Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the PRIME Recruitment Grant. Click a question to see the answer.
Eligibility & Timing
Is PRIME open to all sports?
Yes. Every NCAA and NAIA sport qualifies.
Can I apply as a freshman?
Yes. Freshmen can apply. Upperclassmen do get priority in award decisions, since they're closer to the actual recruiting window.
Can I apply if I'm already committed to a school, or already in college or JUCO?
Yes, but the bar is higher. PRIME exists to increase recruitment visibility, so an already-committed or JUCO/college student-athlete needs a stronger case for why they still need funds. The grant can't reimburse costs already paid to secure a commitment or get into a program.
Are homeschooled student-athletes eligible?
Yes.
Can an international or non-U.S.-citizen student-athlete apply?
Reach out to grants@sapski.org directly with your situation.
Is there an income limit?
No fixed cutoff. You self-attest financial need through a short essay question on the application. No tax returns, no income verification.
Is there a cap on awards per family or per team in one cycle?
No cap per family or team. The only limit is per student-athlete: one award per academic year.
How many times can I apply?
Every cycle. A given student-athlete can only be awarded once per academic year.
I wasn't accepted. Can I get feedback on why?
We can't give individualized feedback. Every application gets scored, and awards go to that cycle's top scorers. Available funding and competition vary each cycle, so we encourage you to reapply.
Can a parent or guardian submit the application or handle communication?
No, all application and communications should go through the student-athlete.
What's Covered
Sports equipment, like bats or gloves?
Generally no. We'll consider exceptions case by case. Email grants@sapski.org with details.
Equipment for a team, school, or club, like cameras for game film?
Generally no, but a team with a specific recruitment-related equipment need should email grants@sapski.org with details.
Can the grant cover a family member's travel alongside the student-athlete?
Yes, that's covered.
Private training or lessons?
Yes, with limits. It has to be in-state, and it's capped at 25% of the total grant value.
Is a live-in training academy or program (IMG Academy) an approved expense?
No. PRIME is built to cover recruitment costs for under-resourced student-athletes, not academy tuition or program fees.
Recruiting-service or paid recruiting-coordinator fees, like NCSA or a private consultant?
No. That's different from the recruitment apps and subscriptions category, which is covered.
Payment & Reimbursement
Does SAPSKI pay costs directly, or does the awardee pay first and get reimbursed?
Academic costs like tutoring and test prep are paid directly. Everything else works as reimbursement: the awardee submits an expense report with a receipt after the cost is paid, even if a parent or guardian made the actual payment.
What documentation does the expense report need?
A receipt, plus a short expense report form.
How long does reimbursement take?
We target 10 business days from receiving the expense report, with checks mailed from Tucson, AZ. If you haven't received a check after 3 weeks, please reach back out.
How long does an awardee have to request reimbursements?
Awardees have 6 months from the award date to submit their expense reports. They can submit multiple as expenses occur.
Can I change what I intend to spend award funds on?
If a planned expense changes, funds can be reallocated to a different approved expense within that window. Contact grants@sapski.org for clarification on approved expenses.
After Being Awarded
Is there anything expected of an awardee besides spending the funds correctly?
Yes. We ask awardees to send us a photo we can use on social media and the website.
Still have a question? Reach out to grants@sapski.org.