What is the purpose of the Local Marketing Grant?
Even the best local tennis program can fail if it’s not advertised or promoted effectively. The purpose of the USTA South Carolina Local Marketing Grant is to provide funding to successfully advertise and promote your program or advance your long-term goals. (Typically special events or tournaments are not eligible, but if the requested funding is used to promote a long-range goal or a specific program, they will be considered.) An example is the promotion of a 10 and Under Tennis festival as part of a long-range goal to grow 10 and Under programming at the facility.
All complete applications with a strategy to grow USTA membership and tennis program participation will be considered. Examples of programs that might seek this grant include USTA Leagues, Flex League, Junior Team Tennis, Beginner Lesson Clinics – all ideas that bring more players into the game through a multi-week format are encouraged.
What are the restrictions?
- Requests can be from $250 to $1,000. No local match is required yet a contribution of some resource by the applicant is favored
- Applicant must be a current USTA Member Organization
- Applicant may apply for only one grant per review cycle (1 application in May and/or 1 application in August)
- Grant funds can only be used for marketing expenses, including banners, flyers, posters, giveaways, website and social media costs, booth fees at major events, radio ads and promotional event materials
Funding is not permitted for equipment, player parties or socials, financial compensation to staff or any type of operational expense. All funds under this grant program must be spent in 2018.
What are the application deadlines?
There are two grant cycles, May 5, 2018, and August 4, 2018. Applications must be received at the USTA South Carolina office by 5 p.m. on May 5, 2018, or August 4, 2018. The USTA South Carolina staff is available to assist in defining your project scope and to help fine tune your application. To receive this staff assistance, applicants are advised to communicate with the USTA South Carolina office two weeks before either deadline.