Share the Glove

Through its Share the Glove initiative, the Northwoods League Foundation has awarded over $220,000 in baseball and softball equipment to youth organizations across its 26 Northwoods League communities.

The Northwoods League Foundation will be awarding youth baseball and softball equipment through 26 Share the Glove grants to be awarded this Spring. Each grant includes one set of catcher’s gear (plus mitt), nine fielding gloves, six batting helmets, three bats and one bucket of practice balls.

Thirteen baseball grants and twelve softball grants will be awarded across the Northwoods League footprint to eligible youth organizations. Northwoods League affiliate teams will be coordinating the application process within their respective communities throughout the Spring, with the baseball and softball grants being allocated as follows:

Softball Grants: Battle Creek, MI (will have baseball grant also); Fond du Lac, WI; Grand Forks, ND; Green Bay, WI; Kalamazoo, MI; Kenosha, WI; Lakeshore, WI; Madison, WI; Rockford, IL; Royal Oak, MI; Traverse City, MI; Wausau, WI; Wisconsin Rapids, WI.

Baseball Grants: Bismarck, ND; Dickinson, ND; Duluth, MN; Eau Claire, WI; La Crosse, WI; Mankato, MN; Minot, ND; Richmond, IN; Rochester, MN; St. Cloud, MN; Thunder Bay, ONT; Waterloo, IA; Willmar, MN.

From applications collected locally, the Northwoods League Foundation will select one (1) recipient in each community. Organizations must meet the applicable criteria.

The Northwoods League Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that serves as a vehicle to transform a shared passion for baseball and softball into positive change and support for communities. The Mission of the Northwoods League Foundation is to utilize the games of baseball and softball to enrich the quality of life for children and families with an enduring and caring focus on Northwoods League communities.

Interested in being considered for this grant? Applications are open now with a deadline of May 1st, 2026.

Who is eligible to receive the grant? The following criteria must be met in order to be eligible to receive the grant:

1. Organization qualifies, or would qualify, as a 501(c)(3) organization, school or school-based program, or community-based organization as defined under US IRC section 501(c)(3);

2. Organization is not an individual, for-profit business, political, or religious organization;

3. Organization provides opportunities for kids ages 9-12 to play baseball or softball within a community that is served by a Northwoods League affiliate

Share the GLOVE 2026 - Grant Application

Completion of this Form indicated the following requirement have been met by the submitting organization: 1. Organization qualifies as a 501(c)(3) organization, school or school-based program, or community-based organization as defined under IRC section 501(c)(3); 2. Organization is not an individual, for-profit business, political, or religious organization; 3. Organization provides opportunities for kids ages 9-12 to play baseball or softball within a community that is served by a Northwoods League Affiliate.

Today's Date*
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Organization Name*
Tax-Exempt Status (include copy of IRS designation, if applicable)*
Upload copy of IRS Designation Letter (if available)
Max. file size: 8 MB.
Year Organization Founded*
Director*
Contact Person and title (If not Director)
First Last
Contact's Email*
Physical Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code
Mailing Address (if different from physical address)
Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code
Telephone Number*
Website*
Number of Participants*
List all current funding sources (e.g. dues, pay to play, grants, sponsors, government funds)*
Section 2. Statement of Purpose --Please give us a brief description of how your organization enriches the lives of children and families in your community through the game of baseball or softball. (You may upload a file below)*
Statement of Purpose Upload File if applicable
Max. file size: 8 MB.
Name of Person Completing Application*
First Last
Section 3. Signature: By checking "YES" below, I certify that the information provided in this application is true to the best of my knowledge and belief. I understand this information will be used to make a determination in the awarding of grants and if determined to be false or misleading, may disqualify my organization from consideration. If my organization is awarded the grant, information provided as part of this application (organization name, year founded, # of participants, statement of purpose) may be used for promotional purposes.*
- YES
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