TOGETHER, WE CHANGE LIVES
Today we’re bringing you the latest quarterly giving series from The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation to highlight the great work being done in support of our mission to help inspire and enable youth sports participation.
In our first quarter of 2026, we:
- Committed $250,000 to a new initiative investing in the future of girls flag football both on and off the field.
- Partnered with Team USA athletes during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics to turn their wins into wins for youth athletes.
- Teamed up with Brooks for the 2026 Empower Her Collection to donate up to $500,000 to youth running programs across the country.
Read on to learn more.
No Blocking: New Initiative to Advance Girls Flag Football
The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation is proud to support Under Armour’s Click Clack: Next Era Grant with a $250,000 donation. The initiative, a collective $1 million commitment from Under Armour and The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation, with delivery by Beyond Sport, aims to advance girls flag football.
“Our support of this program helps make sure more young athletes have the opportunity to play, connect with teammates and build confidence through sport,” said Rick Jordan, VP of The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation.
The grant will provide critical financial resources, equipment, apparel and access to high-quality coach education to expand access to safe, structured play. It will also support state associations and school districts in moving the needle towards sanctioning girls flag football as an official high school sport.
You can read more about the Click Clack: Next Era Grant here.
Representing Team USA, DICK’S Sporting Goods & Sports Matter
Ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, DICK’S Sporting Goods launched the DICK’S Team USA Ambassadors program to celebrate the passion, talent and unwavering dedication of Team USA athletes.
All nine DICK'S Team USA Ambassadors will select an eligible youth sports organization to receive a $10,000 Sports Matter grant, provided by the DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation. Ambassadors who earned a medal during the Olympic and Paralympic Games will have the opportunity to award an additional $10,000 to their respective organization, doubling the impact!
In total, the DICK’S Team USA Ambassadors will award $150,000 in Sports Matter grants to support youth athletes.
Big Game, Bigger Community Impact
In alignment with Super Bowl LX, The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation, in partnership with DonorsChoose, brought $50,000 in funding to school sports programs in Massachusetts and Washington, home to the Patriots and Seahawks. The funding supported 43 projects at Equity Focus Schools, ensuring students have the equipment they need to play.
Through an ongoing collaboration with DonorsChoose, The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation has provided funding to help teachers nationwide purchase essential sports and fitness equipment, expanding opportunities for students to engage in physical activity during the school day and bringing thousands of projects to life.
Seven Years Running: Empower Her Campaign
For the 7th year, DICK'S Sporting Goods & Brookshave partnered to support Sports Matter through the Empower Her Collection. Each brand has committed up to $250,000, with over $257,000 raised from sales of specially labled products!
Empower Her Campaign funds will go to Marathon Kids, supporting their mission to grow confidence, develop character and cultivate connections through funding all-girls running programs and sports bras access across the country.
THESE MOMENTS ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SPORTS MATTER FUND. IF YOU'D LIKE TO DONATE, VISIT WWW.SPORTSMATTER.ORG.
Written by Hilary Totin