The mission of the RRCA, through its Kids Run the Nation program, is to support youth running programs by providing grants and resources. They aim to foster a love for running among children by assisting running clubs, schools, and community nonprofits across the U.S. with funding and educational materials to implement or enhance structured youth running initiatives.
The grant program focuses on promoting youth running as a means to encourage regular physical activity among children. It supports the establishment or continuation of structured running programs that go beyond single-event formats, aspiring for weekly participation across multiple weeks, and may conclude with a running event. The grant encourages the adoption of the RRCA’s Kids Run the Nation curriculum but does not limit funding to programs that use it. It welcomes applications from both start-up and pre-existing programs, emphasizing inclusivity and non-discrimination on any basis. Additionally, the grant underscores the importance of participant safety and adherence to SafeSport Act requirements, including policies for preventing sexual abuse and mandates for criminal background checks on adults involved. Grants vary from $500 to $1,000, aimed at facilitating these inclusive, regular youth running programs across the United States.