Sports are fundamental and play a vital role in society by bringing communities together and equipping children with the core values of teamwork, a strong work ethic, and respect for their fellow players. At DICK’S and The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation, we focus our philanthropic and volunteer initiatives on making sports accessible to all athletes.

GOALS

DICK’S believes that everyone should have the opportunity to benefit from the experience of sports. Our philanthropic activities help to make that a reality – with a focus on underserved communities:

1,000,000

Give 1 million kids a chance to play by 2024.

Youth Sports Engagement

Through the Sports Matter initiative, DICK’S and The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation remained committed to keeping the game alive by supporting youth athletes through funding and equipment donations. Since 2014, DICK'S and its foundation have committed more than $189 million to support youth athletes in under-resourced and low-income communities.

The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation, under its Sports Matter program, launched several initiatives to facilitate an increase in youth sports engagement. These include the following:

  • Sports Matter Giving Truck: In November and December of 2020, in collaboration with Giving Tuesday, The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation gave the gift of sport to 10,000 kids in under-resourced communities by traveling to eight cities in a customized Giving Truck.
  • Partnership with Scholastic: The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation and Scholastic came together to launch a national essay contest for students in grades 4–7 that reinforced the value that sports can bring to their social, emotional, and physical health.
  • Co-Op City Tennis: On Giving Tuesday, The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation donated $100,000 to the Co-Op City Tennis Club, which provides underserved youth with free tennis instruction.

CHAMPIONING WOMEN
AND GIRLS IN SPORTS

Women and girls continue to be underserved by local sports programs, and DICK’S is actively focused on breaking down gender barriers in sports by creating more opportunities, access, and support for women and girls in athletics.

In 2020, we launched several programs and initiatives to help female athletes make strides on and off the field:

  • U.S. Soccer Foundation Partnership: The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation joined forces with the U.S. Soccer Foundation, becoming the Presenting Partner of its United for Girls initiative through a three-year, $5 million Sports Matter grant, which aims to increase opportunities for girls and young women to benefit from soccer.
  • Here for Her Summit: Hosted by DICK’S Sporting Goods, the Here for Her Summit brought industry leaders together to discuss the challenges and opportunities girls experience in accessing sports and the impact sports and fitness have had on their own lives.
  • Brooks Running Partnership: To celebrate International Women’s Day, DICK’S and Brooks Running partnered to create the Empower Her Collection, which benefitted under-resourced Girls Running Programs and highlighted the importance of sports in women’s lives.
“We are thrilled that The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation has made this significant investment that will dramatically enhance our efforts to engage more girls and women in soccer in underserved communities. Thanks to its support, we will introduce more girls to our game so that they can benefit from all that playing soccer offers, such as learning how to work on a team and improved decision-making skills.”
Ed Foster-Simeon, President and CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation

Check out the DICK'S Foundation website and research below

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