CAF Grant Frequently Asked Questions | Challenged Athletes Foundation

GRANT FAQS ARE LISTED BELOW BY SECTION:

Just getting Started?
Timeline, Eligibility, Types of Grants, Portal Troubleshooting

Filling out an application?
Specific Grant type info, Application confirmation

Sport Expense Questions
Funding Towards Equipment Questions
Equipment from CAF Preferred Vendors
Prosthetic Grant Questions

Already submitted your application?
How to check status, Accept or Decline, Receipts, Order equipment

How will I know I was awarded? Can I check my status?
I was awarded, now what?
Grant Category Questions – Sport Expense, Equipment, Funding Towards Equipment, and Prosthetic
Receipts
Why was my grant application denied?

Grant Portal (Zengine) Troubleshooting
New account, returning user, forgot password

Portal Questions

For any question not answered below please email [email protected].

General Questions

When does the Annual grant application open and close?

The 2023 Annual Grant Application will open on Thursday, September 1st, 2022 and will close on Friday, November 4th, 2022 at 5PM PST. No late applications will be accepted.

Who is eligible to apply?

Individuals worldwide with permanent physical disabilities are eligible to apply for the CAF grant. CAF uses the International Paralympic Committee classification standards as a guideline for our grant eligibility. An individual must have a permanent physical disability that can be classified within the IPC guidelines, and permanently impairs the mobility of the individual, affects the neuromuscular system, and/or impairs balance or motor control. Cognitive or developmental disabilities, chronic illnesses or pain syndromes, and strictly health related conditions do not meet CAF’s eligibility guidelines. Teams, organizations, etc. are also not eligible to apply.

What documentation do I need to have to apply for a grant?

Applicants are required to upload multiple pieces of documentation to their profile and application in order for their grant request to be considered. Applicants will need:

Medical documentation of disability:
Applicants will be required to upload into their profile a medical document that lists their disability. This task must be completed before you can begin the grant application.
Returning applicants can use the same document uploaded in previous years. If you are a first-time applicant, the medical verification documentation can be any form that states your permanent physical disability and comes from a medical professional/source.

Two high-quality photos of the applicant, preferably playing their sport
Financial documentation to show proof of annual income. Applicants needs this because CAF awards grants based on greatest financial need. We require financial documentation to verify your financial need. Documents can include a W2, government assistance letter, bank account statements, etc. Please redact all sensitive personal information before you upload.

A Letter of Recommendation from a family member, coach, teammate, friend, etc.

I am a first-time applicant. What are my first steps?

First-time applicants will click on the 2023 grant application link and follow instructions to create a new account. Once your account is created, you will log in and find yourself on the 2023 grant home page. Before beginning the application process, please make sure you check out the information above about eligibility and required documentation.

How do I apply for a grant?

There are two sections you must complete in order to submit an application:
1. User Profile
2. Grant Application

Steps you’ll take to fill out and submit a application:

Click on the application link and log in: The 2023 application link is unique to 2023 grants, so you will want to save it. Once you have logged in, you’ll land on the 2023 Grants homepage. Read all information carefully and follow instructions to update your profile.
Create or Update Profile*: All applicants must fill out their User Profile prior to filling out application.
- Returning users: You will be required to update your user profile as we have updated our disability categories. Please review, update, and add any information.
- New users: You cannot proceed until all required fields are completed. You will upload your Medical Documentation of Disability and provide disability information to be saved for all future applications. *User profile information can be updated at any time.
Fill out Grant Application: Once your profile is complete, you will proceed to the application. Click on the tile at the bottom of your homepage to enter the grant portal. Read all instructions carefully, open the application, and fill it out thoughtfully. You can save your application at any time and continue it at any time. Once you have finished you can MARK COMPLETE. You will need to SUBMIT to complete the application. After submission, you will receive a confirmation email.

How do I know my 2023 Grant Application was submitted?

Once successfully submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive your confirmation email, your application was not submitted. In addition, your application will be locked after submission and cannot be edited.

What can I apply for this year?

CAF offers TWO grant categories. You may only choose one category to apply for. More details for each category are below.

Sport Expense Grant – provides recipients with monetary funds to be used for sport-related expenses
Equipment Grant -select one piece of equipment from our list of preferred vendors, or apply for funding for equipment not on our list

Sport Expense Grant FAQs

What is a Sport Expense Grant?

A Sport Expense Grant aims to cover any expenses associated with an athlete’s training, competitions, or equipment purchases and maintenance – max request $1,500. If awarded this grant, CAF will send you monetary funding that can be used for any of the following sports-related expenses:

Minor/Small equipment purchases (expenses related to maintain, refurbish, or upgrade your adaptive equipment like handcycles, sport wheelchairs, bicycles, etc. or to purchase smaller equipment items that help you train or compete in sport.
*Sports Expense Grants for minor equipment items will NOT count toward your future eligibility for large adaptive equipment items such as sports wheelchairs, handcycles, etc.

Coaching/Training Expenses (expenses related to specialized coaching, personal trainer, coach, gym fees, adaptive sports clinics, classes or lessons, etc.)

Travel/Competition Expenses (expenses related to sport/athletic competitions, training camps, or clinics. These expenses may include entry fees and/or travel-related expenses to competitions for the athlete. If the athlete is under 18 or requires a guide, funds can be used towards expenses for one parent/guardian or guide. Travel related expenses can include transportation (fuel, rental car, flight, ride share, etc.), accommodations (hotel fees), and food.

What cannot be covered by this grant?

The purpose of this grant is to remove the financial barriers that will prohibit the athlete from playing their sport. Examples of inappropriate use of these funds would include:

Travel expenses for coaches or additional family members
Fuel expenses for personal vehicle outside of competition travel
Lodging expenses for any additional/extended travel outside of competition dates
Expensive meals
Tournament memorabilia
Medical or rehab services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage, etc.
Non-sport equipment
Nutrition supplements
Uniforms or articles of clothing
Technology with a fitness component (FitBits, Apple Watches, etc.)

When in doubt, ask yourself if the expense is necessary to make the athlete’s athletic endeavors possible. The misuse of funds will result in the recipient being ineligible for future grants. If you have questions about use of funds, contact [email protected].

I am applying for funding for a competition, but I am unsure if my competition will take place. What do I do?

Feel free to apply for what you think you will need, and if you end up not going to the competition you requested funds for, you can use awarded funds for a different Sport Expense as stated above.

If awarded can i use funds for competition, training, and small equipment maintenance?

Yes! This grant category gives you flexibility to use the funds for any or all the listed sports expenses. You could use awarded funds all for one competition, or you could use the funds for a competition and a training expense and an equipment expense.

What is included in “small/minor equipment”?

Funds can be used for equipment maintenance, upgrades, or refurbishments for your existing adaptive equipment, or to purchase smaller equipment items that help you train or compete in your sport (home weights, training equipment, attachments, etc.)

If awarded, can I use funds to reimburse myself for past expenses?

No. Grant funds must be spent within the grant cycle, which begins on the day of distribution in late March and ends on January 31, 2024.

Will I have to upload receipts?

Yes. You will be required to upload your receipts in your grant portal to show how funds were spent

Equipment Grant FAQs

What is an Equipment Grant?

CAF is fortunate to work with some of the top equipment distributors in the world of adaptive sports. These preferred vendors offer CAF generous discounts for adaptive sports equipment. Individuals who apply for an equipment grant will select the equipment of their choosing from a drop-down list on the application. If awarded an equipment grant, CAF will provide you instructions on how to order your equipment through our vendor. The vendor will then bill CAF for the amount you were awarded. Applicant will not receive monetary funds.

Will I have any out of pocket expenses?

If awarded, CAF will share with you the dollar amount you were awarded which often covers the entire amount of the equipment at CAF’s discounted rate. However, for some of the more expensive equipment, CAF will provide a partial grant for a portion of the equipment expense. The remaining cost of the equipment will be your responsibility to cover.

*Please note: equipment grant amounts will never exceed $3,500. If you select equipment that is more expensive, you will likely have an out of pocket expense.

Recipients are also responsible for covering shipping expenses (if applicable) and for any upgrades, modifications, or customization.

What if the equipment I am requesting is not on the list in the application?

If the equipment you desire is not offered through one of our preferred vendors, you will have the opportunity to select Other/Equipment not on list. This selection will allow you to enter information about the equipment you are requesting. You will be required to upload a quote from the vendor/distributor that shows the price of the equipment. CAF will consider your request for a Funding Towards Equipment grant. If awarded, CAF will provide you monetary funds to purchase your equipment from the vendor of your choosing. You will be required to upload receipts.

*Please note: Funding Towards Equipment grant requests have a max request of $2,500. You will be responsible for covering the remaining expenses if the awarded amount doesn’t cover the entire equipment expense.

For equipment on your preferred list, do I have to go through your preferred vendor, or can I purchase equipment from another distributor who sells the equipment?

You MUST order equipment through our direct vendor for equipment listed on our 2023 list

CAF will ONLY pay our vendors for this equipment. You may not order equipment on this list through a vendor of your choosing, even if they sell the equipment you applied for or were awarded.

What cannot be covered by this grant?

The purpose of this grant is to remove the financial barriers that prohibit you from purchasing adaptive equipment. Examples of inappropriate use of these funds would include:

Medical or rehab services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage, etc.
Non-sport equipment, including everyday wheelchairs, rehabilitation equipment, etc.
Technology with a fitness component (FitBits, Apple Watches, etc.)
When in doubt, ask yourself if the expense is necessary to make the athlete’s athletic endeavors possible. The blatant misuse of funds will result in the recipient being ineligible for future grants. If you have questions about use of funds, contact [email protected].

How often can I apply for an equipment grant?

You are eligible to apply for an equipment grant (includes Funding Towards Equipment) every three years if you are over 18, and every two years if you are under 18.

How to check to see if you were awarded

When will I find out if I was awarded a grant?

We email all applicants about the status of their grant. Annual grant applicants will receive notification of their status in March 2023. Össur, Operation Rebound, and CAF Idaho applicants typically will be notified within 6 weeks of submission.

How to accept and receive your award

I have been awarded a grant, what are my next steps?

Please review the details of your grant award in your portal. You will need to complete 3 steps to complete the grant process.

Step 1 – Accept My Grant

Step 2 – Receive My Grant

Step 3 – Complete My Grant

Step 1 – Accept My Grant (Deadline May 31st)
Log into your grant portal to see your grant award details. To accept your award, you must read the terms & conditions and sign a grant agreement. You must accept your grant and submit Step 1 by May 31st. Failure to accept your grant by the deadline will result in the forfeit of your grant.

Step 2 – Receive My Grant (Deadline June 30th)
Once Step 1 is complete, Step 2 will appear in your portal. This step will give instructions on how to receive your grant (how to order equipment/ how to receive funds). You will need to complete this step in order for you to begin ordering equipment or for funds to be distributed.

Step 3 – Complete My Grant (Deadline January 31st)
The final step has two parts – Receipts and How I used my Grant Form. You will upload receipts for how you spent your funds or your equipment confirmation order. Receipts can be uploaded throughout the year and all receipts must be uploaded by January 31st.
How I used my Grant form should be filled out after you have had time to experience and enjoy your grant award.

How do I receive my funds from CAF?

PayPal is our preferred method to send funds to you. You will select your payment method in Step 2 on your grant portal – PayPal, ACH/Direct Deposit or paper Check. Upon submission of Step 2, we will process your grant funds and send them to you. If you select PayPal or ACH/Direct Deposit as your payment method, your funds will be sent to you within 14 days of submitting Step 2. If you select paper Check, your payment could take up to 30 days to reach you.

I never received my funds. What do I do?

Make sure you submitted Step 2 in your grant portal. CAF will only send your funds once you submit Step 2. Check your PayPal account to see if your funds have arrived.
*CAF does not have access to your PayPal account. You will need to reach out directly to PayPal for account help. Once CAF has transmitted the funds to the PayPal account you listed in Step 2, we cannot rescind them or transfer them to a different account.
If you have additional questions about your funds, please email our finance team at [email protected].

I have leftover grant funds/I need to return my grant funds. What should I do?

You can send grant funds back to CAF using PayPal or by sending in a check to CAF. To send back funds via PayPal, use the Family and Friends option to avoid paying service charges, and send back to [email protected]. Be sure to include the grant recipient’s name and a note indicating that these are leftover funds in the memo section. If mailing a check, please make payable to Challenged Athletes Foundation and send to CAF Headquarters (Address: 9591 Waples St, San Diego, CA 92121) and indicate the recipient’s name on the memo line.

How do I order my equipment?

Once you accept your grant in Step 1, you will have access to Step 2. Here you will find instructions on how to place your order for your equipment. Once your order has been finalized with your vendor, they will provide you a receipt or order confirmation, which you will upload into Step 3 in your grant portal. Upon submission of Step 3, you will have completed the grant redemption process.

When is the deadline to order my equipment?

You must contact your vendor to begin your equipment order by June 30th. Not contacting your vendor to begin your order could result forfeiture your grant.

Grant Category Questions – Sport Expense, Equipment, Funding Towards Equipment, Prosthetic

Sport Expense

Can I use funds for competitions, training, and small equipment maintenance?

Yes! This grant category gives you flexibility to use the funds for any or all the listed sports expenses. You can use awarded funds all for one competition, or you can use the funds for a competition and a training expense and an equipment expense, etc.

What is included in “small/minor equipment”?

How do I receive my funds from CAF?

Can I use funds to reimburse myself for past expenses?

No. Grant funds must be spent within the grant cycle, which begins on the day of distribution in late March and ends on January 31st the following year.

Will I have to upload receipts?

Yes. You will be required to upload receipts in Step 3 of the Grant Portal to show how funds were spent.

Can I change my grant?

We are not able to accept requests for grant changes in the Sport Expense category.

Equipment

Will I be responsible for any out-of-pocket expenses?

Equipment grant recipients will be responsible for paying for the shipping of their equipment, as well as any upgrades, customization, or additions to your equipment. Additionally, any recipient who is awarded a partial grant will be responsible for paying the vendor the remaining funds above what CAF has granted.

How do I order my equipment?

In Step 2, you will find instructions on how to order your equipment directly from the vendor listed. Please follow all instructions in Step 2. Once ordered, the vendor will provide an order confirmation – this is what you will upload in Step 3.
The vendor will invoice CAF directly to pay for the equipment. CAF will NOT send you funds.

IMPORTANT: You are required to order the equipment you were awarded through our direct vendor. CAF has established partnerships with our vendors, and they offer us discounted pricing that other distributors cannot. CAF will ONLY pay the vendor you were awarded for your equipment. You may not order your equipment through a vendor of your choosing, even if they sell the equipment you applied for or were awarded.

When do I need to order my equipment?

Step 2 in the grant portal must be completed by June 30th. Your equipment must be ordered (and CAF invoiced by the vendor) by the end of the grant cycle on January 31st. Connecting with your vendor early helps them forecast and prepare for upcoming orders. Not contacting your vendor could result in forfeiture of your equipment grant.

Can I change my grant?

You cannot request to change your granted equipment to a different equipment item sold by a different Vendor. No exceptions will be made.
You can request to switch to a different piece of equipment sold by your vendor. Ask your vendor for information about the new equipment and obtain a price from them. CAF will pay the original amount you were granted to the vendor. If the equipment is cost is higher than your awarded amount, you will are responsible for paying the difference to the Vendor. If the new equipment is less than your granted amount, CAF will reduce the amount granted and pay for the item in full. You will not receive any funds.
You may also request to change your grant category from “Equipment from CAF Preferred Vendors” to “Sport Expense.” To inquire about this change, email [email protected].
NO grant change requests will be considered after May 31st.

Funding Towards Equipment

Can I use funds to purchase adaptive equipment other than what I requested in my application?

You are permitted to use these funds to purchase any comparable adaptive equipment, even if it is not what you listed in your application. Please see below FAQ to see what funds CANNOT be used for.

Can I use funds to reimburse myself for past expenses?

No. Grant funds must be spent within the grant cycle, which begins on the day of distribution in March and ends on January 31st the following year.

What cannot be covered by this grant?

The purpose of this grant is to remove the financial barriers that prohibit you from purchasing adaptive equipment. Examples of inappropriate use of these funds would include:
• Medical or rehab services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage, etc.
• Non-sport equipment, including everyday wheelchairs, rehabilitation equipment, etc.
• Technology with a fitness component (FitBits, Apple Watches, etc.)
When in doubt, ask yourself if the expense is necessary to make the athlete’s athletic endeavors possible. The blatant misuse of funds will result in the recipient being ineligible for future grants. If you have questions about use of funds, contact [email protected].

Prosthetic

How do I order my prosthetic(s)?

Upon accepting your grant and submitting Step 1 in your grant portal, your prosthetist will be contacted by a representative from CAF to inform them of your grant award. A link will be provided to your prosthetist to order your awarded prosthetic(s) and they will work closely with CAF and Össur to receive the prosthetic(s) and complete the grant. Please contact your prosthetist to inform them that you have been awarded and to watch for an email from CAF regarding next steps.

Will I be required to upload a receipt?

You will not need to upload a receipt to show proof of order, however, you will be required to complete the How I used my Grant form in Step 3.

Receipts & Order Confirmations

Why do I have to upload receipt(s)/order confirmation?

Uploading receipts is a required part of your grant requirements that you agreed to when you accepted your grant. Failure to upload receipts this year will result in the challenged athlete being ineligible to receive grant funds in the future. CAF is subject to annual financial audits require recipients to upload receipts to show how their grant funds were spent. *Prosthetic recipients are NOT required to upload receipts.

Where do I upload receipts?

Receipts will be uploaded in Step 3 in your grant portal. Sport Expense & Funding Towards Equipment recipients must upload receipts to show how you spent your funds. Equipment recipients must upload your order form or confirmation from your vendor. Prosthetic recipients are NOT required to upload receipts. All receipts or order forms must be uploaded and Step 2 must be submitted by January 31.

Can I upload receipts as I obtain them, or do I need to upload them all at once?

Yes, you can upload receipts throughout the year. You can login to upload additional receipts as you obtain them or you can save all receipts and upload them all at once.

My receipt doesn’t reflect the amount I paid for my portion of an expense OR my receipt amount is more than my awarded amount. Is this ok?

If you have shared expenses with other individuals on one receipt (ex: you split a hotel room or rental car with another person and your bill shows the total amount instead of just your portion of the payment), please indicate on the receipt your portion of the payment/how much you paid. You should always have a paper trail of receipts showing how your funds were spent. Any remaining funds should be returned to CAF.

I lost/misplaced my receipts. What can I do?

We understand that sometimes receipts can be lost or misplaced, especially during trips, which is why we highly recommend that you take a photo or make a copy of all receipts as you collect them. Get in the habit of immediately taking a photo of your receipt as soon as you receive it so that in case you lose the physical receipt, you have a backup copy. We will also accept bank/credit card statements that show the expense transaction and date. Photos of receipts are acceptable.

What happens if I do not submit receipts?

Submitting receipt is a part of the grant process, as outlined in the Grant Agreement form signed by all recipients. If you fail to submit your receipts, you will not be eligible for future CAF grant opportunities. Please reach out to the grants team at [email protected] if you have questions.

I received an Equipment grant, what am I supposed to upload as a receipt?

Please upload your order confirmation or order form into Step 3. Your vendor may send you a ‘receipt’ as confirmation of your order which you can upload as well.

Why was my grant application denied?

An application may have been denied for one or more of the following reasons:

– Ineligible Disability – Individuals who do not have permanent physical disabilities or individuals with strictly cognitive or intellectual disabilities are not eligible for grant consideration. CAF uses the International Paralympic Committee’s eligibility criteria as a guideline.
– Ineligible Grant Request – Requests for non-sport related equipment or support (as outlined in the application) were not approved for a grant.
– Incomplete Application – We decline applications that are missing required information or documents. Additionally, applications that included documentation that was illegible or unable to be translated may have been declined.
– Lack of Financial Need – Our grant program aims to serve those with the greatest financial need first. Applications that do not establish a financial need may not have been considered for approval.
– Infeasible Grant Request – Requests that were infeasible based on applicant’s location or listed need for support may not have been considered for a grant.

Grant Portal (Zengine) Questions

I have applied for a grant before. Do I need to set up a new account?

Once you create an account in the grant portal, you will use that account for all applications. If you have applied for a CAF grant in the last 2 years, you already have an account in our system. You can use the same login for all applications. If you do not remember your login information, you can click on the Forgot your Password link to reset.

I cannot remember my Zengine Login to access my grant portal. How do I reset my password?

Go to the Grant Portal login and click on “Forgot Your Password?” located on the login page. Please reach out to [email protected] if you have trouble logging in.

How do I update my profile information (email address, address, phone number, etc)?

Log into the Grant Portal. On the Home page, you always have access to Profile. Click the EDIT button to update any of your profile information.