Grants and Scholarships

Funding provided, in part, by GNC®, Power Systems®, Inc, Velocity Sports Performance®, and NSCA members through use of their MBNA credit card.

The National Strength and Conditioning Association financially support higher education of students pursuing a career in the strength and conditioning field, and facilitates and disseminates strength and conditioning research. The NSCA supports the following:

Grants

  1. GNC® Nutritional Research
  2. Graduate Research - Master's and Doctoral
  3. Young Investigator

Scholarships

  1. High School
  2. Minority
  3. Power Systems® Professional
  4. SSG Christopher Falkel
  5. Velocity Sports Performance® Challenge
  6. Women's

Scholarship Applicant Criteria*

Items that each NSCA Review Panel considers in each application packet:

  • Grades/GPA
  • Courses Completed
  • Overall Academic Achievement
  • Strength and Conditioning Experience
  • NSCA Involvement
  • Honors and Awards
  • Community Involvement
  • Essay that is based on clarity, expression, goals, lucidity, grammar, and articulateness
  • Recommendations

*NSCA Review Panel(s) may use some or all of the above in processing applications. More specific/additional requirements can be found under each category description.

General Eligibility Requirements

All grant and scholarship applicants must be NSCA members for at least one year 1,2 prior to the application deadline date, and must be pursuing careers in strength and conditioning. Members are not eligible to win more than one scholarship or grant in any given year. However, they may apply for grants and scholarships annually. NSCA employees and their families are ineligible to receive financial awards.

1High School Scholarship applicants may sign up for membership at time of application.

2The grant applicant must be a NSCA member for at least one year to be eligible.

Deadlines

All grant and scholarship applications must be postmarked by March 15. Incomplete application packets will not be accepted. Please provide one application per award.

Dates to Remember

March 15 - Applications packets due
July - Winners announced
September - Funds disbursed to the college or university

To Apply

Include the following information with all application packets:

Click here to download application

  • NSCA member ID#
  • Name
  • Mailing address
  • Telephone number
  • Fax number
  • Email address
  • College/high school currently attending
  • Degree pursuing
  • Current year status
  • GPA
  • Anticipated date of graduation
  • Applicant signature
  • Guardian signature and date (for High School Scholarship applicants only)
  • Grant co-investigator name (for grant applicants only)
  • Grant co-investigator signature and date
  • Indicate which program you are applying for (one per application): GNC® Nutritional Research Grant; Graduate Research Grant - Master or Doctoral; Young Investigator Grant; Velocity Sports Performance® Challenge Scholarship; High School Scholarship; Minority Scholarship; Power Systems® Professional Scholarship; or Women's Scholarship
  • Any additional information required for the specific program as outlined in the individual description

Send Completed Packets to:

National Strength and Conditioning Association
Attn: Grants and Scholarships Program
1885 Bob Johnson Dr.
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
Fax: +1 719-632-6367

GNC® Nutritional Research Grant

GNC® sponsors this nutrition-based research grant in the amount of $2,500 (overhead costs are NOT SUPPORTED). The purpose of the project must fall within the mission of the NSCA. One grant will be awarded. The NSCA requires two (2) copies of each applicant proposal: one regular copy and one blinded copy for the Grant Review Ad-hoc Committee to consider for funding.

Application packet must include (and be assembled in this order):

  1. Cover letter of application
  2. Completed application information (see list above)
  3. Official school transcript from each school attended or attending (not required if applicant is a full-time faculty member)
  4. Abstract
  5. Proposal (limit 10 single-spaced pages) to include:
    1. Rationale (limit 2 single-spaced pages)
    2. Study purpose (limit 1 single-spaces page)
    3. Methods (limit 7 single-spaces pages)
  6. References
  7. Itemized budget
  8. Proposed time schedule
  9. "Human Subject Consent Form" and proof of institutional review board approval (not necessary at time of application but must be provided before any grant monies will be disbursed to awardees)
  10. Abbreviated vitae of the faculty co-investigator (required only if a student member is applying)

Graduate Research Grant - Master's or Doctoral

This grant program funds graduate research in strength and conditioning that is consistent with the mission of the NSCA. Graduate Research Grants are awarded at the Master's and Doctoral level and require that a graduate faculty member serve as co-investigator. NSCA requires two (2) copies of each student proposal: one regular copy with author's names and affiliations and one blinded copy for the Grant Review Ad-Hoc Committee to consider for funding. Please indicate clearly which graduate research grant is being applied for (Master's or Doctoral).

Master's Student Research Grant proposals are not to exceed $2,500 (overhead costs are NOT SUPPORTED). Eligible candidates must be actively pursuing their Master's degree at the time of application.

Doctoral Student Research Grant proposals are not to exceed $5,000 (overhead costs are NOT SUPPORTED). Eligible candidates must be actively pursuing their Doctoral degree at the time of application, which may include ABD status.

Application packet must include (and be assembled in this order):

  1. Cover letter of application
  2. Completed application information (see list above)
  3. Official school transcript from each school attended or attending
  4. Abstract
  5. Proposal (limit 10 single-spaced pages) to include:
    1. Rationale (limit 2 single-spaced pages)
    2. Study purpose (limit 1 single-spaces page)
    3. Methods (limit 7 single-spaces pages)
  6. References
  7. Itemized budget
  8. Proposed time schedule
  9. "Human Subject Consent Form" and proof of institutional review board approval (not necessary at time of application but must be provided before any grant monies will be disbursed to awardees)
  10. Abbreviated vitae of the faculty co-investigator

Young Investigator Grant

This grant program funds full-time faculty members in tenure track positions who are within seven (7) years from conferral of their Doctorate degree. The maximum award is $10,000 (overhead costs are NOT SUPPORTED) and the purpose of the research project must be consistent with the mission of the NSCA. Eligible applicants are required to submit one regular copy with the author's name and affiliation and one blinded copy for the Grant Review Ad-hoc Committee to consider for funding.

Application packet must include (and be assembled in this order):

  1. Cover letter of application
  2. Completed application information (see list above)
  3. Abstract
  4. Proposal (limit 10 single-spaced pages) to include:
    1. Rationale (limit 2 single-spaced pages)
    2. Study purpose (limit 1 single-spaces page)
    3. Methods (limit 7 single-spaces pages)
  5. References
  6. Itemized budget
  7. Proposed time schedule
  8. "Human Subject Consent Form" and proof of institutional review board approval (not necessary at time of application but must be provided before any grant monies will be disbursed to awardees)
  9. Abbreviated vitae of applicant

High School Scholarship

This program provides funding to high school seniors preparing to enter college. Students must demonstrate they have been accepted into an accredited institution, their intention to graduate with a degree in the strength and condition field, their goals beyond college and their track record of community service. Two $1,000 awards are available.

Specific Requirements

  1. Must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher based on a 4.0 system
  2. Must be a current senior in high school
  3. Will be attending college in the fall following high school graduation
  4. Will major in a strength and conditioning related field

Application packets must include (and be assembled in this order):

  1. Cover letter of application
  2. Completed application information (see list above)
  3. Official school transcript from current school
  4. Two (2) letters of recommendation
  5. Essay of 500 words or less including information about the student's life ambitions, future in the strength and conditioning arena, and financial need
  6. Copy of the letter of acceptance from the college attending
  7. Information regarding the student's sanctioned extracurricular activities and community involvement
  8. If under 18 years of age, the application must be signed by parent or legal guardian

Minority Scholarship

This scholarship is designed to encourage minorities, ages 17 and older, to enter into the field of strength and conditioning. Minority is defined as "ethnic minority," as determined by the Bureau of Census. The applicant must be one of four ethnic qualifications: Black, Hispanic, Asian American, or Native American. Applicant must demonstrate they have been accepted into an accredited institution working toward a graduate degree in the strength and conditioning field. Two awards for $1,000 each will be available.

Application packets must include (and be assembled in this order)

  1. Cover letter of application
  2. Completed application form
  3. Current resume
  4. Official school transcript from each school attended or attending
  5. Three (3) letters of recommendation
  6. Essay of 500 words or less describing course of study, career goals, and financial need

Power Systems® Professional Scholarship

The Power Systems® Professional Scholarship program assists members in their pursuit of a career as a strength and conditioning coach. One $1,000 award will be granted toward student tuition fees.

Specific Requirements

  1. Must be an undergraduate or graduate student in good standing
  2. Must be working under a strength and conditioning coach in the school's athletic department (student assistant, volunteer, or graduate student)

Application packets must include (and be assembled in this order):

  1. Cover letter of application
  2. Completed application information (see list above)
  3. Current resume
  4. Application is to be submitted by the head strength and conditioning coach from the applicant's school (one candidate per school).
  5. Official school transcript from each school attended or attending
  6. Essay of 500 words or less describing career goals and objectives
  7. Letter from the head strength coach at the applicant's school

SSG Christopher Falkel Scholarship

The purpose for this scholarship is to support NSCA members in the military who are seeking to further their education in the strength and conditioning field. One award in the amount of $1,000 is granted to be applied toward tuition charges accrued by the student.

Application packet must include (and be assembled in this order):

  1. Cover letter of application
  2. Completed application information (see list above)
  3. Current resume
  4. Official school transcript form each school attended or attending
  5. Three (3) letters of recommendation (Letters of recommendation would also include a 500-word essay on why the candidate should be considered for the scholarship)
  6. Essay of 250-500 words describing what the applicant has done to enhance the strength, conditioning and/or personal fitness of the members of their service.

Women’s Scholarship

This scholarship is designed to encourage women, ages 17 and older, to enter into the field of strength and conditioning. Applicant must demonstrate they have been accepted into an accredited institution working toward a graduate degree in the strength and conditioning field. Two awards for $1,000 each will be available.

Application packets must include (and be assembled in this order)

  1. Cover letter of application
  2. Completed application form
  3. Current resume
  4. Official school transcript from each school attended or attending
  5. Three (3) letters of recommendation
  6. Essay of 500 words or less describing course of study, career goals, and financial need