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Professional Footballers Australia has unveiled its latest report, Footballers’ Trust: Five Years of Player Impact, which details the work of its charitable arm, the Footballers’ Trust. Since 2019, the Trust has donated $500K in player donations to human rights organisations, inclusion initiatives, and football programs. The report highlights key initiatives championed by players, including: 🟢 Investment in Indigenous participation through John Moriarty Football and the Australian Indigenous Football Championships;  🟢 Support for Australian Blind Football, Transplant Australia Football Club and the Pararoos and Paramatildas to reduce costs for athletes attending national training camps and international tournaments; 🟢 Annual support for Pride Cup, promoting LGBTI+ inclusion in the A-Leagues; 🟢 Supporting anti-racism education in football and in schools through Reflect Foward;  🟢 Contributions to Australian Sports Brain Bank to enable research into the impact of concussion on footballers; 🟢 The Socceroos’ support for humanitarian causes; and 🟢 $50,000 in support funding for the Afghanistan Women's National Football Team, providing vital wellbeing and career support to players. https://lnkd.in/gx-GfFcJ

This week's major industry news courtesy of Beyond Sport... - Canadian Women & Sport | Femmes et sport au Canada new report ensures girls benefit in sports 🙌 - Child Rights & Sports Alliance launches for #FIFAWorldCup2026 ⚽ - National Hockey League (NHL) redefines its US & Canadian charitable efforts 🏒 + Sir Mo Farah calls for a plan to get kids active 💨 👀 bit.ly/4eG6HR9 ↗️ https://lnkd.in/eTXmCYrs

HISTORIC: Washington Spirit owner Michelle Kang has pledged $30 million to U.S. Soccer over the next five years. The investment will help identify emerging talent and support professional development for women soccer players, coaches, and officials. ⁠ Per the announcement, this is the “largest philanthropic investment in U.S. Soccer’s women’s and girls’ programs and the most generous donation ever made to U.S. Soccer by a woman.”⁠ ⁠ The grant will permit the U.S. Soccer Federation to accomplish several objectives, like doubling the number of national team camps, expanding its digital talent identification program, and providing mentorship to those identified as potential leaders in the sport of soccer.⁠ ⁠ Earlier this year, Kang promised $4 million to the U.S. women’s rugby program following its Olympic success.⁠

Sports for youth The company has partnered with the West Youth Academy, with support from Hon. Cllr Desmond Ndzipho, Rand West City MMC of Sports, Arts, Culture, and Library and Information Services to contribute to sports in local communities. Sibanye-Stillwater donated sports apparel and equipment to the Academy, which participates in the Gauteng Development Promotional League (GDPL) and South African Football Association (SAFA) structures. The Academy supports over 100 footballers aged 13-17 with resources to develop their talent and interest in football. #YouthDevelopment #SportsForChange

A New Year opportunity for the right kind of charity! 2 year partnership with Premiership Rugby. You don't see these kind of opportunities come up often, and with such clearly thought out processes and documents, so one for many charities and fundraisers to actively consider. I've put some free tips and thought starters below from having approached these kinds of opportunities so many times in my career. Firstly, I would always recommend reaching out in the first instance when you see these kind of opportunities if they genuinely feel like a fit, so it's great to see this has been proactively offered by Laylla. Especially as the themes are so broad. These conversations have helped me so many times to decide whether or not it was worth pursuing an application. But what do you ask to help you get this clarity? Here's some ideas I've used successfully on scoping calls and internally: - What are your motivations for launching this new type of partnership? - What difficulties at [org/company] are you hoping this new partnership can help you overcome? - At the end of the two years, if you were sharing a story of impact from this partnership, what do you think the most powerful story would be? - Who is your main audience for this partnership? Who do you most want to see, and be influenced by it? - Is there a partnership you've worked on already, or one you've seen in the sports space, that you really admired? And why? Technical questions are trickier so think about the ones that would really help your cause to decide, but from my experience I'd look at: - Do you have any preferences for brand recognition amongst fans for your chosen charity partner? (ie do you want to make transformative change for a less heard of name, or do you want that instant recognition?) - Is it strongest to have a charity that crosses all your chosen themes, or one that laser focuses on a single theme? - Who, or what roles, are making up the decision making panel? You also need to satisfy yourself internally of a couple of points and ideally also discuss with the potential partner: 1. That the fundraising opportunities will produce a reasonable return (are there, for instance, opportunities to also be selected/invited by sponsors to their charity processes) - and what support you'd get from the partner to raise money (vs having to do everything yourself)? If you have 'ready to go' sports offerings (races, challenges) can these be promoted? 2. Gambling/alcohol - particularly as themes include children and health/wellbeing - your brand will be alongside alcohol brands that I can immediately see and a lot of high level sports involves gambling now unfortunately. How will you approach this with that in mind? Its well worth checking your ethical policies before proceeding further, or reaching out to your fundraising trustee to get their experiences. Good luck to charities going for this one! Exciting start to your 2025 🏉 💫

North Midlands team helps to widen rugby participation in Hinckley 🏉 A #Hinckley-based rugby club has secured a £5,000 donation from our North Midlands team, helping them to widen youth participation through its Rugby4All scheme. Hinckley RFC received the funding as part of our Community Champions initiative to support the Rugby4All scheme. The scheme is tailored towards young people with disabilities and creates an accessible environment, enhancing physical and mental well-being, social interaction alongside creating a sense of belonging within the community. Weekly sessions feature various physical activities, also serving as social hubs. These sessions are led by qualified coaches and volunteers and includes mentoring program where local school students build positive relationships with participants, aiding their life skills development and providing mentors with valuable experiences. Our donation will allow for the scheme to continue to provide this opportunity for the local community. A cheque presentation was hosted to mark the event, with visits from Dan E., Managing Director at North Midlands, Tom Pugh, Commercial Director at North Midlands and Cllr Michael Mullaney, Executive Member for Housing and Community Safety at Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council. Also attending the event was Vicky Macqueen BEM, Commercial Manager at Hinckley RFC. Vicky had previously competed in the England Roses Ladies’ team and was Director of Rugby at Leicester Tigers Ladies’ team. #PersimmonHomes

Congratulations to Michelle King for her groundbreaking $30 million donation to the U.S. Soccer Federation in support of women’s soccer! This generous investment is not just about dollars—it’s about ensuring that women in sports have equal opportunities to succeed, thrive, and lead. From an equity standpoint, this donation is a powerful reminder of the importance of supporting all areas of an organization, especially those historically underfunded or overlooked. When we invest in women’s sports, we contribute to the broader goal of achieving equal representation and opportunity across the board. Michelle King’s commitment highlights the critical need for organizations to prioritize fairness and balance, enabling both male and female athletes to access the resources and platforms they deserve. This investment isn’t just a win for women’s soccer—it’s a step toward creating lasting systemic change in sports and beyond. Let’s continue advocating for equity, not just in sports, but in every field. #EquityInSports #WomensSoccer #Leadership #Inclusion #InvestInWomen #SportsForAll

$30 million dollars... Michelle Kang’s extraordinary philanthropic gift and investment in the U.S. Soccer Federation is a defining moment for women’s soccer. Her commitment isn’t just about dollars—it’s about driving meaningful change and elevating the game to new heights. From championing equality through team ownership to now directly supporting the Federation, Kang continues to prove that business and philanthropy can go hand in hand. Her vision isn’t just about the players on the field—it’s about creating a sustainable ecosystem where women’s soccer thrives at every level. This is more than a contribution; it’s a legacy in the making. Women’s soccer has a bright future, and with leaders like Michelle Kang, the game—and the world—can only grow stronger. 🌍⚽ #WomensSoccer #Philanthropy #Leadership #investment #soccer #business

LALIGA and Bloomsbury Football 🤝 An exciting collaboration between Spain’s leading football competition and a sport for good charity from the UK seeking to change the game for young players. Read about their transformative community partnership ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/ete5n-a8

Women's sports have been undervalued for far too long, but times are changing. The skyrocketing viewership and popularity during the last World Cup proved that the momentum is unstoppable. It's especially inspiring to see women stepping up and investing in this incredible growth and success, driving the future of sports to new heights. 🚀🏆 #WomensSports #GameChanger #InvestInHer