Leveling the Playing Field Southeast Michigan

Did you know that 1 in 5 underserved households are not getting their kids involved in athletics because of the rising price of sporting equipment?  Leveling the Playing Field (LPF) is a nonprofit that collects and redistributes equipment to expand access and equity within youth sports and recreation programs in under-resourced communities. Essentially, we operate a food bank for sports equipment.

LPF collects new and gently-used sports and playground equipment from local youth sports communities. Volunteers then sort the donations in our warehouse so we can distribute the gear to schools and organizations working to provide an affordable and accessible option to under-resourced youth groups, community programs and schools throughout several markets.

In evaluating our success, a primary benefit LPF brings to youth sports organizations is the ability to reallocate equipment funds towards other aspects of their program that increases affordability and accessibility. Nationally, 90% of our beneficiaries report that they have additional financial flexibility for their program as a result of our donations.

Since opening our Southeast Michigan warehouse in October 2025, we have already distributed more than $400,000 worth of sports equipment to local schools, nonprofits, and youth programs at no cost to them; helping thousands of children access the benefits of sports. Ready about our impact from some of our beneficiary programs, below!

"Marion Law loves y'all! Thank you for believing in our students and helping to level the playing field for every scholar. Your work does not go unnoticed!" -Marion Law Academy

"Leveling the Playing Field has allowed us to drastically expand our offerings, by helping off-set the cost of new shoulder pads, youth helmets, and "Learn to Play" sticks! Just last week we taught 121 students how to play at Clippert Middle School in SW Detroit!” Motown Lacrosse

“Leveling the Playing Field made a huge impact to our school. We are a low income charter and do not get the revenue streams that other schools have. LPF was AMAZING and helped us make our dream of having sports in our school a reality. The kids are extremely excited.” -Davinci Schools

"The donation from Leveling the Playing Field (LPF) has had a monumental impact on our students and sports programs at Stout Middle School. Prior to receiving this equipment, many of our students faced financial barriers that kept them on the sidelines. By providing high-quality, free sports gear, LPF has directly increased athletic participation, boosted student morale, and fostered a stronger sense of community and inclusivity on our campus." -Stout Middle School

We greatly appreciate your support of our mission to keep all kids in play!