After a year of record growth, the Game. Set. Equity. Community Tennis Grants, presented by National Bank, returns in 2026 with a new two-year grant available for past recipients, as Tennis Canada and National Bank’s investment grows to $125,000.
As the Community Tennis Grants, designed to support Canadian organizations promoting equity and offering tennis initiatives or programs specifically for self-identifying women and girls, enter its fifth cycle in 2026, the program is introducing two funding streams.
One-year grants, worth up to $7,500, will be available for eligible organizations, while a two-year grant, worth up to $20,000, will be available to past recipients of the Community Tennis Grants to support initiatives that focus on long-term impact. The program’s continued evolution demonstrates Tennis Canada and National Bank’s commitment to promoting lasting change for women and girls in all areas of tennis, from the playground to the pros, coaching, leadership and beyond.
“We’re proud to see the Game. Set. Equity. Community Tennis Grants program grow in its fifth cycle, to provide longer-term funding for initiatives that support a more equitable future in tennis,” said Terri Temelini, Director of Women and Girls Advancement at Tennis Canada. “We have seen how targeted investment in equity and inclusion can strengthen communities across the country, and we look forward to seeing how the next set of recipients continues this important work.”
In 2025, the Community Tennis Grants program received more than 80 applications, a record that highlights the need for continued investment in community initiatives. Last year’s recipients included tennis clubs, community organizations, and university programs supporting initiatives aimed at expanding access to tennis, improving participant experiences, increasing representation in leadership, and exploring new approaches to inclusive participation. Since the initiative began in 2022, nearly $300,000 has been distributed to 54 unique organizations across 10 provinces and two territories.
HOW TO APPLY
Details on how to apply can be found HERE.
All applicants must meet certain eligibility criteria to be considered for the selection process, including the need for their program to focus on the participation, retention, or advancement of self-identifying women and girls, and at least 70 percent of the funding must be directly allocated to women and girls. This includes, but is not limited to, initiatives such as:
- Providing women and girls with more opportunities to become coaches, umpires, or future leaders.
- Increasing opportunities for women and girls to participate in programs, training, or competitions.
- Supporting equity capacity-building through education and training.
To be eligible for the two-year grant, an organization must have previously received a Community Tennis Grant, and funding should be directed to initiatives focused on long-term impact. Examples of eligible initiatives include:
- Scaling and sustaining a proven program or previously funded initiative to support long-term impact.
- Establishing structured, sustainable pathways for coaching, officiating, and next-generation leadership development.
- Embedding equity work into organizational systems through ongoing education, training, and capacity building.
The application process will close on Tuesday, March 3, at 4:00 p.m. EST. If you have questions, contact the Women and Girls Advancement team at Tennis Canada at gsegrant@tenniscanada.com.
Photo: Amy Elle
