How to Win Little League Lighting Grants
Grants

How to Win Little League Lighting Grants

Interested in mastering how to win little league lighting grants. This post is for YOU.

Imagine this:

It’s the championship game.

The score is tied.

The sun is setting fast, and your field has no lights.

You have the talent. You have the team.

But without proper field lighting, the game ends early — literally and figuratively.

If you’ve ever had to call a game, cancel practice, or tell your kids “we don’t have the funds” — then this guide on Little League lighting grants is made for you.

Whether you’re part of a small-town league, a passionate booster club, or a nonprofit supporting youth sports, lighting grants can change the game — literally.

Let’s talk about how to find them, fund them, and finish the season under the lights.

 Why Little League Lighting Grants Matter

Little League lighting grants aren’t just about turning on the lights.

They’re about turning up opportunity.

  • They allow kids to practice after school hours
  • Help leagues host night games and community events
  • Expand use of the field beyond daylight hours
  • Make the league more inclusive for working families
  • Improve safety for players, coaches, and spectators

But most importantly, lighting grants can make your league more fundable long-term. A well-lit, well-used field becomes a magnet for sponsorships, donors, and local support.

 Who Offers Little League Lighting Grants?

There are several types of funders to tap into:

 1. Major League Baseball and the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation

The MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation provides grants to help grow youth baseball and softball — and lighting is part of that.

 Website: https://www.mlbplayers.com/ydf

They fund:

  • Field renovations
  • Equipment upgrades
  • Lighting installations for under-resourced communities

Pro tip: Emphasize how the lights will increase access, safety, and equity in your application.

 2. Local Utility and Energy Companies

Power companies LOVE funding LED lighting upgrades — especially if you’re replacing older, inefficient systems.

Look for:

  • Energy-efficiency grants
  • Corporate social responsibility programs
  • Public-private partnerships

Example:

Duke Energy and other utility providers have sponsored field lighting in states like Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina.

 3. State and Local Government Recreation Grants

Your Parks & Rec department, state youth development fund, or governor’s office may offer matching grants for:

  • Sports field improvements
  • Youth programming
  • Public safety upgrades (like lighting)

Search terms to Google:

  • “YourState sports facility improvement grant”
  • “Youth recreation field lighting funding”

Example: The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department offers outdoor lighting support through their Local Park Grant Program.

 4. Nonprofit and Corporate Foundations

Don’t sleep on big names like:

  • The Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation
  • The Tony Hawk Foundation (yes, they fund fields too)
  • Good Sports
  • NFL Foundation Grassroots Program (yes — many leagues share baseball/football fields)

These funders look for:

  • Community impact
  • Youth empowerment
  • Facility upgrades that remove barriers

 What Makes a Strong Lighting Grant Application?

You don’t need to be a grant guru — but you do need a clear story and a strong plan.

Here’s what successful applicants include:

 1. A Clear Need

“Currently, 80% of our practices and games must end by 6:30 PM due to lack of lighting, which limits participation for working families and student-athletes.”

 2. Community Impact

“This grant will allow us to offer evening games, expand participation by 30%, and create safer, inclusive access for girls’ softball and co-ed teams.”

 3. A Realistic Budget

Break down the cost of:

  • Poles and fixtures
  • Electrical work
  • Solar/LED components (bonus: sustainable = fundable)
  • Maintenance and warranties

 4. Matching Funds or Community Buy-In

Show that you’re not 100% reliant on the grant. Leagues that raise even $5,000 locally are seen as more invested.

“We’ve already raised $3,500 through a community car wash and booster club campaign.”

 Real Example: How One League Lit Up the Night

East River Youth Baseball League in rural Kentucky was losing players. Without lights, practices ended before parents could even get off work.

They applied for:

  • A $25,000 grant from the MLB-MLBPA Foundation
  • A $5,000 match from their local electric co-op
  • Community support from a hardware store that offered materials at cost

Now, their league hosts night games, movie nights, and even adult co-ed tournaments to raise money year-round.

 Where to Find Little League Lighting Grants Right Now

Here are direct links to current and recurring opportunities:

Funder Type Website
MLB-MLBPA Foundation Youth Baseball/Softball mlbplayers.com/ydf
Good Sports Equipment + Facility goodsports.org
Local Utilities LED & energy programs Search “YourState + utility grant”
U.S. Soccer Foundation (multi-sport) Field & lighting ussoccerfoundation.org
State Park & Rec Community facilities Search “State + Parks grant programs”

 Bonus: Tips to Boost Your Chances

  • Include photos of your current field (especially poor lighting or safety issues)
  • Collect short quotes from players, parents, and coaches
  • Show how this will be sustainable — LED lights, energy savings, additional field use
  • Mention any volunteers or partners helping with the installation

 What If You Can’t Afford the Full Project?

Break it into phases.

Funders love small, manageable plans.

Phase 1: Install conduit and electrical prep
Phase 2: Fund two light poles
Phase 3: Complete LED light installation

You can apply for grants and stack funding from multiple sources.

  Don’t Let Your League Play in the Dark

We know the work it takes to keep a Little League team alive — let alone grow it.

That’s why we created the Grant Writing Academy Newsletter: to help everyday champions like you access the grants, sponsorships, and strategic funding support you need to light up your mission.

Subscribe to the Grant Writing Academy Newsletter

You’ll get:

  • Grant alerts just like this one
  • Winning application tips
  • Tools to grow your nonprofit, school, or sports league

But if you’re serious about securing BIG wins for your team — and you’re tired of guessing your way through grants — then it’s time to become a Founding Member.

 Founding Members Get:

  •  grant proposal templates
  • Monthly Live Q&A calls and grant coaching
  • Fundraising campaign strategies
  • 12- month strategic funding plan
  • Direct help getting your application done

Join the Founding Membership here and stop losing daylight on your dreams.


 Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need to Be a Pro League to Shine Like One

Little League lighting grants aren’t out of reach — even for small teams with small budgets.

What funders want is passion, community, and impact.

And if that sounds like your league, you’re already halfway there.

Now go apply. Go ask. Go light it up.

 

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