Soccer Without Borders
Soccer Without Borders is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 that delivers free soccer, education, and community programming to underserved newcomer, refugee, and immigrant youth ages 5–20 across six hubs in the US (Bay Area, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts), Nicaragua, and Uganda.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Soccer Without Borders does
Soccer Without Borders (SWB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2006 and headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, that delivers free youth development programming combining soccer, educational support, English language learning, and community-building activities for underserved newcomer, refugee, and immigrant youth ages 5–20. SWB operates six program hubs across four US states (California/Bay Area, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts) and two international locations (Granada, Nicaragua and Kampala, Uganda), serving 7,757 registered participants in FY2024 from 73+ countries of origin speaking 48 languages. Core product offerings include the TEAM Program (Trabajando En Equipo Aprendemos Más — year-round holistic programming), SWB Assist (capacity-building and inclusive coach training delivered to 700 coaches in 14 countries), and Meet Me on the Pitch (a coaching methodology being validated through a 5-year NIH clinical trial as a trauma-recovery intervention).
Revenue is generated entirely through philanthropic and government channels rather than participant fees, with FY2024 total revenues of $6,533,723. The revenue mix is 45.0% foundation and corporate grants ($2,937,828, including a $1M unrestricted MacKenzie Scott / Yield Giving award), 37.8% government funding ($2,470,656), 10.9% individual donations from 500+ supporters ($715,094), 4.0% in-kind contributions ($258,240), and 2.3% earned revenue and special events ($151,904). Distribution is direct through hubs and school district partnerships (SFUSD, Oakland Unified, Denver Public Schools, Baltimore County Public Schools, and Massachusetts public schools). SWB is governed by a Board of Directors with National and Regional Advisory Boards, led by Executive Director Jennifer Tepper, and operates with 109 full and part-time staff and 286 volunteers across hubs.
Soccer Without Borders firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Soccer Without Borders
- Legal name
- Soccer Without Borders
- Website
- https://soccerwithoutborders.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Soccer Without Borders is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 that delivers free soccer, education, and community programming to underserved newcomer, refugee, and immigrant youth ages 5–20 across six hubs in the US (Bay Area, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts), Nicaragua, and Uganda.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Soccer Without Borders industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Development Nonprofit Services
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth Development & Sports Outreach Programs (EDAIAGAG), Recreational & Intramural Sports Programs (MPAKACAG), Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs) (MPAKAFAF)
Keywords
Where Soccer Without Borders is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
Soccer Without Borders business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation & Corporate Grants: The largest revenue stream at 45% of total revenues ($2,937,828 in FY2024). Includes funding from foundations, corporations, and major donors like the $1M unrestricted investment from MacKenzie Scott through Yield Giving.
- Government Funding: Second largest revenue stream at 37.8% of total revenues ($2,470,656 in FY2024). Includes federal, state, and local government grants and contracts.
- Individual Donations: Individual donor contributions totaling $715,094 in FY2024 (10.9% of revenues). Raised from over 500 supporters contributing $500 or more.
- Earned Revenue & Events: Special events and earned revenue totaling $151,904 (2.3% of revenues).
- In-Kind Contributions: In-kind donations and services valued at $258,240 (4.0% of revenues). Includes equipment, professional services, and other non-cash contributions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free youth programs for underserved participants |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Soccer Without Borders product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Soccer Without Borders delivers free, holistic youth development programming that combines soccer play with educational support, English language instruction, and community-building activities for underserved youth ages 5-20, particularly newcomer refugees and immigrants. Programs are operated directly through six program hubs (four US, two international) year-round, supplemented by a capacity-building division (SWB Assist) that trains partner organizations globally and an evidence-based mental health coaching methodology (Meet Me on the Pitch) under NIH clinical trial validation.
Product overview
Soccer Without Borders operates as a direct-service nonprofit organization (501(c)(3), EIN 20-3786129) offering a portfolio of youth development programs centered on soccer as a vehicle for positive change. The core offering is its Direct Service Programs — including TEAM Programs (trabajando en equipo aprendemos más), camps, clinics, and leagues/tournaments — delivered free of charge across six geographic hubs in the US (Bay Area, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts), Nicaragua (Fútbol Sin Fronteras), and Uganda. Programs combine soccer play with educational support, English language learning, and community-building activities for underserved youth ages 5-20. SWB Assist extends this work globally by providing capacity-building and inclusive coach training to partner organizations. The Meet Me on the Pitch (MMOTP) methodology represents SWB's evidence-based approach to mental health support through soccer coaching, currently undergoing validation as a five-year NIH clinical trial.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- TEAM Program: Trabajando En Equipo Aprendemos Más - comprehensive programs combining soccer, education, and community-building over 36+ weeks/year
- SWB Assist
- Meet Me on the Pitch
- Switch the Pitch
Products and services
- SWB Direct Service Programs (TEAM Programs) Holistic youth development programming combining soccer, education, and community-building activities delivered at six program hubs in the US (Bay Area, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts), Nicaragua (Fútbol Sin Fronteras), and Uganda. Includes TEAM programs, camps, clinics, and leagues/tournaments. Free to participants ages 5-20.
- SWB Assist (Capacity Building) Capacity-building division offering training, technical assistance, and best-practice resources to other nonprofits, clubs, and organizations working in sport-for-development to advance inclusion and equity through sport globally.
- Meet Me on the Pitch (MMOTP) An evidence-based coaching methodology equipping coaches working with newcomer youth to lead culturally rooted mental health conversations, validated through a five-year NIH clinical trial.
- Fútbol Sin Fronteras (FSF) Nicaragua Programs SWB's Nicaragua hub operating in Granada since 2008, using soccer to build leadership, improve educational outcomes, and strengthen social-emotional skills for girls ages 5-20.
- SWB Uganda Programs SWB's Uganda hub in Kampala serving urban refugee youth with daily out-of-school programs, community activities during school holidays, and youth-led soccer leagues including the Uganda Girls Leagues (UGL).
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% high school graduation rate for English Language Learners at SWB vs 61% nationwide
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Soccer Without Borders
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Soccer Without Borders technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Soccer Without Borders partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD)corePartnership initiated by SFUSD to meet academic, social, and community support needs of English Language Learner students. SWB programs officially began at the start of the 2024-2025 school year.
- Bay FCcoreProfessional women's soccer team partnered with SWB Bay Area. Players trained with SWB youth, youth were invited to home matches, and Lupe from SWB served as honorary captain.
- Common GoalcoreGlobal football movement for social change. SWB is a member and leads initiatives including Switch the Pitch inclusive coach training and Global Goal 5 Accelerators in partnership with Common Goal.
- Up2Us Sports / AmeriCorpscoreNational service partnership offering Coach-Mentor Fellow positions at US program sites. Includes annual living stipend and education award.
- Beyond SportcoreGlobal organization that uses sport to drive positive social change. SWB is a member and has received the Collective Impact Award.
- Women WincoreGlobal partner for gender equity in sport. Co-develops Global Goal 5 Accelerators with SWB and Common Goal.
- LaureusminorGlobal sports charity supporting sport for good programs worldwide.
- Sport for Refugees CoalitioncoreGlobal movement of 140+ organizations committed to using sport to support displaced communities. SWB formally joined in 2024.
- Capelli SportminorOfficial uniform provider for SWB.
- Senda AthleticsminorOfficial game ball provider for SWB.
- Oakland Unified School DistrictcoreLong-standing partnership to serve newcomer youth across Alameda County with in-school and after-school programs.
- New England RevolutionminorProfessional soccer club that has recognized SWB Massachusetts coaches as 'Heroes of the Match' and hosted SWB participants at matches.
- Chicago Fire AcademyminorHosted Switch the Pitch inclusive coach training session led by SWB and Common Goal.
- FIFAcoreSWB received FIFA Diversity Award and participates in FIFA initiatives. FIFA Foundation supports SWB Uganda programming.
Scale indicators21 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Soccer Without Borders competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Up2Us Sports: National nonprofit training and deploying coaches in sports-based youth development across the US, including via AmeriCorps (a direct partner of SWB). Comparable as a US sport-for-development intermediary with shared outcome-measurement frameworks and coach-training IP.
- PeacePlayers International: Nonprofit using basketball (and soccer) to unite divided communities, with deep work in Northern Ireland, Middle East, and South Africa. Comparable as a sport-for-social-change nonprofit with international programming, conflict-affected youth focus, and partnership-based delivery model.
- Women Win: Global nonprofit advancing gender equity through sport, co-developing Global Goal 5 Accelerators with SWB and Common Goal. Most directly comparable peer for SWB's Nicaragua and Uganda gender-equity programming and inclusive coaching IP.
- America SCORES: National nonprofit combining soccer with poetry, service-learning, and academic support for underserved urban youth. Most directly comparable peer given the soccer + education + community-building model serving similar demographics in US cities.
- Right to Play: Global nonprofit using sport and play to educate and empower children facing adversity, with strong presence in refugee and conflict-affected contexts. Closest international peer given shared focus on newcomer/refugee youth and sport-based SEL outcomes.
- Playworks: Largest US nonprofit leveraging sport for youth development in underserved schools, delivering structured play and social-emotional programming during/after school. Directly comparable to SWB's school-district-based free programming model and outcome-oriented youth development approach.
Broad incumbents
- Laureus Sport for Good: Global foundation using sport to address social challenges across 100+ programs worldwide. Comparable as a high-profile funder/umbrella for sport-for-development organizations including SWB, with overlapping mission and partnership-tier funder role.
- Beyond Sport: Global collective impact organization supporting and convening sport-for-development programs, which has recognized SWB with the Collective Impact Award. Comparable as ecosystem convener and capacity-builder for the sport-for-development sector.
Emerging players
- Common Goal: Global football-for-change movement of professional players and organizations pooling resources for sport-based social impact. Direct SWB partner co-developing Switch the Pitch and Global Goal 5 Accelerators; comparable as a peer movement/co-developer rather than direct service competitor.
Regional players
- Generation Amazing (Qatar Foundation): Sport-for-development initiative using football to empower youth, primarily operating across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Comparable mission and youth-development-via-football model, but geographically distinct from SWB's US/Nicaragua/Uganda footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Soccer Without Borders social profiles
Digital presenceSoccer Without Borders financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Soccer Without Borders leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Soccer Without Borders funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Soccer Without Borders M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Soccer Without Borders
What does Soccer Without Borders do?
Soccer Without Borders delivers free, holistic youth development programming that combines soccer play with educational support, English language instruction, and community-building activities for underserved youth ages 5-20, particularly newcomer refugees and immigrants. Programs are operated directly through six program hubs (four US, two international) year-round, supplemented by a capacity-building division (SWB Assist) that trains partner organizations globally and an evidence-based mental health coaching methodology (Meet Me on the Pitch) under NIH clinical trial validation.
Is Soccer Without Borders a public or private company?
Soccer Without Borders is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Soccer Without Borders founded?
Soccer Without Borders was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Soccer Without Borders based?
Soccer Without Borders is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Soccer Without Borders make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Foundation & Corporate Grants are the primary driver. The others are government Funding, individual Donations, earned Revenue & Events and in-Kind Contributions.
Who are Soccer Without Borders's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Up2Us Sports, PeacePlayers International, Women Win, America SCORES, Right to Play and Playworks. Broad incumbents are Laureus Sport for Good and Beyond Sport. Common Goal is listed as an emerging player. Generation Amazing (Qatar Foundation) is listed as a regional player.
Does Soccer Without Borders have an API?
No public API is recorded for Soccer Without Borders.
What industry is Soccer Without Borders in?
Soccer Without Borders's product category is Youth Development Nonprofit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAJ, Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDAIAGAG, Youth Development & Sports Outreach Programs. Its NAICS code is 611620 and its SIC code is 8200.