Who is eligible to apply for an MLS GO PLAY FUND Individual Grant?
Individual grants are available to assist with player costs for any child, ages 4-14, who is interested in participating in MLS GO. Parents or legal guardians of participants will apply for the grant on behalf of the child. Grants are only available for participants in MLS GO leagues, funding for other youth soccer programs will not be provided. Applications will be considered based on the following criteria:
- Completed application.
- To be eligible for financial assistance, your annual household income must be less than the median national average of $83,730*, and the participant must be enrolled in Medicaid, SNAP or WIC. Proof of both will be required.
- Individual has not already registered and paid to participate in an MLS GO league.
- Participant has not already received funding for the current calendar year.
Please note that this list of criteria is not meant to be definitive and can be changed at the discretion of MLS and the RCX Sports Foundation.
If I meet all criteria, does that mean I will automatically receive a grant?
Unfortunately, no. The MLS GO PLAY FUND has limited resources and cannot approve every deserving applicant. The MLS GO PLAY FUND Selection Committee, comprised of stakeholders from MLS, RCX Sports and the RCX Sports Foundation, will review every application carefully before making a final decision.
How much funding can I receive through an MLS GO PLAY Fund Individual Grant?
The amount of funding provided will depend on your MLS GO League and the average price to participate in MLS GO in your market.
What type of information do I need to provide on the application?
Before starting your application, we recommend ensuring that you have all necessary information about your organization handing. You will need to provide proof of income and proof of your child’s enrollment in either Medicaid, WIC or SNAP. You will need to know the specific MLS GO league you intend to register with and the website for your league.
What is the process for applying for funding?
- Gather all necessary information (examples listed above) prior to beginning your application.
- Visit HERE to start your application. This link will direct you to Submittable, our grant application software.
- Create a free account on Submittable to get started.
- Review the grant acknowledgements to ensure you quality for the grant.
- Select the MLS GO PLAY FUND – Individual Grant and start your application. Follow the instructions in the application and note any required responses before submitting. If you ‘Save a Draft’ you can return to your application in your Submittable account to finish the application at a later time. Once you are finished with your application, make sure to submit it.
- Once you submit your application you will receive a confirmation email.
- Sign into Submittable to check your application status, request to edit your application, or message the RCX Sports Foundation with questions regarding your application.
- You will receive an email whether your application is accepted or declined.
- If you run into any technical issues, the question mark at the top of the page will direct you to Submittable’s customer service team.
If awarded a grant, how will I receive my funding?
All individual grants from the MLS GO PLAY FUND will funnel through your league operator. Once approved, the RCX Sports Foundation will notify your league operator of your grant and send the funding directly to them. The league operator will then either waiver your registration fee or provide a code to use a discount upon registration. Please note that once you register for the league, funding cannot be reimbursed. We advise all applicants to wait to register for their league until their application is awarded or declined.