POUGHKEEPSIE … Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino and the Dutchess County Department of Community and Family Services’ Division of Youth Services invite nonprofits to apply for Youth Team Sports (YTS) funding for the program year Jan. 1, 2027, to Sept. 30, 2027. This opportunity aims to expand sports opportunities for young people across our communities, helping youth develop essential life skills such as teamwork and discipline while supporting their physical and mental well-being.
YTS funding will help strengthen local team sports programs in communities where opportunities may be limited or under-resourced. These investments support Dutchess County’s “Path to Promise” domains of: Learning, Material Basics, Safety, Family/Relationships, Mental Health and Physical Health.
Nonprofit organizations that offer free team sport opportunities to youth under age 18 are encouraged to apply for reimbursable grants ranging from $5,000 to $30,000. A total of $128,105 is available through the New York State Children and Families Services Youth Teams Sports Reimbursable Grant. For this opportunity, “team sport” is defined as an organized physical activity in which groups of two or more individuals compete with two or more opposing individuals.
Eligible applicants should be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a federal identification number, operate in Dutchess County and have the ability to meet the county’s insurance requirements.
Organizations that received 2026-2027 Youth Development Programming (YDP) or Youth Sports and Education Opportunity Funding (YSEF) awards are not eligible to apply for 2027 funding for the same program.
Funding can be used for operational support to help organizations efficiently allocate resources for quality programming, including educational instruction necessary to prepare youth to participate in team sports.
The application period for the Youth Team Sports grant opens Thursday, September 3 and closes on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
To assist applicants, the Division of Youth Services will host two grant workshops on Thursday September 3rd at 9am and 12:30 pm, at the Dutchess County Emergency Response Center, 392 Creek Road, Poughkeepsie, NY. Sessions will last two hours and help participants understand the requirements, process of applying and answer any questions. To register, contact Juliana Corbett at 845-486-3024 or Juliana.corbett@dfa.state.ny.us.
Applications are due to the Division of Youth Services through the County’s online grant portal by 1pm on September 17th.
Visit the Division’s NYS Office of Children and Family Services (NYS OCFS) Grant Funding webpage for more information regarding the program and how to apply.
