How Grant Funding Transforms Young Athletes’ Lives in Oaxaca

How Transparent Support Can Change Lives Through Sport

We are Oax Sport Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supporting athletes from underserved communities in Oaxaca, Mexico. Since our foundation, we’ve channeled grant funding, private donations, and in-kind contributions into programs that provide race travel, academic support, essential gear, and mentorship—helping young athletes compete, study, and grow in both sport and life.

In places like Oaxaca, athletic talent often goes unseen—not for lack of effort or ability, but because of economic limits. The cost of travel, gear, training, and education creates barriers that many families can’t overcome. Grant funding plays a vital role in removing those barriers.

Let’s look at how this support is making a measurable difference—and why it matters.

Why Support Matters: The Challenge for Athletes in Oaxaca

Oaxaca is one of the most culturally rich regions of Mexico, but also one of the most economically marginalized. Many of our athletes come from rural towns or small cities where public sports programs are limited or non-existent.

Without financial help, talented athletes often must choose between supporting their families or continuing to compete. A pair of running shoes or a bus ticket to a state event can be out of reach. And even when local talent rises to national level, continued participation depends heavily on outside support.

How Grant Funding Works at Oax Sport

We secure small grants and digital tools from partners like Microsoft and Google. These grants help cover essential expenses across two core areas:

Competition Costs

• Race registration fees
• Travel and lodging for competitions
• Athletic gear and shoes

Training Support

• Physical therapy and injury prevention
• Coaching and training spaces

The impact of these funds is tracked carefully. We publish regular financial reports and share updates with our donors through blog posts and printed letters.

Transparency is one of our core values. We are also actively registered in the U.S. government’s System for Award Management (SAM), and we maintain a NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) code registration. These verifications confirm our compliance for international grants, government partnerships, and organizational credibility. You can view our IRS 501(c)(3) confirmation and EIN (86-3407818) on our About page.

Direct Impact of Grant Support

Grant funding has helped our athletes reach new levels in recent years. Here are some examples:

1. Competitive Growth

• In 2024, Juan Victoria competed in four national races across Mexico, supported by a mix of grants and individual donations.
• His travel to Xalapa for the CONDDE qualifiers was fully funded by a Givebutter campaign.

2. Academic Stability

• We encourage our athletes to stay in school or finish university.
• While exact numbers vary, multiple athletes have received flexible support to continue their academic paths while competing.

3. Community Engagement

• Our athletes volunteer at local events, including Airbnb Experiences and school workshops.
• A significant portion of Airbnb Experience income is reinvested into athlete stipends and training needs.

What Other Nonprofits Are Doing: Comparative Data

Looking at successful programs around the world helps us learn and improve. These three organizations inspire our work at Oax Sport:

At Oax Sport, we follow similar principles—supporting what matters most, measuring impact, and reporting clearly and honestly to our community.

Accountability: How We Prove the Impact

We follow a three-part system to stay accountable:

1. Quarterly Reports – We post these to our blog and share them with major donors. They include financials, donor impact, and athlete progress.
2. Athlete Logs – Each supported athlete logs training activities, races, and injuries to track their progress.
3. Public Reviews – Guests leave verified reviews through Airbnb and GreatNonprofits, contributing to our 2025 Top-Rated Nonprofit campaign.

This level of reporting builds trust and helps us improve based on real feedback.

Real Stories from Oaxaca

To better understand the real-world effects of our work, here are three recent examples of athletes who’ve benefited directly from grant funding:

Juan Zurita Victoria

A long-distance runner from Magdalena Apasco, Juan specializes in the 800m and 1500m events and is part of Titanes Sport Clinic. In 2024 and 2025, he competed in multiple national events, including the Festival de Atletismo El Espinal and the Xalapa 2025 national festival. His travel to El Espinal was supported by community fundraising and Airbnb earnings, while his participation in Xalapa was fully funded by Oax Sport donors. He also received Nike Victory 2 spikes thanks to a donation from Emma in Texas.

“El apoyo que me ha brindado Oax Sport ha sido muy importante en mi carrera deportiva. Tenerlos como respaldo hace que pueda esforzarme más.” – Juan

His preparation with Titanes Sport Clinic included performance assessments, custom training plans, and mental conditioning. His story is featured in full here: Festival El Espinal 2025, Race Report: Xalapa 2025, and Juan’s Nike Donation Story.

Mane Peña

Mane competed in the 1500m and 5000m at the 2025 Festival in Xalapa, a national event accredited by World Athletics. It was her first time participating in a competition of this scale. Despite rain delays and challenging conditions, she delivered a strong performance and left inspired.

“Fue una experiencia increíble. Me motivó mucho ver el esfuerzo de tantos atletas. Me recordó por qué me gusta competir.” – Mane

She also received travel and race support through Oax Sport. Her full race recap is part of our
Xalapa 2025 report.

Yamile Sánchez

Yamile Sánchez Guzmán is a young runner from Cuilápam de Guerrero who trains with the Atlethos running club. At 17, she already stands out for her dedication and potential. Thanks to a generous donation from William in California, Yamile received a pair of On Cloudrunner 2 running shoes valued at $4,299 MXN, which allowed her to participate in the Caminata por la Paz 2025.

“I’m really thankful to William and Oax Sport for this support. Having these new running shoes makes a big difference for me. They’re comfortable, and I feel much better during training. It also motivates me to work even harder, knowing that people believe in me and want to help me succeed.” – Yamile Sánchez Guzmán

Her story is a perfect example of how community-based donations provide essential gear and lasting motivation. Yamile continues to train and grow as an athlete with the ongoing support of Oax Sport and her local mentors.

Read Yamile’s full story

These stories are proof that financial support—large or small—can ripple outward.

Our model is simple: low overhead, high impact.

Instead of investing in large infrastructure, we focus on real needs: one race entry, one travel expense, one new pair of spikes. Airbnb Experiences serve as a major source of income, and much of that revenue goes directly to athletes.

This structure ensures that donors and grantmakers can see exactly where their money is going.

How You Can Help

If you believe in giving young athletes a fair shot, there are several ways you can make a difference today:

• Make a tax-deductible donation to support our next athlete campaign.
• Leave a review on GreatNonprofits to boost our visibility and credibility.
• Share our Venmo donation page with a friend or family member who believes in youth sports.
• Volunteer your time or sponsor an upcoming event in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Final Thoughts

Grant funding alone can’t solve every problem, but when used with honesty, strategy, and care, it can create life-changing opportunities. Oaxaca has no shortage of talent—only a shortage of resources. Together, we can change that.

What kind of support do you think makes the biggest difference for young athletes today? Let us know in the comments—or share this post with someone who might be inspired to support our athletes. You can also subscribe to our updates to follow their journeys.