2025 C.A.R.E. Model Conference Grant Applications Available for Division I Conferences

General News, Releases and Statements

Following the successful launch of the C.A.R.E. Model Conference Grant program in 2024, the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics announced phase two of the program, providing grants from a pool of $100,000 in 2025 to Division I Conferences that implement the C.A.R.E. Model principles related to the distribution and use of “shared athletics revenues.” An additional grant pool of $30,000 will be available to current C.A.R.E. Champions that continue to meet program principles for 2025-26 and provide a plan for ongoing promotion.

The 2025 C.A.R.E. Model Conference Grant Application is open and will be available through June 20, 2025.

The inaugural program, launched in February 2024, presented three conferences – the Big Sky Conference, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, and The Southern Conference – with C.A.R.E. Model Conference grants and recognized all three as inaugural C.A.R.E. Champions. A highlight video of these recognitions and the brand assets provided to each conference can be found here.

The C.A.R.E. Model framework is outlined in the Knight Commission’s 2021 report, Connecting Athletics Revenues with the Educational Model of College Sports (C.A.R.E. Model). This framework was created to bolster accountability and ensure shared athletics revenue is directed toward college athletes’ education, health, safety, well-being, equity, and opportunity.

C.A.R.E. Model Conference Grants can be used to implement the following four C.A.R.E. Model principles and to educate institutions, athletics administrators, and other stakeholders about the impact of embedding these education-based values in the distribution and use of shared athletics revenues:

  1. Transparency
  2. Independent Oversight
  3. Incentives for Core Values of Education, Gender Equity, and Broad-Based Sports Opportunities
  4. Financial Responsibility for Athlete Education, Health, Safety, and Well-Being

Conference Expectations

  • Demonstrate compliance with the C.A.R.E. Model principles. The Knight Commission has created C.A.R.E. Model Implementation Resources as a guide for Division I Conferences to follow. Conference grants can be utilized to achieve compliance, provided that full compliance can be attained within a 12-month timeframe. The C.A.R.E. Champion emblem and PR toolkit will be provided only after the Knight Commission certifies the conference has met all four principles.
  • Educate conference membership and stakeholders on the C.A.R.E. Model commitments: a) conference’s alignment of its financial incentives with the core values of education, gender equity and opportunity and b) accountability of member schools to direct shared athletics revenue toward college athletes’ education, health, safety, well-being, and equity. [Note: The Commission’s report, C.A.R.E. Model resources page, and Frequently Asked Questions can be used as resources.]
  • Utilize the C.A.R.E. Champion emblem and PR toolkit in branding opportunities, including the conference website. Following certification of meeting the C.A.R.E. Model principles, the Knight Commission will provide a digital tool kit for use by the conference office and its member institutions.[Note: In 2024-25, the Knight Commission provided promotional assets to the C.A.R.E. Champion Conferences with examples here.]
  • Provide a statement of impact. 

Application Process

The application deadline for the C.A.R.E. Model Conference Grants is June 20, 2025. Conferences may request a reasonable grant amount of up to $25,000 (minimum grant will be $15,000) that will assist with implementation of the four C.A.R.E. Model principles and educate institutions, athletics administrators, and other stakeholders about the impact of embedding these values in the distribution and use of shared athletics revenues.

Grants will be awarded by July 18, 2025.

Grant applications may be submitted here.

For more information, contact Knight Commission Managing Director for Strategic Initiatives Sandy Hatfield Clubb at CAREModelGrant@knightcommission.org.