Adidas Foundation’s 2026–2029 Youth Participation & Sport-for-Good Funding Opportunity

<p>The <em>Play for the Lead</em> project, under the adidas Foundation’s <strong>Playing for Purpose Program</strong>, is a multi‑year initiative designed to strengthen youth participation, elevate community‑based sport organizations, and empower young women to co‑design meaningful social impact projects. This article provides a full, detailed breakdown of the application form, eligibility requirements, organizational expectations, and documentation needed to apply.</p> <p><strong>Deadline:</strong> <em>The uploaded document does not specify a deadline.</em> (If the deadline appears elsewhere, it should be added manually.)</p> <div></div> <h2><strong>1. Overview of the Play for the Lead Project</strong></h2> <p>The adidas Foundation aims to identify and support organizations in <strong>France, Germany, and Spain</strong> that use sport or physical activity as a core tool for social impact. Through this project, selected organizations will receive funding, capacity strengthening, and a three‑year learning journey focused on <strong>youth participation</strong>, especially the leadership of <strong>young women</strong>.</p> <p>Applicants must complete the full application in one session, as progress cannot be saved. After submission, a confirmation email is sent (which may appear in Spam/Junk folders).</p> <div></div> <h2><strong>2. Part 1 – Eligibility Screening</strong></h2> <p>This section ensures that only organizations meeting the <strong>non‑negotiable requirements</strong> proceed.</p> <h3><strong>A. Organization Basics</strong></h3> <p>Applicants must provide:</p> <ul role="list"> <li>Legal name of the organization</li> <li>Website</li> <li>Social media links</li> <li>Country of legal registration and implementation (France, Germany, or Spain)</li> </ul> <h3><strong>B. Mandatory Eligibility Criteria</strong></h3> <p>Organizations must answer <strong>“Yes”</strong> to <em>all</em> the following to qualify:</p> <ol role="list" start="1"> <li><strong>Political &amp; Religious Independence</strong> Programming must not promote political or religious ideologies or restrict services based on beliefs.</li> <li><strong>Registered Non‑Profit / NGO Status</strong></li> <li><strong>Legally Registered &amp; Operational for at Least Two Years</strong> In the country of implementation (France, Germany, Spain).</li> <li><strong>Legally Permitted to Receive Foreign Charitable Funds</strong></li> <li><strong>Experience Delivering Sport‑Based or Physical Activity Programming for Youth</strong> Minimum two years in one of the three eligible countries.</li> <li><strong>Mission Alignment</strong> The organization’s statutory purpose must align with the partnership’s objectives.</li> <li><strong>Safeguarding Policy in Place</strong> Must include reporting procedures, safe practices, and protection mechanisms.</li> <li><strong>Documented Code of Conduct / Ethics Policy</strong></li> <li><strong>Financial Stability</strong> The €50,000 grant must not exceed 50% of the organization’s last externally reviewed annual revenue.</li> <li><strong>Governance Oversight Documentation Available</strong></li> <li><strong>Financial Control Mechanisms</strong> Ability to track project‑level income and expenditure.</li> <li><strong>Willingness to Provide Due Diligence Documentation</strong> Including:</li> </ol> <ul role="list"> <li>Proof of legal existence</li> <li>Governance structure</li> <li>Financial statements</li> <li>Safeguarding procedures</li> <li>Ethics and conduct frameworks</li> <li>Key personnel information</li> <li>Responses to compliance questions</li> </ul> <ol role="list" start="13"> <li><strong>Commitment to the Three‑Year Project</strong></li> <li><strong>Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability &amp; Learning (MEAL) Framework</strong></li> <li><strong>Willingness to Support Communications &amp; Storytelling</strong> Including sharing photos (with consent), updates, and impact data.</li> <li><strong>Commitment to Inclusivity</strong> Regardless of race, gender, ability, sexual orientation, religion, etc.</li> <li><strong>Experience with Participatory Approaches</strong> Organizations must have previously tested or implemented community participation methods.</li> </ol> <p>If any answer is <strong>“No”</strong>, the applicant is <strong>not eligible</strong>.</p> <p>Applicants must also confirm:</p> <ul role="list"> <li>Accuracy of information</li> <li>Disclosure of any professional relationship with members of the Young Women Advisory Group</li> </ul> <div></div> <h2><strong>3. Part 2 – Organizational Context, Motivation &amp; Readiness</strong></h2> <p>This section evaluates the organization’s mission, governance, community engagement, and readiness to collaborate with young women.</p> <h3><strong>A. About You</strong></h3> <p>Applicants provide:</p> <ul role="list"> <li>Primary contact details</li> <li>Secondary contact details</li> </ul> <h3><strong>B. Organization Overview</strong></h3> <p>Applicants must describe (max 200 words each):</p> <ul role="list"> <li>Mission and core work</li> <li>Staffing structure (full‑time, part‑time, volunteers)</li> <li>Gender representation across leadership and coaching</li> <li>Governance structure</li> <li>Financial management systems</li> <li>Safeguarding integration</li> <li>Trauma‑informed approaches</li> <li>Anti‑discrimination practices</li> <li>How sport/physical activity is used intentionally</li> <li>Types of programs offered (girls‑only, mixed, boys‑only)</li> </ul> <h3><strong>C. Community Context &amp; Involvement</strong></h3> <p>Applicants must explain:</p> <ul role="list"> <li>Age groups served</li> <li>Gender breakdown of participants</li> <li>Community demographics, especially: <ul role="list"> <li>Girls</li> <li>Underserved youth</li> <li>Migrant/refugee backgrounds</li> <li>Asylum seekers</li> <li>Ethnically marginalized communities (Max 300 words)</li> </ul> </li> <li>Barriers preventing girls and underserved youth from accessing sport (Max 300 words)</li> <li>Example of youth involvement in shaping programs (Max 200 words)</li> <li>How feedback influenced decisions and how results were communicated back (Max 200 words)</li> <li>Challenges in involving the community (Max 200 words)</li> <li>How the organization engages young women suitable for co‑design (Max 300 words)</li> </ul> <h3><strong>D. Motivation &amp; Strategic Fit</strong></h3> <p>Applicants must describe:</p> <ul role="list"> <li>How Play for the Lead aligns with their mission (200 words)</li> <li>Skills or learning they hope to gain (200 words)</li> <li>How they will ensure sustained commitment to the learning journey (200 words)</li> <li>Staff members who will lead the project and their qualifications (200 words)</li> <li>How leadership will support new practices (200 words)</li> </ul> <div></div> <h2><strong>4. Outcomes &amp; Impact</strong></h2> <p>Organizations must explain:</p> <ul role="list"> <li>How they currently measure program success (200 words)</li> </ul> <p>They must also confirm their ability to track mandatory adidas Foundation indicators:</p> <ul role="list"> <li>Number of unique participants reached</li> <li>Number of coaches/teachers/mentors trained</li> <li>Number of schools or nonprofits supported</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div></div> <h2><strong>5. Final Disclaimers &amp; Agreement</strong></h2> <p>Applicants must acknowledge:</p> <ul role="list"> <li>adidas Foundation may accept or reject applications without explanation</li> <li>Submission does not guarantee selection</li> <li>Late applications will not be considered</li> <li>All documents are confidential</li> <li>Some application content will be shared with the Young Women Advisory Group</li> <li>Data will be deleted when no longer needed</li> </ul> <p>Applicants must confirm:</p> <ul role="list"> <li>Authority to submit</li> <li>Accuracy of information</li> <li>Consent to communication</li> <li>Consent to data processing</li> </ul> <p>Deadline: Monday 6 July 2026, at 23:59 CEST</p> <p>For more information about this opportunity and to apply visit <a href="https://app.smartsheet.eu/b/form/019e736146667c14bdd4a77661828178" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a></p> <p>Discover more  grant opportunities <a href="https://opportunitiesforyouth.org/?s=grant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here </a></p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://opportunitiesforyouth.org/2026/06/09/adidas-foundations-2026-2029-youth-participation-sport-for-good-funding-opportunity/">Adidas Foundation’s 2026–2029 Youth Participation &#038; Sport-for-Good Funding Opportunity</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://opportunitiesforyouth.org">Opportunities for Youth</a>.</p>