Grants

Summer Free Play

Keeping Youth Active

The Summer Free Play Series aims to provide youth in all eight counties of Western New York opportunities to have fun and enjoy Free Play.

The application window for summer 2026 programming is now closed. Grant awards will be announced in May.

The benefits of Free Play:

  • Free Play gives kids more autonomy over their play time and helps develop lifelong athletes and players

  • Free Play helps youth through active means of self-discovery

  • Free Play provides today’s youth with natural opportunities for socialization: compromise, cooperation and coordination

  • Free Play allows kids at different levels of athleticism to improve their physical literacy

The application is intentionally open-ended to allow youth organizations to create programs to encourage kid-led play that best suits the youth athletes they serve. Free play can be guided by adults, with help where needed, but should not be instructional.

Organizations with an IRS 501(c)(3) designation, schools or government agencies are eligible for funding. Applicants must be serving youth, especially ages 5-14. Applicants must also be located in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans or Wyoming counties.

How to Apply

Applications MUST be submitted electronically online. No paper, emailed or pdf applications will be accepted. Outcome reporting will also be conducted online when closing the grant. 

Learn More

Featured Recipient

“The Project Play WNY Free Play Series gave our YMCA the opportunity to serve over 500 families in our surrounding communities of rural Cattaraugus & Allegany counties. We are grateful for the opportunity to fulfill our mission through the generosity of this funding and look forward to another successful year. A special thank you to the entire Project Play WNY team!”

YMCA Twin Tiers

“Buffalo Legacy Project hosted multiple Free Play Zones at Pierce Field at Mulroy Park in South Buffalo & at the Seneca-Babcock Arlene J. Myachjliw Community Center/Mullen Park. Our Free Play Zones consisted of lacrosse, basketball, soccer, flag football, volleyball, broomball, an obstacle course & street hockey. The plan for these three-hour Free Play Zones was free play & sports sampling. The results were friendships, peer leadership, exercise & fun. We registered from 40 to 60 children for each Free Play Zone. Our smallest group was 35 children. We understand the importance of Free Play Zone & its impact on our children.”

LET’S DO MORE!

Buffalo Legacy Project Inc/Youth Advantage