Living with paralysis from a spinal cord injury doesn’t mean giving up an active life. It does often mean facing a steep price tag for the right equipment. The Active Fund, run by the Kelly Brush Foundation, helps cover that cost. It’s helped over 1,900 people across all 50 states get equipment like handcycles, monoskis, sport chairs, and hockey sleds.
Let’s look at how it may be able to help you.
What Is the Active Fund?
The Active Fund is a grant program from the Kelly Brush Foundation. It’s built specifically for people with paralysis caused by a spinal cord injury who want to get into (or back into) adaptive sports and recreation.
The foundation pays reputable adaptive sports equipment vendors directly. They do not send money to you, and they cannot reimburse you for equipment you’ve already bought. So it’s important to apply and get approved before making a purchase.
How Much Can I Get?
There’s no set minimum or maximum award. The average grant is around $3,500.
If you’re approved but don’t quite fit the full grant, you might instead receive what’s called a “Try It First” grant. That’s a $500 award you can use toward program or rental fees at an adaptive sports program, so you can try out equipment before committing to buying your own.
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify, you need to:
- Have paralysis caused specifically by an acquired spinal cord injury
- Live in the United States
This program is not open to people with other conditions that cause disability, including spina bifida, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, post-polio, Guillain-Barré syndrome, ALS, or other neuropathies. It’s specifically built around spinal cord injury.
What kind of equipment counts? Any sports or recreation equipment specifically designed for people with disabilities. The foundation gives preference to equipment with a fitness benefit, though power equipment can be considered if you can explain why it’s the right fit for your active lifestyle.
What doesn’t count: standard, non-adaptive sports gear (regular bikes, skis, etc.), accessory upgrades like wheelsets, everyday wheelchairs, motorized wheelchair attachments, indoor exercise equipment, and guns or bows themselves (though adaptive equipment to help operate them may be considered).
How Do I Apply?
Applications are done entirely online through the Active Fund’s application portal. You’ll register for an account and upload all your documents there. Email attachments and mailed documents aren’t accepted.
Here’s what you’ll need to gather:
- Documentation of paralysis: A letter from a treating physician or primary care provider, on their letterhead
- Vendor quotes: Two personalized quotes from reputable adaptive sports equipment vendors
- Financial documentation: Records of your income and/or wealth
- A personal recommendation: From a coach, instructor, peer, or someone else who can speak to how the equipment will impact your life
- Photos or video (optional)
The Kelly Brush Foundation awards grants seasonally. Late applications are never accepted, so make sure everything is submitted well before the deadline. If you submit your application and don’t get a confirmation email, call (802) 846-5298 ext. 103 right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have questions about this program, you may find answers here.
Yes. You can reapply at any time. It’s worth thinking about why you were denied the first time and addressing that in your new application.
You’ll need to wait two years after receiving a grant before applying again. This waiting period doesn’t apply if you received a “Try It First” grant, in which case you’re eligible again the very next cycle.
No. Meeting the eligibility requirements means you can apply, but it doesn’t guarantee an award. Applications are reviewed by a grants committee.
Unfortunately, this specific fund is limited to spinal cord injury-caused paralysis. If you have a different condition, our roundup of private disability grants may point you toward other options.
Relief Recap
Adaptive sports equipment can cost thousands of dollars, and a fund built specifically around getting people with spinal cord injuries back into an active life is worth knowing about. If this one doesn’t fit your situation, take a look at our list of adaptive bike grants for other places to turn.
