Thank you for your interest in bringing the IM Program to your Boys & Girls Club members. Our goal is for program participants to be comfortable in and around water, advance their swimming skills, set and attain personal goals, and have good overall health.
Unfortunately, drowning has been a neglected public health issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fatal drowning remains the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death behind motor vehicle crashes for children 1 to 14 years old. Research shows that there are two key barriers to entry that prevent children from learning to swim: fear of the water and lack of parental encouragement.
We are proud to offer the same water safety program that Michael Phelps used to a much larger audience, led by the very same instructor who taught Michael how to swim through the Foundation’s signature program – IM Program.
We look forward to your members learning about water safety as well as positive mental health strategies, nutrition, stress management, and goal setting. Thank you again for joining us on our mission to promote the sport of swimming and healthy active lives for children.
Please read the grant application criteria very carefully; some of the requirements are very specific. Any organization that applies should feel confident in its ability to meet all of the requirements.
THE GRANT - 2025
Full IM Program Grant $4,000
BGCA and the Michael Phelps Foundation are looking to fund organizations to participate in one cycle of the IM program (summer and/or fall). Each cycle is between 8-10 weeks; Clubs are encouraged to continue the program as resources are available.
Funds can be used for supplies/staffing/transportation/pool rental or as needed.
Grant Amount: up to $4,000 per clubhouse (available to clubs in good standing with Boys & Girls Clubs of America).
All new clubs are required to send one staff trainer to a regional training. Hotel and accommodations are covered by MPF and grant funds may be used for additional travel expenses. Returning clubs must have an IM Trainer in good standing in Trainual (email bgc@michaelphelpsfoundation.org with questions).
All new and existing clubs must complete an application each year, and are eligible for the same benefits.
SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT QUALIFIER AND CONDITION OF THIS PROGRAM.
Implementation and Participation Requirements
- Must reach a minimum of 50 participants per grant.
- Program must include a minimum of 8 in-water IM Safe lessons (30 minutes each).
- Program must include a minimum of 16 classroom IM Healthy and IM Successful lessons.
Safety Requirements
Please review the following safety guidelines as it relates to staffing your pool facility for IM:
- There must be a certified lifeguard on duty (one lifeguard for every 25 swimmers).
- Class size will be 6 students or less for each in-pool instructor.
- In addition to the lifeguard, an “on-deck” person must be on duty, whose sole responsibility is to ensure safety of the program and assist with flow of participants, classes and staying on schedule (one on deck for every 25 swimmers).
Training Requirements
Clubs must attend an in-person (in-water) training to be eligible to implement the IM program. Training is held in the spring. Hotel and accommodations are covered by MPF. Flight arrangements are made by the club (you may use a portion of the grant to cover travel costs).
Insurance Requirements
All organizations are required to provide a certificate of insurance that includes $1,000,000 coverage for the pool and lists the Michael Phelps Foundation as additionally insured. Please note, if your club does not have a pool on-site, you must get a separate insurance for the pool. Insurance forms must be uploaded to Survey Monkey prior to starting the program.
IM HEALTHY Grant Option
For those without access to a pool or unable to provide in-water lessons, a $1,000 IM Healthy grant is available. The IM Healthy grant is available for $1,000 per Clubhouse, but you must apply separately for each Clubhouse It is available to Clubs in good standing with Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
IM Healthy Grant Requirements
Each Clubhouse must provide at least 1 staff member to view a Michael Phelps Foundation/Nemours KidsHealth.org virtual training (available to view online).
Provide IM Healthy and IM Successful lessons to a minimum of 50 participants.
Funds can be used for supplies and/or staffing as needed.
Clubs must commit to teaching 16 IM Healthy and IM Successful lessons, 15 - 30 minutes per lesson.
Reporting Requirements
A final report is to be submitted at the end of each year. The report will require each organization to share the program participant demographics, assessment of skill levels, success stories, and budget breakdown showing actual use of the grant.
Deadline for Submission of Applications - February 1.
IM PROGRAM for Boys and Girls Clubs
Thank you for your interest in bringing the IM Program to your Boys & Girls Club members. Our goal is for program participants to be comfortable in and around water, advance their swimming skills, set and attain personal goals, and have good overall health.
Unfortunately, drowning has been a neglected public health issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fatal drowning remains the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death behind motor vehicle crashes for children 1 to 14 years old. Research shows that there are two key barriers to entry that prevent children from learning to swim: fear of the water and lack of parental encouragement.
We are proud to offer the same water safety program that Michael Phelps used to a much larger audience, led by the very same instructor who taught Michael how to swim through the Foundation’s signature program – IM Program.
We look forward to your members learning about water safety as well as positive mental health strategies, nutrition, stress management, and goal setting. Thank you again for joining us on our mission to promote the sport of swimming and healthy active lives for children.
Please read the grant application criteria very carefully; some of the requirements are very specific. Any organization that applies should feel confident in its ability to meet all of the requirements.
THE GRANT - 2025
Full IM Program Grant $4,000
BGCA and the Michael Phelps Foundation are looking to fund organizations to participate in one cycle of the IM program (summer and/or fall). Each cycle is between 8-10 weeks; Clubs are encouraged to continue the program as resources are available.
Funds can be used for supplies/staffing/transportation/pool rental or as needed.
Grant Amount: up to $4,000 per clubhouse (available to clubs in good standing with Boys & Girls Clubs of America).
All new clubs are required to send one staff trainer to a regional training. Hotel and accommodations are covered by MPF and grant funds may be used for additional travel expenses. Returning clubs must have an IM Trainer in good standing in Trainual (email bgc@michaelphelpsfoundation.org with questions).
All new and existing clubs must complete an application each year, and are eligible for the same benefits.
SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT QUALIFIER AND CONDITION OF THIS PROGRAM.
Implementation and Participation Requirements
- Must reach a minimum of 50 participants per grant.
- Program must include a minimum of 8 in-water IM Safe lessons (30 minutes each).
- Program must include a minimum of 16 classroom IM Healthy and IM Successful lessons.
Safety Requirements
Please review the following safety guidelines as it relates to staffing your pool facility for IM:
- There must be a certified lifeguard on duty (one lifeguard for every 25 swimmers).
- Class size will be 6 students or less for each in-pool instructor.
- In addition to the lifeguard, an “on-deck” person must be on duty, whose sole responsibility is to ensure safety of the program and assist with flow of participants, classes and staying on schedule (one on deck for every 25 swimmers).
Training Requirements
Clubs must attend an in-person (in-water) training to be eligible to implement the IM program. Training is held in the spring. Hotel and accommodations are covered by MPF. Flight arrangements are made by the club (you may use a portion of the grant to cover travel costs).
Insurance Requirements
All organizations are required to provide a certificate of insurance that includes $1,000,000 coverage for the pool and lists the Michael Phelps Foundation as additionally insured. Please note, if your club does not have a pool on-site, you must get a separate insurance for the pool. Insurance forms must be uploaded to Survey Monkey prior to starting the program.
IM HEALTHY Grant Option
For those without access to a pool or unable to provide in-water lessons, a $1,000 IM Healthy grant is available. The IM Healthy grant is available for $1,000 per Clubhouse, but you must apply separately for each Clubhouse It is available to Clubs in good standing with Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
IM Healthy Grant Requirements
Each Clubhouse must provide at least 1 staff member to view a Michael Phelps Foundation/Nemours KidsHealth.org virtual training (available to view online).
Provide IM Healthy and IM Successful lessons to a minimum of 50 participants.
Funds can be used for supplies and/or staffing as needed.
Clubs must commit to teaching 16 IM Healthy and IM Successful lessons, 15 - 30 minutes per lesson.
Reporting Requirements
A final report is to be submitted at the end of each year. The report will require each organization to share the program participant demographics, assessment of skill levels, success stories, and budget breakdown showing actual use of the grant.
Deadline for Submission of Applications - February 1.