What can I use UCS Grant funds for this year?
The UCS Grant is designed to support a wide variety of inclusive, Unified activities—those that involve approximately equal numbers of athletes and Unified partners participating together in meaningful ways.
For schools in good standing, eligible expenses typically include:
- Stipends for interscholastic Unified Sports coaches
- Stipends for Unified Club advisors
- Transportation to interscholastic Unified Sports competitions
- Facility rentals (e.g., bowling alleys) for Unified Sports events
- Reasonable supplies that directly support Unified programming
- For a list of expenses that are not eligible for reimbursement, please refer to the section on Unallowable Expenses or contact the UCS team directly with any questions at UCS@SONJ.org. We’re here to help you make the most of your grant!
To maintain good standing and remain eligible for UCS Grant reimbursements, your school must:
- Submit your award letter within 60 days of receipt.
- Complete and submit all monthly reports on time, with accurate and detailed information.
- Ensure at least one representative from your school attends each required meeting.
- Submit all other required reports by their respective deadlines.
- Conduct at least one fundraiser to benefit your school’s Unified activities or SONJ
- Successfully implement all three components of Unified Champion Schools:
- Unified Sports
- Inclusive Youth Leadership
- Whole School Engagement
Meeting these expectations ensures your school continues to benefit from UCS Grant funding and support. If you have questions or need guidance, please contact the UCS team at UCS@SONJ.org—we’re here to help.
Our typical processing time varies based on several factors, including the volume of requests and other ongoing SONJ events. While we strive to process reimbursements as quickly as possible, please allow up to 8 weeks for your check to arrive.
If you haven’t received your reimbursement after 8 weeks, feel free to contact our team at UCS@SONJ.org for an update or assistance.
Reimbursement requests received after April 20 will not be processed until all monthly reports, activity trackers, and the UMass survey are completed, so processing time for these requests may take longer than 8 weeks.
Proof of payment is documentation that confirms the school or district has paid an individual or vendor.
- For coach or advisor stipends: Acceptable documentation includes a copy of the individual’s paycheck or a payroll report showing their name, payment amount, and date of payment.
- For vendor payments: You may submit a copy of the check issued to the vendor, or an account or ledger report that clearly shows who was paid, the amount, and the date.
There’s no formal deadline—applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. However, funding is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Once all available funds have been allocated, we’ll still be here to offer guidance and support, but we may not be able to provide additional financial assistance. If you’re considering applying, we encourage you to do so as early as possible!
While we never rule it out entirely, additional funding later in the year is unlikely. If your school needs more support to fully implement Unified Champion Schools programming, please reach out to us. We’re happy to explore alternative options and help you find creative solutions.
The SONJ UCS grants are intended to be seed money to get your Unified programs and activities up and running. The expectation is that the district will fully absorb these costs within 5-7 years.
The remaining funds are forfeited. If you know in advance that you won’t be using the full award, please notify us so we can reallocate the funds.
