National Council on Problem Gambling Awards Spring 2025 Agility Grants to Five Community Organizations

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) is pleased to announce $192,000 in Agility Grant funding awarded to five organizations as part of the Spring 2025 cycle. These grants, which are made possible with funding from the NFL Foundation and FanDuel, support the development and expansion of problem gambling prevention initiatives tailored to meet the specific needs of diverse communities.

Now in its seventh funding round since launching in 2022, the Agility Grants program is the first and only national initiative exclusively dedicated to funding problem gambling prevention. Since its inception, the program has awarded grants to organizations in 21 states, reaching more than 450,000 individuals in just three years. Designed to encourage innovation, Agility Grants provide seed funding for pilot projects and new ideas that promote early intervention, especially among youth ages 12–17 and young adults 18–24, where prevention efforts have the most significant long-term impact.

“Investing in community-driven programs is key to effective prevention,” said NCPG Director of Programs Jaime Costello. “The projects supported by Agility Grant funding reflect a commitment to building practical, scalable solutions that resonate with the people they serve.”

Spring 2025 Agility Grant funding will support the following programs:

• Artreach, Inc.
  In partnership with Connecticut State Community College campuses, Artreach will present BEYOND THE BET, a multimedia theatrical performance that shares the gambling stories of four individuals from diverse backgrounds, life stages, and experiences. The program uses live performance and facilitated discussion to raise awareness, explore the complexities of gambling harm, and engage audiences in meaningful conversations about problem gambling prevention. The distribution of educational materials will accompany performances to extend learning beyond the stage.
• Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota
  The Lao Assistance Center will expand its community education efforts by delivering six culturally grounded training sessions on mental health, addiction, and problem gambling in the Twin Cities’ Lao community. Each session will be followed by a multilingual community forum designed to reduce stigma, spark dialogue, and improve access to culturally appropriate problem gambling prevention resources and support services.
• NICOS Chinese Health Coalition
  Building on its successful youth prevention model funded by a Spring 2024 Agility Grant, NICOS will expand its youth gambling prevention initiative for Asian American middle school students in San Francisco. The program will introduce a youth leadership component by training students as peer educators, equipping them to help implement a curriculum focused on gambling risks, financial literacy, and prevention strategies.
• Ohio State University Foundation for the benefit of The Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention and Recovery
  The Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention and Recovery, a program of The Ohio State University, will lead a national effort to expand problem gambling prevention across college campuses. The initiative will train campus leaders using a comprehensive, evidence-informed curriculum designed to reduce gambling harm among college students.
• University of Nebraska
  The University of Nebraska will expand its campus-based problem gambling prevention initiative to increase reach and impact across the university community. The program will integrate educational messaging into intramural sports through data-informed strategies, engaging culturally based student organizations with tailored lunch-and-learn sessions and relevant programming. A year-long calendar of events will reinforce awareness through ongoing education, digital outreach, and targeted support. This expansion builds on a pilot program launched in 2024 with support from a Spring Agility Grant.

The NCPG Agility Grants Program is supported by major partners, including a multi-year commitment from the NFL via the NFL Foundation. Additional funding from FanDuel enhances the program’s reach and sustainability.

“The NFL is proud to continue supporting the NCPG and the Agility Grants program, which provides critical funding to organizations leading innovative efforts aimed at preventing problem gambling,” said Anna Isaacson, NFL Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility. “We are pleased to see both new and returning grantees advancing creative approaches to education and early intervention, particularly for youth and young adults.”

Looking ahead, NCPG envisions that the Agility Grant-funded programs will serve as the foundation for a national standard for community-based problem gambling prevention. Ongoing program evaluation will inform the identification of effective practices and ensure they can be refined, scaled, and shared for broader impact. The long-term goal is to build a network of problem gambling prevention programs that are replicable, culturally responsive, and capable of meeting the evolving needs of communities nationwide.

Agility Grants are awarded twice annually. Applications for Fall 2025 funding will open July 9, 2025. For more information, visit NCPGambling.org/agility.