General FAQ's
How Does the Foundation's Grant Registration and Application Process Work?

1. Who is eligible to apply?
2. Who is ineligible to apply?
3. How can I apply?
4. Can I access the on-line Grants Registration Process using My Foundation ID and PIN?
5. Can I apply jointly with another individual or entity?
6. What can I apply for?
   • Program Grants
   • Field Grants
   • Synthetic Field Building Grants
7. Are there any restrictions on funding requests related to the two grant types that contain construction elements, i.e., Field Grants or Synthetic Field Building Grants?
8. How much funding can I request?
9. May I apply for a multi-year grant?
10. Does the Foundation award all cash grants?
11. How frequently does the Foundation award Program and Field grants?
12. Is there any cost associated with applying for a grant?
13. What information will I need to gather before applying for a grant?
    • Project
    • Budget
    • Timeline
    • Impact
    • Required Documents
14. What documentation will I need to submit in support of my grant application?
15. What are the important dates and deadlines for the 2009 grant cycle?
16. Can I request an extension of time to register and/or submit a full grant application?

Answers

1. Who is eligible to apply?

   Individuals or organizations are eligible to register for the Foundation's annual grantmaking program if funding is requested for:

   1. a soccer-specific program or field project that benefits a not-for-profit purpose and meets the established focus for the 2009 grant cycle
   2. in addition to meeting Criteria #1.a, a field project, including lighting, where the real property is owned at the time of registration or a minimum ten year lease/land use agreement is in place at the time of registration
   3. in addition to meeting Criteria #1.a and #1.b, lighting where the applicant has written authorization at the time of registration from the community where the project resides to add/use lights at the field.
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2. Who is ineligible to apply?

   Individuals or organizations are ineligible to register for the Foundation's annual grantmaking program if funding is requested for:

   1. a program or project that discriminates by race, creed, color, sex, or national origin
   2. a field project, including lighting, where the real property is not owned at the time of registration or a minimum ten year lease/land use agreement is not in place at the time of registration
   3. a single individual
   4. foreign projects or individuals
   5. for-profit organizations/entities
   6. lighting where the applicant does not have written authorization at the time of registration from the community where the project resides to add/use lights at the field
   7. pass-through-grants, i.e., funds awarded to one organization for the purpose of granting to another
   8. political campaigns
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3. How can I apply?

   To begin the on-line process of applying for a grant, the mandatory first step for eligible parties is to complete the brief registration form that can be found on the Registration page.
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4. Can I access the on-line Grants Registration Process using My Foundation ID and PIN?

   No, not at this time. You must register separately for the 2009 on-line grants process by visiting the Registration page.  Registration is open from August 1st - October 15th every year. The public cannot access the on-line grants process at any other time.
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5. Can I apply jointly with another individual or entity?

   No. The legal applicant must be a single entity.  Applications submitted indicating “joint” or “co-applicants’” will not be considered for funding.
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6. What can I apply for?

   There are three distinct grant types funded by the Foundation.  Each is defined below to help you identify the grant type that most closely parallels your program/project.

   • Program Grants

     A project that meets the Foundation's 2009 focus and does not contain a construction element. Funding assistance is generally in the form of product and/or services credit.
     
     The following Program grant elements will be considered for funding:
     

     1. Uniforms
     2. Player equipment (shoes, shin guards, etc.)
     3. Team Equipment (goals, balls, cones, etc.)
     4. Games and Practice Travel Costs (excludes expenses for professional games)
     5. Facility rental costs
     6. Registration costs
     7. Coaches training and fees
     8. Referees training and fees
   • Field Grants

     A project that meets the Foundation's 2009 focus and does contain a construction element such as field renovation, addition or improvement of irrigation equipment, addition or improvement of field equipment, or lighting. This grant type does not include upgrading existing fields with a synthetic grass surface (See Synthetic Field Building grant type).

     Introduced in 2008 and continuing for the 2009 grant cycle, additional funding is available for organizations seeking assistance to irrigate existing fields. The Foundation, in conjunction with its National Partner for Irrigation Equipment, Hunter Industries, is offering up to $100,000 in grants, in the form of equipment credit, which will provide successful applicants with irrigation equipment.
     
     The following Field grant elements will be considered for funding:

     1. Design services (e.g., master plan)
     2. Indoor building structure
     3. Futsal court (indoor or outdoor)
     4. Lighting (for existing fields only)
     5. Irrigation (for existing fields only)
     6. Graphic signage (field boards, banners, etc. for recognizing sponsors)
     7. Field equipment (goals, benches, etc.)
     8. Maintenance equipment (mower, tractor, etc.)
   • Synthetic Field Building Grants

     A project consisting wholly of field development construction utilizing the Synthetic Field Building Grants package consisting of four components: FieldTurf, synthetic surface pitch; Kwik Goal field equipment; Musco lights; and TGI signage.  An award for the Synthetic Field Building grant type provides a $200,000 credit toward the cost of constructing a synthetic grass package.  Projects for upgrading existing fields with a synthetic grass surface also falls within the Synthetic Field Building grant type.  Applications for Synthetic Field Building projects that do not propose to use lights will be given a lower priority.  To learn more about the Foundation's Synthetic Field Building Grants program click here.here.
     
     The following Synthetic Field Building Grants elements will be considered for funding:

     1. Full-size synthetic grass field
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7. Are there any restrictions on funding requests related to the two field grant types that contain construction elements, i.e., Field Grants or Synthetic Field Building Grants?

   The Foundation does not award funding to assist with the purchase of land or to offset (or retire) an existing mortgage or note for land.

   Additionally, the Foundation does not generally award funding for the construction of such non-field specific elements as concessions stands, restrooms, storage buildings, parking lots, and post-construction landscaping, etc., unless it can be demonstrated that funding for these elements will directly increase the number of soccer participants and fields.
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8. How much funding can I request?

   For the 2009 grant cycle, there is a $100,000 maximum request amount for Program and Field grant types and a $200,000 request limit for Synthetic Field Building Grants; however, Program and Field grant applicants need to be mindful that the awards process is highly competitive and it is extremely unlikely that the full request amount will be awarded.
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9. May I apply for a multi-year grant?

   For the 2009 grant cycle, the Foundation will accept single year requests only.
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10. Does the Foundation award all cash grants?

    Generally, grant awards ARE NOT 100 percent cash.  Grant awards frequently comprise the services and/or products of the Foundation’s Partners Resource Center which is made up of industry leaders who support the Foundation.

    Most awards include products and services from the various Partners, usually in the form of equipment and/or service credit.

    As you plan your program or project, it is important to understand that, if you are successful in obtaining a grant award and that grant award stipulates the award is in the form of equipment and/or service credit, you will be required to use the Partner designated in the Grant Agreement (the official contract between the Foundation and the grantee).
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11. How frequently does the Foundation award grants?

    The Foundation makes Program, Field, and Synthetic Surface Field Grant awards once a year with award announcements generally made in the early spring.
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12. Is there any cost associated with registering and applying for a grant?

    No.
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13. What information will I need to gather before applying for a grant?
    • Project – You will need a comprehensive description of your project including mission, goals, objectives, etc.
    • Budget – You will need a comprehensive budget for your project including income and expense not only for the project, but for the applicant as well.  Budgetary documentation for the applicant includes at least three (3) years of operations expenses.
    • Timeline – You will need a timeline for your project including all construction elements if applicable.
    • Impact – You will need the project’s stated outcomes including how they will be measured.
    • Required Documents – Most applicants will need proof of their non-profit status, i.e., a designation letter from the Internal Revenue Service(IRS) or most recently submitted IRS-990. The Foundation strongly prefers the Internal Revenue Service designation letter. The exceptions to this requirement are Municipalities, colleges/universities, public schools, and sovereign Tribal Nations as these applicants are generally accepted by the Foundation as tax-exempt and, as such, are not required to submit tax-exempt documentation. Letters of tax-exempt status issued by states or any entity other than the Federal Government are unacceptable.

    For additional information on required documentation, please see Question #14.
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14. What documentation will I need to submit in support of my grant application?

    The Foundation accepts either paper copies or uploaded files of the following documents:

    • Proof of Non-Profit Status – Either a designation letter from the Internal Revenue Service or the most recently submitted IRS-990 (unless applicant is a Municipality, college/university, public school, or a sovereign Tribal Nation).  The designation letter is strongly preferred.
    • Site Plan – The project’s site plan (or similar landscape picture) must be submitted.  All site plans and pictures must be submitted on 8.5” x 11” paper (or, if uploaded into the on-line application, be scaled to print on 8.5” x 11” paper) and include all amenities (i.e. lights, parking lots, etc.) and buildings (i.e. concession stands, bathrooms etc.).
    • Evidence of Ownership of Real Property – For example, a Title or Deed.
    • Right to Use Land – For example, an executed ten year or longer lease or land use agreement.
    • Right to Use Lighted Fields – If the project includes lights, written documentation that the applicant has secured approval from the community where project resides to use lighted fields.
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15. What are the important dates and deadlines for the 2009 grant cycle?
    • August 1, 2008 – Registration opens for the Foundation’s 2009 grant cycle.
    • August 1, 2008 through September 15, 2008, 5:00 PM, Eastern Time - New for 2009! As a courtesy, all applications that include uploaded mandatory documents submitted by September 15, 2008, 5:00 PM Eastern Time, will receive an early completeness review and the opportunity, if necessary, to make changes or additions to their application prior to the final deadline.
    • October 15, 2008, 5:00 PM, Eastern Time – On-line access for submission of an application terminates at exactly 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Additionally, all mandatory, supporting documents, whether paper documents or uploaded files, MUST BE RECEIVED in the Foundation’s office by 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
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16. Can I request an extension of time to submit a full grant application?

    No.  Extensions of time cannot be granted for any reason.
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