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Riot Games Pledges $500,000 for School Gaming Projects at Worlds 2026
Riot Games has pledged $500,000 to support gaming and esports projects in US public schools during Worlds 2026, the League of Legends World Championship. The initiative renews the company's partnership with DonorsChoose, an education nonprofit where public school teachers request classroom materials and donors choose which projects to support.
According to Riot's October 12 announcement, the company plans to fully fund eligible projects in the three states hosting this year's tournament: California, Texas, and New York. The initiative covers more than school esports clubs, with eligible projects also involving game development and STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
When Will Riot Fund Projects in Each State?
Riot is rolling out the funding in stages as Worlds moves between host locations. Each state's funding date falls before the tournament's corresponding stage or final:
- California, October 12: Funding began ahead of the Play-In Stage, which starts October 15 at the Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles.
- Texas, October 19: The campaign moves to Texas before the Swiss Stage begins on October 23. Allen's Credit Union of Texas Event Center will host the Swiss Stage, Quarterfinals, and Semifinals.
- New York, November 9: The final round of state funding comes ahead of the Worlds Grand Final on November 14 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Eligible teachers across each state can benefit, not only those working in the three host cities.
What Happens to Any Money Left After Worlds?
If funds remain after the state campaigns, Riot will use them for a nationwide donation-matching campaign on December 1, GivingTuesday. The company will match donations to gaming and esports-related classroom projects across the United States while the remaining funds last.
Riot and DonorsChoose Have Supported More Than 1,600 Projects
The partnership began in 2023. Since then, Riot Games says it has contributed more than $1 million in gaming and esports resources for public school teachers in at least 49 US states.
The DonorsChoose campaign page reports more than 1,600 projects funded, support for over 950 teachers, and benefits reaching more than 110,000 students.
DonorsChoose also reports that requests for gaming and esports projects have increased by 126% since Riot began supporting teachers through the platform. More schools have been introducing esports programs, incorporating coding into lessons, and using games to teach other subjects.
What Kinds of School Programs Can Benefit?
The campaign focuses on middle and high school teachers, particularly those at schools with greater resource needs, including rural communities. DonorsChoose highlights previous examples of Riot-backed initiatives, including a high school VALORANT esports club in Southern California and an esports gaming club at a Bronx high school.
The Bronx club's teacher described how access to gaming equipment helped students develop teamwork, communication, and strategic thinking skills. The examples show how funding can support both competitive school teams and activities that connect gaming with classroom learning.
Teachers looking to request resources and people interested in funding classroom projects can visit the Riot Games x DonorsChoose campaign page.
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Featured image credit: DonorsChoose
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