Play-it-Forward
Grants for Nonprofits
Gamers Engaged is Playing it Forward
At Gamers Engaged, we believe that when the gaming community comes together, real-world magic happens. Our annual Play-It-Forward Grant Program supports nonprofit organizations that create lasting impact utilizing the power of games. Our Areas of Focus include: Health/Mental Health and Basic Needs, Education, and Community/Neighborhood Development.
Meet the 2025 Play-it-Forward Grantees
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Geek Girl Con
Local Play-it-Forward Grantee
GeekGirlCon empowers women and girls to pursue their passions—whether they love science and technology, comics, literature, gaming, or anything else! Their mission is to ensure all these geeks are supported, welcomed, and encouraged to pursue what they love.
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RESPAWN Foundation
Game Centric Play-it-Forward Grantee
ReSpawn Foundation unites hospitals, clinicians, gamers with disabilities, and tech innovators in a national alliance to make adaptive gaming a recognized standard in rehabilitation — combining clinical expertise with lived experience to reshape recovery through play.
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Team Wrk
New Kid on the Block Grantee
Game to Grow is dedicated to the use of games for therapeutic, educational, and community growth. Read our interview with Game to Grow.
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Video Game Clubs of America
National Play-it-Forward Grantee
VGCUSA aims to eliminate social isolation and enhance the lives of marginalized students by establishing inclusive gaming clubs in educational settings, where they can develop social, emotional, and career readiness skills, and form lasting friendships in preparation for the professional world.
Play-it-Forward Interest List
Please complete our interest form if you'd like updates on the application cycle.
The application is closed for the 2025 Grant Cycle
The Play-it-Forward grant is designed to be a low-barrier grant, including minimal reporting requirements, improving the lives of community members through the power of play and games.
The grant award is for unrestricted funds for nonprofit organizations that utilize games in the delivery of their impact.
Gamers Engaged will be awarding four $10,000 grants this cycle, one in each category:
Serving communities in the Pacific Northwest
Serving communities nationwide
New Kid on the Block (for organizations founded after January 1, 2018)
Leadership Diversity (BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+ lead organizations)
Gamers Engaged will assign the categories as your organization may be eligible for multiple categories.
Meet the 2024 Play-it-Forward Grantees
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Take This
National Play-it-Forward Grantee
Take This is on a mission is to decrease the stigma, and increase the support for, mental health in the game enthusiast community and inside the game industry. Read our interview with Take This.
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Zeno Math
Local Play-it-Forward Grantee
Zeno Math sparks joy and inspires a love of math in young children and families through racial equity, family engagement, and play, all centered in the experiences of communities of color. Read our interview with Zeno Math.
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Game to Grow
Game Centric Play-it-Forward Grantee
Game to Grow is dedicated to the use of games for therapeutic, educational, and community growth. Read our interview with Game to Grow.
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Game Devs of Color Expo
New Kid on the Block Grantee
GDOC Expo’s mission is to amplify the creative power held by people of color in games. Read our interview with GDOC Expo.
