Betty Wold Johnson Foundation Grants $250,000 to Women's Sports Foundation

Gift will fund coaching programs and expand opportunities for women in football

Feb. 4, 2026 at 2:39pm

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The Betty Wold Johnson Foundation has announced a $250,000 grant to the Women's Sports Foundation (WSF) on National Girls and Women in Sports Day. The gift, directed by Woody Johnson, will strengthen the WSF's efforts to expand opportunities for women coaches across collegiate and professional sports, directly impacting careers for women in football. The funds will support the Tara VanDerveer Fund for the Advancement of Women in Coaching and the Scott Pioli & Family Fund for Women Football Coaches and Scouts.

Why it matters

This donation underscores the late Betty Wold Johnson's commitment to improving opportunities for women and expanding female leadership across all sectors of sports. It comes on the heels of a $1 million investment by the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation and the New York Jets to launch the Jets ECAC Women's Flag Football League, the largest collegiate flag football league in the United States.

The details

The awards will facilitate the ability to hire and adequately pay coaches in entry-level positions, as well as provide various developmental resources in the form of education and mentorships to current and past grant recipients. Recent recipient Amanda Ruller, the head flag football coach at Eastern University, said the grant 'empowers me to keep pushing forward and kind of create opportunities for others and represent the next generation of women's coaches with pride and purpose.'

  • The grant was announced on National Girls and Women in Sports Day, February 4, 2026.
  • The Jets ECAC Women's Flag Football League will begin play in March 2026, following a Media Day on February 27th.

The players

Betty Wold Johnson Foundation

A charitable foundation that supports initiatives to improve opportunities for women and expand female leadership across all sectors, including sports.

Women's Sports Foundation

A non-profit organization founded in 1974 that advocates to increase female representation in sports, both collegiately and professionally.

Woody Johnson

Director of the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation and owner of the New York Jets.

Amanda Ruller

The head flag football coach at Eastern University and TE/RB coach of the men's team, a recent recipient of the Scott Pioli & Family Fund for Women Coaches.

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What they’re saying

“The Betty Wold Johnson Foundation is proud to support the Women's Sports Foundation, an organization that has shaped the landscape of sports leadership for girls and women in sports for more than 50 years.”

— Woody Johnson, Director of the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation

“Receiving the grant from the Women's Sports Foundation means the world to me. As a passionate football coach, I'm committed to breaking barriers and paving the way for women in sport. So, this support not only validates my journey but kind of fuels my mission to grow as a leader in football. It empowers me to keep pushing forward and kind of create opportunities for others and represent the next generation of women's coaches with pride and purpose. I'm deeply grateful for their investment in my future development.”

— Amanda Ruller, Head Flag Football Coach, Eastern University

What’s next

The Jets ECAC Women's Flag Football League will hold a Media Day on February 27th, 2026 before beginning play in March 2026.

The takeaway

This donation from the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation underscores the importance of investing in women's sports leadership and coaching, which remains an area of significant gender disparity. By supporting the Women's Sports Foundation's coaching development programs, the foundation is helping to create more opportunities for women to advance in football and other sports.