Swimming is a lifesaving skill and grant funding is essential towards making the sport equitable and accessible for all. In partnership with USA Swimming, the USA Swimming Foundation, the philanthropic arm of USA Swimming and U.S. Masters Swimming, have worked to strengthen and grow our sport by providing grant funding. Through its various grant programs, the USA Swimming Foundation offers funding to its lesson provider network and swim teams as well as growing the sport in traditionally underrepresented populations.

Saving Lives Mission

The USA Swimming Foundation aims to provide the opportunity for every child in the U.S. to learn to swim. Through an annual grant program and by partnering with swim lesson providers and water safety advocates across the country, we help to support swimming lessons, and educate children and their families on the importance of learning how to swim.

THE FACTS

• Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death in the United States for children aged 1-4 and the second leading cause for children under the age of 14.
• One month of formal swimming lessons, which reduces the risk of drowning in children by 88%, can cost as little as $50 for children, and as little as $60 for adults. You can help provide the life-saving skill of swimming to persons of all ages!
• More than a third of adults in the U.S. can’t swim the length of a pool.

Saving Lives grants include our Youth Learn-to-Swim Grant and Adult Learn-to-Swim Grant.

Impacting Communities

Impacting Communities embodies the USA Swimming Foundation’s efforts to grow a diverse community of champion athletes by creating competitive opportunities within traditionally underserved communities. The Foundation provides grant dollars that are used for things such as learn-to-swim programming, scholarships, technology and equipment, and administrative support.

THE FACTS

• African American children ages 5-19 are nearly six times more likely to drown in a swimming pool than their Caucasian peers.
• 45% of Hispanic/Latino children and 64% of African American children have little to no swimming ability.
• If a parent does not know how to swim, there is only a 19% chance that a child in their household will learn to swim.

Impacting Communities grants include our HBCU Grant and Community Impact Grant.