The Washington, DC Market
Youth Sports in Washington, DC, by the Numbers
Population
702K
The District of Columbia.
Estimated Youth Sports Participants
61.1K
Ages 6–17 playing organized sports.
Zubie Five estimate — Census population × ages 6–17 share × Project Play participation rate
Community Reach
183K
Estimated combined reach across participating families, siblings, and spectators.
Zubie Five estimate — participants × 3.0 household factor
Population here is the Census Bureau's Vintage 2024 estimate for the city itself, a different product from the American Community Survey figures on our Arizona and Nevada pages, so the numbers are not strictly comparable. The estimates use the same published chain as every market page: population × 15% × 58% = participants; participants × 3.0 = reach (see Sources).
The District of Columbia had 13,314 high school athletic participants in 2024-25, ranking 50 among the 51 NFHS member associations. That count reflects participation, so a student who plays two sports counts twice. Source: NFHS, 2024-25 High School Athletics Participation Survey
What We Found
Youth Sports and Sponsorship in Washington, DC
Each item below comes from a public source, linked on the card. We add to this list only when we can cite it.
Research
In D.C., 70% of boys and 53% of girls played sports (2022-23 National Survey of Children's Health). Project Play calls the 17-point gap the largest girls-boys gap of any state. For Black children the rate was 51%; for white children, 84%.
Access
Charter schools are 36% of D.C.'s high school population but 22% of high school sports participants. DCPS high schools in Wards 7 and 8 average about two fewer sports than the rest of the city, and 91% of high-income children are driven to sports versus 50% of low-income children.
Sponsorship & investment
Project Play's roundup of D.C. youth sports investment includes Monumental Sports & Entertainment's District of Play (2024), tied to the city's $515 million Capital One Arena renovation, the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy (more than 6,000 children ages 5 to 18 served at no cost since 2014), and the Commanders' high school girls flag football partnership with DCSAA (spring 2025).
Working in Washington, DC
Available Nationwide, Built Around Your Program
Zubie Five has an established track record across Arizona, California, and Nevada, and works with organizations anywhere in the country. Finding sponsors is research, packaging, outreach, and negotiation, so your location doesn't limit access to it. Here's how it works for a Washington, DC-area program.
Step 1
We learn your program
Your teams, your audience, your schedule, and the sponsorship assets you already have, so the package reflects what you can really deliver.
Step 2
We find sponsors for you
We research Washington, DC-area and regional businesses that want to reach your families, then pitch and negotiate on your behalf.
Step 3
You run the season
Sponsors pay your organization directly. We stay the point of contact, so your volunteers can get back to the kids.
Get Started
Whether You Run a Program or a Business
🏟️
I Run a Youth League, School Program, or Nonprofit
Find corporate sponsors for your Washington, DC-area organization — jerseys, field signage, tournaments, and more — and put the support back into your kids' season.
See Options for Organizations →
Common Questions
Washington, DC FAQs
Do you work with organizations in the Washington, DC area? +
Yes. We work with youth leagues, school athletic departments, nonprofits, and parks & recreation departments in the Washington, DC area. Zubie Five is based in Tempe, Arizona, with an established track record across Arizona, California, and Nevada and availability nationwide.
Who already invests in youth and school sports around Washington, DC? +
Public sources show these examples of sponsor, team, and foundation involvement in the Washington, DC area: Project Play's roundup of D.C. youth sports investment includes Monumental Sports & Entertainment's District of Play (2024), tied to the city's $515 million Capital One Arena renovation, the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy (more than 6,000 children ages 5 to 18 served at no cost since 2014), and the Commanders' high school girls flag football partnership with DCSAA (spring 2025) (
Aspen Institute Project Play, Youth sports investments in Washington, D.C.). A program that pairs a clear package with the right local business can be the next one.
How does it work if Zubie Five isn't based in Washington, DC? +
The work of finding sponsors, which is research, packaging, outreach, negotiation, and follow-up, doesn't require being on site, so we handle it remotely. Fulfillment, like hanging a banner or announcing a sponsor, stays with your organization.
Do the rules for sponsorship differ in Washington, DC? +
They can. School districts, state associations, and local governments each set their own rules, and they vary by state. Our
checklist for every other state lists the questions to ask and the primary sources to check. It is not legal advice.
How much does it cost my organization? +
For youth leagues, high school athletics, and nonprofits, getting started costs nothing, and we're only paid when sponsor money reaches your organization: a flat 20% commission with no seasonal minimum. Pricing for other programs, including bundled city and parks & rec programs, is discussed directly. Everything is in writing before we make a single call, and the full details are open for anyone to read on
How We're Paid.
Ready to Bring Sponsors to Your Washington, DC Program?
Your sponsors, found and handled, so your volunteers can get back to the kids.