Women’s Sports Foundation Secures Major Grant for Female Coaches from The Betty Wold, New York Jets

The Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) has just landed a signific grant from The Betty Wold Johnson Foundation and the New York Jets, yesterday both organizations announced on National Girls and Women in Sports Day, a national movement co-founded by the organization nearly 40 years ago. 

This gift, directed by Woody Johnson, will strengthen the Women’s Sports Foundation’s efforts to expand opportunities for women coaches across collegiate and professional sports, directly impacting careers for women in football, and support professional development and training resources to strengthen the coaching pipeline, per press release.

“The Betty Wold Johnson Foundation is proud to support the Women’s Sports Foundation, an organization that has shaped the landscape of sports leadership for girls and women in sports for more than 50 years,” said Johnson, Director of the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation and owner of the New York Jets.”

The awards benefits two Women’s Sports Foundation’s funds, the Tara VanDerveer Fund for the Advancement of Women in Coaching and the Scott Pioli & Family Fund for Women Football Coaches and Scouts. 

Both funds spearhead the ability to hire and adequately compensate coaches in entry-level roles. In addition, the programs provide various developmental resources in the form of education and mentorships to current and past grant recipients.

Both funds highlight the late Betty Wold Johnson’s devotion to improving opportunities for women and expanding female leadership across all sectors.

“Working with the Women’s Sports Foundation was a natural next step for us, since we’ve already invested in women’s flag football through the Jets ECAC Women’s Flag Football League,” Johnson added. “Both investments support female athletes and coaches and create more opportunities for future leaders in sport.”

Since its founding in 1974, the Women’s Sports Foundation has advocated to increase female representation in sports, both in the collegiate and professional ranks. In the United States, women hold less than 40 percent of head coaching positions and less than 30 percent of assistant coaching positions in women’s NCAA sports. This donation and the programs that the Women’s Sports Foundation supports play a direct role in addressing these leadership gaps.

“During National Girls & Women in Sports Day celebrations, this investment underscores what we at the Women’s Sports Foundation know to be true. When we invest in women in sport, we expand opportunity, leadership, and long-term impact,” said Danette Leighton, CEO of the Women’s Sports Foundation. “We are grateful to the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation for supporting our efforts to strengthen the coaching pipeline and expand opportunities for women leaders in sport.”

In December 2025, the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation and the New York Jets announced a $1 Million intuitive to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) to help launch the Jets ECAC Women’s Flag Football League, the largest collegiate flag football association in the United States. The league will begin play in March 2026, following a Media Day on February 27th.

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