Applications Accepted August 1 Through September 30; Foundation Evolves Funding Framework Around Education, Well-Being, and Community
PALM DESERT, CA (July 30, 2026) – The One Valley Foundation, the charitable arm of the Coachella Valley Firebirds and Acrisure Arena, today announced the opening of its 2026 Summer Grant Cycle while unveiling a refined strategic framework that will guide its philanthropic investments across the Coachella Valley.
Beginning August 1, eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, school foundations, and educational organizations serving the Coachella Valley are invited to apply for grant funding through September 30, 2026. Grant recipients will be announced in December 2026.
Since its founding, One Valley Foundation has transformed the generosity generated through sports and entertainment into meaningful local impact, investing more than $1.9 million into organizations and programs that improve the lives of Coachella Valley residents. As the Foundation continues to expand, the updated framework better reflects both the evolving needs of the region and the continued growth of Acrisure Arena as a destination for hockey, basketball, concerts, and community experiences.
“Our mission has always been to turn the generosity generated through sports and entertainment into meaningful local impact,” said Kate Spates, Executive Director of One Valley Foundation. “When One Valley Foundation was created, one of our primary goals was to introduce hockey to a region that had never really been a hockey market. Four years later, we’re proud to say we’ve helped build a thriving hockey culture in the Coachella Valley. That success gave us the opportunity to ask an important question: How do we build on that momentum while responding to the broader needs of our community?
“The result is a refined framework centered on Education, Community, and Well-Being. This isn’t a change in our mission; it’s an evolution of how we organize and communicate our impact. Access to Hockey remains a flagship initiative because it’s part of who we are, but this framework also recognizes the incredible work our nonprofit partners are doing to strengthen education, improve well-being, and support our neighbors throughout the Valley.”
The Foundation’s three strategic funding priorities are:
Education – Supporting programs that expand opportunity through literacy, student engagement, leadership development, adaptive learning, workforce pathways, and arts and music education.
Community – Supporting organizations that strengthen the Coachella Valley through housing stability, essential services, crisis response, inclusion, accessibility, animal welfare, and other programs that improve quality of life for local residents.
Well-Being – Supporting initiatives that strengthen physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being, including Access to Hockey, youth development, mental health, food security, and active living.
Organizations applying for funding should demonstrate measurable community impact and align primarily with one or more of the Foundation’s three strategic priorities. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations whose programs primarily serve residents throughout the Coachella Valley.
Beginning in 2026, One Valley Foundation will offer two competitive grant cycles each year. The first cycle will accept applications from August 1 through September 30, with awards announced in December. A second application cycle will open in January 2027, with grant recipients announced in the spring.
“We’re also excited to introduce two grant application cycles each year,” Spates said. “By opening funding opportunities twice annually, we can respond more quickly to community needs, create more opportunities for organizations to partner with us, and ensure Foundation resources are reaching impactful programs throughout the year rather than all at once.”
Much of One Valley Foundation’s charitable giving is made possible through the generosity of Coachella Valley Firebirds fans. Through 50/50 raffle ticket purchases and autographed memorabilia and jersey auctions, fans have helped generate funding that stays right here in the Coachella Valley. Over the past two seasons, the Foundation’s 50/50 raffle has awarded more than $230,000 in prizes to Firebirds fans while generating a corresponding charitable share that directly supports grants and community investments throughout the Valley. Every game, concert, raffle, and community partnership creates another opportunity to give back, ensuring local dollars continue making a local impact.
Applications open August 1, 2026. For eligibility requirements, application guidelines, and to apply for funding, click HERE.