Funding your fencing: scholarships, grants and financial aid

Fencing costs money, but there is more help out there than most families realize. Here is where to look, from fencing-specific programs to general youth-sports grants, plus the one source almost everyone forgets.

Fencing-specific programs (USA Fencing)

USA Fencing: Fencing the Gap

Scholarships and $5,000 club grants that can cover equipment, coaching, youth scholarships, transportation and adaptive gear. Aimed at broadening access, including for athletes with disabilities.

USA Fencing: Support Fund scholarships

$1,000 scholarships toward equipment, coaching and competition costs.

USA Fencing: GRACE program

Competition-fee waivers for families hit by sudden financial hardship, so a fencer can keep competing at national events.

Youth-sports grants (any sport, including fencing)

Luka Doncic Foundation: Stay In Play

Needs-based grants up to $25,000 to help young athletes (ages 12-15, at least six months in their sport) stay in the game.

Every Kid Sports

Pays youth-sports registration fees for kids in income-qualifying families.

DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation: Sports Matter

Grants that help under-resourced youth sports programs and teams stay funded.

Local Parks & Recreation and community foundations

Many cities and community foundations offer youth-sports scholarships. Ask your city's rec department and search your county's community foundation.

The source almost everyone forgets: your own club. Many clubs quietly offer need-based financial aid, payment plans, work-study, or loaner gear, they just do not advertise it. It never hurts to ask the front desk, "do you offer any financial assistance?" The worst they can say is no.

Lower the cost in the first place

Buy used gear and starter bundles, not full price. See how to find discount gear.
Let the club lend you the basics for the first months, and buy in the right order.
Run the numbers first with our cost calculator so nothing surprises you.

Paying for college fencing

A few NCAA programs offer athletic money, and many fencers earn recruited-athlete support plus academic aid. See colleges with fencing for how recruiting and scholarships work.

Run a program families should know about? Tell us and we will add it.