Six Pillars of
Systemic Change
Our programs work together to remove every barrier between a young athlete and their full potential — from direct grants to elite development pipelines across Maryland.
Six interconnected programs
Each pillar addresses a specific, documented barrier. Together they form a complete system — from first access to elite competition.
Club Development Grants
The foundation of youth sports is the club. Without established organizations, athletes have nowhere to play — regardless of their talent or desire. A2P focuses on building the infrastructure first.
Grant identification & application: We research and apply to federal, state, and private grant programs on behalf of qualifying clubs — handling the entire application process at no cost to the organization.
Fiscal sponsorship: For clubs that lack nonprofit status, we act as fiscal sponsor — allowing them to receive tax-deductible donations and institutional grants while they formalize.
Startup packages: New clubs receive equipment, insurance support, and operational templates to get off the ground — from flag football leagues to competitive lacrosse programs.
Sports covered: Lacrosse, basketball, soccer, baseball, track & field, swimming — with more added as community demand dictates.
Focus geography: Priority given to clubs serving underserved communities in Baltimore City, Prince George's County, Montgomery County, and other underserved Maryland jurisdictions.
Club Development Grants are funded through our corporate partner network and individual major gifts. Every club funded represents dozens of athletes gaining permanent access to organized sport.
Youth Athlete Sponsorships
Even where clubs exist, individual athletes face their own financial barriers. Registration fees, uniforms, equipment, and travel costs can total hundreds of dollars per season — money many families simply don't have.
Direct grants to athletes: Funds are distributed directly to athletes or their clubs, covering the specific costs that stand between them and participation — with no repayment required.
Application process: Families apply through our simple online grant portal. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by our program team, with decisions made within 14 days.
Eligibility: Maryland youth athletes ages 8–18 who demonstrate financial need and participation in an organized sport or club are eligible to apply.
Recurring support: Athletes can reapply each season. We track outcomes — scholarship offers, NIL deals, college enrollment — to measure long-term impact.
Fundraising & Corporate Sponsorships
Grants and individual donations can only go so far. Sustainable program funding requires corporate partners who see community investment as a core part of their business identity.
Named program sponsorships: Companies can sponsor individual programs — a single clinic, a full club season, or an entire year of NIL workshops — with full branding and impact reporting.
Equipment drives: We coordinate corporate-led equipment donation campaigns, connecting businesses with clubs that need gear — and handling all logistics from pickup to distribution.
Event sponsorships: Clinics, camps, the Annual Impact Gala, and NIL workshops are all available for corporate co-branding, with visibility packages at every tier.
Matching programs: We actively facilitate employee giving matches, helping corporate partners amplify their impact and document their community investment for ESG reporting.
All corporate sponsorships are tax-deductible to the full extent permitted by law. Custom packages available for companies with specific community investment goals.
Camps include daily skill sessions, strength and conditioning, guest speaker panels, and mentorship from athletes who have competed at the highest levels.
Clinics, Camps & Workshops
Access to great coaching is its own barrier. Elite training is expensive, geographically concentrated, and often inaccessible to athletes from underserved communities. A2P changes that.
Summer Development Camps: Multi-day, multi-sport camps held across Maryland each summer, featuring expert coaches from collegiate and professional backgrounds. Free to qualifying athletes.
Single-Day Clinics: Sport-specific coaching clinics targeting specific skills — shooting mechanics, footwork, sprint technique — run by former collegiate and professional athletes.
Leadership Workshops: Sessions focused on athlete identity, mental performance, team dynamics, and the transition from high school sport to collegiate or professional opportunity.
Mentorship matchmaking: Athletes who complete A2P programs are matched with ongoing mentors from the sports, business, and nonprofit sectors for continued development.
NIL Education Program
Since 2021, every student-athlete has had the legal right to profit from their Name, Image & Likeness. For athletes from underserved communities, this represents a generational opportunity — but only if they know how to use it.
Rights literacy: Plain-language explanation of what NIL means at the high school and college level, including MPSSAA rules, NCAA policies, and what athletes can and can't monetize.
Brand building: How to build a personal athlete brand on social media — content strategy, audience growth, authenticity, and turning followers into brand partnerships.
Contract literacy: How to evaluate, negotiate, and safely sign NIL deals — what to look for, what to avoid, and when to involve an attorney or agent.
Financial planning: Managing NIL income, understanding tax obligations, building savings, and planning for life beyond athletics — skills every athlete needs regardless of income level.
Brand partnership network: A2P actively connects workshop graduates with local and national brands seeking diverse athlete ambassadors — creating direct economic opportunity.
Guest speakers include sports agents, entertainment attorneys, brand marketing executives, and former professional athletes who have navigated NIL themselves.
Athletes identified for the national pipeline receive individualized support — travel funding, college recruitment preparation, and direct introductions to coaches and scouts.
National & International Pipeline
For athletes who demonstrate elite potential, access barriers don't disappear at the local level — they multiply. Travel costs, exposure opportunities, and connections to scouts and coaches are all inequitably distributed.
Elite identification: A2P program staff, in partnership with coaches and clubs, identify athletes with elite potential who lack the resources to compete at higher levels of competition.
National governing body connections: We create direct pathways to USA Lacrosse, US Soccer, USA Track & Field, and other national governing bodies — securing tryout opportunities and development program placements.
Olympic Development: For athletes showing Olympic-level potential, we facilitate connections to USOC-affiliated programs and international competition opportunities.
College recruitment support: We help pipeline athletes navigate the college recruiting process — film preparation, coach outreach, visit coordination, and scholarship negotiation guidance.
Apply for a grant or get involved
Whether you're an athlete, a club director, a coach, or a donor — there's a way for you to engage with Access 2 Play's programs.