The United Soccer Coaches Foundation’s mission is to provide financial support for coaching education and other developmental opportunities for United Soccer Coaches members who bring soccer to underserved socioeconomic communities and coaches communities.
Our vision is to deeply impact coaches and the game we love. Primary program activity is direct financial support, through scholarships and grants, that provide coaching education programs and experiences.
CoachesGIVE, the Charitable Arm of United Soccer Coaches
CoachesGIVE™ is anchored by the United Soccer Coaches Foundation, a committee of the association established in 1989, whose program of named endowed funds has provided over $550,000 + in financial support to coaches from low-income and underserved communities. CoachesGIVE™ expands the opportunities to support soccer coaches and the important work they do. United Soccer Coaches firmly believes in soccer as not only a sport we are passionate about, but as an avenue to celebrate diversity and inclusion, promote health and wellness, develop leaders, and impact communities.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Sara Mason, Development Officer at smason@unitedsoccercoaches.org, or call Membership Services at (816) 471-1941.
Established Endowed Funds
Scholarships & Grants Given
Legacy Society Members
Annual Giving Tuesday
Thank you for making Giving Tuesday 2023 a huge success! Together we raised just over $20,000. With these funds, we can serve coaches and organizations across the country! Thank you to our Board of Directors, our Foundation Committee, and our anonymous donors for making this happen. Together we will continue to enrich communities through powerful coaches!
Donate Your Vehicle to Our Foundation
The United Soccer Coaches Foundation has partnered with CARS to bring you a new way to donate to our mission. All proceeds from this donation will go to our For the Good of the Game Fund.
To learn more about donating, please click here.
About Our Foundation
In 1989, United Soccer Coaches, formerly the NSCAA, established our Foundation Committee. Our Foundation’s mission is to “provide financial support for coaching education and other developmental opportunities for United Soccer Coaches members who bring soccer to underserved socioeconomic communities and Advocacy groups.”
Our Foundation firmly believes in the broader societal benefits of soccer as a recreational activity, an avenue for health and fitness, a means of building leadership skills, and a competitive sport. We believe we can provide these benefits through soccer coaching education. Our Legacy Society Members have committed to supporting this commitment in perpetuity.
Our Foundation’s primary program activity is direct financial support through grants and scholarships to coaching education programs.
“The ripple effect of this scholarship would extend well beyond our team. By empowering our youth with skills and values, we aim to create a positive cycle of change that radiates throughout the community, inspiring young minds to dream big and strive for excellence…. The prospect of further refining my coaching prowess and magnifying our collective impact is both humbling and inspiring. Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the betterment of lives through sports, mentorship, and shared aspirations.”
United Soccer Coaches Foundation History
THE VISION
The idea for a foundation was first introduced to the membership by then-President Bill Holleman at the 1989 convention. The formation and organization of the foundation was developed and expanded under later presidents. The first grant by the NSCAA, known as the Taos Soccer Project, supported coaching education for the eight pueblos north of Santa Fe, NM. It was not actually funded by the Foundation, but by a vote of support by the NSCAA Board following a presentation made by Jay Engeln outlining the initiative.
THE VISION BECOMING A REALITY THE FIRST CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
An NSCAA Foundation Standing Committee was formally established in January 1995. They developed a Plan of Action and mission statement. After completing their work, there was no formal outreach activity until the Foundation Committee was re-activated in 2003 with Jay Engeln serving as chairperson. The Cornerstone Campaign was presented to membership in 2004 and grants were first awarded 2005. The named endowment funds were established in 2007 and have grown to 33 established funds by 2024.
$1 MILLION ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN
Following the success of the Cornerstone Campaign, work began in 2006 to develop a written plan for fundraising. The plan included suggestions for a revised mission statement; a second capital campaign; planned giving; and development of a “compelling case for support and urgency in justifying an endowment campaign.” The endowment campaign became a part of the NSCAA Strategic Plan.
THE VISION CONTINUES TO EXPAND
In 2012, Al Albert assumed the Foundation chairmanship. Under his leadership, the Foundation continued to flourish with the endowment reaching the $1million dollar goal two years ahead of schedule, increasing the number of named endowment funds, and establishing the Legacy Society. Jeff Vennell took over the reins of the Foundation Committee in 2019.
CoachesGive has now become the formal fundraising arm of the Foundation. A major focus was to increase involvement of all United Soccer Coaches Coaches Communities (formerly Advocacy Groups) resulting in the expansion of the Foundation Committee to 23 individuals including a designated liaison from the Board and two 30 Under 30 Program ad hoc members.
To read the full history of the United Soccer Coaches Foundation Committee, click here.

United Soccer Coaches Foundation Committee

Jeff Vennell
Committee Chair

Kevin Denson
Committee Vice Chair

Al Albert
Sub-Committee Chair, Fundraising

Samantha Bird Snow

Gene Chyzowych Jr.

Ray Cieplik

Todd Yeagley

Michael Curry
Sub-Committee Chair, Marketing & Communications

Jérôme de Bontin

Jay Engeln
Emeritus Member

Jacquelyn Eskay
Sub-Committee Chair, Events

Peter Gooding
Emeritus Member

Brian Greene
Sub-Committee Chair, Investment and Finance

Bill Holleman
Emeritus Member

Greg Hubbard
Board Liason

Hue Menzies

Warren Mersereau

Ralph Polson
Sub-Commitee Chair, Scholarship & Grants

Ted Priestly

Hank Steinbrecher
Emeritus Member

Amanda Vandervort

Michele Rick

Louise Waxler
