What Lincoln City Foundation does

Lincoln City Foundation is a non-profit charity (registered in England and Wales, no. 1128464) founded in 1994 as the charitable arm of Lincoln City Football Club, using the club's brand and reach to deliver community programmes across Lincolnshire. The foundation operates four interconnected service pillars: Mental Health and Wellbeing (Team Talk, Fighting Fit for cancer patients, Active Together for Parkinson's, Walking Football, Seated Chair Exercise, Wellbeing Walks), Community Cohesion (Imps Together, Social Hub, Extra Time Hub, Stadium Meet Up), Education and Employability (Sport BTEC, Foundation Degree with University of South Wales, Pathway to IMPloyment, Conversation Club, ESOL English, School Programmes), and Sport and Physical Activity (Football Development, PL Kicks, Tournaments, Walking Tennis, New Age Kurling). Services are delivered through a direct model with no intermediaries — primarily at LNER Stadium and partner venues across Lincolnshire including schools, leisure centres, community hubs, and care homes.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix rather than a single business model: (1) recurring donations and monthly support plans ranging from £11 to £88 via JustGiving, (2) corporate sponsorship and Charity of the Year partnerships, (3) grant and programme funding from Premier League (Primary Stars, Kicks) and Lincolnshire Community Foundation, (4) modest session fees of £2–£4 for health and wellbeing activities, and (5) event-based fundraising through Lincoln Half Marathon, Lincoln 10k, London Marathon charity places, and easyfundraising affiliate revenue. No proprietary technology platform underpins delivery; the foundation's "platform" is its physical venue network and partner ecosystem.

Name

Lincoln City Foundation

Legal name

Lincoln City Foundation

Website

https://lincolncityfoundation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lincoln City Foundation is a Lincolnshire-based charity, founded in 1994 as the charitable arm of Lincoln City Football Club, delivering health, education, employability, and sport programmes to diverse community groups across the county.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Sports and Health Charity Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Community sports programmes
• Health and wellbeing services
• Education and employability training
• Charity fundraising events
• Football foundation programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Giving: The foundation receives one-time and recurring donations through JustGiving platform and direct contributions. Monthly support plans range from £11 to £88 per month, providing donors with various engagement levels and benefits.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate partners sponsor the foundation through Charity of the Year programmes, fundraising events, and 'Friends of the Foundation' opportunities. Corporate giving includes specific programme funding, regular commercial giving, and collaborative projects.
3. Session Fees: Various health and wellbeing sessions charge modest fees ranging from £2-4 per session. These include Walking Football (£3), Seated Chair Exercise (£2-3), Fighting Fit (£3-4 with first sessions free), and other community activities.
4. Event Fundraising: The foundation benefits from fundraising through events including London Marathon charity places (£100 registration + £2,000 fundraising target), Lincoln Half Marathon and Lincoln 10k charity runners (minimum £100 fundraising). Community members fundraise for the foundation through various challenge events.
5. EasyFundraising: Partnership with easyfundraising allows the foundation to receive donations from retail purchases made by supporters through the platform, at no cost to supporters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lincoln City Foundation is a registered charity that delivers community sports, health, education, and employability programmes across Lincolnshire. The foundation operates programmes serving diverse demographics from children to older adults, including physical activity sessions for people with health conditions, mental health support groups, walking sports, football development, and accredited education courses. Services are delivered through physical venues including LNER Stadium, schools, community centres, and leisure facilities, funded through donations, corporate sponsorship, and grants.

Product overview

Lincoln City Foundation is a charitable organization established in 1994 that uses the brand, reputation, and reach of Lincoln City Football Club to deliver community programmes. The foundation operates as a multi-faceted charity offering four interconnected service areas: Healthier Communities (mental health and wellbeing programmes including Fighting Fit for cancer patients, Active Together for Parkinson's, Team Talk mental health support, and various exercise programmes such as walking football, seated chair exercise, and wellbeing walks); Education & Employability (Sport BTEC Level 3, Foundation Degree in partnership with University of South Wales, Pathway to IMPloyment, Conversation Club and ESOL English courses, and school programmes including Premier League Primary Stars); Sport and Physical Activity (football development, PL Kicks, walking football variants, walking tennis, indoor carpet bowls, new age kurling, youth clubs, holiday clubs, and tournaments); and Community Support (Imps Together neighbourhood programme, Social Hub, Extra Time Hub, and Mablethorpe outreach). The foundation also operates fundraising services including donations via JustGiving, event-based fundraising (Lincoln Half Marathon, Lincoln 10k, London Marathon), legacy giving, and corporate sponsorship opportunities. All services are delivered primarily from the LNER Stadium in Lincoln, Lincolnshire.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fighting Fit: Physical activity programme supporting people living with or recovering from cancer in Lincolnshire
• Team Talk
• Imps Together
• Premier League Kicks
• Conversation Club
• Extra Time Hub

Products and services

• Fighting Fit Low-impact fitness sessions for people living with or recovering from cancer, designed to maintain or increase physical activity levels while providing social support through group sessions. Sessions run across multiple Lincolnshire locations with first 10 sessions free at most locations.
• Fighting Fit Prehab Prehabilitation-specific physical activity sessions for individuals diagnosed with cancer, designed to help maintain physical ability and prepare for treatment or surgery.
• Fighting Fit 5k Monthly group meet-ups at Belton House parkrun events for those living with or affected by cancer, encouraging physical activity through walking, jogging, running, or volunteering. Free to participate.
• Active Together Specialist exercise programme for people living with Parkinson's, helping improve mobility, strength, coordination, balance, and confidence while providing social support. Sessions designed in alignment with Parkinson's UK guidelines.
• Football Together Walking football programme for people living with cancer, Parkinson's disease, or other long-term health conditions, providing physical and mental wellbeing benefits. Sessions held Monday 1-2pm at LNER Stadium 3G pitch.
• Team Talk Mental health programme providing safe spaces and physical activity sessions including Andys Man Club, Team Talk Football, and Let's Talk peer support group to break down barriers preventing people from seeking help.
• Wellbeing Walks Free group walks across Lincoln city led by trained Walk Leaders, part of the Lincolnshire Co-op Wellbeing Walks network, lasting 30-60 minutes and exploring different areas of the city.
• Fit Imps Health programme for individuals looking to lose weight and get fitter, combining 45 minutes of physical activity with weekly lifestyle workshop support and ongoing staff guidance. Held at Birchwood Leisure Centre Thursday 11:15am-12noon.
• Seated Chair Exercise Low-impact exercise sessions designed for anyone seeking gentle activity, helping improve strength, mobility, and falls prevention in an accessible format. Sessions at £2-3 per session.
• Extra Time Hub Multi-location social and activity sessions for retired, semi-retired, or approaching retirement individuals, offering opportunities to try different sports, activities, quizzes, and social connections at various venues across Lincolnshire.
• Stadium Meet Up Weekly social chat and check-in sessions at LNER Stadium offering warm drinks, biscuit, and football-related conversations in a relaxed environment for community members.
• Social Hub Free-to-access community space at Legends Lounge, LNER Stadium providing hot drinks, snacks, free Wi-Fi, charging facilities, and family-friendly activities every Monday.
• Men's Walking Football Coach-led walking football sessions for adults featuring no running, jogging, or heading, with reduced physical contact. Sessions held Thursday 10-11am and 7-8pm at LNER Stadium 3G at £3/session.
• Women's Walking Football Walking football sessions for women welcoming anyone wanting to start or return to football at a slower pace, developing fitness and tactical awareness through drills and gameplay. Sessions Wednesday 7-8:30pm and Saturday 9-10am at LNER Stadium 3G at £3/session.
• Walking Tennis Slower version of traditional tennis with adapted rules making it less physically demanding, enabling people of any ability to stay active while meeting new people. Sessions Fridays 11:45am-12:45pm at Age UK Activity Centre, Lincoln at £4/session.
• Imps Together Neighbourhood support programme focusing on Sincil Bank area through community outreach, cost of living support, improving cultural understanding, and building community capacity using Community Organising approach adopted since 2013.
• Mablethorpe Programme Health and wellbeing initiative for Theddlethorpe, Mablethorpe, and Withern regions offering Soup and Support, Keep on Moving, Stroke Support Group, Huffers and Puffers, and Young at Heart sessions.
• Care Homes Programme Delivery of seated chair classes and low-impact multi-sport sessions in care homes across Lincolnshire, designed to improve physical activity, social interaction, and quality of life for residents.
• Sport BTEC Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma in Sport (equivalent to 3 A-Levels) enabling students to continue playing football while gaining academic qualifications, including work placements.
• Degree Programme Foundation Degree in Community Football Coaching and Development delivered in partnership with University of South Wales, combining football coaching with academic study and work placements, with pathway to BSc top-up.
• Pathway to IMPloyment FREE four-week employability courses held at LNER Stadium covering teamwork, problem solving, target setting, CV writing, cover letters, and interview skills.
• Conversation Club Free English language classes for non-native speakers in Sincil Bank area, available face-to-face at Co-op Community Hub and online via Zoom, helping learners progress to further opportunities.
• ESOL English Course Formal structured in-person English course for non-English speakers across Lincolnshire, held two hours weekly with minimum 8-session attendance requirement and completion certificate.
• School Programmes Primary school packages delivering PE, after school clubs, lunch clubs, and PPA cover designed to meet DfE guidelines for primary school sport funding, including teacher CPD.
• Premier League Primary Stars Programme funded by Premier League using football to inspire primary school pupils aged 5-11 through educational sessions in PE, PSHE, English, and Maths delivered in partnership with local schools.
• Football Development Football coaching and development programmes for children and young people, with sessions on 3G pitch and opportunities to progress to main stadium surface.
• PL Kicks Premier League Kicks programme engaging young people from across Lincolnshire in football sessions planned around mental health awareness and positive wellbeing activities.
• Youth Club Social area for young people aged 8-18 featuring workshops, physical and mental activities, and creative options including board games, gaming, and cooking, with SEND-inclusive sessions on Fridays.
• Tournaments School tournament programme including EFL Kids Cup, Premier League Girls Football Tournament, Premier League Mixed Sports Tournament, Premier League Multi-Sport festival, and IMPics athletics competition.
• Holiday Club School holiday activities for children providing engaging experiences during breaks from school.
• After School Club After school activities at LNER Stadium for children to participate in various sports and social activities, delivered in partnership with LNER.
• Donations Service Single and recurring donation options through JustGiving platform and monthly support plans including Foundation Friend, Access to Sport, Sincil Bank Support, Male Mental Health, Cancer Care Support, Football for All, and Walking Football subscription tiers.
• Corporate Sponsorship Corporate partnership opportunities including Charity of the Year nominations, Friends of the Foundation tiers, and specific programme funding options for businesses.
• Leave a Legacy Legacy gift programme allowing supporters to leave a bequest in their will to support the foundation's future work with children, young people, families, and communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60 young people engaged in mental health awareness activities through Premier League Kicks
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Lincoln Tea and CoffeeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLincoln Tea and Coffee partnered with Lincoln City Foundation to launch football branded coffee products, with profits donated to the foundation. This corporate partnership supports the foundation's community work while providing a unique product offering.
• University of South WalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partnership delivering Foundation Degree in Community Football Coaching and Development. Students are registered with both Lincoln City Foundation and University of South Wales, accessing tutors and expertise from both institutions. Partnership includes pathway to BSc top-up and links with additional courses.
• Gilder Lehrman InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership announced December 2025 for collaborative seminar at Lincoln's Springfield home focusing on Lincoln's legacy and perspectives on emancipation, civil liberties, and equality. Event scheduled July 19-24, 2026.
• Premier League Primary StarscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurriculum-linked programme supporting primary school pupils aged 5-11 through fun, engaging educational sessions combining sport, physical activity and curriculum-based learning. Foundation delivers sessions supporting PE, PSHE, English and Maths.
• Lincolnshire Co-opcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWellbeing Walks programme is part of the Lincolnshire Co-op Wellbeing Walks network. Co-op Community Hub at LNER Stadium hosts multiple foundation programmes including Conversation Club and Active Together sessions.
• Run for AllcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity partnership for Lincoln 10k and Lincoln Half Marathon events. Foundation receives charity places and recruits volunteer stewards for events. Free fundraising places available to foundation supporters.
• Parkinson's UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive Together programme designed in alignment with Parkinson's UK guidelines. Instructors complete Parkinson's UK physical activity and exercise training. Sessions help people living with Parkinson's improve balance, strength and coordination.
• CameradosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial Hub programme model inspired by Camerados approach to creating public spaces that bring people together. Foundation's free Social Hub at LNER Stadium provides relaxed community space.
• EasyFundraisingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEasyFundraising platform enables supporters to raise free donations when shopping online with over 7,000 participating retailers including eBay, Argos, John Lewis, ASOS, Booking.com and M&S.
• Move Against CancerminorStrategic or Co-development Partner5K Your Way programme partnership enabling monthly meetups at designated parkrun events for people impacted by cancer, made possible through Move Against Cancer charity.
• Sincil Bank Community PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation's Community team participates in Sincil Bank Community Partnership, working to support local residents and facilitate community-level change. Adopted Community Organising approach since 2013.
• The Priory City of Lincoln AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partnership for BTEC Sport programme delivery. Students study Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma in Sport while playing football representing Lincoln City.
• Ramblers AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWellbeing Walks programme operates in association with Ramblers Association, part of the national walking charity network promoting walking for health.
• Bishop Grosseteste UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for Fighting Fit cancer programme. University researchers conduct studies on importance of exercise after cancer diagnosis, with participant referrals from foundation programmes.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Manchester United Foundation: Charitable arm of Manchester United delivering health, education and community programmes across Greater Manchester using the FC brand. Directly comparable model: PL-funded youth and community programmes, education partnerships, and sport-based health initiatives mirroring Lincoln City Foundation's four-pillar approach.
• Liverpool FC Foundation: Official charity of Liverpool FC delivering sport, education and health programmes across Merseyside. Most direct comparable in terms of PL funding streams (Primary Stars, Kicks), education pathways and health-condition-specific programming.
• Everton in the Community: Everton FC's charitable vehicle offering mental health, education, employability, health and disability sport programmes. Nearly identical programme taxonomy to Lincoln City Foundation including men's mental health, cancer rehab, and school-based PE delivery.
• Manchester City Foundation (City in the Community): Charitable arm of Manchester City delivering health, sport and education programmes in Greater Manchester. Comparable in scale-up potential, PL funding model and programme breadth including cancer, dementia and mental health initiatives.
• Tottenham Hotspur Foundation: Official charity of Tottenham Hotspur delivering programmes across education, employability, health and community. Comparable on Premier League funded programmes (PL Primary Stars, PL Kicks), education partnerships and the FC-brand-driven engagement model.
• Arsenal in the Community: Arsenal FC's community programmes spanning youth sport, education and health. Closest peer model to Lincoln City Foundation given the integration of club brand, schools delivery and health-focused community work via North London hubs.
• Chelsea Foundation: Chelsea FC's charitable foundation delivering sport, education and social inclusion programmes. Comparable for programme taxonomy (PL Kicks, PL Primary Stars, men's health, education pathways) and the use of club facilities as community hubs.
• Leeds United Foundation: Charity of Leeds United offering health, education and community programmes across West Yorkshire. Comparable for the mix of PL-funded youth programmes, education partnerships (BTEC / degree) and condition-specific health delivery (similar to Fighting Fit / Active Together).

Broad incumbents

• EFL Trust: Umbrella body coordinating community programmes across all 72 EFL clubs including Lincoln City FC's foundation. Relevant as the broader network to which Lincoln City Foundation belongs, setting programme standards and brokering PL / EFL funding.

Regional players

• Lincolnshire Community Foundation: Local grantmaking body covering the same Lincolnshire geography as Lincoln City Foundation. Acts as funder (administering the Evan Cornish Grassroots Fund that supports Extra Time Hub) and as a peer for local civic / community-development activity in the same region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LCityFoundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCu4nEqTHUOS_Hk4sRXkppQQ?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/LincolnCityFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lincoln-city-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/lincolncityfoundation

Compliance1 record

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 Lincoln City Foundation