NCGA Foundation Overview

The NCGA Foundation provides deserving youth the opportunity to develop life skills and values through golf.

 

In order to serve our mission the NCGA Foundation:

In order to support youth programs and initiatives, the Foundation raises funds in the following ways:

Grants

The NCGA Foundation awards grants on an annual basis to programs in Northern California teaching life skills and values through golf. Grant decisions are made in February with funding made available in April. Over the last 10 years, the Foundation has awarded more than $1 million to approximately 50 youth programs including more than $235,000 in 2008. A full list of this year's grant recipients can be found on the grants page.

Youth on Course

The NCGA Foundation's award-winning Youth on Course program offers children across Northern California the opportunity to play more than 95 area courses for an average of $2. Many courses also offer range balls for $1. In order to participate, youth must be life skills certified through a junior golf program teaching life skills and values (i.e. The First Tee) or through the Foundation's own recently-developed online life skills, rules and etiquette curriculum. For more information please visit www.youthoncourse.org.

Free Clinics

The Foundation has teamed up with Northern California First Tee chapters, Total Golf Adventures and other local youth programs to create a full schedule of free youth golf clinics. The clinics are open to all skill levels but are intended to introduce new kids to golf. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about putting, chipping and the full swing, all while being taught important life skills and core values.

New and Future Initiatives

While continuing to award grants and provide reduced-cost access through Youth on Course, the NCGA Foundation will keep on eye on the future to ensure we reach as many deserving youth as possible. Last year marked the first in which the Foundation awarded college scholarships to high school seniors who consistently embody the values inherent in golf. In the years to come, we will expand the scholarship program to provide more continuing education opportunities for deserving youth.

The NCGA Foundation will also provide deserving youth with introductory job opportunities within the golf industry. The Foundation will work with NCGA member clubs to create jobs on the grounds crew, in the front office, caddying and in the restaurant for teenagers who typically would never dream of working on a golf course. Participating adolescents will learn responsibility while expanding their personal horizons and learning about a career in golf.

Financial Background

Peter Krause of the Hank Haney Golf Academy with NCGA Foundation junior golfer Jordan Eugenio.

Almost all administrative expenses of the Foundation are paid by the NCGA, ensuring nearly 100% of all donated funds are dedicated to our local youth. In the coming years, the Foundation will continue to commit itself to further increasing the endowment. We will also endeavor to ensure that the Morton Fund continues to grow and that Youth on Course enjoys incredible success for years to come.

Founded in 1989, the Northern California Golf Association Foundation, Inc is a non-profit IRS 501(c) (3) charitable organization. The NCGA Foundation operates under its own volunteer Board of Directors separate from the Northern California Golf Association, yet maintains strong links to assure continuity of purpose and performance.

Strict auditing and accounting guidelines have been a staple of the Foundation for years and we will continue to keep a watchful eye to ensure donated funds are truly helping improve the lives of youth at junior programs, schools and other organizations.