SimiSleighs Foundation Athlete Grant Program 2024-2025

A holistic one-year program, it equips rising leaders with the tools they need through meaningful experiences and practical skill building. During the program, grant recipients participate in monthly virtual events designed to nurture their personal and professional development, enhance their ability to lead and expand their global network.

The program launched in 2023 and is expected to scale in future years on a path to award $1M USD in grant funding to elite female athletes in the next decade. Upon completion of the program, participants will have gained a deeper understanding of how their influence as athletes advances their ability to enact change. Participants will also gain a broader global perspective, access to experienced mentors and an opportunity to expand their vision and strengthen their voice. The 2024 program year will run from April 2024 through March 2025.

Athlete Grant Program Benefits

• Financial Support
  • Each individual grantee will be granted an award of up to $10,000 USD to pay for costs associated with athlete training and competition expenses.
• Personal and Professional Development
  • Grant recipients receive individual and group coaching and skills development training.
• Leadership Development
  • Access to highly curated programming designed to strengthen and enhance athletes’ ability to lead.
• Support Networks
  • Athletes expand their global network by connecting with other athletes and opportunities to connect with expert volunteers, world-class specialists, innovators and leadership coaches.

Program Details

• The award offers selected athletes a grant up to USD$10,000 for costs associated with training and competition expenses. For the 2024-25 program year, grant disbursements are expected to be paid in multiple installments during the term of the program year. Grant funds may be used for expenses related to an athlete’s training and successfully representing their country at an Olympic or Paralympic Games, including the following expenses:
  • Costs associated with training facility fees, equipment fees, and training and competition gear.
  • Costs associated with finding and establishing specialized coaching in the relevant sporting discipline.
  • Costs associated with maintaining health and wellbeing (food, clothing, medical care, housing, etc.) and accidental and illness insurance.
  • Costs associated with travel and lodging to participate in training and competitions, including Olympic qualification events.

The Ideal Candidate

• The Foundation is seeking female athletes from every corner of the world who are changing the game on and off the field of play. They’re deeply dedicated athletes who are equally passionate about fueling positive change in the world. They are rising leaders, bold thinkers, curious minds with authentic voices, poised to write their own history. They’re dreaming of their place on the podium and how it can serve as a vehicle for changing the world.
• Ideal candidates for the SimiSleighs Foundation Athlete Grant Program:
  • Want to serve as role models and leverage their athletic talents to create positive change worldwide. They’re committed to service and have been working to advance positive social change and can demonstrate that their work has made an impact.
  • Strive for excellence in all that they do and are determined, persistent and full of grit as they relentlessly pursue their goals and visions.
  • Stand out for their integrity, sportsmanship and leadership.
  • Demonstrate a willingness to learn and grow as both an athlete and leader.

Program Requirements

• Program participation: The SimiSleighs Foundation Athlete Grant Program is a one year program with expected monthly virtual program events. Program participants can expect to dedicate between 2 to 6 hours per month over the course of the 1-year program in addition to opportunities for individual support offered through the program. Athletes’ active participation in live monthly programming is a core requirement of the program and participants are expected to attend all programmatic events for the entire duration of the program from April 2024 through March 2025.
• Social media and communications participation: Athletes’ active participation is a core requirement of the program, including public communications, marketing and promotional obligations. During the term of the program, program administrators will reach out with specific social media and communications opportunities. Athletes are expected to promptly respond to any requests as may be requested by the program.
• Program Reporting: Participants must provide regular feedback as requested by the program in order to monitor their progress. Award recipients must complete final reports detailing the impact of the program and how the funding was used.
• Technical Requirements: Program participants will need access to a computer with a camera and a reliable internet connection to fully participate in the program.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the following eligibility criteria to participate in the grant program:
  • Female athletes who are currently on an active National Team and/or training to represent their country at the Paris 2024 Olympic or Paralympic Games or Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic or Paralympic Games.
  • The consistent display of a high level of athletic performance and good sportsmanship.
  • Have not been convicted of a doping offense or sanctioned for actions contrary to the standards of sporting ethics as established by the Olympic Charter, the International Olympic Committee, (IOC), International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the National Olympic Committee (NOC) or National Paralympic Committee (NPC).
  • A commitment to improving their communities and the world through sport.
  • Fluent in English.
  • The willingness and ability to fully commit to participating in holistic monthly programming for the entire duration of the program from April 2024 through March 2025.
  • 18 years of age as of January 1, 2024.
• Additional factors considered will be:
  • Participation in a sport that is underrepresented by women.
  • Participation on a National team that is underrepresented in a sport.
  • Experiencing significant barriers to participation (e.g., lack of access to training facilities).
  • Demonstrated track record of leadership and impact in the community.
  • Financial hardship, such as an immediate financial need that, once fulfilled, will have a significant impact on the athlete’s participant to continue training and competing.

For more information, visit SimiSleighs Foundation.