Applications were open Thursday for a global youth sports grant program created by the Luka Doncic Foundation to help young athletes overcome financial barriers to staying in organized sports.
The three-year initiative, called Stay in Play, will provide grants of up to $25,000 to 77 athletes ages 12 to 15 from around the world.
According to the foundation, the grants can be used for coaching and training, equipment, travel expenses, league and club fees, and other costs associated with youth sports participation.
Foundation officials said the program is designed to address a period when many young athletes leave sports because of financial barriers rather than a lack of interest or ability.
“When I was a kid growing up in Ljubljana, all I wanted to do was run to the outdoor court behind my apartment to play basketball. It was my peace place,” the Lakers’ Doncic said in a statement. “I’m so sad to see kids walking away from youth sports because of circumstances outside their control.”
Applications are open through Aug. 20 for athletes in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia.
The foundation said the program supports participants in 176 sports, including basketball, soccer, gymnastics, swimming and track and field.
“Financial barriers shouldn’t decide whether a young athlete gets to keep playing the sport they love,” foundation CEO Lara Beth Seager said in a statement.
The program is part of the foundation’s broader efforts to improve youth sports participation and accessibility. Since its launch in 2024, the organization has supported research and coaching initiatives focused on youth athletics.
The first recipients of Stay in Play grants are expected to be announced later this year.
Applications for the first cohort of Stay in Play athletes are at lukadoncicfoundation.org/sip.