How It
Works

We Raise Money

FightState Foundation is donation-driven. The number of scholarships we award depends on the funds we raise.

Donations fund youth scholarship memberships and the operational costs that keep the foundation running. We keep overhead responsible so the majority of donations go toward changing kids’ lives.

• One-time and monthly donations accepted
• Corporate sponsorships recognized publicly
• All donations are tax-deductible — FSF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
• How many kids we fund each cycle depends on what we raise

Gyms Register With Us

We build a network of vetted Florida martial arts gyms that youth can name in their scholarship application.

When a youth wins a scholarship to a registered gym, FightState Foundation pays the gym directly for a one-year membership. We also ask gyms if they’re willing to offer a discounted rate — every discount means we can help more kids with the same dollars.

• Any Florida martial arts gym can apply to join our network
• Must offer youth-appropriate programs and qualified instruction
• Must agree to honor FSF scholarship terms
• FSF pays the gym directly for the one-year membership
• Discounted rates welcomed — helps us fund more youth

Youth Apply by Video

No essays. No income forms. Just their story — in their own words, on camera.

Youth apply by submitting a short 2–3 minute video filmed on any phone. In the video they tell us who they are, why they want to train, which registered partner gym they want to attend, and what this opportunity would mean to them.

Every application requires a parent or legal guardian to sign a media release. No video is ever shared without this signed permission and explicit FSF approval. Parents may request removal at any time.

• Open to Florida residents ages 6–18
• No martial arts experience required
• 2–3 minute video, any device
• Name a registered FSF partner gym in your application
• Parent/guardian must sign the media release — no exceptions
• Videos reviewed privately — never auto-published

We Select Recipients

We fund as many scholarships as our donations allow. The more the community gives, the more kids we can help.

FSF reviews all applications privately. No video is publicly visible without explicit FSF approval and a signed parental media release. Selected youth are notified and their one-year membership is paid directly to their chosen registered partner gym.

• All applications reviewed privately by FSF team
• Videos never auto-published — all sharing requires FSF approval
• FSF pays the gym directly for the one-year membership
• Scholar stories shared publicly only with signed parental consent
• Number of scholarships depends entirely on funds raised