In 2016, Indy Eleven led the effort to launch the Indy Eleven Soccer Foundation, Inc., an Indiana non-profit corporation (the “Foundation”). The mission of the 501(c)(3) Foundation is to provide Indiana youth with positive experiences by supporting educational, soccer and other athletic programs and facilities, all of which promote healthy lifestyles and character development in under-served Indiana communities. Indy Eleven’s annual contributions to the Foundation are intended to assist the Foundation in achieving such mission and vision.
The Foundation traditionally awards grants in the range of $2,500 to $10,000 to organizations, projects and initiatives that support the mission and vision of the Foundation. For example, the Foundation has awarded grants to Indianapolis Public Schools, the Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center and Brookside Community Center to assist in the purchase of soccer equipment for each organization’s development of after school youth soccer programs. The Foundation has also awarded grants to support and assist in the development of Futsal, a form of soccer played on a smaller court and common in European urban areas where space is limited and full sized soccer fields are not feasible. In this regard, the Foundation has awarded grants to assist with the development of futsal courts at Arsenal Technical High School, Rhodius Park and at the Enlace Academy. Finally, the Foundation has provided in-kind contributions and support to youth soccer organizations through the donation of soccer shirts and assisting with various youth soccer events including the Mayor’s International Futsal Cup, a 3-day Futsal tournament held in downtown Indianapolis.
