Salem Classical Fencing

Equipment Grants

We always can use donations to support our equipment grants. SCF is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, so your donation is fully tax-deductible.

If you are a fencer at SCF with limited financial means, we can help you purchase your own fencing equipment through an equipment grant. These grants may be full grants (up to $200) or partial grants (as small as $10), depending on the financial need and the equipment needed.

These grants are intended to help low-income fencers purchase basic fencing equipment. Grants are available for both youth and adult fencers.

Please do not be embarrassed -- poverty can happen to anyone given the right circumstances. We will keep your application confidential and your gear will look just like everyone else's gear. We just want everyone who wishes to be able to enjoy fencing.

If you do not meet the eligibility requirements, you might consider contacting other fencers (such as through your salle's e-mail list) to see if they have used equipment to sell -- especially if you are a younger fencer looking for smaller sizes.

To be eligible for an equipment grant, you must meet the following requirements:

You must be an active, dues-paying fencer at SCF (this includes fencers receiving fencing scholarships at SCF).

You must have completed Introductory Foil Fencing II (or the equivalent).
You must have a financial situation that would not allow you to purchase the needed equipment otherwise.

To apply for an equipment grant, please fill out our financial assistance application (PDF). Please include the basis of your financial need (i.e. why should we give you a grant?), as well as t he equipment you need to purchase. Grants can be used for masks, jackets, foils (and foil parts), gloves, breast protection, and underarm protectors (UAPs). Grants cannot be used to purchase fencing knickers, bags, socks, fencing shoes, etc. -- just the most basic gear. Please also tell us why you need to have this equipment now (e.g. upcoming tournament, old gear wearing out, outgrown old equipment, about to finish the Intro III class, etc.).

Don't wait until the last minute -- especially if you need the grant in order to be able to compete in a tournament. It will take us a few days to go over your application. If your request is granted (in part or in full), it will take at least a couple of weeks to get your gear in -- sometimes as long as a month -- unless we already have what you need in the salle.