Soccer Field Grant Program

FC Cincinnati Foundation is a private foundation connected to FC Cincinnati and focused on improving children's lives through soccer. The Foundation explains that mini pitches, or small-sided soccer fields, have been central to its efforts to expand access to the sport and provide safe places for children to play and learn. In the Foundation's framing, soccer fields and mini pitches are more than athletic facilities. They are gathering spaces that bring people together, inspire lifelong participation, and create opportunities for youth to thrive both on and off the field. The Soccer Field Grant Program is presented as part of that broader mission and as a way to grow the game through access, equity, and community engagement. The purpose of the Soccer Field Grant Program is to provide financial support to selected organizations that are opening mini pitches or soccer fields in the Foundation's community. The program is not described as a full project underwriting source. Instead, the Foundation states that it is designed to serve as a supporting partner by providing partial funding for projects that include new soccer fields, mini pitches, and other field-related improvements. This means applicants should treat the program as one piece of a broader capital or improvement funding plan rather than the sole source of support. The Foundation also makes clear that each proposal must show a commitment to inclusive use and long-term benefit for the surrounding community, which suggests that community access and durability of impact are central to how projects are viewed. Eligible applicants may include a range of organization types. The source specifically names non-profits, recreation centers, schools, and for-profit organizations as possible recipients, provided they can demonstrate a plan for community access that welcomes players of all ages and abilities. That eligibility framing is notable because it is not limited only to traditional charitable organizations. Instead, the Foundation appears open to supporting different ownership or operating structures so long as the project advances inclusive community soccer access. The text does not identify a cost share percentage, matching ratio, or minimum organizational size requirement. It also does not list formal exclusions, but it does indicate that funded projects must align with the Foundation's mission and that the grant will function as partial support rather than complete project financing. The application process described in the source is straightforward at a high level, though detailed forms and submission mechanics are not included in the provided text. Applicants are instructed to review the full application guidelines before applying, which indicates that additional requirements likely exist outside the excerpt. The source highlights several substantive issues applicants should be prepared to address: the type of field project proposed, how the site will provide community access, whether players of all ages and abilities will be welcomed, and how the project will deliver long-term benefit to the surrounding community. The Foundation also emphasizes mission alignment, specifically whether the project supports access, equity, and community engagement through soccer. The available text does not identify a separate letter of intent, concept paper, required attachments, scoring rubric, or interview process. The review and decision timeline is defined on a recurring twice-annual basis. Applications are reviewed two times each year, with deadlines of May 31 and November 30. FC Cincinnati Foundation states that it intends to finalize determinations in July and January, respectively. However, even when a project is selected and a pledge is communicated, the grant funds will not be provided until the project is fully funded. That condition is important for applicants because it means a positive determination does not necessarily lead to immediate disbursement. The source also warns that submitting an application does not guarantee funding and that demand is expected to exceed available resources, so the review process is competitive and constrained by available Foundation resources. For applicant support, the Foundation provides a direct contact email for questions: community@fccincinnati.com. No phone number, named staff contact, performance period, or explicit award term is stated in the provided text. The opportunity appears to recur indefinitely on a semiannual cycle because the Foundation describes fixed annual deadlines and paired determination months. Overall, the program is best understood as a community-oriented, private grant opportunity for organizations developing soccer fields or mini pitches, with emphasis on inclusive access, local benefit, and readiness to complete a fully funded project.

Emphasize inclusive community access, show how the site will welcome players of all ages and abilities, and make the case for long-term neighborhood benefit. Frame the project as strongly aligned with access, equity, and community engagement, and be prepared to show a credible path to full project funding since grant funds are not released until the project is fully funded.