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August 12, 2005

Any of you looking for financial support in advancing and improving girls/ women’s soccer programs may be interested in the following information from the U.S. Soccer Foundation

The U.S. Soccer Foundation announced that the online application process for its 2006 Grants Program Cycle is officially open, at .www.ussoccerfoundation.org

People looking to apply for a grant must complete a Letter of Inquiry, which is the first step in the application process. Access to Letters of Inquiry began on Aug. 1 and continues through Sept. 30 at 5 p.m. ET. Potential applicants will be able to access the Letter of Inquiry after successfully registering at the Foundation's website.

The second step begins on Thursday, Sept.15, when the online full grant application process becomes available for Letter of Inquiry applicants who have been invited to submit full grant applications. Full grant applications must be submitted by Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. ET to be eligible for further consideration.

The annual grant making program is at the core of the Foundation. Since it was founded in 1995, almost $20 million dollars in cash, equipment, and services have been awarded to more than 350 grantees in 48 states. Foundation grantees represent the entire spectrum of soccer communities from the small rural club to the U.S. Soccer Federation, the National Governing Body for the sport of soccer in the United States.
The focus established to guide the Foundation’s funding decisions for the 2006 grant cycle is on proposals that develop players, referees, and coaches through programs, field enhancements or the Foundation’s All Conditions Fields Program, with special emphasis on the economically disadvantaged in urban areas.

2006 Grants Overview
The Foundation’s grant making program includes the following grant types, two of which include field construction components.
* Program (P) – A project that develops players, referees, and coaches with special emphasis on the economically disadvantaged in urban areas. This grant type does not contain a construction element.
* Program with Field Enhancements (PFE) – A project that develops players, referees, and coaches with special emphasis on the economically disadvantaged in urban areas, which contains a construction element such as field renovation, addition or improvement of field equipment, or lighting.
* All Conditions Fields Program (ACF) – A project consisting wholly of field development construction utilizing the ACF Program package consisting of four components, i.e., FieldTurf synthetic surface pitch, Kwik Goal field equipment, Musco Sports Lighting, and TGI signage. Applications for ACF projects that do not propose to use lights will be given a lower priority.
Program (P) and Program with Field Enhancement (PFE) projects must CLEARLY address and incorporate the 2006 focus to qualify for further consideration by the Foundation. While the 2006 focus generally applies for the All Conditions Fields Program (ACF), the Foundation may also consider ACF projects that fall outside the focus’ parameters.

To learn more about the Foundation’s grant making program, including the 2006 grant focus and criteria for Foundation support, visit the Grants Section of ussoccerfoundation.org. You will also be able to find answers to the mosty frequently asked questions about U.S. Soccer Foundation grants.

The U.S. Soccer Foundation was established in 1994 to manage the surplus funds generated by the 1994 FIFA World Cup held in the United States. Under the guidance of its Board of Directors, the Foundation has taken a leading role in supporting the continuous development of the sport at all levels. Over $40 million in grants, financial support and loans have been made to help develop a soccer nation. The Foundation has provided more than 350 grants focused on developing players, coaches and referees and building or enhancing fields and soccer complexes, with a special emphasis on the economically disadvantaged in urban areas. For more information, or to donate online, please visit .www.ussoccerfoundation.org