What Soccer Unity Project does

Soccer Unity Project is a Boston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that uses soccer as a vehicle for community building and youth development. Founded in 2016 and rooted in the earlier South End Soccer organization (2008), it serves urban youth in Boston's South End, Roxbury, and Chinatown neighborhoods, providing all programming free of charge to remove economic barriers to participation. The organization reaches more than 1,400 youth annually from over 100 schools and zip codes via free youth soccer programs spanning grassroots recreational play, competitive travel teams, skill-building clinics, adaptive soccer for athletes with disabilities, and a college/workforce scholarship pathway.

The portfolio also includes the Boston Unity Cup — a World Cup-style adult tournament celebrating immigrant and multicultural communities that scaled from 16 teams in 2018 to 40 teams representing 35 nations in 2025 — together with the Boston Youth Soccer Summit, the annual Unity Ball gala fundraiser, the GOALS Program partnership with Mass Youth Soccer, and the Beyond Goals corporate team-building program. Programs are delivered directly at Boston fields (Carter Fields, Rotch Field, and other neighborhood sites) in partnership with Boston Parks & Recreation, Roxbury YMCA, Boston PAL, Special Olympics of Massachusetts, Northeastern University, and the City of Boston Mayor's Office. PUMA serves as the exclusive on-field sponsor.

Soccer Unity Project is funded entirely through philanthropy. Revenue streams comprise individual donations (including donor-advised funds and employee matching), corporate sponsorships (PUMA, Northeastern, Boston University, Spectrum Equity, Sports Matter Foundation), fundraising events (notably the Unity Ball, which raised over $340,000 in May 2025), and merchandise through a Bonfire storefront. Operating with a small team (11–50 employees), the organization is governed by an independent board and led by President & Founder Caroline K. Foscato, co-founders Greta Teller (Boston Unity Cup) and Carolyn MacNeil (South End Soccer), a Director of Development, and a Director of Programs.

Name

Soccer Unity Project

Legal name

Soccer Unity Project

Website

https://soccerunityproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Boston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free youth soccer programming to 1,400+ urban children annually from 100+ schools. Also operates the Boston Unity Cup cultural tournament, funded through donations, the Unity Ball gala, and corporate sponsors including PUMA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Sports Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE), Amateur & Grassroots Tournament Organizers (MPAKADAH), Club Sports Programs (EDALAIAB), Youth & Amateur Sports Tournaments (MPAGAMAF)

Keywords

• Youth soccer programs
• Youth athletic development
• Community sports programs
• Inclusive youth sports
• Youth development services

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission to provide free youth soccer programming.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorships from corporations such as PUMA (exclusive on-field sponsor), Northeastern University, and other corporate partners.
3. Fundraising Events: Annual Unity Ball gala and other fundraising events. The 2025 Unity Ball raised over $340,000.
4. Donor-Advised Funds: Accepts donations through donor-advised fund programs for tax-advantaged giving.
5. Employee Matching: Corporate employee donation matching programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Soccer Unity Project provides free youth soccer programming — including Grassroots recreational play, Travel competitive teams (BAYS/BSL leagues), South End Soccer league, and adaptive/Unified Soccer with Special Olympics of MA — to over 1,400 urban youth annually in Boston. The organization complements year-round programs with signature community events: the Boston Unity Cup (an annual World Cup-style adult tournament representing diverse nationalities), the Boston Youth Soccer Summit, and the Unity Ball fundraiser. All services are delivered at no cost to participants and funded through donations, sponsorships, and grants.

Product overview

Soccer Unity Project is a Boston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating as a single unified offering centered on using soccer as a vehicle for community building and youth development. The portfolio consists primarily of programs: Youth Soccer Programs (Grassroots recreational, Travel competitive teams, and South End Soccer league) serving over 1,400 youth annually from diverse backgrounds; Boston Unity Cup, an annual World Cup-style adult tournament celebrating cultural diversity; Boston Youth Soccer Summit for community resources; Unity Ball gala fundraiser; Unified Soccer with Special Olympics for inclusive programming; and GOALS Program for accessible youth entry. These programs work together to provide free play opportunities, build community across cultures, and promote equity in youth soccer throughout Greater Boston.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Boston Unity Cup: Annual World Cup-style adult soccer tournament celebrating Boston's diverse communities through soccer
• Boston Youth Soccer Summit
• Unity Ball
• SUP

Products and services

• Youth Soccer Programs Free youth soccer programming including Grassroots recreational play, Travel Teams (competitive BAYS/BSL leagues), and the South End Soccer recreational league, serving over 1,400 youth annually from more than 100 schools and zip codes in Boston's South End, Roxbury, and surrounding neighborhoods.
• Boston Unity Cup Annual free, city-wide World Cup-style adult soccer tournament celebrating Boston's diverse communities, where teams represent different nations and cultures for month-long competition, cultural celebration, and community building.
• Boston Youth Soccer Summit Annual event uniting the local youth soccer community by bringing together recreational, competitive, and school-based youth soccer programs to share resources and best practices.
• Unity Ball Annual celebratory fundraiser supporting Soccer Unity Project and its free youth programs, featuring honorees, speakers, and community celebration; the 2025 gala raised over $340,000.
• Unified Soccer (Adaptive Soccer) Inclusive soccer program operated in partnership with Special Olympics of MA and Boston PAL, bringing Unified Soccer to Boston's South End and Roxbury neighborhoods for athletes with and without intellectual disabilities.
• GOALS Program Partnership with Massachusetts Youth Soccer providing children in Boston with easy, low-barrier access to organized youth soccer through inclusive, supportive environments.
• Beyond Goals Trainings Corporate team-building through sport programming that engages businesses in positive social change, including team-building trainings and volunteer opportunities.
• Apparel Collection Merchandise collection selling Soccer Unity Project branded apparel and swag through the Bonfire online storefront to support the organization's programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,400 youth served annually with free soccer programming
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Special Olympics of MAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership established Fall 2023 to bring Unified Soccer programming to Boston's South End and Roxbury neighborhoods, creating inclusive sport opportunities for athletes with and without intellectual disabilities.
• Northeastern UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Northeastern University is a lead sponsor and host of the Boston Unity Cup tournament at Carter Playground on their Boston campus. The university invested $108 million in the Carter Playground facility. They have been a lead sponsor since the tournament's inception in 2018.
• PUMAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPUMA is the Exclusive On-Field Sponsor of Soccer Unity Project. The partnership provides apparel and equipment support for the organization's youth programs and events.
• Boston Police Activities League (Boston PAL)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in Unified Soccer programming, providing support for inclusive youth sports initiatives.
• Boston Parks & RecreationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity agency providing field access and support for youth soccer programming throughout Boston.
• Roxbury YMCAsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing field facilities and support for youth soccer programming in Roxbury.
• New England RevolutionsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional soccer club partner hosting youth jamboree clinics at Boston Unity Cup events and supporting youth soccer development.
• Mass Youth SoccersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerState soccer association providing coaching registration, training resources, and program support through the GOALS Program partnership.
• City of Boston (Mayor's Office)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership with the Mayor's Office of Economic Opportunity & Inclusion and Office of Global Affairs for event support, particularly for the Boston Unity Cup tournament.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Soccer Foundation: National nonprofit focused on growing access to soccer, including field-building and underserved youth programs. Comparable mission of using soccer as a vehicle for community and youth development.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston: Major Boston-area youth development nonprofit offering free after-school programming to urban youth. Comparable nonprofit youth-development mission and donor base.
• New England Revolution: Professional MLS club in Boston and a current program partner (hosting youth jamboree clinics at Boston Unity Cup). Indirect peer as a larger soccer brand in the same market with adjacent community/youth programming.
• AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization): Large national amateur youth soccer organization offering recreational and competitive youth leagues. Broader portfolio player but reaches the same end users (youth soccer families) with subsidized community programming.

Direct peers

• Street Soccer USA: National nonprofit using soccer as a vehicle for social impact with underserved urban youth. Operates free/reduced-cost programming similar to Soccer Unity Project's grassroots model.
• Soccer Without Borders: Nonprofit using soccer to engage newcomer refugee and immigrant youth, closely mirroring Soccer Unity Project's Boston Unity Cup targeting immigrant and multicultural communities.
• America SCORES: National nonprofit combining soccer with literacy and community service for urban youth. Directly comparable nonprofit sports-for-youth-development model.
• Philadelphia Unity Cup: Direct conceptual peer: a World Cup-style community soccer tournament explicitly identified as the inspiration for Soccer Unity Project's Boston Unity Cup. Both run free, country-themed amateur tournaments celebrating immigrant communities.
• Special Olympics of Massachusetts: Established adaptive sports nonprofit serving athletes with intellectual disabilities; partner in Soccer Unity Project's Unified Soccer program. Comparable mission around inclusive sports access.

Regional players

• Boston Scores (America SCORES Boston): Boston-area affiliate of America SCORES offering free after-school soccer and writing programs to urban youth in the same neighborhoods as Soccer Unity Project, making it a close local programmatic peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/soccerunityproject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-soccer-unity-project
• Instagraminstagram.com/thesoccerunityproject

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Soccer Unity Project