Why We Need Your Help
The U.S. Soccer Foundation, the Major Charitable Arm of Soccer, supports expanded participation in the game and is dedicated to increasing opportunities for players everywhere, especially those in economically disadvantaged urban areas, to play The Beautiful Game.
Foundation Programs
The Foundation's programs are focused on developing players, coaches and referees and supporting the building or enhancement of soccer fields, with a special emphasis on the economically disadvantaged in urban areas. These include:
We are proud of the positive impact the Foundation's philanthropy has had on the lives of so many over the past twelve years, and we are prepared to go wherever the need is, especially when the members of the soccer community are faced with overwhelming challenges due to natural disaster and other emergencies.
All of our success and the impact that our programs and community partners have had is a testament to the faith and goodwill of you, our loyal supporters. We aim to serve the needs of our grantees and constituents through our philanthropic initiatives, but the demand for assistance is far greater than the availability of our resources. For example, the Foundation received over 150 grant applications from soccer clubs, teams and municipalities during the 2007 Annual Grants Cycle. Despite our best efforts, we were only able to award 30 grants - 25 percent of our applicants - to support soccer development programs and various field enhancements and upgrade projects. Our goal is to increase the number of grants we award each year through the Annual Grants Cycle, and need your continued dedication and support to expand this important component of our mission.
As you read more about the communities we have touched and see images of the children whose lives we have affected, we hope that you share our sense of accomplishment. At the same time, there is still much more to be done.
The Foundation's overhead costs, including administration and development, are strictly controlled and covered by the Foundation's endowment. The Foundation is one of 2,000 non-profit organizations in the United States to receive the Independent Charities of America "Best in America" Seal of Excellence. We pride ourselves on our ability to meet and maintain the highest standards of public accountability, program and cost effectiveness in order to invest more of the non-investment revenues that we receive directly into our supported programs. Therefore, 100 percent of every dollar you contribute is used to expand one of our philanthropic programs.
Team Up with the U.S. Soccer Foundation to enrich more lives through soccer.
Major Foundation Accomplishments
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In its ten years of operation, the Foundation has invested over $43 million in the development of soccer in this country. Over $22,000,000 has been disbursed to more than 375 grantees in all 50 states.
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The Foundation has provided significant financial assistance to the 1999 and 2003 FIFA Women's World Cups, the development of the U.S. National Teams and the growth of Major League Soccer (MLS), the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), and the Women's Soccer Initiative, Inc. (WSII).
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The Foundation has supported the game at all levels, including two large grants to the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Recently, the Foundation awarded the Hall $1,000,000 to eliminate all of its debt, with the participation of local supporters.
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The Foundation's Passback Program has provided over 171,000 uniforms and pieces of soccer equipment to those who otherwise would have had none through the collection and redistribution of new and gently used soccer gear. Since the program's inception, Passback donations have been distributed to schools, soccer clubs and youth organizations across the nation, as well as overseas in Afghanistan, Ghana, Haiti, Iraq, Namibia, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe.
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In 2006, working with corporate partners and the soccer community in the Gulf States area, the Foundation formed the Soccer United Recovery Fund to assist those devastated by hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. The Fund has already provided over $500,000 in direct grants and in-kind equipment to help rebuild the soccer infrastructure in the area, and more remains to be done. Over 25,000 children have been directly impacted by the Foundation's Recovery Fund Grants Program.
For more information on how to support the charitable programs of the U.S. Soccer Foundation, please contact:
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