Tate “Road to Nationals” Fund

Tate “Road to Nationals” Fund is sponsored by National Speech & Debate Association. The Road to Nationals Fund provides financial assistance to schools lacking the financial resources to attend the high school National Speech & Debate Tournament, aiming to create a more equitable National Tournament experience.

Road to Nationals | National Speech & Debate Association The Road to Nationals Fund Generously supported by The Julia Burke Foundation, the Road to Nationals Fund—established through the William Woods Tate, Jr., Memorial Fund—provides financial assistance to teams with limited resources to help them attend the high school National Tournament.

In 2026, the NSDA is proud to continue this investment, expanding access and making participation in the National Tournament more attainable for schools nationwide. Support the Road to Nationals Fund The Road to Nationals Fund Application On average, the Road to Nationals Fund will provide awards ranging from $100 to $500 with $500 being the maximum grant amount.

We anticipate that the average award amount will be around $250 per school. Only schools with high school students competing in the 2026 National Tournament are eligible to apply. Although others are welcome to help with application responses, we ask that each school submit only one application via a coach on record for the school.

The 2026 Road to Nationals application closes April 22. Preview a sample application 2025 William Woods Tate, Jr., Memorial Fund Impact This would be the first time in my three years coaching the team that anyone has traveled to Nationals. While we have qualified people in the past, students have declined attending due to the cost.

As a team where the majority of our students come from an economically disadvantaged home, I think knowing it is possible to attend Nationals would give my other students hope that they could actually do the same. Frequently Asked Questions Can anyone from the team submit an application? No, due to the logistical nature of this opportunity, only coaches on record with the school may submit applications.

Do you have to be an NSDA member to apply? Yes – in order to compete at Nationals, the student and school will need to be NSDA members. I am a coach for a middle school program, can I apply?

At this time, funding is reserved for high school teams attending the National tournament. I am a coach for multiple schools, how can I apply for them? Please email info@speechanddebate.

org I am a student, can I apply? Students are welcome to help draft verbiage for applications in partnership with coaches, however we ask that a coach on record for the school submit the final application. I forgot my password.

How can I reset? noreply@mail. fluidreview.

com wish@surveymonkey. mail. e.

sparkpost. com If you have submitted an application for the Keith West Memorial Fund program or the Road to Nationals Fund program in recent years, you likely already have account with the Apply platform. If you are still having trouble, please contact the site via this link .

I received money from the Road to Nationals Fund in 2025, am I eligible to receive funding this year? Prior Road to Nationals award winners are eligible. However, to ensure that we can support more schools and students attending the National Tournament, the Road to Nationals process considers prior Road to Nationals funding awards received when reviewing applications.

My school’s firewall is preventing me from accessing my Survey Monkey/Apply account – help! Please visit https://help. surveymonkey.

com/en/apply/faqs/apply-email-troubleshooting for information that can help your school’s IT team navigate firewall issues. My team was selected for a Road to Nationals Fund grant – when should I expect to receive my check? Congratulations!

Checks will arrive in early-June – please follow the instructions sent to you by email (in your award notification) and be sure to provide the NSDA with a mailing address that you can access in June. What if my team received a KWMF school grant in fall 2025? If your team received one of the $1,000 awards, you are eligible to apply for a Road to Nationals Fund grant this spring.

What kinds of things should I include in my application? Here is a PDF of the application . We are looking for information that details your team’s current funding needs and fundraising capacity.

Please provide information regarding your current budget, your Nationals related expenses, team needs, and capacity to fundraise in your community. Who should I contact if I have questions or need assistance with my application?