Colorado Springs, Colo. (March 16, 2026) – USA Ultimate, the national governing body for the sport of ultimate in the United States and member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, announced today the distribution of $157,000 in direct funding to local disc organizations (LDOs) through its affiliate program. Through this program, USA Ultimate invests a portion of membership fees directly into the local communities that host and support sanctioned playing opportunities.
For 2025 affiliates, USA Ultimate recently distributed $157,466.57 to 45 LDOs comprised of:
- USAU Membership “Rebates”: $131,266.57
- Outreach Program Bonuses: $7,200
- Professional Services Grants: $19,000
In addition to these annual cash contributions, USA Ultimate offers affiliates year-round support through direct staff engagement, quarterly promotional emails, access to affiliate-only online resources and opportunities to connect and share best practices with other affiliates.
2025 marked the first year of the restructured USA Ultimate affiliate program. This evolution from the previous state-based model was made in order to better align with USA Ultimate’s strategic priority to enhance LDO success. Among the goals in restructuring the program were increased flexibility in supporting LDOs and new and enhanced benefits for participating affiliates, including more financial incentives.
Under the new tier-based system, top-level affiliates receive higher levels of financial incentives for providing local programs that support the growth of ultimate and align with USA Ultimate’s strategic goals. In addition to the membership-based financial assistance, key benefits of the program available to affiliates at all levels include priority consideration for event bids, free access to general liability coverage for events, and priority access to USA Ultimate grant programs.
“The financial investment from USA Ultimate through the Affiliate Program is a game-changer for DEVYL,” shared Ryan Belline, Executive Director of DEVYL Ultimate, a Tier 1 affiliate. “This additional support is vital for our rising costs especially in the areas of facility rentals, insurance and busing. This support will help keep costs to our local community at a reasonable level.”
USA Ultimate remains committed to supporting ultimate at the grassroots level, with plans to continue expanding the benefits available to affiliates throughout 2026. Learn more, including how to apply to become an affiliate, on the USA Ultimate Website.
