Starfinder Foundation

What Starfinder Foundation does

Starfinder Foundation is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization founded in 2002 that uses soccer as the engagement vehicle for youth development programming targeting underserved Philadelphia communities (grades K-12). The organization operates from a 28,000 square foot indoor facility at 4015 Main Street in Manayunk featuring synthetic turf and climate control, which functions simultaneously as a program delivery venue and a revenue-generating rental asset. Starfinder combines athletic training with academic support, college guidance, mentoring, and leadership development delivered through its REACH framework (Readiness, Empathy, Attitude, Communication, Hard Work), and has served over 10,000 cumulative youth with approximately 500-600 youth served annually.

The core product portfolio includes the Playmakers Program (formerly Senior Leaders) for high school students, Golazo Girls and Vamos Boys for elementary and middle school youth, Summer Camp, Short Shots Pre-K Soccer for ages 2-6, Youth Soccer Tournaments, an Alumni Program for post-secondary support, and Adult Programs (Pick-up Soccer and Adult Leagues operated through partner Heyday Athletic). The 28,000 sq ft facility is also rented for team practices, corporate events, birthday parties, and celebrations through tiered packages. Revenue is generated through four streams: individual donations and corporate sponsorships, foundation grants (GSK IMPACT Award, UEFA Foundation for Children, FIFA Foundation, Premier League International Development Fund, U.S. Soccer Foundation, Women's Sports Foundation/espnW Sports 4 Life), sliding-scale program fees, and facility rental. Pricing for youth programs is intentionally subsidized, with financial assistance and pay-what-you-can options available.

The organization is led by Executive Director Andrea Rodgers (appointed November 2020 following a national search) and Board Chair Alex Seldin. Notable operational events include Heidi Warren's prior 15-year tenure during which she led a Capital Campaign raising over $1 million, the 2018 FIFA Foundation Festival in Moscow (one of three US organizations selected), selection as the only US project in the 2019 UEFA Foundation for Children cohort, and 2021 Hurricane Ida flood damage that required temporary facility closure. Key operational integrations include DonorPerfect for donations, RecDesk for registration, and Zoom for virtual programming. Documented participant outcomes include a 100% high-school graduation rate and 91% college matriculation rate among program seniors, 86% PACER fitness improvement, and 95% participant-reported program impact.

Name

Starfinder Foundation

Legal name

Starfinder Foundation

Website

https://starfinderfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Starfinder Foundation is a Philadelphia nonprofit founded in 2002 that uses soccer to deliver youth-development programming — academic support, mentoring, and leadership training — to 500-600 underserved K-12 youth annually from a 28,000 sq ft Manayunk indoor facility, supplemented by grants, donations, and facility rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF), Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA), Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)

Keywords

• Youth soccer programs
• Sports-based youth development
• After-school programs
• Indoor field rental
• Nonprofit youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events constitute major revenue streams. The organization accepts online donations, stock donations, workplace giving (United Way), major gifts, and estate gifts.
2. Grants: The organization receives grants from foundations including UEFA Foundation for Children, FIFA Foundation, Premier League, U.S. Soccer Foundation, Women's Sports Foundation (Sports 4 Life), GSK IMPACT Awards, and PHL-COVID 19 Fund.
3. Field Rental and Facility Usage: Revenue generated from renting the 28,000 square foot indoor facility for team practices, games, leagues, camps, corporate events, birthday parties, and other private events. Corporate meeting space with AV equipment is also available for rent.
4. Program Fees: Fees for youth programs including summer camp ($100 per child per week), middle school programs ($50 for 6 sessions), pickup soccer ($10 per session), tournaments, and adult leagues.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Starfinder Foundation operates a 28,000 sq ft indoor soccer facility in Manayunk, Philadelphia, delivering soccer-based youth development programs for underserved K-12 youth that combine athletic training with academic support, mentorship, and leadership development. Core programs include the Playmakers high school leadership program, Golazo Girls and Vamos Boys middle school programs, Summer Camp, Short Shots Pre-K Soccer, and Youth Tournaments, complemented by facility rental, adult pickup soccer leagues, and the annual Cocktails with a Kick! fundraising gala.

Product overview

Starfinder Foundation is a nonprofit youth development organization that operates a portfolio of soccer-based programs and facility rental services. The core offerings include the Playmakers Program (formerly Senior Leaders) for high school students, Golazo Girls & Vamos Boys for middle school youth, Summer Camp, Short Shots Pre-K Soccer, Youth Soccer Tournaments, and Adult Soccer Programs. These programs are complemented by facility rental services (28,000 sq ft indoor turf field and meeting spaces), the annual Cocktails with a Kick! fundraising gala, an Alumni Program for post-secondary support, and corporate sponsorship opportunities. The organization generates revenue through field rentals and events while delivering youth development programming focused on academic success, leadership development, and healthy lifestyles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Playmakers Program 6-month intensive leadership program for high school students in 9th-12th grade combining soccer and fitness training with academic support, college guidance, mentoring, and leadership development. Formerly known as Senior Leaders Program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% high school graduation rate and 91% college matriculation rate among program seniors
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Woza SoccerminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2018Awarded scholarship positions to Starfinder teens Kendra Chan and Gregory Roach for international service trips to Peru and Malawi respectively.
• Philadelphia Youth Sports CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 June 2018Starfinder partnered with Game On Philly!, a multi-year campaign to increase sports-based youth development participation. Starfinder is a key partner in this initiative.
• Philadelphia UnioncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 June 2018Starfinder was named Charity of the Match for Philadelphia Union vs Vancouver game, receiving recognition at halftime and on-screen visibility for the organization's programs.
• Common Goal (Juan Mata)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2018Starfinder was one of 27 organizations globally and one of only 3 US-based organizations selected for Common Goal's first collaboration cycle. Manchester United star Juan Mata and Alberto Prada Vega designated funds to support female coaches and gender equality programming.
• Brandywine Realty TrustminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate employees participated in Days of Caring volunteer activities and Starfinder Cup corporate soccer tournament, raising $25,000 to cover full cost of 10 Senior Leaders.
• Rebuilding Together PhiladelphiaminorOthersVolunteers painted mezzanine walls, installed shelves, replaced ceiling tiles, and built wood casing around field I-beams during corporate Days of Caring.
• Up2Us SportscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStarfinder has hosted Up2Us Sports coaches since 2014 and participated in their data collection program measuring youth fitness and life skills outcomes.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• America SCORES: National affiliate network combining soccer, poetry, and community service for underserved youth across multiple U.S. cities. Closely mirrors Starfinder's after-school model combining soccer, education, and leadership development, but at greater geographic reach.
• Street Soccer USA: Uses soccer as a vehicle for social change, focusing on youth from underserved communities in multiple U.S. cities. Shares Starfinder's sport-for-social-change mission and FIFA Foundation affiliation, but operates at greater geographic scale.
• Up2Us Sports: National nonprofit focused on sports-based youth development and the recruitment/training of coaches. Listed as a Starfinder partner; shares the data-driven, coach-mentor model and youth outcomes orientation.
• DC SCORES: Nonprofit combining soccer with poetry and service-learning for youth in Washington, D.C. Highly comparable youth development model via soccer plus academic/leadership outcomes, similar to Starfinder's combined athletic, academic, and leadership focus.
• U.S. Soccer Foundation: National nonprofit funding soccer-based youth development programs across the U.S. Starfinder is one of its grantees ($22,500 in 2019). Both use soccer to drive social outcomes for underserved youth, but the Foundation operates as a grantmaker rather than a direct program operator.
• Common Goal: Global network linking professional footballers to soccer-for-social-change nonprofits. Starfinder is one of only three U.S. members; both operate in the soccer-for-social-change space with shared funder networks (FIFA Foundation, UEFA).

Broad incumbents

• Police Athletic League (PAL): National youth-services nonprofit providing sports, educational, and cultural programming for at-risk youth. Comparable youth-development-via-sports mission and similar reliance on community partnerships and donations, but serves a much broader geography and program set.
• Playworks: Largest national nonprofit focused on youth sports-based social development in schools, primarily through recess and after-school programs. Overlaps with Starfinder's sports-based youth development mission but operates in elementary schools broadly and is not sport-specific.
• Right to Play: International organization using sport and play to educate and empower children affected by conflict, poverty, and disease. Shares the sport-for-development thesis with Starfinder but operates globally and at much greater scale.

Regional players

• Soccer in the Streets: Atlanta-based nonprofit using soccer to empower youth from underserved communities through after-school and life-skills programming. Closely comparable to Starfinder's mission, model, and community-based youth soccer development approach, but operating in a different metropolitan market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/StarfinderFound
• Facebookfacebook.com/StarfinderFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/489491/admin
• Instagraminstagram.com/starfinderfoundation/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Starfinder Foundation