Increased demand putting significant strain on funding resources
VANCOUVER, BC – February 6, 2025 — The KidSport program in BC had another record-setting year for their granting program in 2024. The organization, which provides funding to help cover the cost of sport registration fees for families facing financial barriers, funded a season of sport for 10,695 kids totaling more than $3.6M in registration fees in 2024. That’s a $1M increase over the 2023 total of $2.6M in distributions, which was the previous record for the organization.
“Our grant totals have effectively doubled since 2022 both in the number of kids supported and the dollars distributed,” says Angela Crowther, KidSport BC’s Director. “We are incredibly proud of the impact the KidSport program is having for kids and families across BC, but this accelerated increase in demand has significantly depleted the financial reserves in many communities, and the fundraising requirement has grown beyond what most of our current volunteer base can keep up with. We are doing what we can to continue meeting the demand but may need to adjust our eligibility criteria and adapt our operations to ensure we can continue to help as many families as possible.”
While it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what is leading to such a significant increase, there are several factors which are likely contributing to the demand. The rising cost of living, increased interest rates, and other challenges families are facing with affordability are leading many to turn to support services like KidSport to help make up the shortfall. In addition, similar funding organizations that provide sport funding for families have been scaling back their individual granting programs, which may be putting additional pressure on KidSport to meet this need.
In total, KidSport funded kids to participate in 53 different sports at more than 1500 Sport BC member-affiliated local sport clubs in 233 communities across the province last year. Soccer, gymnastics, hockey, figure skating and baseball were the top-funded sports in 2024, accounting for more than two-thirds of all grants. The KidSport program was founded in 1993 with the goal of increasing sport participation for Sport BC-affiliated clubs by helping under resourced participants to get in the game. Over 30 years later, the program is doing just that by providing significant funding to the amateur sport sector in BC.
“In the years following the pandemic we’ve worked hard to increase awareness of the KidSport program among families in need, but now are almost victims of our own success,” adds Crowther who is concerned about the financial outlook for the coming year. “We are actively looking for new donors and partners who share our belief in the power of sport and want to invest in our future by providing kids and youth a season of sport.”
The organization is community-funded and relies on donor support to sustain their granting program. With the increasing volume of grant applications, the need for donations is higher than ever this year. KidSport Canada is a Registered Amateur Athletic Association (86212 5986 RR0003) and tax receipts are available for eligible donations. For more information or to donate, visit kidsportcanada.ca/british-columbia.
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About KidSport BC
The KidSport program aims to remove financial barriers to sport participation by providing grants to help cover the costs of registration fees. This program is intended to help increase participation numbers for Sport BC members and their local clubs by helping under-resourced children and youth access a season of sport. KidSport is a Registered Canadian Amateur Athletic Association (“RCAAA”) with charitable status and can issue tax receipts to donors. Learn more at kidsportcanada.ca/british-columbia or follow us @KidSportBC.
About Sport BC
Sport BC believes in the power of sport and is committed to building stronger communities through positive sport experiences. Our goal is to enhance and support sport participation in British Columbia ensuring everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Through our KidSport BC, BC Amateur Sport Fund, and BC Women & Sport programs, along with our services Sport BC Insurance, and Payroll and Group Benefits; Sport BC supports our seventy plus member organizations. Keep up to date @SportBC.
Media Contact – KidSport
Angela Crowther
Director, KidSport BC
604-839-3551