Golf has always had a unique ability to bring people together, but some of the game’s most meaningful rounds are played for something bigger than the scorecard.
GolfStatus, in collaboration with Dormie Network and Dormie Network Foundation, has launched the sixth annual Play It Forward campaign, an initiative designed to recognize and support nonprofit organizations using golf to make a difference in their communities.
The concept is simple: golfers, supporters, volunteers, nonprofit staff members and others can nominate a nonprofit or charitable cause that raises money through a golf event. One selected fundraiser will receive a $10,000 donation to further its mission.
There’s something in it for the nominator, too.
The person who nominates the winning event will receive a Dormie Network Stay and Play Package, valued at $5,400 and good for a two-day, one-night stay at an eligible Dormie Network private destination golf club. If the organization submits its own nomination and wins, the package can instead be used as an auction item or an incentive for a major sponsor or donor.
Nominate a golf fundraiser for the 2026 Play It Forward Campaign
Using Golf to Do Good
Play It Forward began in 2021 and has since contributed $60,000 to nonprofit organizations using golf to support their missions and communities. Past recipients have represented a wide range of causes, from supporting families dealing with serious illnesses to youth development and opportunities within the game of golf.
The campaign isn't limited to a traditional 18-hole charity tournament, either. Eligible fundraisers can include nine-hole events, Topgolf outings, mini-golf fundraisers and other golf-related events that generate money for nonprofit or charitable causes.
Nominations for the 2026 campaign opened August 1 and run through September 30. Those submitting nominations are encouraged to explain the organization’s mission, provide details about its golf fundraiser, describe why the organization should receive the donation and explain how the $10,000 would be used. The winning organization is scheduled to be announced on December 1, Giving Tuesday.
Nominate a golf fundraiser for the 2026 Play It Forward Campaign
The Impact in Action: Hope Strengthens Foundation
For an example of what that support can mean beyond the golf course, look no further than the Hope Strengthens Foundation, the recipient of the 2025 Play It Forward donation.
Hope Strengthens Foundation provides support to individuals and families navigating serious illness, injury and disability. According to GolfStatus, the Foundation leveraged its $10,000 Play It Forward donation to provide critical assistance to three patients and their families, helping cover transportation costs, a new prosthetic leg and leukemia treatments.
AmateurGolf.com recently highlighted the organization and spoke with co-founder and executive director Jake Ferreira about the role golf plays in its fundraising efforts. The story also explored how GolfStatus helps the Foundation handle some of the work behind a successful charity tournament — from golfer registration and sponsor involvement to additional fundraising opportunities and event administration — allowing organizers to spend more time focused on their mission and the people they serve.
It’s a tangible example of what a golf fundraiser can become when the game, the right cause and the right resources come together.
Read: Golf for a Greater Purpose — The Hope Strengthens Foundation Powered by GolfStatus
Nominate a Cause That Deserves the Spotlight
Thousands of charity golf events are held every year, often powered by organizers, volunteers, sponsors and golfers who believe in the cause behind the tournament.
Play It Forward gives the golf community an opportunity to help one of those organizations take its impact another step further.
If there’s a nonprofit golf event that has made a difference in your community — or a cause you believe deserves more support — nominations for the sixth annual Play It Forward campaign are open through September 30, 2026.