. A young person who comes for the game stays for the people, and the right coach can change a life. Every young person who wants to play should have a team, regardless of skill, size, gender or family income. Winning matters, and it is never more important than the player. School comes first: we help with homework and keep players connected to their teachers. Safety and respect are non-negotiable. We tell young people the truth about basketball and about the path to college and a career, because very few players at any level play professionally, and a good education lasts a lifetime.

How we started. Full Court began when a retired coach, a recreation center director and a high school counselor started a free Saturday league for 60 kids at one center after a summer when the center's courts were closed to the public. Within two years, the league had 420 players, boys and girls ages 7 to 17, with coaches who were teachers, parents and former players. Parents told us that their children were doing better in school, and several players earned spots on high school teams. The city parks department, the county youth services office and two more recreation centers asked whether we could grow. This proposal asks for support to build a staffed, year-round alliance.

What we offer:
- Leagues. A fall and winter league for ages 7 to 18, with divisions by age and skill, and girls' and coed divisions. Teams practice once or twice a week and play on weekends.
- Skills Academy. A spring program of Saturday clinics on shooting, ball handling, defense and teamwork for all levels.
- Summer league and day camp. A summer league and a four-week camp with basketball, academic enrichment, field trips, lunch and swimming.
- Hoops and Homework. A 30-minute study hall before every practice with volunteer tutors, so that homework is done before the game starts. No player is removed from a team for grades. Players who need help get tutoring and a check-in with their teacher or counselor.
- Scholar-Athlete program. For high school players: college planning, financial aid, NCAA eligibility information, resume and essay help, campus visits and honest advice about playing in college. We help players and families avoid recruiting scams and pay-to-play schemes.
- Coach education. Training for every coach on positive coaching, child safety, concussion awareness, heat and cardiac emergencies, and respect and inclusion, with a mentor for new coaches.
- Junior coaches and referees. Older players trained as assistant coaches and officials, who earn service hours and a first job.
- Community Court Care. With the parks department's permission, we repair nets, backboards, rims and safety hazards on community courts, and host cleanup days with families.
- Inclusive play. Adapted basketball clinics, including wheelchair basketball with a partner, and coaches trained to include everyone.
- Family nights and festivals. A season-ending festival for each league, where families, teachers and the community cheer on the players.

What we do not do. We do not recruit players from other programs. We do not charge required fees: families give what they can, and no one is turned away. We do not run elite travel teams. We do not promise any player a college scholarship or a professional career. We do not offer late-night programs for minors: all activities end by 8:30 p.m. We do not provide medical care beyond first aid and athletic training, and we refer players to doctors.

How we are run. A seven-member volunteer board of directors oversees the organization and approves the budget each year. The board includes a recreation center director, a high school coach, a pediatrician, a school counselor, a parent, a young adult who played in our first league and a certified public accountant. The Executive Director manages the organization and partnerships, the Program Director oversees operations and safety, and an outside accountant reviews our books every year.

Where things stand today. The city parks department, the county youth services office and three recreation centers have signed letters of support, a bank and two local companies have offered to sponsor teams and a health system has indicated interest in supporting athletic training. We have a letter of intent for a small office and equipment storage space. Before we begin, an attorney will review our facility and school agreements, participant waivers and conduct, background check and insurance policies.

Problem & Opportunity

Why this program is needed.

Basketball is one of the most popular sports among young people, and one of the most accessible, since it needs little more than a ball and a hoop. But access to safe, organized, affordable basketball has declined in many neighborhoods. Recreation centers have reduced hours, school sports have been cut or have strict tryouts, and the clubs and travel teams that offer high-level play can cost families hundreds or thousands of dollars. The result is that many young people, especially those from lower-income families, play only in unsupervised pickup games or stop playing altogether.

The gaps we see:
1. Too few safe places. Many neighborhood courts are in poor repair, with broken rims and torn nets, and many recreation centers have limited hours. After-school hours are when many young people have the least supervision.
2. Cost. Club and travel basketball can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars a year in fees, uniforms and travel. Many families cannot pay, and the young people who most need the structure are left out.
3. Tryouts and cuts. School and club teams often have tryouts that cut most of the players. Many young people who are cut do not try again.
4. Coaches. Many volunteer coaches love the game but have no training in child safety, concussion or positive coaching.
5. Academic support. Young people who struggle in school may be told they cannot play. Few programs offer homework help alongside the game.
6. Girls and students with disabilities. Girls drop out of sports at higher rates than boys in the teen years, and young people with disabilities often have no place on a team.
7. Unrealistic dreams and scams. Many young players and families believe that basketball is the path to a scholarship or a professional career. Very few players move on to play in college and fewer still play professionally. Meanwhile, some recruiting services and pay-to-play showcases prey on families. Young people need honest guidance and a plan that works whether or not basketball continues.
8. Opportunity gaps. Young people from lower-income neighborhoods and communities of color often have fewer chances to find mentors and to learn about college and careers.

What the evidence says. Research on youth sports and mentoring suggests that participation in a well-run program with caring adults can be associated with stronger school engagement and healthier behavior, and that the quality of the coaching and the supports matter. We do not claim that basketball alone will change a young person's grades or choices. We will measure our own results and report them honestly.

How we know people want this. In our pilot, 420 young people played in two years, with 38% girls, and more than 150 were on waiting lists. Parents told us the program helped with school, and five centers asked us to come. Coaches reported that most players who had been cut elsewhere stayed in our league for several seasons.

How we will show the need. Before we submit this proposal, we will add the number of young people ages 7 to 18 in our service area from the U.S. Census Bureau, the share of families with limited income and the share of youth who take part in organized sports from the Delaware Department of Education and the state's youth survey, the condition and hours of public courts and recreation centers from the parks department, local youth basketball fees from clubs in our area and the number of young people on our waiting lists.

Who benefits first. Young people ages 7 to 18 in our service area who want to play basketball, with a focus on girls, young people from families with limited income, young people with disabilities, young people who have been cut from other teams and young people who live far from a recreation center. Also their families, teachers and coaches.

Products & Services

What the grant will pay for and what we will do.

1. Partner with recreation centers, schools and parks. We sign agreements with each site covering space, schedules, safety, insurance and communication. Each site names a liaison. About 8 sites take part in Year 1.

2. Open sign-ups to everyone. Our Site Basketball Coordinators visit schools and recreation centers, hold family sign-up nights, and work with counselors and coaches to invite players who have never played or who were cut elsewhere. A young person signs up with a parent or guardian's consent and a health form. No tryouts and no cuts. If more sign up than a team can hold, we add a team. Families give what they can; no required fee.

3. Run the leagues and academy. The fall and winter league has divisions by age and skill, with girls' and coed divisions, practices once or twice a week and weekend games. A spring Skills Academy offers Saturday clinics for all levels. A summer league and a four-week camp offer basketball, academic enrichment, trips and lunch. Every player plays at least half of every game. About 90 teams take part in Year 1.

4. Teach homework and school skills. Before each practice, a 30-minute Hoops and Homework study hall is staffed by volunteer tutors and supervised by a coordinator. Players who need extra help get tutoring and a check-in with their teacher or counselor. We never remove a player from a team for grades.

5. Guide high school players. Our Scholar-Athlete program, run by the Academic and Mentoring Coordinator, helps players and families understand the path to college: choosing classes, the ACT and SAT, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, scholarships and the NCAA Eligibility Center's requirements for those who want to play in college. We are honest that very few players play in college, and we help every player make a plan that works whether or not basketball continues. We teach players and families to spot recruiting scams and pay-to-play schemes.

6. Train and screen coaches. Every coach passes a background check and completes Coach Training before the season on positive coaching, child safety and abuse prevention, concussion awareness, heat and cardiac emergencies, the emergency action plan, inclusion and handling conflict. Part-time paid coaches receive a stipend of about $600 a season. About 60 coaches take part in Year 1, and new coaches are paired with a mentor.

7. Provide medical coverage. A certified athletic trainer or a trained first aid provider covers league games under an agreement with a health system, and every main site has an automated external defibrillator (AED) and an emergency action plan. We follow the state's youth concussion law: a player who shows signs of a concussion is removed from play immediately and returns only with written clearance from a qualified health care professional.

8. Remove barriers. Free uniforms and equipment for every player, a ride to games and tournaments for those who need it and a healthy snack and water after every practice.

9. Care for community courts. With written permission from the parks department or the site owner, our staff and volunteers repair nets, backboards and rims and fix safety hazards such as broken glass and loose hardware on about 10 community courts in Year 1, and host cleanup days. We report hazards we cannot fix to the city.

10. Grow leaders. Older players are trained as assistant coaches and officials, and earn service hours and a first job.

11. Include everyone. At least 40% of players are girls, and adapted clinics and partner programs provide wheelchair basketball and other opportunities for players with disabilities.

How we will measure results. We track enrollment, attendance at practice and study hall, season completion and return rate, share of girls, share who were cut elsewhere, coach training completion, injuries and concussions, and satisfaction. Players complete a short survey at the start and end of each year on belonging, school engagement and confidence. With school and family permission, we look at attendance and grades for players compared with their schools. For Scholar-Athletes, we track college applications, financial aid applications and enrollment. We break results out by gender, race and neighborhood so that we can find and fix gaps.

Our Year 1 goals:
- About 1,100 young people play on about 90 teams at about 8 sites, with at least 40% girls.
- At least 80% of players who start a season finish it, and at least 60% return for another season.
- 100% of coaches pass a background check and complete Coach Training before the first practice.
- Every main site has an AED and an emergency action plan, and trained medical coverage at every league game.
- At least 70% of players who attend Hoops and Homework regularly say they feel more confident about school.
- At least 80% of seniors in Scholar-Athlete complete a college or training application and a financial aid application.
- About 10 community courts are repaired.
- At least 90% of families say the program was safe and respectful.
These are goals, and we will report our real results to the Fund, including where we fall short. We do not promise any player a college scholarship or that any player's grades or behavior will improve.

Market Analysis

Who we serve and how many.

The young people. Ages 7 to 18 who live in our service area and want to play basketball, with a parent or guardian's consent. Every young person who signs up is welcome. We reach out especially to girls, young people from families with limited income, young people with disabilities, young people who have been cut from other teams, newcomers and young people who live far from a recreation center.

Where we work. About 8 community sites in Year 1: recreation centers, school gyms and parks in the city and nearby towns, selected for need and for transit access. All activities end by 8:30 p.m. In Year 3 we add sites in the county's outlying towns.

How many we will reach:
- Year 1: about 1,100 young people on about 90 teams at about 8 sites, about 60 coaches.
- Year 2: about 1,400 young people at about 10 sites, about 68 coaches.
- Year 3: about 1,750 young people at about 12 sites, about 78 coaches, with a third Site Basketball Coordinator.
- Year 4: about 2,100 young people at about 14 sites, about 89 coaches, with a second Academic and Mentoring Coordinator.
- Year 5: about 2,500 young people at about 16 sites, about 101 coaches, with a fourth Site Basketball Coordinator.
Over five years we expect about 8,850 young people to take part. Many play several seasons, so they are counted more than once.

Who else benefits:
- Families. Parents see their children active, connected and cared for, and gain a trusted place for their children after school.
- Recreation centers and schools. They gain a partner who brings structure, volunteers and equipment to their gyms.
- Coaches and teens. Coaches get training and support, and older players get service hours, leadership experience and a first job.
- The city. Repaired courts and busy, supervised gyms make neighborhoods safer and more welcoming.
- The community. Young people who are active, mentored and doing well in school contribute to stronger neighborhoods.

How we will size the need before we submit. We will add the number of young people ages 7 to 18 in our area, the share in families with limited income, the share who play organized sports, the hours and condition of recreation centers and public courts and our waiting lists. These come from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Delaware Department of Education, the parks department and our own records.

Competitive Landscape

Other options young people have, and how we fit.

- School teams. High school and middle school teams offer good coaching and competition, usually with tryouts and cuts. We serve many players who are cut or who are too young, and we send players on to school teams. We schedule around school seasons.
- Recreation department leagues. City leagues offer basketball for a modest fee, and often have limited hours and divisions. We work with the parks department, share gyms and offer girls' divisions, academic support and transportation.
- Club and travel teams. They offer high-level competition for a high price. We are not an elite program, and players who want to compete at that level are encouraged to try out, with honest advice about costs.
- Boys and girls clubs and YMCAs. They offer basketball among many programs. We partner and share sites, and focus on year-round basketball with coach training and the Scholar-Athlete program.
- Church leagues and community groups. Many are volunteer-run with varying training. We invite their coaches to our coach training.
- Pickup games and open gym. A valuable way to play, with no supervision or coaching. We run supervised open gyms with coaches and academic support.
- Recruiting and showcase services. Some charge families high fees with little benefit. We teach families to evaluate them.

The gap we fill. In our service area, no program offers free-or-pay-what-you-can, no-cut, year-round basketball for ages 7 to 18 with trained and screened coaches, homework help before practice, a college planning program that tells the truth about odds and scams, medical coverage, and repair of community courts.

Our partners:
- The city parks department and three recreation centers, which provide gyms and courts and permission for court repairs.
- The county youth services office, which provides contracts and referrals.
- High school and middle school counselors and coaches, who refer players and share information with permission.
- A health system, which provides athletic trainers and sports physicals.
- A community college and local universities, which provide tutors and speakers.
- A wheelchair basketball organization, which provides adapted clinics.
- A bank and local companies, which sponsor teams.

Marketing & Sales Strategy

How young people, families and supporters will find us and how we keep them engaged.

Reaching young people and families:
- Schools and recreation centers. Coaches, counselors, teachers and center staff tell families about sign-ups and help them fill out forms.
- Sign-up nights. Family nights at each site with a meal, interpretation and a simple form, where young people try drills and meet coaches.
- Word of mouth. Players, especially girls, bring friends and cousins.
- Flyers, text messages and a simple website in English and Spanish, with schedules, forms and a map of sites.
- Community partners. Churches, libraries, barbershops, food pantries and neighborhood groups share flyers.
- Social media with photos of games and festivals, shared only with signed photo permission.

Making it easy to join:
- Families give what they can, and no one is turned away. Uniforms, equipment, snacks and rides to games are free.
- No tryouts, no cuts and no experience required.
- Sign-up forms are short, and staff help families who need it with consent and health forms.
- Practices are at neighborhood sites on transit routes, and all activities end by 8:30 p.m.
- We provide interpretation and accommodations for players with disabilities.

Keeping players engaged:
- Small teams with two coaches who know every player's name and a guaranteed amount of playing time.
- Hoops and Homework before practice, which helps players feel prepared at school and keeps parents on board.
- Weekly team talks on a character theme, small celebrations and season-ending festivals.
- If a player misses two practices, the coach or coordinator calls home to see what is getting in the way, such as a ride, a schedule or a worry.

Reaching coaches:
- Teachers, community volunteers, college students and former players are recruited through schools, churches and colleges.
- Coach training is free, and part-time coaches receive stipends and a mentor.

Reaching supporters. The city, the county, businesses, banks and individuals are invited to sponsor a team, a site or a season, or to adopt a court. We share results twice a year with funders and partners as totals.

Outreach budget. Summer camp and skills clinics are about $18,000 a year in Year 1, growing about 12% a year. Community Court Care is about $8,000 a year. The league logo, banners, website and online registration platform are paid for once from startup money ($6,000).

Operations Plan

How the program will be carried out.

Timeline for Year 1:
- Months 1 to 3: Attorney review of facility and school agreements, participant waivers and conduct, background check and insurance policies, sign the lease for the office and storage space, hire the Program Director, two Site Basketball Coordinators, the Coach Education and Safety Manager and the Academic and Mentoring Coordinator, buy equipment and AEDs, sign agreements with sites and the medical coverage partner and set up the registration platform.
- Month 4: Recruit and screen coaches, run Coach Training and emergency drills, hold sign-up nights.
- Months 5 to 9: Fall and winter league with Hoops and Homework, a season-ending festival and the start of the Scholar-Athlete program.
- Months 9 to 11: Spring Skills Academy. Court repair and cleanup days begin with the parks department.
- Months 11 and 12: Summer league and camp. Year-end review, report to funders and partners and planning for Year 2.

Space. Practices and games are held at recreation centers, school gyms and parks under written agreements. Court and gym rental costs are about $30,000 a year in Year 1. We lease a small office with equipment storage, about $18,000 a year in Year 1. Shelving, security and storage improvements are a one-time cost of $3,000, with a deposit and first month of rent of $4,000.

Equipment. We buy about $47,000 of equipment once at the start: six portable adjustable hoops and backboards ($12,000), scoreboards, game clocks and shot clocks ($7,000), four AEDs with cabinets ($6,000), tablets and a video system for coaching and stats ($5,000), a used equipment trailer ($10,000), five laptops and a registration system ($5,000) and first aid and ice kits for every site ($2,000). An opening supply of basketballs, pinnies, cones, training equipment and team jerseys is a one-time cost of $12,000. After Year 1, we set aside about $6,000 to $9,000 a year to replace and add equipment. Uniforms, balls and equipment are about $28,000 a year in Year 1.

Staffing. In Year 1: an Executive Director, a Program Director, two Site Basketball Coordinators, a Coach Education and Safety Manager, an Academic and Mentoring Coordinator and a part-time Program Coordinator. A third Site Basketball Coordinator joins in Year 3, a second Academic and Mentoring Coordinator in Year 4 and a fourth Site Basketball Coordinator in Year 5. Each Site Basketball Coordinator oversees about four sites. Part-time paid coaches receive stipends, about $36,000 in Year 1.

Child safety. Every coach, official, tutor, volunteer and staff member working with young people passes a background check and completes training on child safety and abuse prevention before the first practice. Two adults are always present at practices, games and study hall, no adult is alone with a young person, and adults do not message young people privately. Adults are mandated reporters and follow the law on reporting suspected abuse or neglect. A hotline gives young people and families a safe way to report concerns, and we act on every report. We do not offer late-night programs: all activities end by 8:30 p.m., and families are told how their child will get home.

Medical safety. Trained medical coverage is present at league games, and every main site has an AED, an emergency action plan and a cardiac emergency response plan, practiced each season. Coaches and site staff are trained in first aid, CPR and AED use. If a player has a serious injury or emergency, staff call 911 right away and follow the plan. Concussion rules follow the state's youth concussion law, which we confirm each year. We follow heat safety guidelines for outdoor courts and summer camp, with water breaks, shade and adjusted schedules, and we move or cancel play in dangerous heat. Athletic training and first aid coverage costs about $14,000 a year in Year 1. Every player is encouraged to have a sports physical, and the health system partner offers physicals.

Court Care. We repair community courts only with written permission from the parks department or the owner. Staff and volunteers use protective equipment and follow safety rules, and we do not perform work that requires a licensed contractor. We report hazards we cannot fix.

Fair practice. We do not recruit players from other programs, we do not charge required fees and we do not allow adults to pay players or promise advantages. We do not endorse recruiting or showcase services, and we teach families how to evaluate them. We tell players and families the truth about the odds of playing in college or professionally.

Insurance. We carry accident insurance for participants, general liability, abuse and molestation liability, non-owned auto liability and workers' compensation once we hire. Insurance is about $14,000 a year in Year 1. Families are told how the accident coverage works and that it does not replace family health insurance. Transportation and tournament travel, with licensed providers and two adults on each trip, costs about $14,000 a year in Year 1.

Equal opportunity. We follow civil rights laws and the spirit of Title IX: girls and boys have equal access to leagues, coaches, gyms and equipment. We make reasonable accommodations for players with disabilities.

Privacy. Young people's and families' information, including health forms and school information, is kept in a locked cabinet and a secure, password-protected system, shared only with the family's permission, except where the law or safety requires. We report results to funders only as totals, never with a player's name. Photos are shared only with written permission.

Records. Grant money is tracked separately so we can show each funder how their money was spent, and an outside accountant reviews our books every year.

Management & Organization

Who leads the organization.

Terrell Washington, Executive Director. Terrell leads the organization, raises money, manages grants and city and county partnerships, supervises staff and reports to the board. He played college basketball, coached high school and youth teams for 20 years, worked as a recreation center director and co-founded our pilot league. Planned salary: $58,000 a year.

Program Director. Oversees operations, scheduling, safety and the Site Basketball Coordinators. Must have experience in youth sports, recreation or education and training in child safety. Planned salary: $50,000 a year.

Site Basketball Coordinator. Manages the league at about four sites: recruiting players, scheduling, supporting coaches, communicating with families and site staff and handling day-to-day issues. Two in Years 1 and 2, three in Years 3 and 4 and four in Year 5, at a planned salary of $42,000 each. The First State Youth Development Fund grant would support the first Site Basketball Coordinator.

Coach Education and Safety Manager. Recruits and screens coaches, runs Coach Training, oversees emergency action plans, concussion and heat protocols and the medical coverage partnership. Must have experience in coaching education or sports safety. Planned salary: $46,000 a year.

Academic and Mentoring Coordinator. Runs Hoops and Homework, recruits and trains tutors and mentors, runs the Scholar-Athlete program and communicates with schools. Must have experience in education, counseling or youth development. One in Years 1 to 3 and two from Year 4, at a planned salary of $42,000 each.

Program Coordinator (part-time). Handles registration, forms, rosters, scheduling and communications, about 25 hours a week. Planned pay: $26,000 a year.

Pay figures include payroll taxes and workers' compensation insurance.

Staff in each year: 7 paid staff in Years 1 and 2 (six full-time and one part-time), 8 in Year 3, 9 in Year 4 and 10 in Year 5.

Coaches, tutors and volunteers. About 60 coaches in Year 1, including teachers, community volunteers, college students and former players, and about 40 tutors and mentors. Junior coaches and officials are trained and supervised and are not alone with young people.

The board. A seven-member volunteer board approves the budget, reviews results twice a year and helps raise money. Board members serve three-year terms. The board's certified public accountant chairs the finance committee. The board's pediatrician, coach and counselor help keep the program grounded in what young people need.

People who help us. An outside accountant who reviews our books every year, an attorney who reviews our facility agreements, waivers and policies, an insurance agent who understands youth sports, a certified athletic trainer from our health system partner and a Player Advisory Council that meets each season.

Training. All staff, coaches, tutors and officials complete training in child safety, positive coaching, concussion, heat and cardiac emergencies and inclusion before the first practice, and again each year.

Money management. Grant money is tracked separately for each funder. The Executive Director and a board member must both approve any payment over $2,500.

Milestones Narrative

Our goals for each year and how we will measure them.

- Year 1: Open the alliance at about 8 sites with about 1,100 young people on about 90 teams, with at least 40% girls, 100% of coaches screened and trained and about 10 community courts repaired. A balanced budget of about $554,500, with a small surplus of about $17,100. 7 paid staff.
- Year 2: Grow to about 10 sites and about 1,400 young people. Begin tracking school attendance and grades for players compared with their schools. A balanced budget of about $577,000, with a small surplus of about $16,000. 7 paid staff.
- Year 3: Add a third Site Basketball Coordinator and grow to about 12 sites and about 1,750 young people, including sites in the county's outlying towns. A balanced budget of about $645,500, with a small surplus of about $15,700. 8 paid staff.
- Year 4: Add a second Academic and Mentoring Coordinator and grow to about 14 sites and about 2,100 young people. Expand junior coaches and officials. A balanced budget of about $716,500, with a small surplus of about $15,700. 9 paid staff.
- Year 5: Add a fourth Site Basketball Coordinator and grow to about 16 sites and about 2,500 young people, with contracts, sponsors and family contributions covering about 40% of our budget. Report five years of results and share our toolkit with other cities. A balanced budget of about $791,500, with a small surplus of about $16,000. 10 paid staff.

What we measure:
- Young people enrolled, by site, age, gender, disability status and whether they were cut elsewhere.
- Attendance at practice and study hall, season completion and return in later seasons.
- Injuries, concussions and emergency responses, and how they were handled.
- Coach background checks and training completion.
- Sportsmanship incidents and any safety or conduct concerns reported, and how they were resolved.
- Player and family satisfaction, belonging and school connection.
- With permission, attendance and grades for players compared with their schools.
- Scholar-Athlete college and financial aid applications and enrollment.
- Courts repaired, and cost per young person.

How we review results. Site Basketball Coordinators review attendance and safety after every game week. After each season, staff, coaches, site liaisons and our Player Advisory Council review the results and change what is not working. Twice a year, the board reviews results and we share them with funders and partners as totals. Every number in this plan is a goal, and we will report what really happens.

Funding Request

What we are asking for, and how the money will be used. Our request: $100,000 from the First State Youth Development Fund for one Site Basketball Coordinator, coach stipends, court and gym rental, uniforms and equipment, Hoops and Homework academic support and athletic training and first aid coverage, for July 2027 through June 2028.

The request is spread across these budget lines:
- Personnel: Site Basketball Coordinator salary, $42,000.
- Other: Part-time coach stipends, $14,000 (other funds add $22,000).
- Other: Court and gym rental, $18,000 (other funds add $12,000).
- Other: Uniforms, balls and equipment, $10,000 (other funds add $18,000).
- Other: Hoops and Homework academic support, $8,000.
- Other: Athletic training and first aid coverage, $8,000 (other funds add $6,000).

Other money in the program. City and county contracts, corporate and team sponsors, family contributions, other grants and local donors pay the other $58,000 of those lines, plus the Executive Director's salary ($58,000), the Program Director ($50,000), the second Site Basketball Coordinator ($42,000), the Coach Education and Safety Manager ($46,000), the Academic and Mentoring Coordinator ($42,000), the part-time Program Coordinator ($26,000), referees and game costs ($10,000), transportation and tournament travel ($14,000), healthy snacks and hydration ($10,000), summer camp and skills clinics ($18,000), community court care ($8,000), insurance ($14,000), office and equipment storage space ($18,000) and evaluation, data and administration ($14,000).

Year 1 budget: about $554,500, planned to balance with a small surplus (about $17,100 after the yearly wear on equipment). Year 1 money coming in: grants $429,500 (this request plus other grants we are applying for), city parks and recreation and county youth services contracts $60,000, corporate sponsors, team sponsorships and donations $50,000 and family registration contributions $15,000 (about $14 for each of 1,100 young people). Year 1 costs: Executive Director $58,000; Program Director $50,000; two Site Basketball Coordinators $84,000; Coach Education and Safety Manager $46,000; Academic and Mentoring Coordinator $42,000; Program Coordinator $26,000; part-time coach stipends about $36,000 (about 60 coaches at about $600); court and gym rental about $30,000; referees and game costs about $10,000; uniforms, balls and equipment about $28,000; transportation and tournament travel about $14,000; athletic training and first aid coverage about $14,000; Hoops and Homework academic support about $8,000; healthy snacks and hydration about $10,000; summer camp and skills clinics about $18,000; community court care about $8,000; insurance about $14,000; office and equipment storage space about $18,000; evaluation, data and administration about $14,000; and about $15,200 a year for the wear on equipment.

About contracts, sponsors and family contributions. City and county youth services may pay for programs that keep young people engaged after school, using funds that change from year to year. Sponsors support teams and sites. Families give what they can, which is never required, and we count only what is given. These amounts are planning estimates, not promises. Payments often arrive after we bill, so we plan for about $33,270 owed to us at the end of Year 1. We plan for grants and donors to cover the gap if payers are delayed or reduce support.

One-time startup costs. Startup costs of $87,000 are paid once from startup money, not from the yearly budget: $47,000 of equipment (portable hoops, scoreboards and clocks, four AEDs, tablets and a video system, an equipment trailer, laptops and first aid kits), $3,000 for shelving, security and storage improvements, $4,000 for the lease deposit and first month of rent, $12,000 for the opening supply of basketballs, pinnies, cones and jerseys, $2,000 for facility use and event permits and city registration, $7,000 for an attorney's review of facility and school agreements, waivers and policies and insurance, $6,000 for the league logo, banners, website and online registration platform, and $6,000 for background checks, coach and safety training and the first insurance payment.

How we got our startup number. The Funding Need Calculator in this plan adds the startup costs ($87,000), the cash we need to cover the wait for the first payments (about $6,800) and a cash cushion of about $132,000, which is about three months of Year 1 costs. That comes to $226,000. We start with $25,000 of our own savings and $210,000 in startup support from a community foundation, a bank and our board, $235,000 in all, which covers that amount with room to spare.

The next five years. Our budget grows from about $554,500 in Year 1 to about $791,500 in Year 5. Grants are planned at $429,500, $412,000, $429,500, $454,500 and $471,500 in Years 1 to 5. City and county contracts grow from $60,000 to $150,000, corporate sponsors, team sponsorships and donations grow from $50,000 to $130,000 and family contributions grow from $15,000 to $40,000. We add a third Site Basketball Coordinator in Year 3, a second Academic and Mentoring Coordinator in Year 4 and a fourth Site Basketball Coordinator in Year 5. Grants fall from about 77% of our income in Year 1 to about 60% in Year 5.

Savings. We plan to keep several months of costs in savings. The lowest year-end balance in the plan is about $181,200, at the end of Year 1.

After the grant. Our plan is for the city, the county and sponsors to carry a growing share of the cost, because every site that joins gains a supervised, structured program for young people and the city gains safer courts. We will also apply to state and federal out-of-school time and violence prevention funds and invite local businesses to sponsor teams and adopt courts, with their name on the shirt and no say in how the team is run.

Risks and how we will handle them:
- A player is seriously injured. Every main site has a trained coach, an AED, an emergency plan, medical coverage at games and accident insurance, and staff call 911.
- A concussion or heat illness. Coaches are trained, players showing signs are removed immediately, return requires written clearance, and we adjust or cancel play in dangerous heat.
- A child safety concern about an adult. All adults are screened and trained, two adults are always present, there is a hotline, and we report and act on every concern.
- Too few coaches or tutors. We recruit early from schools, colleges and communities, pay stipends and train junior coaches.
- A site closes or changes its hours. We keep written agreements, have backup sites and keep a waiting list of recreation centers and schools.
- Players or families are misled by recruiting schemes. We teach scam awareness and give honest guidance about the odds.
- Sponsors or city funding fall. We plan with a cash cushion, apply to other funders and set final team numbers after funding is confirmed.
- A grant ends. We keep savings, grow city, county and sponsor income and donors each year.

If you are just starting. A new organization can begin before it has its own 501(c)(3) status through a fiscal sponsor: an established nonprofit that receives grants for you and passes them to your program, usually for a fee (commonly around 5% to 10% of the grant, sometimes more; ask before you agree). Another way is to start smaller: one fall league at one recreation center with screened and trained volunteer coaches, a donated gym and a volunteer tutor, tracked carefully. Strong results from a small start make larger grants easier to win.

Appendix Notes

Documents to attach with this proposal:

- Your IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, or your fiscal sponsor agreement.
- Your most recent financial statements and your current year budget.
- A list of your board members and what each one does.
- Resumes for your Executive Director, Program Director and Coach Education and Safety Manager.
- Letters of support and agreements from the parks department, the county youth services office and each recreation center, school or site.
- Your agreement or letter from the health system for medical coverage.
- Your Coach Training outline, background check policy and child safety and abuse prevention policy.
- Your emergency action plan, cardiac emergency response plan, concussion and heat policies, and proof of AEDs.
- Your participant consent and health forms, waiver and photo permission form.
- Your Court Care permission letters and safety procedures.
- Results from your pilot league, shown as totals.
- Proof of accident, general liability, abuse liability and workers' compensation insurance, or quotes.
If you don't have any of this yet, no worries - let's continue.

The assumptions behind our numbers (change them in the Financials section to match your own):
- Grant Revenue: $429,500 in Year 1, then $412,000, $429,500, $454,500 and $471,500.
- City Parks and Recreation and County Youth Services Contracts: $60,000 in Year 1, then $80,000, $105,000, $125,000 and $150,000.
- Corporate Sponsors, Team Sponsorships and Donations: $50,000 in Year 1, growing to $130,000.
- Family Registration Contributions (Pay What You Can): about $14 per young person in Year 1 ($15,000), growing to $40,000 in Year 5. Never required.
- Young people: about 1,100 in Year 1, then 1,400, 1,750, 2,100 and 2,500. Coaches: about 60 in Year 1 at about $600 each, growing to about 101.
- Pay (a full year, per person, including payroll taxes and workers' compensation): Executive Director $58,000, Program Director $50,000, Site Basketball Coordinator $42,000 (two in Years 1 and 2, three in Years 3 and 4, four in Year 5), Coach Education and Safety Manager $46,000, Academic and Mentoring Coordinator $42,000 (one in Years 1 to 3, two from Year 4), Program Coordinator (part-time) $26,000.
- Other yearly costs in Year 1: Part-Time Coach Stipends $36,000, Court and Gym Rental $30,000, Referees and Game Costs $10,000, Uniforms, Balls and Equipment $28,000, Transportation and Tournament Travel $14,000, Athletic Training and First Aid Coverage $14,000, Hoops and Homework Academic Support $8,000, Healthy Snacks and Hydration $10,000, Summer Camp and Skills Clinics $18,000, Community Court Care $8,000, Insurance $14,000, Office and Equipment Storage Space $18,000, Evaluation, Data and Administration $14,000. These grow between 4% and 14% a year.
- Equipment: $47,000 at the start, then $6,000 to $9,000 a year.
- Startup costs: $87,000, paid once from $235,000 in startup money.
- About 6% of each year's income is still owed to us at year end.
- Tax: none, as a nonprofit.
- Every dollar amount is an estimate. Replace them with your own quotes and real budget.

Startup Costs