Iowa Nonprofits Join Forces to Offer Opportunity Through Sports

Opportunity on Deck and Courage League Sports were both central Iowa nonprofits with a common goal of providing opportunities to youth through sports. Opportunity on Deck provided sports programs for youth in low-income areas, while Courage League Sports provided adapted sports opportunities for people with different abilities. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizations decided to merge to expand community engagement and geographic reach, improve community partnerships, increase staff efficiency, and reduce costs. The Lodestar Foundation provided a grant towards one-time costs of the merger. The merged organization, Can Play, provides opportunities to both underserved youth and adults living with disabilities.

Grant Information

Grant Amount: $7,500

Year Granted: 2020

Grantee: Opportunity on Deck

Location: IA - Iowa

Grantee Website: Can Play