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The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) announced the recipients of the Spring 2023 Agility Grants. In total, $193,000 will be awarded to five organizations to support their problem gambling prevention initiatives, according to an NCPG press release.
Agility Grants is an NCPG initiative that offers funding to nonprofits to promote responsible gambling. The grants’ mission is twofold: They aim to bridge gaps in areas currently without such services while bolstering promising existing programs’ efforts.
Over three years, the Agility Grants program will award over $1 million to support the nationwide establishment and expansion of problem gambling preventive efforts. It is made possible by a multi-year, multimillion-dollar pledge from the National Football League (NFL) Foundation as part of the League’s public awareness program for responsible sports betting. Additional support for Agility Grants comes from FanDuel.
Keith Whyte, NCPG executive director, said in the press release:
“Prevention is the most cost-effective, common-sense way to mitigate gambling-related harm. The prevention programs supported by this round of Agility Grants demonstrate innovative models designed to reach priority populations and elevate new voices within the problem gambling prevention community. We proudly support these initiatives and hope they will serve as models for future prevention efforts.”
The goal is responsible gambling. About 1% of adults in the US – roughly 2 million Americans – have a severe gambling problem, according to the NCPG. Clare Graff, NFL vice president of social responsibility, also said in the release:
“We’re proud to support the innovative work the NCPG is doing through their Agility Grant program to address problem gambling in a multitude of ways. The funding for these Agility Grants through the NFL Foundation will provide critical resources to nonprofit organizations across the country who are on the front lines of problem gambling prevention.”
Recipients of the Spring 2023 Agility Grants
This year’s spring program received a record-breaking number of applications. The NCPG chose award recipients based on prevention innovation, collaborative partnership, community impact, and potential impact of their proposals.
The Spring 2023 Agility Grant awards will support two types of programs: prevention innovation and prevention amplification.
Three prevention innovation programs received funding:
- Hispanic Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Outreach Program (UMADAOP) in Ohio seeks to raise awareness about problem gambling among middle and high school students.
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness – Maryland Chapter (NAMI-MD) will partner with three Maryland nonprofits to develop and put on a virtual presentation on mental health and problem gambling for athletes.
- The Nevada Council on Problem Gambling will initiate a Student-Athlete Gambling Awareness (SAGA) program in various high schools with high-risk populations around the Las Vegas area during the 2023-2024 academic year.
Two prevention amplification programs received funding:
- Nicasa Behavioral Health Services will receive its second Agility Grant to support the continuation of a Teen Problem Gambling Group.
- Student Assistance Services (SAS) in Tarrytown, New York, will adopt a messaging campaign aimed at at-risk youth in the Westchester County community.
There are two funding rounds of Agility Grants every year. The Fall 2023 round will accept applications between July 11 and Aug. 22, and the NCPG will announce recipients in early October.
