Request for Proposals – 2024/2025 Ball4Good Celebrity Basketball Game Grant

2024 Ball4Good Request for Proposals

Ball4Good is inviting applications from eligible organizations that would like to apply to receive a grant to support direct services. The application is now open and due by 11:59 PM EST on January 15th, 2025. 

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Eligibility 

Ball4Good considers only those organizations and institutions that are recognized as 501(c)(3) non-profit and/or tax-exempt entities providing services to the residents of Spartanburg County, South Carolina. By meeting these criteria, certain institutions, and organizations located outside Spartanburg County may be eligible for funding; however, funding is restricted to benefit Spartanburg County only. Organizations that serve multiple counties must clearly show that the funds will remain in Spartanburg County. Additionally, eligible organizations must provide services that impact children in one of the following areas: 

  • Positive Youth Development
  • Education 
  • Family Services 
  • Health Services 
  • Homelessness 
  • Poverty 

The Ball4Good Celebrity Basketball Games will not provide funding for: 

  • Annual fund campaigns 
  • Annual operating support other than for start-up purposes 
  • Lobbying activities, political organizations, or candidates for public office
  • Individual projects 
  • Organizations that have received $5,000 or more in funding from Ball4Good in the past 24 months

Grant Application — to be considered, applicants must submit the following: 

Cover sheet that includes the following: 

● Name and address of organization 

● Organization’s tax identification number 

● Organization’s mission statement 

● Grant contact name and email/phone number 

● Requested grant amount 

● Proof of 501 (c) (3) – IRS determination letter 

● Organization’s most recent IRS form 990 

Proposal narrative (maximum of two pages, must be in a font of at least 12 point size and have reasonable margins) that addresses the following: 

  • A description of the project for which you are requesting funds. Include the depth and reach of the project (degree and duration of intervention and number of people served). 
  • A detailed, itemized project budget and an outline of how the funds requested will be used. 
  • An explanation of how your organization addresses one or more specific community need(s)/issue(s). Describe how this project will work to address that need/issue. Please include supporting data. 
  • A project timeline. 
  • The measurable outcomes/goals you hope to achieve and how you plan to measure progress. Include the specific measurements that will be used.
  • If community partners are involved, list each partner and their role in the project. 

Please email proposals to info@ball4good.org by 11:59 PM EST on January 15th, 2025. 

Process 

Applications will be reviewed by a Grants Committee representative of students who reside in Spartanburg County. Students across the county will vote for the final recipient(s). 

Additional Information 

For additional questions, email  info@ball4good.org. 

Visit www.ball4good.org to learn more about Ball4Good.

Ball4Good Announces Recipients of the 2024 Grants

Spartanburg, SC – July 12th, 2024 – Ball4Good is thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2024 Ball4Good Grants, recognizing the exceptional services and positive impact these organizations have made. The grant recipients will be honored at a special Awards Banquet on July 12th, 2024, at the Piedmont Club – Spartanburg, where community leaders, supporters, and recipients will gather to celebrate their achievements and contributions.

This year, Ball4Good is proud to support the following organizations and their noteworthy projects:

  • SC School for the Deaf and Blind: Grant for the creation of a Sensory Room, providing a safe and calming space for students who face sensory sensitivities and use the library.
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters: Funding for Mental Health Crisis Response, offering consulting and training support in partnership with Spartanburg Academic Movement.
  • Institute for Youth Justice: Leadership Training for high school juniors and seniors, focusing on education about the criminal justice system and building relationships, supported by the provision of program supplies.
  • Project Hope Foundation: Grant for courtyard furniture, including round picnic tables with benches, to support the comfort and integration of autistic youth and adults.
  • We Care For You Inc.: Support for a shoe giveaway initiative for youth in Spartanburg County in collaboration with BRUH Mentor, including portable shoe racks and 10 pairs of shoes.

For the purposes of its grants, Ball4Good considers 501(c)(3) non-profit and tax-exempt organizations that serve youth. Qualifying entities must demonstrate that funds will benefit local services, particularly those impacting at-risk youth, education, family services, health services, homelessness, and poverty.

The organization is grateful to its student volunteers and grants committee for their remarkable leadership and vision to continue to drive Ball4Good’s mission to unite communities through the power of sports.

This year’s award banquet is being held before our founder embarks on an internship, working for NBC Universal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, further showcasing his dedication and passion for sports.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our donors, players, and volunteers who make our mission possible. Your generous contributions and unwavering support play a pivotal role in helping Ball4Good uplift the community and create lasting change.

To our donors, your financial support enables us to fund vital programs that benefit those in need. To the players, your passion for the game and dedication to our cause inspire us every day. To our volunteers, your time and effort are invaluable; without you, our initiatives wouldn’t touch as many lives as they do. Thank you for standing with us and helping make our vision a reality. Together, we are building a stronger, more united community.

For more information and to support, please visit Ball4Good’s website.

About Ball4Good

Founded in 2017, Ball4Good is dedicated to fostering community development and support through sports-related initiatives. The organization has consistently worked to uplift nonprofits and charitable causes within Spartanburg County and beyond, promoting positive change and inspiring the next generation of community leaders.

Grants Committee Reviews Summer and Fall Grants

The Ball4Good Grants Committee have chosen 4 nonprofits as beneficiaries of the proceeds from the upcoming August 29th Soccer Games. The nonprofits are as follows:

Sidewalk Hope

Children’s Cancer Partners

Tyger River Children’s Center

Criminal Justice Youth Institute

Stay tuned for additional updates.

Ball4Good Announces 2020 Celebrity Games Grant Finalists!

The Ball4Good Grants Committee is excited to announce that four nonprofits have been selected as finalists for the Basketball Celebrity Game funds. The committee reviewed grant applications from late December through early February. Past recipients of the Celebrity Game grants are:

2017 Recipient- Boys and Girls Club

2018 Recipient – Children’s Advocacy Center

2018 Finalists – Miracle HillGirl Scouts & Boys and Girls Club

2019 Recipient – Project Hope Foundation

2019 Finalists – Citizen Scholars, Sidewalk Hope, and BRUH Mentor

The 2020 finalists are:

YMCA: The YMCA’s mission is to put Christian principles into practice
through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.

Clemson University Tiger Alliance: Seeks to increase educational
opportunities and upward economic mobility for underrepresented youth in
the Upstate of South Carolina

Mental Fitness: Leads professional development training for school professionals and educators on relevant mental health topics such as suicide prevention, stress management and managing serious mental illness in schools.

Citizen Scholars: Provides disadvantaged youth, through mentoring and program support, with the life skills, knowledge, and character development needed to obtain college scholarships, complete college, and become contributing citizens.

 

Students will be voting for the grant recipient during the month of February. Congratulations to our four finalists!

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

We are currently accepting proposals for the 2020 Ball4Good Celebrity Basketball Games. The games is an annual fundraising event that brings the Spartanburg County community together for a fun afternoon of sports, philanthropy, and entertainment.
A local nonprofit will receive up to $10,000 of proceeds raised from Ball4Good to support direct services. Additionally, three nonprofits will receive a $1,000 grant towards direct services. Click here to view RFP.
Applications are due by 5:00 PM on December 6, 2019.
b4g RFP (2)

Celebrity Basketball Games Grant – Request for Proposals

Ball4Good is excited to announce that it is currently accepting proposals for its 2019 Ball4Good Celebrity Basketball Games. A local nonprofit will receive up to $10,000 of proceeds raised from Ball4Good to support direct services. Additionally, three nonprofits will receive a $1,000 grant towards direct services. The 2019 games are scheduled for April 28, 2019. Ball4Good is a nonprofit organization that supports communities and nonprofits through sports. The Celebrity Basketball Games is an annual fundraising event that brings the Spartanburg County community together for a fun afternoon of sports, philanthropy, and entertainment. Please VISIT HERE for instructions.

Please email proposals to info@ball4good.org by 5:00 pm on November 6, 2018

We would like to thank the Spartanburg County Foundation for helping us prepare the Request for Proposals and for training our student leaders.

14-Year-Old Ball4Good Founder Receives Award for Civic Leadership & Community Change

Adom Appiah, the 14-year-old founder of Ball4Good and author of Kids Can Change the World received the Mary L. Thomas Award for Civic Leadership and Community Change from the Spartanburg County Foundation. The award recognizes the contributions of individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to improving the quality of life in the community. The Spartanburg County Foundation sought nominees who had developed innovative solutions to tackle critical community issues. Adom seized opportunities to make a difference by offering compassionate leadership, commitment and personal skills, with the ultimate goal of creating a better and brighter tomorrow.

Adom was honored at the Spartanburg County Foundation’s 75th annual meeting. Click link for Spartanburg Herald article.

Check out the award video.

Ball4Good Announces Grant Finalists

We are happy to announce that four nonprofits have been selected as finalists for the Celebrity Game funds. These nonprofits received the most votes during the Spartanburg Day School 20Time fair. During the fair, students voted for several nonprofits in the area. The finalists are:

Boys and Girls Club – An outcome-driven youth development program that serves
over 1,300 Upstate children every day after school throughout the school year and over 600 all day in the summer.

Children Advocacy Center – The Children’s Advocacy Center wants each Spartanburg child to grow up with a sense of dignity and self-worth. That’s why it is their mission to help children speak up about abuse and heal from it.

Girl Scouts – Unleashes the G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-Taker, Leader) in every girl, preparing her for a lifetime of leadership. This one-of- a-kind program is time-tested and research-backed and prepares girls to take the lead in their own lives and in the world.

Miracle Hill – Provides food, shelter, and compassion to residents of Spartanburg County.  Many men and women have been able to rebuild their lives and become productive members of the community once again.

Thank you to the Spartanburg County Foundation for its guidance throughout the process.

The Ball4Good Celebrity Games is possible with sponsorship and support from the following:

Event Partner: Spartanburg County Foundation

Hoops Partner: Spartanburg Day School

Gold Sponsorship (All Day): Sports Medicine Institute, SunTrust Bank and Mr. Billy Webster & Family

Silver Sponsorship (Buckets): Spartanburg Nephrology Associates, Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin Miller and  Carolina Alliance Bank

Bronze Sponsorship (Bring the House Down): Ms. Loreta Dylgjeri

Voting is underway to select the recipient(s). Stay tuned!

20Time Fair Success

Thank you all for your incredible support at the 2018 20Time Fair! Thanks to you, our community will benefit from great projects. Ball4Good was able to sell hoodies and t-shirts to fans who wanted to show their spirit!