USA Pickleball Serves – Play It Forward Grants (2027)

Capital Grants for Permanent Pickleball Court Construction and Renovation Nationwide

USA Pickleball Serves offers Play It Forward Grants to help nonprofit organizations, schools, and municipalities build or renovate permanent pickleball courts that expand public access to the sport.

The program supports projects that create lasting recreational infrastructure, improve access to community sports facilities, and encourage participation through youth education, inclusive play, and organized recreational programming.

In its previous funding cycle, USA Pickleball Serves offered two grants of $25,000 each for qualifying court projects. The 2027 funding amount and number of awards have not yet been confirmed.

Applications open March 1, 2027, and close March 31, 2027.

Organization: USA Pickleball Serves
Support Type: Capital grants
Geographic Focus: Nationwide — United States
Funding Amount: Previous awards of $25,000; 2027 amounts to be announced
Application Opens: March 1, 2027
Application Deadline: March 31, 2027
Application Status: Upcoming

About the Funder

USA Pickleball is the national governing body for pickleball in the United States.

Through its charitable initiative, USA Pickleball Serves, the organization works to expand access to pickleball, improve recreational facilities, and create opportunities for individuals and communities to participate in the sport.

USA Pickleball Serves focuses on three core commitments:

Court Enhancements

Improving existing facilities and expanding access to permanent pickleball courts.

Educational Youth Programming

Introducing children and teenagers to pickleball through organized instruction, recreation, and skill development.

Inclusive Play

Creating opportunities for people of different ages, backgrounds, and abilities to participate in pickleball.

The Play It Forward Grant Program advances these priorities by supporting permanent court infrastructure that can provide long-term recreational benefits.

Unlike USA Pickleball Serves’ Grow the Game Equipment Grants, Play It Forward provides financial support for court construction and renovation.

What This Program Supports

New Pickleball Court Construction

Funding may support the construction of permanent, dedicated pickleball courts at public facilities.

Potential projects include:

• New public pickleball courts
• Dedicated courts at municipal recreation facilities
• Permanent courts serving community recreation programs
• Court development at qualifying schools
• Projects expanding recreational access in underserved communities

Applicants should demonstrate a clear community need, a feasible construction plan, and a commitment to long-term public use.

Conversion of Existing Recreational Facilities

The program may support converting existing recreational spaces into permanent pickleball courts.

Potential projects include:

• Conversion of existing courts into dedicated pickleball facilities
• Renovation of underutilized recreational areas
• Improvements creating permanent pickleball playing spaces
• Projects increasing the number of dedicated courts available to the public

The completed courts must be permanent and dedicated to pickleball.

Temporary courts or spaces used only periodically for pickleball do not satisfy the program’s requirements.

Community Recreation & Public Access

Play It Forward Grants are intended to expand access to recreational opportunities.

Projects may support:

• Community pickleball programs
• Organized recreational play
• Beginner instruction
• Public recreation activities
• Programs serving residents with limited access to sports facilities
• Opportunities for intergenerational participation

Applicants should explain how the proposed courts will benefit local residents and encourage sustained participation.

Youth Education & Inclusive Play

The program also emphasizes projects that create opportunities for young people and underserved populations.

Potential benefits include:

• Youth pickleball instruction
• School and after-school recreation
• Inclusive sports programming
• Community wellness activities
• Programs encouraging physical activity
• Expanded recreational opportunities for individuals of different ages and abilities

Projects should align with at least one USA Pickleball Serves commitment: court enhancements, educational youth programming, or inclusive play.

Eligible Support Types

Play It Forward Grants provide capital funding for permanent pickleball court projects.

Eligible project types include:

• Construction of permanent, dedicated pickleball courts
• Conversion of existing recreational facilities into permanent pickleball courts
• Renovation projects that create or improve dedicated pickleball facilities

The program does not publish a comprehensive list of eligible construction expenses.

Applicants should review the 2027 application guidelines before finalizing project budgets.

Eligibility & Preferences

Eligible applicants include:

• Nonprofit organizations
• Schools
• Government municipalities

USA Pickleball Membership

Applicants must be USA Pickleball members at any membership level.

Organizations should confirm their membership status before applying.

Local Presence

Applicants must maintain a physical office or presence in the geographic area where the proposed project will operate.

Public Facility Requirement

The proposed courts must be located at a public facility.

Permanent Court Requirement

Funded courts must be permanent and dedicated to pickleball.

Temporary playing areas or multipurpose courts used only occasionally for pickleball are not appropriate for this program.

Community Programming

Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to expanding pickleball participation through organized programming.

The proposed project should provide lasting community benefits rather than simply adding recreational infrastructure without a plan for ongoing use.

Project Readiness

Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate:

• A clear need for the proposed courts
• A realistic construction or renovation plan
• A project budget
• Available additional funding or resources
• A feasible completion timeline
• Plans for ongoing public programming

Geographic Eligibility

Eligible Geography: Nationwide — United States

Play It Forward Grants are available to qualifying organizations throughout the United States.

The program does not publish state-specific geographic restrictions.

Organizations in all 50 states may apply, provided they meet the organizational, membership, facility, and project requirements.

Applicants must have a physical presence in the community where the courts will be located.

The proposed facilities must be available for public use.

Required Project Conditions

Successful applicants must meet several specific requirements.

Permanent, Dedicated Courts

Funded projects must result in permanent pickleball courts dedicated to the sport.

Public Access

The courts must be installed at a public facility.

Construction Timeline

Courts must be installed and open for play within 12 months of receiving grant funds.

Applicants should consider construction schedules, permitting requirements, contractor availability, and potential delays before applying.

Local USA Pickleball Coordination

A designated project lead must work with either:

• A local USA Pickleball Ambassador; or
• A USA Pickleball Serves Committee Member

The representative provides support and receives project updates.

Permanent Recognition

Completed courts must include permanent branding recognizing USA Pickleball Serves.

Public Unveiling

Grant recipients must organize an unveiling event that includes a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Organizations should account for these requirements when developing their project plans and budgets.

Ineligible or Unsuitable Requests

The program is not appropriate for:

• Individual applicants
• Organizations that do not meet the nonprofit, school, or municipality eligibility requirements
• Applicants without USA Pickleball membership
• Projects at nonpublic facilities
• Temporary pickleball courts
• Facilities not permanently dedicated to pickleball
• Projects that cannot be completed within 12 months of receiving funds
• Proposals without a feasible construction or renovation plan
• Projects lacking a clear community benefit
• Requests solely for paddles, balls, portable nets, or other recreational equipment

Organizations seeking equipment rather than court construction funding should consider the separate USA Pickleball Serves Grow the Game Equipment Grant Program.

Funding Amounts

Previous Award Amount: $25,000 per recipient

In its 2026 funding cycle, USA Pickleball Serves offered:

• Two grants
• $25,000 per grant
• $50,000 in total available funding

The 2027 award amount and number of grants have not yet been confirmed.

These previous award figures provide a useful reference but should not be interpreted as guaranteed funding levels for the 2027 cycle.

Additional Project Funding

The application evaluation considers whether applicants have additional resources available to support the proposed project.

Organizations should prepare a realistic total project budget and identify other funding sources or resources that can help complete construction.

Applicants should not assume that a Play It Forward Grant will cover the entire cost of a new court.

Timeline & Review

2027 Application Schedule

Application Evaluation

Applications are evaluated using six criteria.

1. Project Need & Planning

Applicants must demonstrate a clear need for the project and provide a realistic plan for completing construction or renovation.

2. Funding Readiness

Proposals should include current funding information and explain how the grant will contribute to completing the project.

3. Additional Resources

Applicants should identify additional funding or other resources available to support the project.

4. Community Programming

The organization must demonstrate a commitment to growing pickleball through organized activities.

5. Community Impact

Applicants should explain how the proposed courts will benefit local residents and provide long-term recreational value.

6. Mission Alignment

Projects must align with at least one USA Pickleball Serves commitment:

• Court enhancements
• Educational youth programming
• Inclusive play

Each criterion is scored on a seven-point scale.

Funding is competitive, and meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee an award.

Application / Request Process

Applications must be submitted through USA Pickleball Serves’ grant application process.

Step 1: Confirm Organizational Eligibility

Verify that the applicant is an eligible nonprofit organization, school, or municipality.

Confirm that the organization has USA Pickleball membership.

Step 2: Identify the Proposed Court Location

Determine where the courts will be constructed or renovated.

The facility must be public, and the completed courts must be permanent and dedicated to pickleball.

Step 3: Develop the Construction Plan

Applicants should be prepared to describe:

• The proposed court location
• Whether the project involves new construction or renovation
• The number and type of courts proposed
• The need for additional recreational facilities
• Construction or renovation activities
• Anticipated project costs
• Available funding
• Additional resources needed
• Expected completion date

Step 4: Develop a Community Programming Plan

Explain how the courts will support ongoing pickleball participation.

Potential activities include:

• Public recreational play
• Youth instruction
• Community pickleball programs
• Beginner clinics
• Inclusive recreation
• Organized events and activities

Applicants should demonstrate how the completed courts will remain useful to the community over time.

Step 5: Identify Local USA Pickleball Support

Plan to coordinate with a local USA Pickleball Ambassador or USA Pickleball Serves Committee Member.

Step 6: Prepare for Recognition Requirements

Include permanent USA Pickleball Serves branding and a ribbon-cutting event in the project plan.

Step 7: Submit During the Application Window

Complete the application between March 1 and March 31, 2027.

Applicants should monitor the official grants webpage for the application form and updated 2027 guidelines.

Apply / Learn More:

➡️ https://usapickleball.org/grants/

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

Play It Forward Grants may be especially attractive to organizations that:

• Manage public parks and recreational facilities
• Are planning permanent pickleball courts
• Want to convert existing facilities into dedicated pickleball courts
• Serve communities with limited access to recreational infrastructure
• Offer youth sports and recreation programs
• Promote inclusive physical activity
• Have additional construction funding available
• Can complete a court project within 12 months
• Have a plan for sustained public programming

The Play It Forward Grant Program provides an opportunity for community organizations to expand access to pickleball through permanent recreational infrastructure.

Its emphasis on public facilities, youth programming, and inclusive play makes it particularly relevant to municipalities, parks and recreation departments, schools, and nonprofits developing community sports facilities.

Organizations with construction-ready projects and additional funding resources may be especially well positioned to apply.

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Review Type: Competitive grant cycle
Application Opens: March 1, 2027
Application Deadline: March 31, 2027
Application Status: Upcoming
Award Notification: Not yet announced
Previous Award Amount: $25,000
2027 Funding Amount: To be announced
Geography: Nationwide — United States
Eligible Applicants: Nonprofit organizations, schools, municipalities
Membership Requirement: USA Pickleball membership at any level
Facility Requirement: Public facility
Court Requirement: Permanent, dedicated pickleball courts
Construction Deadline: Within 12 months of receiving funds
Additional Conditions: Local USA Pickleball coordination, permanent branding, ribbon-cutting ceremony
Funding Priorities: Court enhancements, youth education, inclusive play
Best Suited For: Parks and recreation departments, municipalities, schools, and nonprofits developing public pickleball facilities
Application Strategy: Prepare a construction-ready project with a realistic budget, additional funding resources, and a clear plan for ongoing community programming.