Nusea

Grants

NUSEA provides two types of grants to programs: membership and emerging for programs in their development year. Any U.S. city which develops and operates an urban squash and education program for at least four months and which meets NUSEA’s membership criteria may apply first for a $10,000 Provisional Membership Grant. This grant will be given to the city if it submits a written proposal that is reviewed and approved by NUSEA’s Board and then passes a two day program site visit by NUSEA’s Executive Director. After one year of Provisional membership, a city may apply once again to NUSEA for Full membership. If received, a second grant will be given for $5,000. Please see Joining NUSEA for more information. All NUSEA program members will be visited once per year. This visit will constitute a formal review..

NUSEA also provides challenge grants to any emerging urban squash start-up effort. Importantly, these grants are given prior to a program serving students. These grants are intended to spur the creation of the program and support its efforts to establish sound financial, board and program infrastructure needed for the program’s long-term success. Programs wishing to apply for an emerging program grant should be able to demonstrate solid partnerships with a squash/academic facility and a school as well as the beginnings of a fully committed Board of Directors and a solid fundraising base of at least $25,000 and 25 donors. For more information, please see Emerging Program Grant Application (download).

Program Visits

NUSEA visits member programs at least once every year to meet with Executive Directors, Board members and staff. The purpose of these visits is to ensure that membership criteria are being met and to support program improvement. NUSEA customizes feedback to meet the program’s specific need. Topics might include: student recruitment and retention, staff hiring and performance reviews, budgeting and fundraising, board recruitment and management, program evaluation and strategic planning, building a youth center, finding the right school partnerships, securing squash and academic facilities, setting up successful community service projects, and stewardship and donor retention.

Tournament Coordination and Sponsorship

NUSEA runs two major junior squash tournaments sanctioned by U.S. Squash and open only to players from member programs. These events are the National Urban Team Championships held in January and the National Urban Individual Championships held in June. These events are highlights of the year for urban squash as they bring together over 250-300 of our players for fun, friendship, and serious competition. The events showcase the progress our kids have made on the court as players and off the court as people throughout the year. Supplementing both squash tournaments are nation-wide essay, art, and poetry contests in which urban squash scholars get a chance to showcase their literary and artistic talents. Recognition awards are given to all urban squash scholar-athletes who achieve a G.P.A. of 90% or above. The Urban Squash Award and the Urban Squash Future Stars Award are given respectively to the outstanding high school 12th grader and elementarty/middle school student who demonstrate the values of Urban Squash and make an enduring commitment and contribution to their team.

Summer and School Scholarships

NUSEA provides funding to grow the number of summer and educational opportunities available to students. Thus far, support has been given to pay for SSAT preparatory classes, private school tuition gaps, squash camps at Bowdoin and Williams College, international community service sojourns to Mexico and the Carribean, and summer academic programming. The amount of available funding is determined at the outset of each fiscal year by NUSEA’s Board of Directors. Member programs are invited to apply at any time throughout the year (please see applications for NUSEA Summer and School Scholarships).

Discovery Camp

NUSEA provides financial support to member programs wishing to host an exchange camp that unites students from several urban squash programs. Camps include squash, cultural exploration, fitness and nutrition classes, Outward Bound team building exercises, and fun evening activities. The camps offer urban squash students from the nine member programs a chance to get to know one another and to spend an entire week in a new city. Housing and meals are organized by the host program.

Learning Retreats and Best Practices Handbook

NUSEA organizes and hosts learning retreats for staff and board members of NUSEA programs. The purpose of these retreats is to provide support for people working in urban squash and to improve programming. The retreats invite ‘experts’ in several disciplines to share knowledge and Best Practices with staff and board directors. NUSEA also publishes a Best Practices handbook which offers practitioners practical, hands-on guidance in every area of starting and managing an urban squash program.

National Data Reporting

Member programs gain access to NUSEA’s Data Management system which allows the program to track all of its relevant student and organizational information and to analyze its outcomes, both longitudinally and in comparison to other member programs. This benefit saves programs enormous amounts of time by streamlining the data management task and incorporating Best Practices acquired over the past fifteen years.

Bulk Purchasing

Whenever possible, NUSEA looks to secure favorable pricing for all programs by teaming up to purchase services or products in bulk. Insurance, printing, squash equipment and accounting services are examples of costs that might be reduced.

Recruitment and Resource Clearinghouse

NUSEA plays an active role in recruiting great people to work in urban squash programs. Each year, the Executive Director makes presentations at the Men’s and Women’s Intercollegiates as well as visits individual college teams throughout the season. NUSEA also outreaches to Schools of Education, Government and Public Policy to attract great Executive and Program Directors, teachers, and administrators. In an ongoing way, NUSEA seeks national funding opportunities to be shared by all member programs.