The Shift Up Now Foundation is proud to announce that grant applications are now open for the 2025 season. Female racers competing at a professional or semi-professional level are invited to apply, from now until Tuesday, January 21st at 11:59pm ET.
Applications can be submitted online here: https://shiftupnow.org/grants/
The foundation, which lives alongside the Shift Up Now for-profit business, strives for gender equality for female athletes in motorsport, and furthers the mission by accepting tax-deductible gifts, donations and grants.
Funds raised are used to award opportunities to racers believed to have the talent and aptitude to succeed in motorsports, giving them access to more competitive equipment, seat time for testing and practice, and resources to help grow their careers.
In 2023, the Shift Up Now Foundation awarded its first-ever sponsorship grants. The organization then eclipsed its grant goal in 2024 after raising more than $80,000 in a multi- faceted fundraising effort.
A majority of the total came from an in-person event, the inaugural “Night with the Shift Up Now Foundation presented by PenFed Credit Union.” The remainder of the funding came from an online effort called “25 for 25,” in which Lucas Oil matched the first $5,000 in donations.
“Despite the fact that we’ve only just celebrated the foundation’s second birthday, I’m in awe that we’re about to write more than $100,000 worth of grants for racers to help them compete in the 2025 racing season,” said Shift Up Now CEO Pippa Mann. “This has been made possible due to the tireless work from our Board Co-Chairs, Rebecca Bormann and Jim Bork, and the Shift Up Now Foundation CEO, Ariel Ream. They’ve all been incredibly focused and dedicated in helping us meet this goal.
“In addition, we’re so honored to have received so many incredible donations, both from race fans and individuals like James Schenck, who is personally helping us support women in this sport. It’s our mission to make a difference, and while this will be a milestone year for us in terms of growth, we’re just getting started.”
To kick off the 2025 racing season, the foundation has also launched a new fundraising challenge, called the “Race to $25K.” James Schenck - a dedicated Shift Up Now Foundation supporter - has offered to personally match any donation to the foundation during the month of January, up to $25,000.
To join the challenge, race fans and Shift Up Now supporters are invited to make a donation in any amount until January 30th. Donations can be made on the website at https://shiftupnow.org.
