SEA supports youth development organizations that use squash as a means or ‘hook’ to improve the lives of children in low income communities. While squash must be a core element of a SEA International Affiliate, it cannot be the singular focus of the organization. SEA does not partner with organizations that are exclusively focused on teaching squash. International Affiliates must provide services aimed at enabling young people to break the cycle of poverty or limit the challenges that poverty places on them. Such services and support will not necessarily be the same in each country or city and should be tailored to the particular needs of a given community. SEA’s strong bias is towards intensive, long-term education-oriented support but other types of services may qualify, such as health and wellness workshops, life skills workshops, travel, and mentoring. In short, International Affiliates should be focused not on growing the game of squash but on helping students from poor communities lift themselves out of poverty and lead healthy and productive lives.

Benefits

• SEA will devote time and resources to help International Affiliates improve as organizations.
• Upon admission to SEA, International Members will receive a one-time $2,500 (USD) grant and become eligible for student and staff exchanges with other SEA member organizations.
• Once a year, SEA will underwrite the cost of one staff member from an International Affiliate to fly to the United States to visit with U.S. member programs, engage with U.S.-based supporters, and possibly hold a formal fundraising event. The purpose of these trips is to broaden the International Affiliate’s network of supporters, connect them more deeply to the SEA network in the U.S., and to raise funds for the International Affiliate.
• SEA will help publicize our International Affiliates in the U.S. by including their logos on our website and promotional materials, and, on a limited basis, connecting affiliates to potential supporters when applicable.
• International Affiliates are invited to send staff and students to participate in U.S. events, including, but not limited to, our annual Leadership Assembly and national tournaments.

Requirements

Non-profit – Be registered by its government as an independent nonprofit organization or a sub-organization under a larger nonprofit organization. Be legally permitted to receive donations from sources in the United States

Mission – Have a mission statement focused on enabling children from underserved or impoverished communities to lift themselves out of poverty or limit the challenges that poverty places on them

Community – Be located in a community with enough underutilized squash courts or potential facilities, and enough fundraising potential, that the organization can grow financially and someday serve at least 50-100 students with a full-time staff of three or more people

Squash – Provide each student participant with 50+ hours of squash instruction and/or competition annually

Non-Squash Programming – Regularly provide each participant with services and support unrelated to squash, such as academic instruction, health and wellness workshops, life skills workshops, mentoring, and/or travel

Enrollment – Enroll at least 30 children in full-fledged, year-round programming

Long-Term Program – Provide all participants with year-round support from the time that they join in elementary or middle school through college graduation, or the age of 24

Sessions – Run required programming at least 5 days a week throughout the school year, with individual students participating at least 1 day a week and preferably 2-4 days a week

Attendance and Retention – Record attendance daily and track student attrition

Child Protection and Safety – Have a child safety and protection policy that is reviewed annually with staff and that includes appropriate training and screening of volunteers

Staff – Employ at least one full-time staff member

Board of Directors – Have an engaged Board of Directors, or similar governing body, that has defined responsibilities and actively supports the organization

Funding – Have a fundraising plan with defined streams of funding

Balance Sheet – Have at least one-third of the year’s operating budget in the bank at the time of the application

Budgets – Possess last year’s and this year’s operating budgets and track revenues and expenses

Insurance – Own appropriate insurance policies

Transportation – Possess a sound transportation plan

Partnerships – Demonstrate strong partnerships with families, school(s), volunteers, and facility partners

Vision for Growth – Have an articulated vision for program and organizational growth for the next five years