Jumpstart Launches Sport Relief Fund

Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities recently launched an $8 Million Sport Relief Fund that will help sport and recreation organizations continue to deliver programming in 2020 and beyond. Many community organizations across the country have shut their doors due to the financial burden created by COVID-19, including lost revenue and increased program costs.

Applications will be accepted from September 12 to October 4, 2020. 

According to a nationwide survey of 1,300 sport organizations, 73% of community sport organizations are temporarily closed and more than 50% will not resume operations until 2021¹. With a fifteen-year history of supporting access to sport and play for kids across Canada and an understanding of the role sport plays in the health and well-being of kids and their families, Jumpstart is doing everything possible to help community sports continue.   

The Jumpstart Sport Relief Fund will provide two streams of needs-based support to eligible organizations:

Programming Support

Assists organizations with the costs of running sport and recreational programming, including:

• Additional hiring of coaches, instructors, or other program supervisors;
• Meeting return to play guidelines/provincial health protocols/regulations (e.g., PPE, cleaning supplies, individual equipment for participants, etc.); and
• Facility and transportation cost increases

Operational Support

Assists organizations with operational and administrative costs, including:

• Rehiring staff, new employees to meet changing needs, repayment of past due accounts;
• Staff training and development, fundraising/revenue generation strategy and development, and operational efficiencies; and
• Equipment procurement, personal protective equipment, space reconfiguration, and program delivery adaptations (including start-up expenses related to establishing online programming).
• Organizations can apply for an operational support and capacity building grant up to $15,000. If approved, the grant value that will be awarded is subject to regional demands and budgets.

To be eligible for a Jumpstart Sport Relief Fund Grant, applicants must be qualified donees as defined by the Canada Revenue Agency. The Jumpstart Sport Relief Fund will prioritize programs and activities that address systemic barriers to sport & play in the following communities: children with disabilities, girls and young women, BIPOC children and youth, and families in financial need.

Eligible programs should meet the following requirements:

• Program must start between September 1 to December 31, 2020
• Run for a minimum of 5 hours total
• Consist of at least 5 sessions
• Include participants aged 4–18 years old

To help ensure support reaches as many organizations as possible, while having the most impact, Jumpstart has created a community sport relief panel comprised of industry experts, including:

• Benoît Huot, Paralympic Gold Medallist and Jumpstart Ambassador
• Beckie Scott, Olympic Gold Medallist and Founder and CEO, Spirit North
• Cheri Bradish, Founder, Future of Sport Lab (FSL) and Director, Sports Business Initiatives, Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University
• Norm O'Reilly, Director, International Institute for Sport Business and Leadership and Professor, University of Guelph
• Fabrice Vil, Founder, Pour 3 Points

To learn more about Jumpstart's Sport Relief Fund, including how to apply, please visit jumpstart.canadiantire.ca.

About Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities

Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities is a national charity committed to ensuring kids in need have equal access to sport and recreation. With an extensive, national network of more than 1,000 grantees and 289 local chapters, Jumpstart helps eligible families cover the costs of registration, transportation, and equipment, and provides funding to selected organizations for recreational infrastructure and programming. Supported by the Canadian Tire Family of Companies, Jumpstart has provided more than two million opportunities for Canadian kids to get in the game since 2005. For more information, visit jumpstart.canadiantire.ca.

Follow Jumpstart on Twitter and Facebook to learn about how the charity is giving kids across Canada a sporting chance.

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