Best Grants and Funding for College E-Sports Teams

The Growing Need for Esports Funding in Colleges

We’ll discuss the major types of grants for college esports teams. After all, money is crucial for their daily operations and during competitions. We’ll also talk about effective strategies for applying for and maximizing grants.

The topic is relevant because of the rising popularity of collegiate e-sports programs. E-sports have come a long way, too, from the Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics. Held in 1972 at Stanford University, it’s the first known gaming competition.

During the 1980s to the 1990s, gaming competitions were informal. By the 2000s, multiplayer gamers, platforms, and forums laid the foundation for e-sports. In 2010, collegiate e-sports started gaining official recognition and traction.

By 2016, NACE was founded. In the following year, the Tespa Collegiate Series was launched. When the COVID-10 pandemic hit, the growth of e-sports accelerated.

Today, NACE reports more than 175 member-colleges on its roster. PlayVS and the Collegiate Starleague also organize competitions across the country.

Colleges are also integrating e-sports into their academic programs. Shenandoah University, for example, offers a bachelor’s degree in e-sports.

But money is an issue for e-sports clubs, from launching to sustaining their operations. NACE says that it costs an average of $14,000 to launch an e-sports team.

Then, there are the financial challenges that current e-sports teams face, including:

• Lack of institutional support and funding. Not all colleges recognize e-sports as a varsity sport yet.
• Insufficient funds for computer equipment, Internet infrastructure, and other operations costs. Travel costs, player and staff salaries, and tournament fees add up.

There can be a significant gap between available funds and operations costs. It highlights the critical need for e-sports grants to bridge the gap.

When enough college esports funding is available, teams can train and compete well. Their e-sports clubs can also sustain their daily operations and achieve long-term growth.

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• Top 10 Colleges with the Varsity Esports Teams
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• Top Online Colleges with Affordable Student Organizations for a Connected College Experience

What Types of Grants Are Available for Esports Teams?

Like student aid, financial support for esports programs reduces the cost of attendance. E-sports funding, particularly grants, can cover a wide range of costs, including:

Gaming equipment

Each player usually has their own gaming station, costing between $2,000 and $3,000 each. The typical gaming station usually includes a high-performance computer and its peripherals. Add in the furniture, such as a gaming table and chair, and it adds up.

Infrastructure and facilities

The best e-sports team has its dedicated space, too, used for training and competitions. This can be constructing new facilities or repurposing existing facilities. Adding the maintenance costs and available funding is a must.

Player salaries and/or scholarships

Colleges can offer salaries and/or scholarships to attract and keep the best talents. The amounts vary, but the usual amounts range from $1,000 to $5,000 per month.

Salaries for the coaching and support staff

The costs vary, too. But these are usually higher than those for the players’ salaries and scholarships.

Participation fees and travel costs

Being in intercollegiate competitions means traveling across the region, even the country. Travel expenses include gas, tickets, accommodations, and food. Tournament fees also add up.

Marketing and other operations costs

Social media campaigns, marketing materials, and utilities, among others, must be funded, too.

Fortunately, grants and other financial aid enable e-sports teams to meet these costs. The common financial aid opportunities include:

• Institutional grants
• Government grants
• Private grants, including corporate sponsorships
• Industry-specific grants
• E-sports scholarships

The key is finding diverse sources for your e-sports team’s funds. You must explore all your options since every penny counts. 

Top Grants for College Esports Teams

Let’s take a closer look at these five top funding sources for college e-sports teams:

Institutional Grants

These are financial aid opportunities that colleges award for operational purposes. Costs covered can include travel expenses, maintenance costs, and gaming gear. The funds come from many sources, including:

• Student activity fees
• Alumni contributions
• College’s annual budget

Examples of colleges that offer institutional grants to their e-sports teams are:

• Ohio State University
• University of North Texas
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

The institutional grants may be in the form of cash or in-kind (e.g., free gaming gear).

Corporate Grants

Corporate sponsorships for esports programs are the largest funding sources. The corporate sponsors see value in their close association with collegiate e-sports. Their sponsorship builds brand recall and recognition among the tech-savvy audience.

Many corporate sponsors are major gaming firms and technology companies. Mainstream brands that want to reach the youth market are also in on the action. Major corporate sponsors include:

• Logitech
• Dell/Alienware
• Razer
• Intel
• Red Bull
• MSI

Their funds can cover a wide range of costs, including:

• State-of-the-art gaming computer setups
• Specialized training for coaches and players
• Event and league sponsorships
• Travel expenses for regional and national tournaments
• Team uniforms, merchandise, and marketing materials

In a way, getting major corporate sponsorships is like hitting the jackpot.

Nonprofit Grants

Nonprofit grants for esports teams also provide significant support for their operations. The costs that these grants cover depend on their agreement, but the common ones are:

• Entry fees
• Facility maintenance and upgrades
• Staff training and development
• Team and player scholarships
• Community outreach initiatives

The Esports Foundation, NACE, and ESIC are the most popular sources.

Government Grants

Government funding for esports teams is more challenging to find but is available. State governments are recognizing the benefits of e-sports in education, too. If you look hard enough, you’ll find these grants like:

• National Science Foundation Grants
• State grants (e.g., Pennsylvania, Georgia, and California)
• U.S. Department of Education grants

These grants cover costs including:

• E-sports curriculum development
• Facilities construction and upgrade
• Training in coding and game design
• Players’ career development

Coordinate with your college’s student affairs office to find these grants.

Industry-specific Grants

These are grants offered by companies and organizations in the gaming industry. The main goal for these sponsors is to support the growth of e-sports at all levels.

Like corporate sponsorships, industry-specific grants are also a significant funding source. The most popular industry sponsors are:

• Riot Games
• North America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF)
• Microsoft Education Esports Grants
• Twitch
• HyperX

Their funds cover equipment expenses, facilities costs, player scholarships, and program development.

E-sports Scholarships

These are financial aid opportunities offered to individual players or a team. Universities, private groups, corporations, and e-sports organizations are the usual sponsors. These aim to support the players’ college education while participating in collegiate competitions.

How to Apply for Esports Grants

Now, you know how to fund a college esports team through grants from diverse sources. Your next step is to know how to apply for e-sports grants and be successful at it.

Here’s our basic step-by-step guide:

1. Conduct extensive research into the available e-sports grants. Check their eligibility requirements, application process, and deadlines.
2. Determine the best grants for your e-sports team. Consider crucial factors like your team’s size, games played, and goals. Align these aspects with the grant program goals. For example, Riot Games provides grants to LoL teams only.
3. Prepare a unique grant proposal for every grant you’re applying to. Your grant proposal must have a team overview, goals and objectives, impact statement, and budget breakdown. Align your grant proposal with the grant provider’s goals, too.
4. Gather your grant proposal supporting materials. These include letters of support, team roster, coach information, and team achievement records.
5. Proofread your application and its supporting documents before submission. Then, submit your application before the deadline, if possible. Follow up on your application, too.

Ask for your team advisor’s help during the entire application process, too. You’ll find that their experience and connections are valuable to your team’s success.

Remember these tips when presenting your e-sports goals and achievements, too. These will boost your chances of getting approved for the grants you’re applying for.

• Highlight your team’s strengths, including what sets you apart from your competitors. Think of your academic achievements, personal growth, and community engagement. These are notable because balancing e-sports with other activities is a challenge.
• Showcase the diversity and inclusivity of your team. Highlight your team’s growth as a result. This is of particular importance in nonprofit grants.
• Use measurable outcomes (e.g., metrics) to prove your individual and team success. List your tournament placements and rankings. Highlight your players’ and team’s improvement in skills and rankings. Include data about your growth in online presence.

Most importantly, choose goals, strengths, and achievements that align with the grant provider’s goals.

Corporate Sponsorships: Another Way to Fund Your Team

Did you know that the projected esports team sponsorships in 2025 is $1.05 billion? College e-sports teams must then grab their share of the billion-dollar pie. The best way to do so is to explore partnerships with brands that support e-sports.

Doing so isn’t only about the money although it’s the foremost reason. The financial support can cover the team’s operational expenses, among other costs. Furthermore, corporate sponsorships enable effective access to state-of-the-art gaming equipment, professional networks, and marketing opportunities.

But corporate sponsorships are also competitive. You must have a persuasive pitch to attract potential sponsors and snag grants. Keep these pitching tips in mind to boost your chances.

• Understand the what, who, why, when, and how of the corporate grant program. What does it seek to achieve (i.e., goals)? Who is its intended audience? Why is it offering grants to specific populations? When are its deadlines? How can applicants qualify?
• Highlight the value your team can bring to the table. Put it in your grant proposal (e.g., team achievements, online presence, and community engagement).
• State your needs clearly. Highlight the specific items and budget.
• Highlight the long-term benefits of your corporate partnership. While a one-time collaboration has its merits, a long-term partnership is best.
• Maintain professionalism at all times.

Best of all, build a positive relationship, not just a one-time collaboration.

Esports Scholarships for Individual Players

Scholarships for esports players supplement team funding by:

• Reducing the financial barriers preventing players from training and performing at their best. The less financial stress players experience, the better they can focus on gaming.
• Boosting team recruitment and retention. Teams that offer scholarships for players can attract and keep the best players. Long-term player relationships build camaraderie and collaboration that, in turn, boost their competitiveness.
• Increasing cost efficiency in operations. Since players already have scholarships, the funds are available for other operational expenses. There’s more money for gaming equipment and travel expenses, for example.

Many more corporations and organizations offer player scholarships. But look to your college first for e-sports scholarships.

Colleges and universities that offer e-sports scholarships include: 

• University of California Irvine
• Maryville University
• University of Utah
• Boise State University
• Illinois Wesleyan University

Corporations and nonprofit organizations that offer e-sports player scholarships include:

• Corsair
• SteelSeries
• NVIDIA
• Asus ROG
• HP Omen
• Samsung
• Dell
• Acer Predator
• AMD
• ASTRO Gaming

Many of these corporations also award team-centric grants, as mentioned above.

Tips for Maximizing Funding Opportunities

These funding opportunities for college gaming teams will be in vain if you don’t maximize them. Here’s how to maximize the grants that come your team’s way.

• Combine as many financial aid opportunities as possible. The more diverse your funding sources, the greater your team’s financial flexibility.
• Adopt effective strategies to stand out from competing grant applicants. Start with a persuasive grant proposal.
• Build positive relationships with grant providers and sponsors. Even a short-term collaboration can become a long-term partnership.
• Use the money as intended. Otherwise, you’re not only violating grant terms and conditions but also possibly wasting it.

Conclusion: Building a Sustainable Esports Program

Indeed, we cannot overemphasize the importance of diverse funding sources. Your team will enjoy more money coming in and more financial flexibility. Every member can get their share of the pie. With less financial stress on your mind, being a more competitive player is in the works.

So, explore your e-sports grant opportunities ASAP. Be sure to use our resources to expand your opportunities and boost your success, too.