The Next Move

About the opportunity

The Next Move is part of the adidas Foundation’s United by Sport program area. It aims to contribute to more inclusive and cohesive communities in Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina by strengthening organizations that use sport to increase safety, trust, belonging, and equitable participation. The fund addresses gender-based violence, discrimination, exclusion, and harmful gender norms as critical barriers to people feeling valued, connected, and able to participate fully in sport and community life. Selected organizations receive a 3-year General Support grant ranging from EUR 150,000 to EUR 250,000, along with opportunities to participate in a Community of Practice for peer learning and capacity building.

Funding and benefits

• Multi-year general support funding divided equally over 3 years in amounts of EUR 150,000, EUR 200,000, or EUR 250,000.
• Indirect cost recovery component calculated at 20% of eligible direct costs to cover general organizational and administrative overhead.
• Participation in a Community of Practice (CoP) providing periodic learning, exchange, and capacity strengthening opportunities.

Who can apply?

• Must be a legally registered non-governmental organization (or equivalent) established for charitable or public benefit purposes.
• Must be registered and operational for at least two years in the country of implementation at the time of full application submission.
• Must be legally permitted to receive foreign charitable funds under applicable local law.
• Must be a sport organization using sport or physical activity as the core vehicle to create social impact.
• Must be a direct implementer close to communities, delivering activities directly without sub-granting.
• Must implement activities directly in Brazil, Colombia, or Argentina (no multi-country applications).
• Must have an annual income proportionate to the requested grant amount: EUR 100,000 to EUR 1.5 million for EUR 150,000 grants; EUR 135,000 to EUR 2 million for EUR 200,000 grants; or EUR 165,000 to EUR 2.5 million for EUR 250,000 grants.
• Must have clear governance oversight, basic financial controls, documented safeguarding policies, codes of conduct, and data protection measures.

Required documents

• Proof of legal registration or incorporation and current legal existence (not older than 12 months).
• Tax status and tax exemption or public benefit certificates (certified translations required for key legal documents).
• Statutory purpose and governing documents.
• Recent financial statements, audits, or annual reports.
• Formal and approved safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Code of Conduct, Ethics Policy, or equivalent rules on expected and prohibited behavior.
• Data protection guidelines, privacy notices, or consent forms.

When to apply

• Call launch: 7 September 2026
• Q&A Webinar: 21 September 2026 at 11:00 AM BRT
• Expression of Interest (EOI) submission deadline: 4 October 2026 at 11:59 PM BRT
• Screening and shortlisting notification: October 2026
• Full application, interview, and submissions: November 2026
• Review and final selection: December 2026
• Vetting and due diligence: December 2026 / January 2027
• Contracting: January / February 2027
• Grant start and first disbursement: Expected in Q1 2027 (March 2027)

How to apply

• Stage 1: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via the online application form, including an eligibility screening, short organizational questions, and required document uploads.
• Stage 2 (Shortlisted organizations only): Complete a self-assessment exercise, submit a proposed plan and indicative budget for the first year, answer additional questions, and participate in an interview.
• Stage 3: Undergo organizational vetting and due diligence review by the adidas Foundation.
• Stage 4: Finalize and sign the three-year grant agreement to initiate onboarding and the first disbursement.

Additional information

• English is the working language at every stage, including applications, supporting documents, interviews, and the partnership itself (unofficial document translations are sufficient at the EOI stage).
• Participating organizations should plan for up to 60 hours per year (approximately 5 hours per month) for staff engagement in Community of Practice activities.
• Routine annual reporting operates at a category level rather than requiring individual line-item receipts or invoices.