COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—USA Swimming and its philanthropic arm, the USA Swimming Foundation, have announced the recipients of the 2026 Community Impact Grants. The organizations awarded $65,000 to 13 programs that are focused on expanding access to competitive swimming, supporting diverse coaches, and creating local competitive opportunities.
The grants, funded by philanthropic contributions, bring the total number of programs supported to 53, with $630,000 distributed nationwide since the program launched in 2020.
“At USA Swimming and the USA Swimming Foundation, we believe access to competitive swimming should exist in every community,” says chief executive officer Kevin Ring. “Our Community Impact Grants continue to meet local communities where they are, ensuring families across the country have access to the sport of swimming. As we build momentum toward the LA28 Olympic Games, we are proud to invest in programs that are creating lasting impact and strengthening the future of our sport.”
The Community Impact Grant program focuses on three areas: forming partnerships between USA Swimming clubs and facilities without a club, supporting clubs led by women or diverse individuals, and creating competitive youth programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
The 2026 grant recipients include Alligator Aquatics (Arlington Heights, Ill.), City of Mobile Swim Association (Mobile, Ala.), DC Wave Swim Team (Washington, D.C.), Gateway Region YMCA (St. Louis, Mo.), Gleason Family YMCA Riptides (Wareham, Mass.), Greater Des Moines YMCA (Des Moines, Iowa), Greenbriar Valley Aquatic Center (Lewisburg, W.Va.), Northern Lights Swim Association Marlins (Morehead, Minn.), Piranha Swimming at Darien YMCA (Darien, Conn.), Ridgefield Aquatic Club (Ridgefield, Conn.), Salem Swim Club (Salem, Ore.), Sumter Family YMCA (Sumter, S.C.), and Westside Indianapolis Swim Team (Brownsburg, Ind.).
Since its launch, the program has supported clubs nationwide, helping to increase opportunities for swimmers from underrepresented communities and strengthen the sport at the local level.
For more information on USA Swimming’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, visit usaswimming.org/diversity.
