The mission and priority of the JJWF is to help as many schools/programs as possible. Due to the current economic impact of Covid 19 and inability to hold our annual fundraiser, we are currently prioritizing schools who have not yet received funding from our foundation. We understand that you may need new uniforms and/or equipment across all programs. However, we have limited funds and request that you discuss overall athletic needs with your AD or Principal and apply for what is needed most.
Before submitting an application for funding, ensure that your organization meets the Foundation’s criteria listed below and you’ve read through the entire FAQ section.
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Apply for funding for your after-school program
We are currently only accepting applications from programs that have not previously received funding from our foundation. Our priority is to help as many different programs as possible, in order to reach as many children as we can.
Due to the high request volume we receive, please prioritize the items being requested in the comment section of the application or attach a separate document. You may be partially funded and this will help expedite the process. If applicable, please submit photos of your current uniforms and/or equipment that you are applying to replace.
Yes! However, the JJWF only considers the mat itself as critical, so any peripherals or school logos/lettering will have to be invoiced separately by the vendor and not included in your application.
We request that the JJWF logo be added to all uniforms. We also request that the uniforms not be personalized with student names. Please have your uniform vendor include the cost or list it as N/C to add the JJWF logo into their quote before submitting your application. The JJWF logo can be screen printed in one color that matches your school colors.
No, we must have an actual vendor quote, estimate, or invoice. The quote must show quantities, sizes, school name and numbers if applicable, and total cost. Please ask the vendor to put a quote number on the quote for our reference. If applying for multiple sports, the vendor can put them all on one quote.
Absolutely! When filling out the application, please make sure you upload all of your vendor quotes and enter each total so that the “Total Funds Requested” box remains correct. After entering all of your vendor quotes, please double-check that the “Total Funds Requested” box matches your total.
Please keep in mind the following for your vendor quotes:
We require a file showing the amount of funding allocated to your school’s athletics program for the previous two years. In addition, this file should contain the amount of money allocated to each sport for which funding is being requested and a detailed, itemized list of expenditures for each of those sports.
We require a letter from the Principal, on school letterhead, explaining that there is not an allocated budget for after school athletics. This must be attached to your application by way of scanning or other digitization.
Due to the volume of applications we receive, you will only be notified if your request has been approved. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
The JJWF will email a letter to the contact person listed on your application congratulating you and detailing what was approved. We will also send each vendor a letter and a check payable to each vendor. It is then your responsibility to place the order with the vendor and ensure your equipment and/or uniforms are received.
You may re-apply once per quarter, and you may re-apply even if you are not approved.
While growing up, JJ Watt, now #99 for the Houston Texans, was able to participate in track, baseball, soccer, hockey, and football. However, during his junior year at the University of Wisconsin, JJ came to the life-changing realization that many kids are not afforded the same access to after school athletic opportunities that he was given. In that moment, JJ decided he wanted to do something to fix this problem while he had such an overwhelmingly supportive fan base to assist him.With the help of the University of Wisconsin Law Department Research Team, the Justin J. Watt Foundation was born. It is with great pride that I, along with a tremendous team of volunteers, help to carry out my son’s mission of providing after school athletic opportunities for middle school aged children.
If you meet our criteria, please complete the Funding Request Application linked above, attach the vendor invoices and program budget, and submit it for review. All applications are reviewed quarterly (March, June, September, and December).
I look forward to hearing from you!
Connie L. Watt, Vice President
Justin J. Watt Foundation