Questions Parents & Athletes Ask Us

A Grant is automatic: any qualified athlete who brings a Business Sponsor earns 75% of whatever that sponsor delivers to GAD, in any amount, with no tier and no competition. A Scholarship is your Grant plus a supplemental contribution from GAD, bringing your total to one of three set tiers ($2,000 / $5,000 / $10,000) — Scholarships are competitive and not guaranteed. Full definitions and worked examples are on the Mission & Purpose page.

Your ability to find your own sponsorships influences the tier and grant amount that will be awarded to you for a scholarship. The committee evaluates your race history, training and coaching involvement, coach assessment, years of participation, race results, and documented costs — alongside the size and credibility of your pledges or donations — to decide whether to offer a Scholarship at one of the three tiers.

All else equal candidates with the most pledged dollars increase their odds of being awarded a scholarship with GAD's supplemental contribution. If a tier isn't reached, you still automatically receive your 75% Grant — you just don't get GAD's supplemental contribution.

A pledge is a promise from a Business Sponsor to donate a specific amount. A donation is that pledge actually being delivered to GAD. You can list pledges or actual dollars donated to GAD during the application process. Your Grant and any Scholarship supplement are based on funds actually donated, not just pledged.

Your 75% Grant share is never at risk. GAD's supplemental Scholarship contribution, however, is conditional on your pledged sponsors actually delivering their donations. If a sponsor fails to pay, GAD's added portion is rescinded at GAD's sole discretion, and your award is reclassified as a standard Grant based only on funds actually received.

You keep 75% of whatever was actually delivered, reclassified as a Grant. For example: a sponsor pledges $4,000 but only delivers $2,000 — you'd receive a $1,500 Grant (75% of $2,000), and any GAD Scholarship supplement tied to the full $4,000 pledge would be rescinded.

No. A Grant is always 75% of what your sponsors deliver, with no cap and no tier restriction — unlike a Scholarship, which is strictly limited to the three set tiers.

Yes — each award cycle is its own application, evaluated on that season's criteria. An athlete who received a prior award must have submitted all required post-award documentation to remain eligible for future consideration.

It comes out of it. Meal allowances for the athlete — and for an accompanying parent/guardian, if the athlete is a minor — count toward your total reimbursable funds (Grant plus any Scholarship supplement). They aren't extra funding on top.

Funds not supported by documentation of an eligible expense must be returned to Grove Athlete Development within 30 days of the documentation deadline. Awards reimburse real, documented, eligible expenses up to the funds actually raised (and, if applicable, your Scholarship tier) — they aren't a lump sum to keep regardless of actual costs.

Reimbursement-only. Families pay for approved expenses first, then submit itemized receipts within 30 days of the funded activity or season ending to be reimbursed. GAD does not disburse Grant or Scholarship funds upfront — plan and budget accordingly.

Yes. GAD's general liability insurance policy specifically excludes individual Grant and Scholarship recipients' competitive activities. Award families are responsible for maintaining their own medical/health insurance. (GAD's policy does cover team development program activities run through the 501(c)(3) — see the Team Programs section below.)

Applications open August 31 and close November 30 each year. Award notifications are sent by December 31.

A written recommendation from your current head coach or team director, a documented estimate of your season's costs (fees, travel, lodging, equipment, coaching), and your list of Business Sponsors with the amounts they've pledged — you don't need verified funds in hand yet, just the pledges. An official transcript may be requested separately.

Limited grace beyond the deadline may be granted, but only at GAD's sole discretion — it isn't guaranteed. Plan to submit well before November 30 rather than relying on an exception.

Yes, you can edit your submitted response. However, once the committee has begun reviewing your application, there's no guarantee that edits will be considered — so treat your original submission as the one that counts, and edit promptly if you catch an error.

Training camps, skills clinics, nutrition and wellness workshops, mental performance education, trail stewardship activities, and similar structured development programming — organized in partnership with local NICA-affiliated teams.

A local team becomes an "Organizing Beneficiary" by undertaking to organize an event and securing its own funding for it. GAD may charge a 5% fee on program funds to help offset costs like insurance, accounting, and legal fees. The organizing team is responsible for planning, staffing, qualified coaching, and running a safe program. Reach out to GAD to get started.

That's up to the organizing team — each team sets its own participation fee (if any) for the programs it runs. Check with your team's organizer for a specific program's cost.

Yes. Team development activities run through GAD's 501(c)(3) are covered under GAD's general liability insurance policy, and participants are required to sign a waiver to take part. This is different from individual awards — GAD's insurance specifically excludes Grant and Scholarship recipients' own competitive activities, so award recipients need their own medical insurance (see the Award Amounts & Funding section above).