The 2020 CAF Grant Application closed November 1^st, 2019. No late applications will be accepted.

 

No paper applications are available. The 2021 application will open in September 2020.  Read below for more information about the grant guidelines, eligibility requirements, FAQs, and important dates and deadlines.

 All 2020 grant announcements have been issued.

At this time, we ask for your patience with our grants team as we’re experiencing a higher volume of calls and emails during this time.

For any questions, email cafgrants@challengedathletes.org.

 

Check your application status:

2020 Grants: https://webportalapp.com/sp/cafgrant_20

2020 International Grants (outside US & Canada): https://webportalapp.com/sp/international20

2020 Prosthetic Grants: https://webportalapp.com/sp/ossur

 

2020 GRANT PERIOD – TIMELINE

 

The 2020 CAF Grant Period runs from September 2019 – January 2021

Sept 3, 2019: 2020 Grant Application opens

Nov 1, 2019: 2020 Grant Application closes

March 2020: Grant Award Notifications are sent out

March 2020 – May 2020: Grant Award Acceptance period & Distribution period

May 31, 2020: Deadline to accept 2020 grant

January 31st, 2021: 2020 Grant Period closes. Monetary grants must be spent, and receipts uploaded

 

FAQs are listed below by section:

General Grant Questions
Travel/Competition Questions
Coaching/Training Questions
Funding Towards Equipment Questions
Equipment from CAF Preferred Vendors
Prosthetic Grant Questions
Why was my grant denied?

 

The 2020 CAF Grant Period runs from September 2019 – January 2021

GRANT APPLICATION INFORMATION

 

ELIGIBILITY

To apply for a CAF grant, an individual must have a permanent physical disability. CAF uses the International Paralympic Committee’s eligibility criteria as a guideline. Individuals with strictly cognitive or intellectual disabilities are not eligible to apply.

 

TYPES OF GRANTS – YOU MAY ONLY CHOOSE ONE

Applicants in U.S. and Canada:

• Travel/Competition Expenses
  • Funds used to pay for expenses related to sport/athletic competitions, training camps, or clinics. These expenses may include entry fees and/or travel-related expenses to competitions. Travel related expenses can include transportation (fuel, rental car, flight, ride share, etc.), accommodations (lodging fees), and meals for challenged athlete.
• Coaching/Training Expenses
  • Funds used to pay for expenses related to specialized coaching (personal trainer, coach etc.) or training (gym fees, clinics, classes or lessons, etc).
• Equipment – from CAF Preferred Vendors
  • CAF distributes most adaptive sports equipment through our selected distributors who offer discounted pricing. The equipment list is available once you select “Equipment” as your grant category. If awarded, you’ll be notified of a dollar amount you’ve been allotted, which in most cases will cover the entire cost of the basic equipment at CAF’s discounted price. The vendor will bill CAF for the amount you were granted for the equipment.
  • Check out our CAF’s preferred partners, here
• Funding towards Equipment
  • Equipment not listed by preferred vendors: You will have the option to select “Other – Equipment is not on CAF’s list”. You must provide the equipment name, price, and a quote from a vendor you choose.

 

Athletic Prosthetics Applicants: Össur is our Global prosthetics partner – only Össur products will be offered for lower extremity running prosthetics. You may not apply for non-Össur prosthetics.

 

International Applicants (outside of U.S. & Canada):

• International applicants living outside the United States or Canada are only eligible for the following:
  • Coaching/Training Expenses Grant
  • Travel/Competition Grant
  • Funding Towards Equipment Grant

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO COMPLETE AN APPLICATION

• Account & Profile
  • New users will need to create an account and fill out profile details
  • Returning users can use the same login information from last year, but note that the application link is different from the 2019 link
• Medical Documentation of Physical 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.
• 2 High quality photos of the applicant
• Financial Documents to provide proof of income
• Reference letter (from family member, friend, coach, teammate, etc.)
• Your Grant Request

 

TIPS FOR COMPLETING AN APPLICATION

• Start your application EARLY!You will need to provide detailed information about yourself and your grant request and we get a lot of questions. You want to make sure you have enough time to get assistance from our team. You can save it as a draft and come back to it before submitting.
• Do your research. Talk to a coach, teammates, a medical professional, or do some independent research about what grant will be most beneficial to you.
• Details. Applications with missing information or not detailed enough may not be considered for approval.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

General Grant Questions

 

How can I find out if I was approved or denied?
CAF sent grant announcement emails to the email address listed in your profile as well as the email of the person assisting the applicant. You can log into your Grant Portal to see your status. Please email cafgrants@challengedathletes.org if you still have questions.

How do I start the grant redemption process?
Log into the Grant Portal using the same email and password you used when you applied for your grant. You will need to complete Step 1 and accept your grant.

Do I need to set up a new account?
No, you already have an account attached to your application. Creating a new account will not give you access to your application.

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.

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.

How do I redeem my free grant gift?
CAF is thrilled to offer each grant recipient a free gift item from our online store. Use the link listed in Step 1 to open the special CAF Store page, select your gift, and enter the discount code at checkout to get your gift free of charge. This discount code is good for one free available item per grant recipient. If you have questions about your free gift, please contact orders@challengedathletes.org.

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 1 on your grant portal. Upon submission of Step 1, we will process your grant funds and send them to you. If you select PayPal as your payment method, your funds will be sent to your PayPal account within 7 days of submitting Step 1. If you select a different payment method, 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 1 in your grant portal. CAF will only send your funds once you submit Step 1. If you have submitted Step 1 to CAF, check your PayPal account to see if your funds have arrived. If you have additional questions about your funds, please email our finance team at ap@challengedathletes.org.

I cannot remember my PayPal password. Can you reset my password or resend me the funds to a different account?
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 1, we cannot rescind them or transfer them to a different account.

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 dawn@challengedathletes.org. Be sure to include the grant recipient’s name and a note indicating that these are leftover funds in the note section. If mailing a check, please send to CAF Headquarters (Attn: Grants Team, Address: 9591 Waples St, San Diego, CA 92121) and indicate the recipient’s name on the memo line.

Why do I have to upload receipts?
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, and so grant recipients are required to upload receipts to show how their grant funds were spent.

Where do I upload receipts?
Receipts will be uploaded in Step 2 Final Steps in your grant portal. All receipts must be uploaded and Step 2 must be submitted by 1/31/21.

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.

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 and click the “Save Draft” button to save your uploads. You can log-in to upload additional receipts as you obtain them or you can save all receipts and upload them all at once. Please submit Step 2 when ALL receipts have been uploaded.

My receipt doesn’t reflect the amount I paid for my portion of an expense. 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.

Travel/Competition Grant Questions

 

What does a Travel/Competition Expenses grant cover?
Grant funds can cover travel costs to competitions including transportation costs (flight, rental car, ride shares), lodging, entry fees, and meals during your travel. If the recipient is under 18 or requires a guide, these funds may also be used to cover travel expenses for one parent or guardian accompanying the athlete.

What cannot be covered by this grant?
The purpose of this grant is to remove the financial barriers that exist for the challenged athlete to attend athletic competitions or tournaments. 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 etc. When in doubt, ask yourself if the expense is necessary to make the challenged athlete’s athletic endeavors possible. Misuse of funds will result in the recipient being ineligible for future grants.

Can I use the funds to attend a different event than I applied for?
Yes! These funds can be used to attend any athletic competition or tournament within the grant redemption period and is not required to be the competition you listed in your application.

I am unsure if I will be attending the event I applied for. Should I accept the grant funds anyway?
We suggest accepting your grant funds by May 31st, 2020 even if you are not sure if you are attending the competition/tournament you listed (i.e. you haven’t qualified for it yet) by May 31st. If you end up not attending your event or have no need for the funds, you can always return them to CAF. Recipients who do not accept their grant by 5/31/20 will forfeit their grant.

Can I save my funds for an event that takes place after the grant redemption period, or combine it with future grants from CAF?
A: No. Your grant funds MUST be used within the current 2020 grant redemption period – 3/23/2020 – 1/31/2021. You may not save funds to combine with future travel grants. Funds that are unused at the end of the grant redemption period must be returned to CAF.

What if my event takes place in February or March of 2021?
If your event takes place after the grant redemption period ends on 1/31/21 and before the start of CAF’s next grant redemption period (Mid-March of 2021), we suggest prepaying for as many expenses as possible before the deadline and uploading your receipts. Email cafgrants@challengedathletes.org to inform our Grants Team if you will have additional receipts to upload after 1/31/21.

Can I reimburse myself for expenses I already paid for?
Grant funds can ONLY be used on expenses that fall within the grant redemption period. They may not be used to reimburse yourself for expenses prior to March 23rd, even if the expense is for an event that takes place within the grant redemption period (Ex: you cannot reimburse yourself for a flight you purchased in January for a competition that takes place in May). These terms were listed in the application and in the grant terms and conditions.

Can I change my grant to a different grant category?
If your original grant request is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, your grant funds can be used in any of the following categories:
+ any Travel and/or Competition expenses
+ any Coaching/Training expenses
+ Equipment to assist with coaching/training or for additions, upgrades, and maintenance of existing equipment items
OR
+ You can decline your grant and apply again in September 2020

If you choose to use your funds for anything other than your original award, you will be required to detail how your funds were spent in Step 2, before uploading your receipts. Please reach out to cafgrants@challengedathletes.org with any questions you may have about your grant funds.

Coaching/Training Grant Questions

 

What can a Coaching/Training Expenses grant cover?
Grant funds can be used to pay for expenses related to specialized coaching (personal trainer, coach etc.) or training (gym fees, clinics, classes or lessons, etc.).

What cannot be covered by this grant?
The purpose of this grant is to remove the financial barriers that exist for the challenged athlete to receive the coaching or training necessary to reach athletic or fitness goals. This grant cannot be used to fund medical or rehab services. This includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage, etc. The misuse of funds will result in the recipient being ineligible for future grants.

I no longer need the funds for the purpose I requested in my application. Can I use the funds for other coaching/training related expenses?
Yes! These funds can be used for any coaching/training purpose. It does not need to be the one you listed in your application.

I am unsure if I will be able to use the grant funds. Should I accept the grant funds anyway?
You have until May 31st, 2020 to accept your grant funds. If you are not sure if you will be able to use your grant funds by May 31st, we suggest accepting your grant funds. If you end up not having a need for the funds, you can always return them to CAF. Recipients who do not accept their funds by 5/31/20 will forfeit their grant.

Can I change my grant to a different grant category?
If your original grant request is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, your grant funds can be used in any of the following categories:
+ any Travel and/or Competition expenses
+ any Coaching/Training expenses
+ Equipment to assist with coaching/training or for additions, upgrades, and maintenance of existing equipment items
OR
+ You can decline your grant and apply again in September 2020

If you choose to use your funds for anything other than your original award, you will be required to detail how your funds were spent in Step 2, before uploading your receipts. Please reach out to cafgrants@challengedathletes.org with any questions you may have about your grant funds.

Funding Towards Equipment Grant Questions

 

What is a Funding Towards Equipment grant?
A Funding Towards Equipment (FTE) grant is for individuals who requested equipment that was not on CAF’s preferred vendor list in the grant application. Recipients of this grant will receive funding from CAF to purchase the equipment they requested in their application. Recipients of this grant must upload receipts to show how their funds were spent.

How does this differ from a regular equipment grant?
CAF provides the grant recipient with monetary funds to purchase their equipment rather than purchasing the equipment for the grant recipient. However, both grant categories (FTE and equipment from CAF Preferred vendors) are considered equipment grants, and recipients cannot apply for another equipment grant for either 2 years (if under 18) or 3 years (if over 18).

Why wasn’t I awarded the full amount of my equipment?
Our goal at CAF is to provide as many fully funded grants as possible. Award amounts are based on financial need. We feel confident that a partial grant would still be impactful and get you close to a fully covered equipment piece.

Can I request an increase in funds?
Unfortunately, Grant award amounts cannot be increased. If you cannot pay the out-of-pocket expense for your equipment before the end of the grant period on 1/31/21, we suggest declining your grant award. These terms were listed in both the application and the grant terms and conditions.

I no longer want/need the equipment I applied for. Can I use the funds for other equipment?
If you no longer wish to purchase the exact equipment you listed in your application, but instead want to purchase similar equipment (ex: you listed a certain type of handcycle in your application, but now you want a different handcycle), you may do so. However, if you want to switch equipment pieces altogether (ex: you requested a handcycle but now you want to purchase a sit ski), you must contact CAF to receive approval to spend your grant funds on other equipment. If you receive approval from CAF, your awarded amount will not increase, but is subject to decrease. CAF has final say on awarded amounts for individuals who inquire about changing their equipment. Please email cafgrants@challengedathletes.org for any grant change requests.

Can I change my grant to a different grant category?
If your original grant request is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, your grant funds can be used in any of the following categories:
+ any Travel and/or Competition expenses
+ any Coaching/Training expenses
+ Equipment to assist with coaching/training or for additions, upgrades, and maintenance of existing equipment items
OR
+ You can decline your grant and apply again in September 2020

If you choose to use your funds for anything other than your original award, you will be required to detail how your funds were spent in Step 2, before uploading your receipts. Please reach out to cafgrants@challengedathletes.org with any questions you may have about your grant funds.

Equipment from CAF Preferred Vendors Grant Questions

 

I’ve been awarded equipment from a CAF preferred vendor. How do I order my equipment?
Instructions on how to order your grant equipment are in Step 2 in your grant portal. You will order your equipment directly from your vendor within the grant redemption period.

Will CAF give me funds to buy my equipment?
No, your vendor will bill CAF for the amount you were awarded after you have ordered your equipment. You will not receive monetary funds.

Am I responsible for any payment?
While CAF will pay your vendor for the amount you were awarded, grant recipients are responsible for paying for equipment shipping costs (if applicable), as well as for any upgrades or customizations to your equipment. If your granted equipment item costs more than what you were awarded, you are responsible for paying the difference directly to the vendor. You can see the cost of your equipment and the amount you were awarded in Step 1 of your grant portal.

The equipment I was awarded is not the equipment I applied for. Why was I not granted what I applied for?
The CAF Grants Team goes to great lengths to ensure that the equipment we grant each recipient is appropriate and will be impactful. We reviewed every grant application carefully and consider the applicant’s request, experience level, athletic endeavors, and need for equipment. The equipment granted is what we feel is appropriate for the recipient. As stated in the application, CAF has sole discretion as to what equipment is awarded to applicants.
While we are not permitting grant recipients to change grant vendors, you may inquire with your vendor about upgrading or changing your equipment from what you were granted to a different equipment piece offered by your vendor.

I want to change grant vendors. Is this allowed?
No, we are not permitting equipment grant recipients to request to change vendors. If you wish to change your grant vendor, you are free to decline your 2020 grant and reapply in September for equipment from a different vendor.

Can I order a different piece of equipment offered by my vendor?
Yes, you may inquire with your vendor about upgrading or changing your equipment to a different equipment item offered by your vendor. Please note, CAF will ONLY pay up to the amount you were originally awarded. You will be responsible for paying the difference in price directly to your vendor. If upgraded equipment costs less than what you were awarded, CAF will only pay the amount of your equipment, and you will not receive the extra funds. Equipment upgrades do not need to be approved by CAF – please work directly with your vendor to inquire about a different equipment item.

Why wasn’t I awarded the full amount of my equipment?
Our goal at CAF is to provide as many fully funded grants as possible. Award amounts are based on financial need. We feel confident that a partial grant would still be impactful and get you close to a fully covered equipment piece.

I ordered my equipment but haven’t received it. Can CAF tell me information about when my equipment will ship?
CAF pays the invoice from the vendor and does not have knowledge of the timelines of our vendors. If you have any questions about your equipment, please contact your vendor directly.

I have questions about my equipment order. Who should I contact?
If you have specific questions about your equipment, measurements, or order, please contact your vendor directly.

Can CAF contact my vendor and order my equipment for me?
No. It is each grant recipient’s responsibility to contact their vendor and order their equipment.

Why do I need to upload a receipt if CAF is paying for my equipment?
We are requiring equipment grant recipients to upload a copy of their order confirmation receipt to Step 2 in their grant portal. This new step will verify that equipment is ordered in a timely manner. Your vendor will provide a copy of your order confirmation receipt after your order is complete. You must upload the receipt to Step 2 in your grant portal before the end of the grant redemption period on 1/31/21. Failure to upload your receipts will render you ineligible to receive future CAF grants.

My receipt reflects my shipping expenses and upgrades to my equipment, and therefore the total is more than what I was awarded. Is it ok that my receipt total doesn’t equal the amount I was awarded?
Yes, it is fine if your receipt amount doesn’t equal what you were awarded. By uploading your receipt, we can verify that you completed your order within the grant redemption period.

Can I change my grant to a different category?
If your original grant request is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and you would like to request a different award category (Coaching/Training, Travel/Competition, Funding for Equipment), please send your request to cafgrants@challengedathletes.org.
NOTE: Switching to another category will result in a reduced award amount.

Prosthetic Grant Questions

 

I received a CAF Grant for an Össur prosthetic. What do I do next?
First, complete your grant agreement and indicate whether you will accept or decline your 2020 CAF Grant by May 31st, 2020. Next, inform your prosthetist that you have received a CAF Grant and discuss next steps in creating a socket and fitting your new prosthetic(s).

How do I receive my prosthetic grant?
Once you complete your grant agreement, CAF will contact your prosthetist to inform them that you have been awarded an Össur prosthetic. They will be given a link to an online form that will allow them to order the prosthetic(s) directly from Össur.

Does my CAF Grant cover additional costs for the new prosthetic?
Your CAF Grant is for the Össur product(s) ONLY, as stated in the application. Any additional expenses for creation of a new socket or additional components must be discussed with your prosthetist and are not covered by the grant.

What if I have a different prosthetist than when I applied for the grant?
The CAF/Össur Grant Application included a section that required your prosthetist to provide their input about your grant request as well as their willingness to provide materials and labor at a reduced cost or at no cost to you. It is our goal to be as transparent about our ability to provide ONLY the prosthetic(s) item in the grant and we rely on the contributions of your prosthetic provider to assist us in completing this grant. If you have been awarded a CAF/Össur prosthetic(s) and you have changed prosthetists, we encourage you to discuss this grant award immediately to be sure that they are willing to assist you in the completion of this grant. Remember, May 31 is the deadline to accept your grant award, so talk to your prosthetist right away.

How long does it take for the prosthetic to be delivered?
Once your prosthetist places the order with Össur, most prosthetic items can be delivered within 30 days. If an item is not in stock, a delay may occur and your prosthetist will have the ability to communicate with the Össur customer service team to stay informed of the delivery timeline.

What if I no longer need the grant for a prosthetic?
If you no longer need the prosthetic, you can decline your grant and the prosthetic will be available for other athletes in need. You will still be eligible to apply for a prosthetic in the future, if needed.

I requested multiple prosthetics, but did not receive all that I requested. Why?
We do our best to provide as many prosthetics to deserving applicants each year and we are unable to fulfill every request that is submitted. We hope that the award you were provided will help you to pursue your athletic goals. In some cases, we made a decision to award what we thought was the most essential prosthetic based on your needs as submitted in the application form.

 

Why was my grant denied?

 

We wish we could approve all grant requests, however, we unfortunately aren’t able to accommodate every application that comes through our program.

Potential Reasons for a declined application:

• Budget: CAF is a nonprofit organization, which means we rely on the generosity of others to fund our grant program. Unfortunately, the amount requested by applicants exceeded our available budget, and we had to decline to requests of many applicants who are indeed deserving of a grant. It is our hope that one day we will be able to fully fund ALL grant requests.
• Lack of Financial Need: While many applications are deserving of a grant, some are declined because the applicant’s income is too great. A large percentage of our applicants are on fixed incomes, many reporting their annual income as under $20,000. Our mission is to help those who have the greatest financial need first.
• 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.
• Quality of Application: The CAF grant is highly competitive. Applications are scored on a number of factors, and the quality of the application is one of the biggest factor we look into. Grant requests may have been declined if the applicant did not provide adequate detail, or if they simply did not take their time to fill it out thoroughly or thoughtfully.
• Length of time participating in sport: We aim to give grants that are impactful, and sometimes, we have to make the difficult decision to deny a grant applicant due to the length of time they have spent participating in their sport. Applicants who have less than a year of experience in their sport are sometimes less invested in that particular sport than someone who has a year or more or experience. While we want CAF grants to remove the barrier to sports and fitness, we also cannot risk our grants not being utilized to the fullest extent by someone who is just beginning in their sport. We highly encourage applicants who are new to a sport to get as much experience as possible to ensure that it is a sport they would like to stick with, and then reapply for a CAF grant.