NFL and LISC Award More Than $4.5 Million to Expand Youth Football Fields Nationwide

Grant program will support 26 communities, including Los Angeles, San Ysidro and Pajaro, as longstanding partnership surpasses $70 million in investments.

-Editorial

A nationwide effort to expand access to safe, quality sports facilities is moving forward as the National Football League (NFL) Foundation and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) award more than $4.5 million in grants to support community football fields in 26 cities and towns across the United States.

Announced November 2, 2026, the latest funding cycle will help community organizations, schools and local parks construct new football fields or renovate existing facilities, creating additional opportunities for children, teenagers and families to participate in sports and recreational activities.

The investment continues a partnership that has been working for nearly three decades to strengthen neighborhood recreation infrastructure and make football more accessible to young people, particularly in communities where quality athletic facilities may be limited.

Since the Grassroots Field Grant Program began in 1998, the NFL Foundation and LISC have committed more than $70 million to community organizations and schools nationwide. The funding has helped build or refurbish nearly 500 neighborhood football fields.

This year’s grants will support projects in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

California communities receiving support include Los Angeles, Pajaro and San Ysidro, extending the program’s reach into areas where improved sports facilities can provide valuable resources for youth athletics.

Among the highlighted projects, the San Francisco 49ers and Pajaro Valley Unified School District will collaborate on a new football field at Pajaro Middle School. The facility is expected to serve as a community hub for youth football, including local flag football leagues.

The project represents an opportunity to expand organized sports programming for students while providing a shared recreational space for young athletes in the Pajaro community.

In Colorado, the Denver Broncos and Buena Vista School District will support the installation of a football field at the district’s athletic stadium. According to the announcement, the project will create the rural community’s first and only football field, addressing a significant gap in local athletic infrastructure.

The development is expected to give students and other local athletes access to a dedicated space for football and related sporting activities.

Another major project will take place in Washington, D.C., where the Washington Commanders and KIPP DC Public Schools will bring a new field to KIPP DC College Preparatory High School.

Beyond serving the school’s athletic programs, the facility will provide a shared resource for neighboring schools and local sports leagues, expanding access to organized recreation beyond the immediate student population.

Other projects funded through the program will focus on improving existing facilities through infrastructure upgrades. Depending on community needs, improvements may include irrigation systems, field lighting, bleachers, scoreboards, goal posts and artificial turf.

These enhancements are intended to improve field conditions, support athletic programming and provide safer, more functional spaces for community use.

“For nearly 30 years, the NFL Foundation and LISC have helped expand access to safe, high-quality places for young people to play, grow and connect,” said Alexia Gallagher, NFL vice president of philanthropy and executive director of the NFL Foundation.

Gallagher said the partnership supports local leaders working to create healthier communities while opening more opportunities for young people to experience the benefits of football.

Michael Pugh, president and CEO of LISC, emphasized that access to recreational facilities can have a broader impact on neighborhoods, extending beyond sports participation.

“Opportunity takes many forms, and sometimes it starts with something as simple as having a safe place to play,” Pugh said.

He noted that the partnership helps communities create spaces where young people can remain active, families can gather and neighborhoods can develop stronger connections.

Beverly Smith, LISC vice president of Sports and Youth Development, also highlighted the importance of quality recreational facilities in building healthier and more resilient communities.

Through the program, LISC works directly with local nonprofit organizations and community-based agencies interested in developing or renovating football fields at schools and neighborhood parks.

Participating organizations receive financial assistance and technical support to help improve the quality and safety of their facilities. Local agencies remain responsible for overseeing construction, maintenance and programming, ensuring that each project responds to the needs of its community.

Grant funding is distributed as individual projects reach established financial milestones.

The program’s broader impact extends beyond the construction of athletic facilities. Accessible sports environments can provide young people with opportunities to develop teamwork, discipline, leadership and physical fitness while building relationships with peers, coaches and mentors.

For schools and community organizations, improved fields can also create opportunities to expand youth leagues, introduce new recreational programs and encourage greater family participation in local activities.

With nearly 500 fields already built or refurbished through the partnership, the latest investment adds to an ongoing national effort to strengthen the connection between youth sports, community development and access to recreational opportunities.

Meanwhile, the 2026 Grassroots funding cycle has officially opened, allowing additional eligible organizations to submit proposals for future projects. The application deadline is January 15, 2027.

Additional program information and application details are available through the NFL Foundation–LISC Grassroots Field Grant Program.