Kensington Soccer Club - Community Advancement Through Soccer

What Kensington Soccer Club - Community Advancement Through Soccer does

Kensington Soccer Club (KSC) is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2010 by Jim Hardy, a teacher at Kensington Health Sciences Academy, with the mission of community advancement through soccer. The organization was established in direct response to youth violence in the underserved Kensington neighborhood and serves more than 1,500 families annually—up from 85 children at founding. Its core product is a multi-tier youth soccer program spanning recreational and competitive travel play for ages 3–18, supplemented by free 5-week summer camps, after-school out-of-school-time (OST) programs, a WorkReady teen employment initiative, a Youth Leadership Council, Friday Night Lights violence prevention programming, a SAVE literacy program, and adult play including a men's semi-professional team in the EPSL and a women's team in the WPSL/CASA leagues. Operationally, KSC runs programming across multiple Philadelphia sites—Hissey, Harrowgate, McPherson Square, and Cione Field—delivered through partnerships with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, partner schools, Street Soccer USA, Up2Us Sports, and EPYSA.

The technology footprint is intentionally minimal: the organization runs a Squarespace-hosted website with online registration and donation pages, with no proprietary platform, mobile application, or data infrastructure of note. There is no disclosed AI/ML capability, no SDK, no API surface, and no digital product beyond standard web presence.

The revenue model is a diversified nonprofit stack layered across individual donations (including monthly sustainers), corporate sponsorships (Techbuyer, Blueprint Cookies, Elfant Pontz Properties, among others), government and foundation grants (notably the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office for violence prevention work, the Neighborhood Equitable Recovery Fund, and the Kensington Community Resilience Fund), and a pay-what-you-can program fee structure ranging from $5 to $125 per season that explicitly subsidizes or waives fees for participants who cannot pay. Disclosed grant inflows totaled approximately $90,000 across 2021–2022 from named sources, with the Philadelphia DA's Office alone providing $60,000 of that figure.

Name

Kensington Soccer Club - Community Advancement Through Soccer

Legal name

Kensington Soccer Club

Website

https://kensingtonsoccer.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kensington Soccer Club is a Philadelphia 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2010 that uses soccer to serve over 1,500 families in the underserved Kensington neighborhood with youth programs, summer camps, adult semi-professional teams, and violence prevention initiatives, funded through donations, grants, and pay-what-you-can fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Youth Sports and Nonprofit Youth Development

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Other Spectator Sports (711219)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK), Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs) (MPAKAFAF)

Keywords

• Youth soccer programs
• Community youth development
• Nonprofit soccer club
• Violence prevention programs
• After school programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donors contribute through one-time donations, monthly sustainer pledges, birthday pledges, and equipment donations. Notable donors include Sean Forman (Sports Reference), Julia Stone, and Elfant Pontz Properties ($5,000).
2. Government Grants: KSC receives grants from government entities including the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office ($35,000 violence prevention; $25,000 violence prevention), Neighborhood Equitable Recovery Fund ($15,000), Kensington Community Resilience Fund ($10,000), Philadelphia Parks and Recreation scholarships, and Every Kid Sports ($150 per qualifying child per season).
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors such as Techbuyer provide financial support. Blueprint Cookies sponsors community events. Sponsors help expand Saturday programs and cover operational costs.
4. Pay-What-You-Can Program Fees: Programs are free or 'pay-what-you-can' with suggested amounts between $5–$125 per season. No one is turned away for inability to pay. Scholarships and grants cover costs for those who cannot pay.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kensington Soccer Club provides free and pay-what-you-can soccer programs for youth ages 3–18, including recreational soccer, competitive travel teams, after-school out-of-school-time (OST) programs at partner schools, summer camps, and community clinics, along with adult soccer teams competing in EPSL, CASA League, and WPSL. Complementing the athletic programs, KSC offers wraparound youth development services such as the WorkReady teen employment program, Youth Leadership Council, SAVE literacy initiative, Friday Night Lights violence prevention programming, and a curated community resources hub.

Product overview

Kensington Soccer Club operates as a community-based nonprofit offering a unified portfolio of accessible soccer programs and youth development services. The core offerings include year-round youth soccer (recreational, travel, and competitive), adult soccer programs, after-school programs (OST), and summer camps—all provided free or at pay-what-you-can pricing. These are complemented by specialized initiatives including the WorkReady Teen Program for employment training, Youth Leadership Council for civic engagement, SAVE literacy program, Friday Night Lights violence prevention, and a comprehensive Community Resources Hub. The organization runs semi-professional teams in both men's (EPSL) and women's (WPSL/CASA League) soccer. Founded in 2010 and serving over 1,500 families, KSC's programs are integrated around the mission of community advancement through soccer, with offerings designed to be accessible regardless of ability to pay.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Soccer Programs Year-round recreational and competitive travel soccer programs for youth ages 3-18, offered on a free or pay-what-you-can basis at multiple Philadelphia sites including KSC clubhouse, Hissey, Harrowgate, McPherson Square, and Cione Field.
• After-School OST Programs Out-of-school time programs operating in partner schools across Philadelphia, providing soccer activities, homework support, and youth development during afternoons for school-age youth.
• Summer Camps Free five-week summer camps for children ages 7-13, including soccer clinics, arts and culture activities, and field trips, run in partnership with Street Soccer USA across Philadelphia sites.
• Men's Semi-Professional Soccer (EPSL) Semi-professional men's soccer team competing in the Eastern Premier Soccer League Delaware River Conference, providing elite competitive soccer opportunities for teens and adults in the Philadelphia area.
• Women's Soccer (WPSL / CASA League) Women's Premier Soccer League team providing semi-professional playing opportunities for female athletes aged 16+, competing in the CASA League and WPSL.
• WorkReady Teen Employment Program Employment and workforce training program for teens 14+ providing coaching positions, job skills development, and placement at KSC programs across Philadelphia, run in partnership with the Philadelphia WorkReady Program.
• Youth Leadership Council Leadership development program for youth ages 13-21 featuring leadership-building workshops and community engagement opportunities that allow youth to shape the club's future direction.
• SAVE (Soccer Athletes Value Education) Initiative Literacy and enrichment initiative distributing books to children in KSC programs through partnerships with BookSmiles and Treehouse Books, promoting reading and educational support alongside athletic activities.
• Friday Night Lights Violence Prevention Program Year-round violence prevention program using soccer as a platform to engage teens and young adults in Kensington, funded by Philadelphia District Attorney grants to expand programming.
• Gun & Violence Prevention Programming Intervention and prevention programming addressing community violence through mentorship, youth leadership, and safe space creation, led by the Intervention-Prevention Coordinator.
• Walking Soccer Sundays Low-impact soccer program at Cione Field providing accessible soccer opportunities for adults and seniors on Sunday mornings.
• Community Resources Hub Curated resource center connecting community members with mental health, wellness, healthcare, athletic, educational, food, immigration, and employment resources at little to no cost.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served 85 kids in first summer (2010) growing to 1,500+ families annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Philadelphia Parks & RecreationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Long-standing government partner providing access to recreation facilities, field space, and programmatic support. KSC coaches have taught soccer in after-school programs and run summer camps at Parks & Rec facilities. The organization relies on Parks & Rec infrastructure for indoor practices, high school league games, and community events.
• U.S. Soccer FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010National partner supporting soccer access for underserved youth. The U.S. Soccer Foundation provides funding, resources, and programmatic support for KSC's youth soccer initiatives.
• Street Soccer USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKSC partners with Street Soccer USA to run IMPACT Summer programs. Coaches from both organizations collaborate to deliver 1-hour soccer clinics and 4-week summer camps across Philadelphia sites (Hissey, Harrowgate, McPherson Square).
• Up2Us SportscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUp2Us Sports provides coaches who work alongside KSC staff. Up2Us coaches facilitated activities at the National Girls and Women in Sports Day event and participate in service projects like Dr. MLK Day of Service. They bring sports-based youth development expertise.
• Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer (EPYSA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKSC is affiliated with EPYSA for competitive league operations. KSC participates in EPYSA-sanctioned leagues and tournaments. Blueprint Cookies was featured by EPYSA highlighting community-soccer partnerships.
• Impact ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in Kensington focused on housing and community development. KSC celebrates Back to School events with Impact Services and collaborates on community initiatives.
• Love.FutbolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational soccer organization with Philadelphia presence. Listed as a sponsor supporting KSC's community programs.
• Treehouse BookscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKSC has enjoyed a partnership with Treehouse Books for at least 5 years. Tree House donates books to the SAVE (Soccer Athletes Value Education) initiative. The Treehouse Bookmobile has visited KSC summer camps for 2 years. Collaboration supports literacy and community engagement.
• OurchiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based archive organization providing programming in art, literacy, and social justice. Up2Us Coach River Mason is a founding member of Ourchive and facilitated collaboration with KSC at the Treehouse Books Book Swap event.
• Monarch Yoga PhiladelphiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKSC announced a partnership with Monarch Yoga Philadelphia in 2023, expanding wellness offerings to participants through yoga programming.
• BookSmilescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBookSmiles provides large numbers of books to KSC youth through the SAVE (Soccer Athletes Value Education) initiative. Executive Director Larry Abrams sat with Jim Hardy on StoryCorps to discuss their partnership and shared mission. The partnership supports Black History Month programming and year-round literacy.
• CASA Soccer LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCASA Soccer League is the largest independent amateur soccer league in the Philadelphia, South Jersey, and Boston regions. CASA donates to KSC to support youth soccer programming, recognizing KSC's work with underserved communities.
• SafeHubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKSC partnered with SafeHub to host the Philly Fair Play Cup, a community soccer tournament focused on community engagement and fair play values.
• Norris Square Community AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community organization in Kensington. Pat Hardy has collaborated with Norris Square Community Alliance as part of KSC's community outreach efforts.
• Congreso de Latinos UnidosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKSC works with Congreso de Latinos Unidos as part of its network of community partners. Congreso provides health and wellness resources and collaborates on community programming.
• The Village That HealsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKSC partnered with The Village That Heals for summer soccer programs in 2023, combining healing-focused community programming with soccer activities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DC SCORES: Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit combining soccer with poetry, service-learning, and youth leadership for elementary and middle schoolers. Strong functional overlap with KSC's soccer-plus-literacy-plus-leadership portfolio.
• Street Soccer USA: National nonprofit using soccer as a tool for social impact in underserved communities; KSC is a core Philadelphia partner running joint IMPACT summer programs. Most directly comparable peer — overlapping mission, delivery model, and beneficiary profile.
• Soccer in the Streets: Atlanta-based nonprofit that builds soccer programs and fields in underserved communities, combining on-field play with life-skills and workforce development. Closely mirrors KSC's youth-development-plus-soccer model and free-access ethos.
• America SCORES: National nonprofit that pairs soccer with literacy, creative writing, and service-learning in low-income schools. Direct analog to KSC's SAVE literacy initiative and school-based OST delivery, serving a similar youth demographic.
• Love.Futbol: International nonprofit that builds soccer fields and programs in underserved communities globally, with Philadelphia presence. Listed KSC sponsor; directly comparable mission and beneficiary profile to KSC's community-soccer model.

Emerging players

• Up2Us Sports: National sports-based youth development organization that places trained coaches in community programs. Active KSC partner contributing coaches to OST and service projects — adjacent rather than head-to-head, but operates in the same youth-development-through-sports space.

Regional players

• Eastern Premier Soccer League (EPSL): Semi-professional adult soccer league in the Eastern US; KSC's men's team competes in the EPSL Delaware River Conference. Directly comparable on the adult semi-pro soccer side, though KSC's nonprofit community-rooted mission is distinct.
• CASA Soccer League: Largest independent amateur soccer league in the Philadelphia, South Jersey, and Boston regions; KSC's adult teams compete in CASA and CASA donates to KSC's youth programs. Comparable peer on the adult/amateur side, with overlapping Philadelphia community footprint.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Soccer Foundation: National nonprofit supporting soccer access for underserved youth; provides funding and programmatic support to KSC. A broader incumbent funder/capacity-builder operating at national scale, but not a direct competitor.
• Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association (EPYSA): Regional governing body for youth soccer in Eastern Pennsylvania; KSC is an affiliated club that participates in EPYSA-sanctioned leagues. A broader incumbent whose competitive-league infrastructure KSC relies on for travel soccer operations.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/KensingtonSC
• Instagraminstagram.com/kensingtonSC
• Facebookfacebook.com/kensingtonsoccerclub

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Kensington Soccer Club - Community Advancement Through Soccer