The Division III diversity grants provide grant funding to members committed to enhancing ethnic minority and gender representation in athletics administration and assistant coaching positions. NCAA research data show only 29 percent of Division III athletics directors are female, and a mere 6 percent are ethnic minorities. It's time to push for greater diversity and inclusion in leadership roles—explore the following leadership development programs and mentorship opportunities designed to empower and support underrepresented voices in athletics.
Pathway to Excellence Grant
The Pathway to Excellence Grant provides funding for full-time, entry-level athletics administrative positions for two academic years. It aims to support schools and conferences committed to increasing underrepresented groups in these roles. The positions offer experience in areas such as strategic planning, budget management, compliance, student-athlete welfare, and diversity initiatives. Read more how the NCAA's Pathway to Excellence Grant is creating opportunities and progress within college athletics.
Who is Eligible?
To be eligible, schools and conference offices must be active NCAA Division III members and capable of fulfilling all recipient responsibilities, with multisport conferences also qualifying. It’s recommended that schools and conferences collaborate with their human resources departments when developing and submitting proposals. Grant requirements must be fully completed before additional funding can be received. While Division III schools can receive both the Pathway to Excellence Grant and the Coaching Enhancement Grant, but cannot receive more than one Pathway to Excellence Grant at a time.
Grant Information:
- What is your current NCAA division?
- Institution/Conference Office.
- Primary contact full name.
- Primary contact phone number.
- Primary contact email.
- What previous years has your school/conference office applied for this grant?
- List the year(s) the school/conference office was previously awarded the grant.
Position Information:
- Proposed job title.
- Provide a detailed job description, including percentage of time commitment for each major area of job responsibility and a thorough explanation of job responsibilities.
- Identify the type of candidates to be considered in the search to fill this position: Internal or External.
- Upload your athletic department/conference office's current organizational chart.
- Upload your athletic department/conference office's proposed organizational chart if awarded the grant.
- Provide the name, title and short biography (500 words) for the position's supervisor(s). If more than one is listed, identify the primary supervisor. Note: Supervisor(s) must be different than then mentor(s).
- Outline the ways the supervisor(s) plans to interact with the employee and how the supervisor(s) will ensure a productive work experience.
- Provide the name, title and short biography (500 words) for the position's mentor(s). If more than one is listed, identify the primary mentor. NOTE: Mentor(s) must be different than the supervisor and are not required to be in the athletic department/conference office.
- Outline the ways the mentor(s) plans to interact with the employee and how the mentor(s) will aid the employee in his or her professional development.
Campus/Conference Information:
- Explain how your school/conference is committed to diversity and inclusion.
- Explain how your athletics department is committed to diversity and inclusion. (schools only)
- Explain how your hiring strategy will guarantee a diverse candidate pool.
- List any professional development opportunities you anticipate the position will attend and why you think it will be of value to the employee.
- How will this position be exposed to other campus, conference or community groups?
- How will the employee's performance be evaluated?
- How will the success of the position be evaluated?
Budget Information:
- Provide details surrounding the Pathway to Excellence Grant Grid.
- Institution or Conference Office In-Kind Contribution Options:
- Housing Stipend
- Insurance (e.g. medical, life, dental, vision, etc.)
- Meal Plan
- Technology Allocation (e.g. monthly cell phone services, wireless card, software license, etc.)
- Tuition and Fees
- Other (please specify)
- NCAA Contribution
- Salary and Wages
- Professional Development Stipend
- Describe any benefits that are not identified in the above charts.
Confirmation:
Strategic Alliance Matching Grant
The Division III Strategic Alliance Matching Grant provides financial support to Division III conferences and institutions committed to enhancing ethnic minority and gender representation in full-time, mid- to senior-level athletics administration roles. These positions, funded during a five-year commitment, include responsibilities in areas such as strategic planning, budget management, fundraising, compliance, diversity initiatives, and student-athlete welfare.
Who is Eligible?
To be eligible to submit a proposal, schools and conference offices must be active NCAA Division II members, and conferences must be multisport. Recipients cannot receive more than one Division III Strategic Alliance Matching Grant at a time, and all grant requirements must be fulfilled before receiving additional funding. Schools may receive funding from both the Division III Strategic Alliance Matching Grant and the Division III Coaching Enhancement Grant simultaneously.
Grant Information:
- What is your current NCAA division?
- Institution/Conference Office.
- Primary contact full name.
- Primary contact phone number.
- Primary contact email.
- What previous years has your school/conference office applied for this grant?
- List the year(s) the school/conference office was previously awarded the grant.
Position Information:
- Proposed job title.
- Provide a detailed job description, including percentage of time commitment for each major area of job responsibility and a thorough explanation of job responsibilities.
- Identify if the position is a new or enhanced position.
- If position is enhanced, why are these new responsiblities taking place? How do the enhanced job responsibilities differ from their current ones?
- Identify the type of candidates to be considered in the search to fill this position: Internal or External.
- Upload your athletic department/conference office's current organizational chart.
- Upload your athletic department/conference office's proposed organizational chart if awarded the grant.
- Provide the name, title and short biography (500 words) for the position's supervisor(s). If more than one is listed, identify the primary supervisor. Note: Supervisor(s) must be different than then mentor(s).
- Outline the ways the supervisor(s) plans to interact with the employee and how the supervisor(s) will ensure a productive work experience.
- Provide the name, title and short biography (500 words) for the position's mentor(s). If more than one is listed, identify the primary mentor. NOTE: Mentor(s) must be different than the supervisor and are not required to be in the athletic department/conference office.
- Outline the ways the mentor(s) plans to interact with the employee and how the mentor(s) will aid the employee in his or her professional development.
Campus/Conference Information:
- Explain how your school/conference is committed to diversity and inclusion.
- Explain how your athletics department is committed to diversity and inclusion. (schools only)
- Explain how your hiring strategy will guarantee a diverse candidate pool.
- List any professional development opportunities you anticipate the position will attend and why you think it will be of value to the employee.
- How will this position be exposed to other campus, conference or community groups?
- How will the employee's performance be evaluated?
- How will the success of the position be evaluated?
Budget Information:
- Provide the salary range of similar positions.
- Provide details surrounding the Division III Stratetic Alliance Matching Grant New Position Grid.
- Institution or Conference Office Contribution:
- Salary and Wages
- Benefits Package (e.g. medical, retirement, etc.)
- Professional Development Stipend
- Other (please specify)
- NCAA Contribution:
- Salary, Wages and Benefits
- Professional Development Stipend
- Technology Stipend
- Provide details surrounding the Division III Stratetic Alliance Mathcing Grant Enhanced Position Grid.
- Institution or Conference Office Contribution:
- Current Salary and Wages
- Current Benefits Package (e.g. medical, retirement, etc.)
- Current Professional Development Stipend
- Other (please specify)
- Institution or Conference Office Enhancement Request
- Salary and Wages
- Benefits Package (e.g medical, retirement, etc.)
- Professional Development Stipend
- Other (please specify)
- NCAA Contribution:
- Salary, Wages and Benefits
- Professional Development Stipend
- Technology Stipend
- Describe any benefits that are not identified in the above charts.
Confirmation:
Coaching Enhancement Grant
The Division III Coaching Enhancement Grant provides financial assistance to member schools committed to increasing ethnic minority and gender representation in newly created assistant coaching positions for any NCAA-sponsored sport. This grant supports diversity efforts in athletic coaching across Division III institutions.
Who is Eligible?
To be eligible, schools must be active NCAA Division III members and meet all recipient responsibilities. Schools are encouraged to consult their human resources departments during proposal development. Division III schools can receive funding from the Division III Coaching Enhancement Grant alongside either the Division III Pathway to Excellence Grant or the Division III Strategic Alliance Matching Grant, but cannot receive more than one Coaching Enhancement Grant at a time.
Grant Information:
- What is your current NCAA division?
- Institution/Conference Office.
- Primary contact full name.
- Primary contact phone number.
- Primary contact email.
- What previous years has your school/conference office applied for this grant?
- List the year(s) the school/conference office was previously awarded the grant
Position Information:
- Proposed job title.
- Provide a detailed job description, including percentage of time commitment for each major area of job responsibility and a thorough explanation of job responsibilities.
- Identify the type of candidates to be considered in the search to fill this position: Internal or External.
- Upload your athletic department/conference office's current organizational chart.
- Upload your athletic department/conference office's proposed organizational chart if awarded the grant.
- Provide the name, title and short biography (500 words) for the position's supervisor(s). If more than one is listed, identify the primary supervisor. Note: Supervisor(s) must be different than then mentor(s).
- Outline the ways the supervisor(s) plans to interact with the employee and how the supervisor(s) will ensure a productive work experience.
- Provide the name, title and short biography (500 words) for the position's mentor(s). If more than one is listed, identify the primary mentor. NOTE: Mentor(s) must be different than the supervisor and are not required to be in the athletic department/conference office.
- Outline the ways the mentor(s) plans to interact with the employee and how the mentor(s) will aid the employee in his or her professional development.
Campus/Conference Information:
- Explain how your school/conference is committed to diversity and inclusion.
- Explain how your athletics department is committed to diversity and inclusion. (schools only)
- Explain how your hiring strategy will guarantee a diverse candidate pool.
- List any professional development opportunities you anticipate the employee will attend and why you think it will be of value.
- How will this position be exposed to other campus, conference or community groups?
- How will the employee's performance be evaluated?
- How will the success of the position be evaluated?
Budget Information:
- Provide details surrounding the Division III Coaching Enhancement Grant Grid.
- Institution Contribution:
- Salary and Wages
- Benefits Package (e.g. medical, retirement, etc.)
- Professional Development Stipend
- Other (please specify)
- NCAA Contribution:
- Salary, Wages and Benefits
- Professional Development Stipend
- Describe any benefits that are not identified in the above charts.
Confirmation:
