Pathways to Play Grants
Pathways to Play Grants support organizations serving youth in rural Virginia by funding improvements to existing play spaces or recurring physical activity programs to expand access to active play.
Funder: Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth
Due Dates: September 24, 2026 (Applications open) | October 28, 2026 (Applications due) | July 15, 2027 (Work completed) | August 1, 2027 (Final report and invoice)
Funding Amounts: Up to $100,000 for Play Space Activation; up to $50,000 for Active Programming, with up to four discretionary renewal periods
Summary: Supports improvements to existing play spaces or recurring physical activity programs for youth in rural Virginia.
Key Information: Awards reimburse expenses only after grantees incur and pay them; no advance funding is available.
Description
The Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) runs Pathways to Play as part of Virginia’s Rural Health Transformation Program. Its goal is to expand access to physical activity for youth in 76 eligible rural Virginia localities, supporting a broader effort to reduce chronic disease.
Applicants choose between one-time improvements to existing play spaces and regular, structured physical activity programming. Space projects can make places safer, more usable, or more accessible; they need not increase attendance if they meaningfully improve opportunities for current users. Programming projects create or expand recurring activities rather than one-time events. Both approaches must address demonstrated need, track youth participation and frequency of engagement, and plan for use beyond the grant period.
