The grant application process opens on Friday, September 1 at 8 am Pacific Standard Time (PST) and closes on Friday, December 1 at 5 pm PST.  You are welcome to apply at any time during that period.  We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible and avoid waiting until the final week.  We will not accept applications after Friday, December 1.

Applicants can apply for funds in ONLY ONE of the following categories each year:

• Equipment expenses (prosthetics, adaptive & non-adaptive sport equipment)
• Travel/Competition expenses (entry fees, flights and lodging for an event)   
• Coaching/Training expenses (gym membership, paying a coach or personal trainer)

You can apply for a grant every year, however, you can only apply for an equipment grant once every three years.  The exception is for applicants under the age of 16 as they can apply for an equipment grant every two years.

Yes.  Every athlete must submit a new application each year.  Updated information is needed each year and as athletes achieve new and amazing things, we want to know how CAF grants helped them achieve their goals.

Yes.  We awarded grants to athletes from 42 countries in 2017 and we strive to help international challenged athletes.  We do have significant restrictions when it comes to shipping equipment outside of the U.S.  The cost to deliver equipment from the United States is the responsibility of the grantee and is often much greater than the value of the equipment.  Please consider these factors when completing your grant application.

No.  CAF’s mission is to provide opportunities and support to individuals with physical challenges to participate in physical fitness and competitive athletics and our grant program reflects that mission by evaluating each application on it’s individual merit.

CAF only offers grants to individuals with permanent physical disabilities. Please see below for a list of eligible disabilities and if you have questions regarding eligibility, please contact us.

• Achondroplasia or dwarfism
• Amputations, acquired or congenital limb deficiencies
• Arthrogryposis
• Ataxia
• Athetosis
• Cerebral Palsy
• Charcot-Marie-Tooth
• Hypertonia
• Hemiparesis
• Hemiplegia
• Leg length difference
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Paraplegia
• Polio
• Quadriplegia
• Spina Bifida
• Visual Impairment

Talk to coaches and fellow athletes, search online, and contact manufacturers for input to help you choose an equipment item that is appropriate for your skill level.  CAF has taken much of the guesswork out of the process by partnering with several distributors that offer equipment items at a discount for the grant program.  By choosing an item from the dropdown list, an amount will automatically be chosen for you.

Grant awards vary by each athlete’s ability, financial need and type of request.  In the application form, we will provide a base amount offered for most grant categories.  If awarded, you can count on at least this amount and perhaps more based on your needs and the strength of your application.  Keep in mind that our average grant amount is $1,500.

Yes.  We must have documentation of your permanent physical disability to determine if you are eligible for a CAF grant.  This letter can be written by one of the following medical professionals: a physician, physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or prosthetist.  Because we only offer grants to permanently physically disabled individuals, you are welcome to provide a medical letter of reference that was not written within the past year.

This letter of reference from a coach, teammate, co-worker, employer, etc., should explain why you should receive a grant from CAF.  It should be reflective of your character, your participation in sport, and how a CAF grant will help you reach your goals.  The letter should reflect your accomplishments in 2017.

CAF has a new grant website this year – Survey Monkey Apply.  ALL 2018 APPLICANTS must register for a new account to start an application.  We will post a link soon for those 2017 grantees that need to submit receipts from their 2017 grant.

Share your personal story of how sport and athletics contribute to your life.  What are your dreams and goals in athletics?  What are you doing to achieve them?  Include the ways in which you mentor others, how you give back to your community, and how you contribute to the advancement of adaptive sport.