Road to States Grant
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 15, 2024
On behalf of the entire TFL Executive Committee, we are looking forward to what is promising to be an exciting TFL State Championship. Preparations for an outstanding weekend are ongoing. Information will continue to be provided over the next two weeks to help you prepare for a smooth tournament. .
This morning, the Executive Committee approved the creation of the Road to States Grant Program. This program would use a portion of our tournament proceeds to provide direct cash grants to TFL member schools to assist with helping them get to the tournament.
We recognize that decisions over the past two years concerning our post-pandemic finances have increased the financial burden to attend the state's culminating tournament. In short, we are asking programs to pay more than ever before for access to the TFL. Those decisions to raise fees were always about insuring the health of the League for the next 50 years. However, it is incumbent on the Committee to lessen the burden when it can.
On average, the Road to States Grant will provide awards ranging from $250-$1,000 with $1,000 being the maximum grant amount. We anticipate that the average award amount will be around $500 per school. Currently, only member schools with students competing in the 2024 TFL State Championship Tournament are eligible to apply.
While the 2024 iteration of the grant is a pilot program, the Executive Committee hopes to continue to build on this philanthropic work. Our Governance Committee is currently beginning conversations regarding the formal creation of the Tarheel Forensic League with the NC Secretary of State and the filing of 501(c)3 paperwork with the Internal Revenue Service. These steps are crucial in securing the ability to receive tax-deductible donations, apply for grants from community partners, and to seek large-sum donors wanting to support speech & debate in North Carolina.
Our 2024 grant timeline would be as follows:
Please direct questions to Crawford Leavoy, TFL Chair, at [email protected].
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On behalf of the entire TFL Executive Committee, we are looking forward to what is promising to be an exciting TFL State Championship. Preparations for an outstanding weekend are ongoing. Information will continue to be provided over the next two weeks to help you prepare for a smooth tournament. .
This morning, the Executive Committee approved the creation of the Road to States Grant Program. This program would use a portion of our tournament proceeds to provide direct cash grants to TFL member schools to assist with helping them get to the tournament.
We recognize that decisions over the past two years concerning our post-pandemic finances have increased the financial burden to attend the state's culminating tournament. In short, we are asking programs to pay more than ever before for access to the TFL. Those decisions to raise fees were always about insuring the health of the League for the next 50 years. However, it is incumbent on the Committee to lessen the burden when it can.
On average, the Road to States Grant will provide awards ranging from $250-$1,000 with $1,000 being the maximum grant amount. We anticipate that the average award amount will be around $500 per school. Currently, only member schools with students competing in the 2024 TFL State Championship Tournament are eligible to apply.
While the 2024 iteration of the grant is a pilot program, the Executive Committee hopes to continue to build on this philanthropic work. Our Governance Committee is currently beginning conversations regarding the formal creation of the Tarheel Forensic League with the NC Secretary of State and the filing of 501(c)3 paperwork with the Internal Revenue Service. These steps are crucial in securing the ability to receive tax-deductible donations, apply for grants from community partners, and to seek large-sum donors wanting to support speech & debate in North Carolina.
Our 2024 grant timeline would be as follows:
- Announce the creation of the Road to States grant to TFL membership on Thursday, February 15th.
- The application window opens on Friday, February 16th and runs until Friday, February 23rd
- The TFL Governance Committee would review applications and make awards on Saturday, February 24th and Sunday, February 25th.
Please direct questions to Crawford Leavoy, TFL Chair, at [email protected].
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GRANT APPLICATION
Coaches of Record can access the application here: |
