School Districts, Municipalities & Non-profits
The Edwin J. Wadas Foundation, Inc. is proud to support school districts, municipalities, and non profits in Herkimer and Oneida Counties that provide amateur athletics for youth ages 5-18. The Foundation awards grants with the objective of enhancing the existing program and not as a substitute for operational budgets.

All requests must be used to enhance programs that benefit youth ages 5-18. Below is a list of projects that have been funded:
- Basketball shooting machines
- Pitching machines
- Field improvements
- Outdoor shelters
- Retractable batting cages
- High jump equipment
- Cross country running trail
- Summer camp fitness equipment
- Youth ski equipment
- Football equipment
- Lacrosse helmets
- Scorers table
- Scoreboards
- Playground equipment
- Fitness room equipment
- Basketball camp program
- Warm ups
- Wall mats
The Foundation does not fund operational expenses or contribute to capital campaigns. If you are interested in applying for a grant please fill out the online application or contact us directly at 315-982-9003.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of grants are available?
Qualifying organizations may apply for grants that will provide youth with supplemental experiences and opportunities not ordinarily embraced within the existing organizational operating budget. Eligible organizations include schools [K-12], non-profits and municipalities. Grants are generally awarded to existing sports, fitness and recreational activity programs for youth ages 5-18 in Oneida and Herkimer Counties.
What are the qualification criteria for a grant?
The first step is to fill out a contact form by clicking on the “Apply Now” button located on the homepage and below. You will fill out some basic information, and a member of the Foundation will evaluate your initial application and contact you. If the initial evaluation indicates you are a potential candidate for a grant, we will follow up for a site visit and you will need to provide the following information:
– Proof of tax-exempt status from the IRS;
– If a non-profit organization:
List of current Board of Directors; and
Certificate of Incorporation duly filed with the New York Department of State.
– In some cases, financial information such as your organization’s historical and current statement of financial position, statement of activities and fundraising activities will be requested.
We also require that you obtain permission from the organization’s administration to apply on behalf of the organization prior to submission of an application. The organization must designate one point-person for the project from the start of the application through completion.
The application says to provide a project quote. What does that mean?
As part of our grant application process, we require that you submit a vendor quote, estimate or bid for all requested materials and services. If the organization you are applying for has an internal bid process that needs to be followed, you must complete that process prior to applying. Each item sought in the grant application must have a vendor quote, estimate or bid. Example: You are requesting funds for a basketball shooting machine and 10 basketballs. We require a vendor quote for both the shooting machine and the basketballs. We do not endorse any vendors, but love to see that local businesses are provided the opportunity to participate in the application process. The Foundation generally requires that all significant requests be supported by multiple vendor quotes.
What can I expect during the grant application process?
Once you have submitted your initial application, a member from the Foundation will contact you to obtain the needed materials and to set up a meeting. During this meeting we will ask questions about proposed usage, demographics of the intended recipients and other funding sources available for the project. Each project is different and therefore each application process is unique. We often like to set up site visits to view the current status of your program/facilities and learn more about the applicant.
Our Board of Directors makes every effort to meet once a month to review applications. At these meetings, projects may be approved, denied, deferred or tabled pending submission of further information requested by the Board. Once an applicant has submitted all required information, the project will usually be placed on the Board’s agenda for the following month.
I have been approved for a grant, now what?
Once you have submitted your initial application, a member from the Foundation will contact you to obtain the needed materials and to set up a meeting. During this meeting we will ask questions about proposed usage, demographics of the intended recipients and other funding sources available for the project. Each project is different and therefore each application process is unique. We often like to set up site visits to view the current status of your program/facilities and learn more about the applicant.
Our Board of Directors makes every effort to meet once a month to review applications. At these meetings, projects may be approved, denied, deferred or tabled pending submission of further information requested by the Board. Once an applicant has submitted all required information, the project will usually be placed on the Board’s agenda for the following month.
What is expected of us if we are approved?
If your organization’s application is approved for a grant, your project must ordinarily be completed within 6 months from receipt of the grant funds. Upon completion, you will be required to provide all follow up information and documentation set forth in your approval letter as a condition of the grant. You can share the great news with the media and your community. All mention of the grant must indicate that the grant was provided by “The Edwin J. Wadas Foundation, Inc.”
“The Edwin J. Wadas Foundation is truly changing the lives of our student athletes.”
Mark, Oriskany Central School District

Take your youth sports to the next level!
The Wadas Foundation seeks to give all youth the opportunity to experience and benefit from the teamwork, hard work and fun that sports provides. Applying for a grant is easy.