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Beyond Sport and New Balance Foundation are excited to announce our first Futures in Motion grant recipients! Two Australian community organizations, Aspire Community and Charity Bounce, will receive funding and capacity-building support over the next three years to enhance programs advancing youth wellbeing, education, inclusion and career pathways, as well as their own organizational sustainability.
Futures in Motion launched in April 2025 to support community and nonprofit organizations who are promoting bright futures by unlocking and expanding opportunities for underserved youth through sport and physical activity. The initiative is currently supporting programs operating in Australia and Japan, with work underway to reach five additional international locations by 2027. Futures in Motion was developed and operates in close collaboration with in-country consultants, advisory groups and subject matter experts to ensure both cultural and local relevancy while addressing the specific barriers young people are facing in each country.
“Our support of Aspire Community and Charity Bounce aligns with our mission to champion organizations that create transformative opportunities for young people through sport. This milestone marks an exciting step forward in our commitment to leveraging sport as a catalyst for positive youth development and to driving lasting impact in our global communities,” said New Balance Foundation Director of Global Philanthropy, Molly Santry.
Grounded in nurturing positive youth development (PYD), Futures in Motion targets children and young people who are typically excluded from sport and the valuable personal development opportunities that come with it. In Australia, which is among the world’s most inactive nations, this is frequently the case for First Nations youth, girls and young women, people with disabilities, LGBTQI+ youth and those from multicultural backgrounds. Coupled with having to navigate additional systemic barriers and inequities, research conducted by Beyond Sport shows that many young people are facing rising health risks and widening inequities. However, the study also showed that “intentionally designed programs that integrate physical activity with leadership, life skills and social-emotional learning are highly effective.” Aspire Community and Charity Bounce are noted for their intersectional, equity-focused approaches and programs that empower young people to have an active role in their own growth.
“Both organizations exemplify what’s possible when sport is used to inspire and equip the next generation through thoughtful, culturally centered youth development,” said Beyond Sport Executive Director Fred Fikouhi-Turner. “With the New Balance Foundation, we’re proud to help them scale their impact so that more young people can lead change in their communities — on and off the field.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECTS
ASPIRE COMMUNITY
Harnessing the power of sport to ignite leadership, confidence and connection in Indigenous youth across remote Northern Australia
Aspire Community supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth with a focus on women and girls in remote Northern Australia, investing in Indigenous-led solutions that foster resilience, connection and increased opportunities.
This grant will support expansion of their “Learn, Lead, Play and Thrive: Where Sport Fuels Success” program which addresses economic disadvantage, school attendance, geographic isolation, and limited role models and access to sport. Through community programs, traditional Indigenous games/modified sports, mentorship, after school activities and education programs, the organization is supporting healthy youth, empowered with life and leadership skills and a strengthened sense of pride and purpose. Co-designed with their young participants, the program currently reaches upwards of 6,000 participants annually, with plans to ultimately reach up to 20,000 across three additional regions.
“Being selected as a successful grant recipient of the Futures in Motion Program is a powerful endorsement of Aspire Community’s commitment to empowering Australian Indigenous young people. We are thrilled to expand our community-led initiatives into remote communities across Northern Australia, where culturally grounded, locally driven programs can have transformative impact,” shared Aspire Cairns Community Limited CEO, Julie McNeil. “By investing in Indigenous-led solutions, we are fostering resilience, connection and opportunity—ensuring young people are supported to thrive.”
CHARITY BOUNCE
Innovative basketball program using community-based activities to empower young people
Since 2016, Charity Bounce (Bounce) has used basketball as a catalyst to build resilience, confidence and employability skills in young people. Operating in New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory – as well as internationally – Bounce provides equitable access to sport and supporting youth development in underserved communities worldwide.
This grant will help them scale their “Bounce Clubs,” encompassing weekly basketball programs; youth coach training and employment pathways; community and local school partnerships; and an athlete mentorship program led by professional athletes. The Clubs will improve access for First Nations youth, Pacific Islander young women, newly arrived refugees and culturally diverse youth, fostering teamwork, inclusiveness and personal development.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to work with the Futures in Motion program and make an impact for our Bounce Club coaches and participants. We are committed to seeing young people thrive both on and off the court and know that this support will create new pathways to success for youth. It’s an amazing opportunity to partner and we will ensure the funding is used to increase our impact for those we work for,” affirmed Charity Bounce CEO, Ian Heininger.
Congratulations to our grantees!
Stay tuned – Futures in Motion Japan grantees will be announced in early October. We are also currently accepting applications for funding in Poland through September 30. Make sure you are subscribed to our mailing list and follow Beyond Sport on social to receive our latest news.
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