For decades, ultimate has been powered by a simple formula: passion plus personal sacrifice. The same dedicated players who leave it all on the field are often the same ones coaching youth teams, volunteering to run local leagues, and contributing what they can to keep the sport alive.
But passion has its limits, and a growing sport needs growing resources. We can’t keep asking the same people to give more. That is the potential of philanthropy, it makes possible a future for the sport where those with means provide support that lifts the entire community and sport.
Now, we have an opportunity to take it one step further. Corporate giving isn’t a new idea, but leveraging it to fuel the growth of ultimate frisbee at a national scale is. It’s a way to channel significant, external resources directly into our community, empowering our sport to grow and reach its full potential.
This summer, we saw an example of this potential realized.
It started with one player in our community who saw an opportunity at their job. Their company was updating and cycling out technology devices. These devices, although a few years old, were still good to use. This player asked a simple question: “What if that technology could serve our sport?”
That question led to a transformative donation to The Ultimate Foundation:
200 iPad Pros and 160 Apple Pencils.
From Corporate Offices to Grassroots Fields
The Ultimate Foundation is uniquely positioned to take in donations and distribute the impact at scale across the country to local communities. These tablets were immediately turned into “Technology Grants” and offered to the boots-on-the-ground infrastructure of our sport: the local USA Ultimate Affiliate Organizations who are building ultimate in communities across the country every day.
The response was overwhelming, and their plans highlight the impact that supporting local ultimate can have.
Prioritizing Youth Safety, Elevating Coaching, and Fueling Growth
For years, coaches have managed teams with binders of paper and their own personal cell phones. This technology changes that, starting with the most important thing: player safety.
Imagine a medical situation at a windy tournament. Instead of fumbling through a binder for a paper medical release form, a coach can now instantly access a player’s emergency contacts and medical authorizations on a tablet. This is a big step forward for safety and peace of mind at the youth level.
Beyond safety, this technology is fueling development. Affiliates are using the tablets for:
- Elevating Coaching: Diagramming plays, providing instant video feedback, and using analytics apps.
- Supporting Volunteers: Helping with on-site registration and check-ins, league drafts, and score reporting.
- Professionalizing Growth: Creating dynamic presentations to pitch ultimate to new schools and running seamless digital registration at events.
- Supporting Girls Ultimate: One Affiliate will be using their tablets to specifically support and grow their Gx program, ensuring their players have access to the best coaching tools.
This is what it looks like when ultimate “goes corporate” in the best possible way. It’s not about changing who we are; it’s about finding new ways to fund what we do. This story is proof that the professional worlds we inhabit can directly power our shared passion for the sport.
It all starts with someone willing to ask, “What if my company could help?”
