Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Youth Sports
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Youth Sports supports Monroe County children through sports, recreation, and small-scale facility improvements that expand access to quality active experiences.
This grant was recently updated
Applications open October 20, 2026, instead of November 3, 2025, with the deadline moving from December 19, 2025, to December 4, 2026, at 4 p.m. Decisions move from April 2026 to April 2027, and baking programs are now explicitly ineligible.
Funder: Rochester Area Community Foundation
Due Dates: October 20, 2026 (Applications open) | December 4, 2026, at 4 p.m. (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Typical grants of $5,000–$25,000; multi-year requests are ineligible
Summary: Supports youth sports, recreation, and related small-scale capital needs that help children ages 5–13 in Monroe County stay active.
Key Information: Programs must be open to the general community, regardless of school or organizational affiliation.
Description
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Youth Sports at Rochester Area Community Foundation supports opportunities for children in Monroe County to be active through sports and recreation. Established in 2016 by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, it funds programming and related small-scale capital needs, including field and stadium improvements. Its goal is access to quality experiences regardless of a child’s zip code or ability.
The fund’s priorities draw on State of Play: Greater Rochester & The Finger Lakes, an independent assessment produced by the Aspen Institute under a joint commission from the two foundations. Projects must advance at least one of the report’s eight evidence-based strategies for getting and keeping children active. Requests that build collaboration among organizations are encouraged.
