Equal Playing Field

What Equal Playing Field does

Equal Playing Field (EPF) is a US-registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2016-2017 that advances women's equality in football from grassroots to elite levels. It operates global football camps and training programs across 72 countries and 6 continents, delivers FIFA-certified referee training (53 referees certified to date), and convenes a biennial Equality Summit that brings together thought leaders, activists, business leaders, and policymakers. The organization has built an integrated media-communications platform around four Guinness World Records (highest elevation at Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2017, lowest elevation at the Dead Sea in 2018, most players in a 5-a-side match and most nationalities in an exhibition match in Lyon in 2019-2020, plus Deena Rahman's penalty-kicks record), supported by a feature documentary released on BEIN Sports (2017) and Apple TV (November 2021).

EPF is entirely volunteer-powered with 1-10 paid staff and does not sell a technology product. Its 'technology' footprint consists of a Squaresquarespace website, social media accounts, and standard video distribution channels. The organization serves three primary segments: girls and women aged 5-64 seeking playing, coaching, and refereeing opportunities; grassroots organizations, NGOs, and federations needing capacity-building support; and thought leaders and policymakers driving systemic change. It reports engaging 9,000+ participants, partnering with 110+ non-profits, and reaching tens of millions of social media impressions and 42 international media outlets across 12 languages.

Revenue comes from individual donations, corporate sponsorship (including via the Benevity CSR platform), foundation grants, and nominal event registration fees (e.g., 20EUR adults / 10EUR kids for Festival of Football 2019). EPF has no equity investors, no disclosed funding rounds, and operates as an independent charitable entity co-founded by Erin Blankenship, Laura Youngson, and Maggie Murphy (who is concurrently CEO of Lewes FC). Its competitive position is built on brand recognition from world records, a content library anchored by the documentary, and an ecosystem of 10-20 recurring corporate and NGO partners rather than any proprietary technology.

Name

Equal Playing Field

Legal name

Equal Playing Field

Website

https://equalplayingfield.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Equal Playing Field is a US 501(c)(3) non-profit that advances women's equality in football through global camps in 72 countries, FIFA-certified referee training, Guinness World Record events, and a biennial Equality Summit, serving girls and women aged 5-64 alongside grassroots organizations and policymakers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women's Sport and Gender Equality Nonprofit

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs) (MPAKAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Amateur Event & Tournament Organizers (Meets, Invitationals, Opens) (MPAKACAL), Amateur & Grassroots Tournament Organizers (MPAKADAH)

Keywords

• Women's football advocacy
• Sport nonprofit programs
• Gender equality sport
• Football training camps
• Sport for development

Headquarters

HQ city

Texas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Personal donations can be made through crowdfunding site and PayPal. The organization is a registered non-profit charity/501(c)3.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate donations through Benevity CSR donation platform and direct corporate sponsorship arrangements with companies supporting the mission.
3. Event Registration: Registration fees for participation in world record events and festivals. Registration for Festival of Football 2019 was 20EUR for adults and 10EUR for kids.
4. Foundation Grants: Support from private foundations to help grow and amplify the work of leaders and changemakers for girls and women in sport.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Equal Playing Field is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit that advances women's equality in sport through global football camps and training programs (40+ camps in 23 countries serving 9,000+ girls and women), Guinness World Record events at extreme locations to drive global media attention, FIFA-certified female referee training (53 referees), a feature documentary film distributed on Apple TV and BEIN Sports, and the biennial Equality Summit convening activists, business leaders, and policymakers. The organization is entirely volunteer-powered and funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorship, foundation grants, and nominal event registration fees.

Product overview

Equal Playing Field is a registered non-profit charity/501(c)3 organization rather than a traditional software company. The organization operates as a collective of change-makers offering a portfolio of programs including football camps and training programs across 72 countries, Guinness World Record events at extreme locations to raise visibility for gender equality, a feature documentary film released on Apple TV and BEIN Sports, the biennial Equality Summit bringing together stakeholders in women's football, and an integrated media-communications platform. These offerings work together to advance women's equality in sport from grassroots to elite levels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Football Camps and Training Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 9000+ girls and women engaged from 6 continents (aged 5-64)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Women WincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen Win is a global multi-dimensional women's fund guided by the vision of every girl and woman exercising their rights. They supported 102 local partners in 51 countries globally in 2021. Women Win is a presenting partner of the 2022 Equality Summit.
• XerocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerXero is a cloud accounting software company helping small businesses. They are a presenting partner of the 2022 Equality Summit, focusing on the financial viability of women's football clubs at grassroots level.
• PixstorycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPixstory is a social media app focused on creating safe spaces for expression without hate and misinformation. They presented the Thursday Evening Drinks Reception at the 2022 Equality Summit and are partnered with Paris Saint Germain Féminines, Juventus, Arsenal.
• Minute MediacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMinute Media is a leading technology and digital content company powering sports and culture content brands including The Players' Tribune, 90min, and FanSided. They are a presenting partner of the 2022 Equality Summit.
• Lewes Football ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe only pro or semi-pro football club in the world to value and resource female players equally to male ones. Lewes FC CEO Maggie Murphy is also EPF Co-Founder. They are the presenting partner for the 2022 Equality Summit.
• PUMAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPUMA is a presenting partner of the 2022 Equality Summit. Known for their support of women's sport and gender equality initiatives.
• Kings College LondoncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerKings College Sport hosted the 2022 Equality Summit at their Strand Campus in London. Provided venue, hospitality, and operational support for the event.
• Women In SoccersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerWomen In Soccer facilitated guided networking sessions during the 2022 Equality Summit, helping attendees make meaningful connections.
• Ida SportssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerIda Sports hosted a women's pickup football event at the 2022 Equality Summit and raffled off female-specific football boots.
• Girls UnitedsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGirls United co-hosted the 'Play Like a Girl' open session and women's pickup football event at the 2022 Equality Summit.
• IGI InsurancesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerIGI Insurance has supported EPF for 3 years, both financially and physically in world record attempts at Kilimanjaro, Jordan, and Lyon. The company has a 50/50 gender ratio in its global workforce and focuses on D&I initiatives.
• Discover FootballsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiscover Football sees football as a way to empower women and promote intercultural understanding. Several EPF squad members have participated in their international exchanges and tournaments.
• PARK Social Soccer CosupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerAustralian/US company that believes 'passion is universal, but opportunity is not.' Provided training balls for EPF's Zambian and South African clinics.
• PitcherosupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal sports network providing clubs with website and app tools. Sponsored the EPF world record attempt and provided Pitchero Play app for capturing match highlights.
• V and V AdvertisingsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with EPF to host a football clinic in Palestine during International Women's Day week in March 2019.
• Pass CollectivesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial enterprise that nurtures inclusive development through creative intelligence. Partnered with EPF for the AFC Women's Day Equal Playing Field Football Festival in Bangalore, India.
• Shining Stars FCsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFootball club empowering young people through football. Partnered with EPF and Pass Collective for the Bangalore football festival.
• Positive Youth FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMidlands-based social enterprise working with around 3000 young people annually. Modeled official jerseys for EPF's 2019 World Record Match.
• Tekkers Academy BahrainsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeena Rahman's academy in Bahrain coaches over 600 students including 200 girls. Deena has participated in all EPF world records and achieved her own record for most penalties in 24 hours.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Women Win: Global multi-dimensional women's sport fund that supported 102 local partners in 51 countries in 2021 and is a presenting partner of EPF's Equality Summit. Directly comparable mission (advancing girls and women through sport) with broader programmatic footprint.
• Lewes Football Club: The only pro/semi-pro football club globally paying female players equally to male players; co-founded by EPF co-founder Maggie Murphy. Directly comparable gender-equality-in-football mission with a club-operating model vs. EPF's advocacy model.
• Discover Football: International organization using football to empower women and promote intercultural understanding; several EPF squad members have participated in Discover Football exchanges. Direct peer in the women's-football-for-development niche.
• Soccer Without Borders: Uses soccer as a vehicle for refugee and immigrant youth inclusion; comparable sport-for-development model targeting marginalized populations through football programming and global camps.
• Women In Soccer: Network supporting women in football careers and facilitating connections across the women's football ecosystem; partnered with EPF on Equality Summit networking sessions. Comparable women's-football professional-development focus.
• Women Sports International: International advocacy organization promoting women and girls in sport at all levels; comparable mission around gender equality in sport with longer institutional history.

Emerging players

• Kick4Life: Football-for-good organization in Lesotho focused on youth health and HIV prevention. Comparable sport-for-development model with narrower geographic focus.
• Common Goal: Movement led by Juan Mata mobilizing football professionals to pledge a percentage of income to football-for-good initiatives; comparable sport-for-development model with a different (player-pledge) funding mechanism.

Broad incumbents

• Girl Effect: Larger, better-funded global organization empowering girls through media, mobile, and partnerships; comparable gender-equality mission but broader (not sport-specific) and significantly larger scale.
• International Working Group on Women and Sport (IWG): Global umbrella network advocating for gender equity in sport with representation from 400+ organizations worldwide; broader, more institutional version of EPF's advocacy mission.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/epfinitiative
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBI1dLMRFAHdzg99e2BSMzg
• Facebookfacebook.com/equalplayingfield
• Instagraminstagram.com/equalplayingfieldinitiative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/equalplayingfield

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Equal Playing Field