The World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) is happy to report on the reach of its Development Grant Support Program. The Program, first launched in 2014, supports National Federations and their communities with micro-grants of US$1,500 or less in developing Flying Disc sports to positively impact participants at the grassroots level.
In 2024, a total of US$6,250 was disbursed across five projects in developing countries, with an additional project approved but funding deferred to 2025. The Development Grant Support Program is made possible through collaboration with and funding from the International Olympic Committee, and complements the centrally directed development work that WFDF does.
The projects supported in the past year include:
- “Disc for Change: Train the Trainers Workshop” – Egypt: In partnership with the IOC Young Leaders Program, WFDF supported the first-ever “Disc for Change” workshop in Cairo, Egypt. In May 2025, this workshop trained over 20 young leaders in Flying Disc sport for development, child protection, safeguarding, and mental health awareness. The leaders then led a program focused on using Flying Disc sports to help refugee children from Syria and Sudan, reaching over 50 refugee children. The organizer Alhahum was recently recognized by Allianz, winning a Power of Unity Award, recognizing the individual and grassroots clubs using sport to bring people together and create positive social change.
- “Escuela de Ultimate Junior” – Argentina: The “Escuela de Ultimate Junior” is an after-school program in Buenos Aires that uses Ultimate to promote physical activity, teamwork, communication, and fair play. In 2024–2025, the program expanded to a second public school, engaging approximately 60 children weekly. It also held numerous outreach clinics that reached around 200 new children. An interschool tournament brought together nearly 500 children from 13 schools. This program has a strong partnership with the National Federation and has developed a replicable curriculum for other cities across Argentina.
- “Working Towards Racial Equity in South African Ultimate” – South Africa: The South African Flying Disc Association implemented three projects aiming to achieve racial and socioeconomic equity, including a collaboration with NGOs –, Jula iSitya and RESTORE – to teach Ultimate to inmates and staff at a maximum security prison. The project improved the physical and mental health as well as communication skills of participants. Participants enjoyed the sport so much that an internal league was run, and several of the participants set to be released this year aim to join their local Ultimate communities as a way to be active and stay away from crime. “Rising Stars” Clinics were run in the rural province of KwaZulu-Natal, introducing Ultimate to over 40 children from underserved communities and developing the coaching capacity of youth in these communities. Lastly, support for high school athletes from Soweto, a township in the city of Johannesburg, was provided so they could participate in a provincial tournament, impacting nearly 50 athletes and helping increase the diversity and inclusion of the tournament.
- “Introducing Ultimate in University” – Uganda: The Uganda Flying Disc Association led a project promoting Ultimate across 18 universities in the country through delivering introductory clinics, donating discs and meeting with university leaders in pursuit of the sport being included in Uganda’s University Games as a pathway for students. Teams were established at a number of the universities, and weekly training began as the sport reached new athletes.
- “Expanding Flying Disc Sports’ Reach Nationally” – Mongolia: The Mongolian Flying Disc Federation, a WFDF Member since only 2023, focused on further strengthening the awareness and structure of Flying Disc sports in the country through organizing a weekly Disc Golf league in the capital city Ulaanbaatar and through public demonstrations and ongoing Ultimate “hat games,” in total reaching almost 500 participants through the initiatives.
WFDF President Robert “Nob” Rauch commented “The Development Grant Support Program is one of the most tangible ways WFDF can assist our members in using Flying Disc sports to make a real difference in their communities. These initiatives show how our sport can create opportunities beyond the playing field. With the continued support of the IOC, we are committed to expanding this microgrant program so that Flying Disc can serve as a tool for inclusion, education, and social development in every region where it is played.”
“WFDF’s support and guidance were crucial in expanding the sport’s reach in our country and the different universities,” said Brian Kaswa, President of the Uganda Flying Disc Association. “It has laid a strong foundation for us to build upon and get more students competing in Ultimate, staying active and developing not only their athleticism but also leadership and communication skills.”
WFDF’s Development Support Program has supported nearly fifty projects around the world with different purposes, including increasing gender equity, diversity and inclusion in the sport, implementing the sport in schools, increasing the knowledge and capacity of coaches, among others.
About WFDF: The World Flying Disc Federation (“WFDF”) is the international sports federation responsible for world governance of flying disc (frisbee) sports, including Ultimate, Beach Ultimate, Disc Golf, Freestyle, Guts, and Individual Events. Formed in 1985, WFDF is a federation of 122 member associations, which represent flying disc sports and their athletes in more than 118 countries. WFDF is an International Federation recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and the International University Sports Federation (FISU), a member of the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF), the International World Games Association (IWGA), the International Masters Games Association (IMGA), and the Association for the International Sport for All (TAFISA). WFDF is a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code and is a registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation in the state of Colorado, USA.
For more information contact:
Yenny Pardo
WFDF Communications & Social Media Manager
World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF)
email: [email protected]