Soccer Shots and Trust & Will launch community grants program

Soccer Shots and Trust & Will are launching a Community Grants Program with a $30,000 initial investment to help expand youth sports access across North America. Applications are now open to fund local efforts that reduce barriers for children and families, including underserved communities and school-based partnerships.

Why it matters: - The new grants program is designed to make Soccer Shots programming more accessible for children and families who face cost or access barriers. - The effort is aimed at expanding youth sports participation, which the companies frame as a way to support confidence, character and connection in communities across North America. - Trust & Will’s $30,000 investment gives the program an immediate funding base.

What happened: - Soccer Shots announced the Soccer Shots Community Grants Program on September 1, 2026. - Trust & Will is the presenting sponsor and made the initial $30,000 investment. - Applications for Community Grants opened August 20 for Soccer Shots families and partners. - The program is open to local initiatives that increase access to Soccer Shots programming.

The details: - Grants can support underserved communities. - Grants can help establish partnerships with schools and childcare providers. - Grants can fund other community-based efforts that remove barriers to participation. - Soccer Shots said the program is meant to help children play, grow and build confidence through sports. - Jason Webb, VP of Strategic Partnerships at Soccer Shots, said the program is meant to help more children form friendships, build confidence and learn lifelong lessons. - Cody Barbo, co-founder and CEO of Trust & Will, said the sponsorship fits the company’s mission to help families build lasting legacies. - More information and the application are available here.

Between the lines: - The grant program positions youth sports access as a community equity issue, not just a recreation issue. - Trust & Will’s role as sponsor links a financial-technology brand focused on family planning with a children’s sports initiative. - Soccer Shots is using a philanthropic model to extend reach without changing its core program structure.

What's next: - Soccer Shots families and partners can continue applying for grants to support local access initiatives. - The companies are likely to use the program to reach more children in communities where participation barriers are highest. - Soccer Shots says the program reflects a shared belief that when communities thrive, families thrive.