NFL Foundation – LISC Grassroots Field Grant Program to Fund 16 New and Refurbished Community Football Fields Nationwide

The NFL Foundation and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the nation’s leading community development support organization, announced today that community organizations, schools, and parks in 16 cities and towns across the country will receive more than $3 million in grants to develop or refurbish neighborhood football fields.

These grants are supported by the NFL Foundation – LISC Grassroots Field Grant Program. For more than 25 years, the NFL and LISC have partnered to help youth stay active and healthy by creating safe places to play through the development of community football fields. Since the program’s inception, over $65 million has been distributed to community organizations and schools across the country, resulting in the creation or refurbishment of more than 450 football fields nationwide.

This year’s funding cycle will support new field development or enhancements in the following locations: Los Angeles, CA; Aurora, CO; Pueblo, CO; Jacksonville, FL; Miami, FL; Indianapolis, IN; Shawnee, KS; Saint Paul, MN; Irvington, NJ; Henderson, NV; Buffalo, NY; Philadelphia, PA; Central Falls, RI; Jasper, TN; Dallas, TX; and Springfield, VA.

The fields in these communities will be newly built or significantly renovated, including improvements such as new irrigation systems, lights, bleachers, scoreboards, goalposts and turf. Grassroots grants are issued once established funding thresholds are reached for each project.

“For more than 25 years, the NFL Foundation and LISC have helped our youth stay healthy and have fun by developing community football fields through the Grassroots Field Grant Program,” said NFL Vice President of Philanthropy and Executive Director of the NFL Foundation Alexia Gallagher. “The NFL is proud to use its platform to support communities nationwide, and we’re excited to continue growing our impact in the years ahead.”

Through the Grassroots Field Grant Program, LISC identifies local nonprofit and community-based organizations interested in building or refurbishing football fields in schools and neighborhood parks. Through the program, the local agencies are provided with the necessary financing and technical assistance to improve the quality and safety of fields in their communities. The local agencies oversee the construction, maintenance, and programming of the fields.

“Twenty-eight million kids lack access to safe recreation spaces within a 10-minute walk from home. To create communities where everyone can thrive, it’s crucial that we create safe and well-maintained areas for all children and adults to gather, play, and exercise – regardless of their income level,” said Michael Pugh, president and CEO of LISC. “Our partnership with the NFL Foundation helps to provide low-income communities with the resources and support they need to create and enjoy these vital community-building spaces.”

“These fields are among the building blocks LISC employs to support and strengthen communities throughout the country,” said Beverly Smith, VP LISC Sports & Youth Development. “For more than 25 years, our partnership with the NFL Foundation has resulted in new and improved facilities that are serving generations of neighborhood youth and families.”

The 2025 Grassroots funding cycle will begin on December 15, 2025, and the deadline for proposal submissions is March 30, 2026. Additional details can be found here. 

About NFL Foundation

The National Football League Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those touched by the game of football – from players at all levels to communities across the country. The NFL Foundation and its members, the 32 NFL clubs, support the health, safety and wellness of athletes, youth football, and the communities that support our game. Over the past half-century, the NFL Foundation has emerged as one of the leading philanthropic entities in America, contributing to NFL team communities, national and international disaster relief efforts, and societal issues. For more information on the NFL Foundation, visit: www.NFLFoundation.org. 

About LISC

LISC is one of the country’s largest community development organizations, helping forge vibrant, resilient communities across America. LISC works with residents and partners to close systemic gaps in health, wealth and opportunity and advance racial equity so that people and places can thrive. Since its founding in 1979, LISC has invested $35.1 billion to create more than 530,457 affordable homes and apartments, develop 83.5 million square feet of retail, community, and educational space, and help tens of thousands of people find employment and improve their finances.