Deadline: 12-Apr-23
The Kelly Brush Foundation is seeking applications for its Active Fund Grants for individuals with paralysis caused by spinal cord injury to purchase adaptive sports equipment.
The Kelly Brush Foundation is dedicated to making active lifestyles a reality for anyone with a spinal cord injury. They believe in the power of sport and recreation to foster inclusion and overcome the barriers of paralysis. They have helped over 1,500 people from 50 states purchase handcycles, monoskis, sport chairs, racing chairs, hockey sleds, and much more.
Funding Information
- While they do not have a minimum or maximum award amount, the average grant is generally around $3,500.
Eligibility Criteria
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Eligible Applicants
- Individuals with paralysis caused by spinal cord injury who reside in the US.
- Other conditions are not eligible for their grant programs, including (but not limited to) spina bifida, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, post-polio, Guillain-Barre, Strohl Syndrome, ALS, all other neuropathies, and all other conditions causing disability.
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Eligible Equipment
- Any piece of sports or recreation equipment specifically designed for people with disabilities that allow an applicant to be active. It should be noted that first-hand experience using the desired equipment in the environment you intend to use it is extremely important to the Grant Committee.
- They give preference to equipment that provides some fitness benefit. They do, however, consider applications for power equipment where the applicant can persuasively explain why that type of equipment is the best and most appropriate piece of equipment for him/her to live an active lifestyle.
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They will not consider applications for:
- Non-adaptive sports equipment such as standard bicycles, skis/boots/poles, automotive equipment, etc.
- Accessory upgrades (such as wheelsets)
- Everyday wheelchairs
- FES equipment
- Motorized wheelchair attachments
- Indoor exercise equipment such as trainers (for handcycles), gym equipment, stationary bikes or rowing machines
- Guns and bows (only the adaptive equipment that might be used to operate them)
- All other non-adaptive equipment
- Quotes that include accessories such as sport computers, tee shirts, premium wheelsets, and other accessories will be reduced by the amount of such accessories when considered by the Grants Committee.
Rules
- The applicant must fill out the application form unless the applicant is younger than the age of 13 or the applicant’s disability prevents the use of a computer. Regardless, the applicant must contribute and consent to all answers.
- They do not make any exceptions for late applications. All components of an application must be received by the deadline.
- If you have previously received a grant from the Kelly Brush Foundation, you cannot apply for another 2 years. This does not apply for “Try It First” grant recipients, who are eligible the following cycle.
- If you have previously been denied by the Kelly Brush Foundation, you may reapply at any time, paying special attention to improve upon the reason for denial.
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There are three possible decisions an applicant may receive:
- Award (either full or partial)
- Denial
- “Try It First” Grant – an award of $500 to go towards program or rental fees at an adaptive sports program to gain experience with the equipment applied for.
- They only pay reputable adaptive sports equipment vendors directly. They do not provide funding to the grant recipient or reimburse for equipment already purchased.
For more information, visit Kelly Brush Foundation.
