Championing Communities

We believe that sports are fundamental and play a vital role in society by equipping children with the core values of teamwork, a strong work ethic and respect for the game and their fellow players. Simply put, we believe sports make people better. While more than 200,000 young athletes already are benefiting from the programs we offer, DICK’S is committing to give 1 million additional kids the chance to play by 2024 through our Sports Matter community engagement activities.

With more than 850 stores, DICK’S Sporting Goods has the size and scope to make a difference. We champion local athletes of all ages in communities across the country. The impact of the DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation continues to grow, empowering both donors and the athletes it supports to make a difference in the communities that need sports the most.

OUR GOALS

Give

1 Million Kids the Chance to Play

By 2024

Check out our research below and learn more
about The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation

The State of High School
Sports in America

Who Plays, Who Pays?
Funding for and
Access to Youth Sports

SAVING YOUTH SPORTS

Since 2014, DICK’S and The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation have given more than $112.3 million in grants and sponsorships to support underfunded youth sports programs, raise awareness and bolster communities nationwide. In 2019 alone, the Foundation gave approximately $7 million in grants.

The benefits of increasing access to – and participation in – youth sports are tangible and immediate. A Women’s Sports Foundation study commissioned by The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation shows that kids who are highly involved in sports have higher self-esteem, are less prone to depression, earn higher grades and are more likely to aspire to graduate from college.

Three major focuses of this work are:

HELPING TEAMS GET IN THE GAME We have a three-year $5 million commitment to support youth sports teams and programs. With a blend of targeted local projects and systemic, catalytic programs, our strategic grantmaking has the breadth and depth it needs to make lasting change to youth all over the country.

REDUCING INEQUALITY IN SPORTS The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation partnered with the Beyond Sport Foundation, which celebrates, supports, raises awareness and provides funding for organizations using sport to help address the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Foundation committed $265,000 to the Beyond Sports Foundation’s Sport for Reduced Inequalities Collective Impact Award, helping five outstanding organizations to reduce inequalities in sport: Soccer Without Borders, Lost Boyz, The Sparkle Effect, Urban Dove,The Pass from Kids in the Game.

CHAMPIONING WOMEN & GIRLS IN SPORTS The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation has granted more than $5.5 million to organizations such as Girls on the Run and the U.S. Soccer Foundation. Both organizations provide opportunities for girls to gain access, emphasizing the important connection between physical and emotional health, strengthening girls' confidence at the developmental phase when they need it the most. DICK’S also supports Girls on the Run through additional local activation and sponsorships. For example, Girls on the Run Chicago includes

2,700 VOLUNTEER COACHES

WHO MENTOR MORE THAN

11,000 GIRLS

AT 450 SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY SITES ACROSS CHICAGOLAND

We raised $7.3 million for our foundation, a 30 percent increase over 2018.

Since 2014, we've provided more than

$145 MILLION

in grants and sponsorships

Women smiling and posing for photo at marathon

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Since 2014, DICK’S and The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation have given more than $112.3 million in grants and sponsorships to support underfunded youth sports programs, raise awareness and bolster communities nationwide. In 2019 alone, the Foundation gave approximately $7 million in grants.

COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVE SPORTS At DICK’S, we want sports to be accessible to all athletes, no matter their ability. In 2019, we supported a number of organizations that are dedicated to increasing access for athletes, including NubAbility, Special Olympics of Pennsylvania, and the Challenged Athletes Foundation’s High School Adaptive Sports Program.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Participation in sports can be an avenue to other types of community engagement, bringing people of diverse backgrounds together to learn and grow. DICK’S sponsors sporting events and other community engagement activities in the areas in which we operate , often with our own teammates’ participation.

HOMETOWN ENGAGEMENT Participating in everything from the city’s annual PRIDE march to local golf tournaments, teammates in Pittsburgh engage the local community through local sports sponsorships, philanthropic activities, community events and more.

SHOP WITH A PRO Our store managers team up with a professional athlete and jointly identify a local organization. The children receive approximately $125 in DICK’S gift cards compliments of DICK’S, with some athletes matching the spend. The kids then shop the store with the athlete serving as their VIP shopping assistant. In 2019, DICK’s held more than thirty SWAP events during the holiday and back-to-school seasons, benefitting more than 500 children.

SUPPORTING YOUTH BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL

To this day, DICK’S Sporting Goods and Little League Baseball and Softball share a special relationship. In 2017, The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation began a five-year, $500,000 commitment to the league. In 2019, we brought more than 50 players from youth baseball leagues to experience the Little League World Series. We provided batting cages, equipment giveaways and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for kids and coaches to see the biggest game in the Little League. DICK’S also provided an additional $5,000 grant to the kids’ local organizations.

Women celebrating their completion of Pittsburgh marathon.

SPONSORSHIP IMPACT

In communities across the country, we are getting people moving with sponsorships of local races for athletes of all ages. These include everything from Hermes Road Race Series in Cleveland, Ohio, which attract more than 100,000 participants each year, to the Little TrackStars and Junior TrackStars races in Baltimore, Md. which averages 20 racers. Additionally, each year DICK’S encourages our teammates to register to run in the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, and in 2019, more than 250 teammates ran on the DICK’S corporate team. Runners showed their support by participating in the Run for a Reason program and volunteering at the marathon expo.

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