Grant and Funding Programs Offered by The Spiel Foundation

The Spiel Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to making the world more playful. Based in Indianapolis, it specializes in in-kind support: selecting, assembling, and donating bundles of high-quality board and card games to organizations that serve people of all ages. Beneficiary organizations include children’s hospitals, mental health facilities, senior and community centers, Boys & Girls Clubs (including on Tribal lands), Girls Inc. locations, schools (many Title I), libraries, shelters, halfway houses and even prisons across the United States, Canada and multiple other countries.

The Foundation leverages its expertise as reviewers, designers and developers to curate game bundles tailored to each type of institution. Games are sourced through donations or discounted purchases from a large network of publishers worldwide. Each title is fully prepped (components punched, bagged and assembled) to reduce barriers to use, then combined into 5‑game bundles stored in a dedicated warehouse and shipped in waves as inventory and budget allow.

The core Game Bundle Program provides structured, recurring in-kind grants: eligible organizations can request bundles through online forms, and The Spiel Foundation honors requests whenever possible within its mandate and resources. As of the latest data, more than 3,200 bundles and 17,000+ games, with a total value over $425,000, have been delivered to beneficiaries in at least 12 countries and 2 US territories. Interactive maps and PDF lists publicly document past recipients by sector.

Beyond physical donations, the Foundation runs a media network (The Spiel) featuring free podcasts, panels, interviews and films that highlight games and creators. It also administers two respected award programs—the Major Fun Award and The Spiel of Approval—which evaluate hundreds of titles each year and confer independent seals of quality used by publishers worldwide. While these awards do not involve cash, they provide reputational value and visibility that support designers and publishers.

The Spiel Foundation focuses its resources on populations that can particularly benefit from play: children in hospitals, residents of shelters, seniors, low-income students and communities with limited recreational access. Its bundles are designed to be durable and accessible, enabling repeated use by large numbers of players. The organization reports reaching millions of players through thousands of recipient sites, and aims to scale further through the DeKoven Center for Play—its new home and hub with expanded warehouse, game library, classrooms and event space.

Founded in 2007 by Stephen Conway and David Coleson, the Foundation is led by Director/President Stephen Conway and Vice President Doug Richardson. Its operations are financed through individual donations, online fundraisers, sponsorship packages for game publishers and related businesses, and events such as Spiel-a-thons at major conventions. Sponsors can support specific activities (media, events, bundle stickers) and gain exposure across podcasts, websites and social media while underwriting shipping and acquisition costs for game bundles.

Volunteers also play a crucial role, from helping prep and pack thousands of games to assisting at fundraising events and serving as local contacts who introduce bundles and teach games in their regions. Through this mix of financial sponsorship, volunteer time and publisher partnerships, The Spiel Foundation maintains and grows a portfolio of in-kind grants that make modern tabletop play accessible to diverse communities.