All grant specifications and requirements, as well as the grant application template, are available online at http://web1.ncaa.org/wbbgrants/exec/OrganizationLogin.  Conferences and institutions can access the system by using the specific username and password provided in early November by the NCAA.

The grant program was established in 2007 to encourage institutions and conferences to submit marketing proposals designed to grow women’s basketball “from the inside out and at a grass-roots level.”  Over its first two years, the grant program has awarded approximately $1,500,000 in women’s basketball grants to 26 Division I institutions and nine conferences, with approximately $750,000 in grant resources issued each year.

For 2009-10, a total of 75 member institutions and conferences submitted proposals to receive annual grant financial resources, with grants awarded to Auburn University; Big South Conference; Cornell University; East Tennessee State University; Eastern Michigan University; Iowa State University; Patriot League; San Diego State University, University of California, Los Angeles; University of California, Riverside; University of California, Santa Barbara; University of Hartford; University of Kansas; University of Miami (Florida); University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; University of South Carolina, Columbia; West Coast Conference; and Western Athletic Conference.

 “We have seen the grant program achieve outstanding results and we are excited to be able to offer these resources for a third year and work with our member institutions and conferences in their efforts to enhance awareness and support for their women’s basketball programs,” said NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Vice President Sue Donohoe. “The grant program has proven that when resources are allocated and efforts are focused to promote women’s basketball, it can provide a meaningful return on the investment.”

2008-09 grant recipient success stories included Texas Tech University which doubled its student attendance for women’s basketball home games; Florida State University increased season ticket sales by 63 percent, with a 55 percent increase in overall attendance for women’s basketball; East Tennessee State University increased its average attendance by 231 percent; and several grant recipients set record single game attendance marks.

This marketing initiative concept was generated from the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Discussion Group, chaired by NCAA President Myles Brand.  The group consisted of head coaches, media representatives, former student-athletes, and conference, institutional and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association administrators.  This initiative has been strongly supported by the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee and the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Issues Committee. Additional questions in regard to the grant program should be directed to Deneé Barracato (dbarracato@ncaa.org; 317/917-6643), associate director of the Division I Women’s Basketball Championship.