Our Story

Soccer Without Borders (SWB) began in 2005 with a simple but powerful goal: to create spaces where all youth— especially underserved, newcomer youth—belong.

What started as a volunteer-driven project has grown into an international organization recognized for its impact on youth wellbeing, immigrant and refugee integration, creating spaces for belonging, generating workforce and youth leadership opportunities, growing self-confidence and personal contribution, and building community cohesion through sport.

SWB believes in continual learning and improvement and over the years, we have refined our model, deepened our roots, and expanded our reach. Today, we stand on two decades of experience, leading and collaborating to transform young lives through sport and loving communities that will yield a more humane and compassionate world.

2005–2022: Implementing the Model

The first 17 years of SWB were focused on learning by doing: building programs from the ground up, refining our model through real-world experience, and laying the foundation for long-term impact. From launching our first year-round hub to creating program rubrics and a 10-year strategic plan, this era was about establishing who we are, what we believe, and how we show up for underserved youth and marginalized girls.

(Click a phase below to expand and learn more!)

> Formation & Exploration (2005-2008)

In our early years, SWB was a volunteer-led passion project sparked by a $5,000 award and a bold vision. We partnered with community leaders to launch grassroots programs, mostly abroad, learning how soccer could support marginalized youth. Programs were run on shoestring budgets but fueled by deep relationships and a growing belief in the power of sport. As demand grew, so did the need for stronger infrastructure to sustain and scale this work.

2005: Soccer Without Borders established in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

2006: First programming delivered in Granada, Nicaragua

2007: First U.S.-based programming delivered in Oakland, California

2008: Soccer Without Borders Oakland becomes the first year-round program site

> Expansion & Formalization (2009-2012)

This chapter brought deeper reflection about power, equity, and working across cultures. We revised our mission, defined our first core values, and formalized a 5-activity program model rooted in holistic support. As interest in our work grew, we expanded from 3 to 12 sites, launched monitoring systems, and hired our first site-based and central staff to ensure quality, sustainability, and alignment across programs.

2009: Mission statement revised and core values created

2010: Formation of the Advisory Board and a budget milestone crossing $100,000 annually

2011: Program rubrics created and the program first featured in a national media outlets

2012: Joined the streetworldfootball network; hosted the first program leaders convening in Oakland

> Simplification & Strengthening (2013-2017)

We stepped back to strengthen the foundation. With 12 programs across 5 countries, none were truly sustainable. We simplified, transitioning seasonal sites and investing deeply in year-round programs with full-time directors. This phase brought new systems, our first audit, and a shift toward centralized leadership. As programs grew stronger and more consistent, our impact was recognized with national and global honors, including a $250,000 Lipman Family Prize that fueled the next chapter.

2013: Completion of the organization's first-ever independent audit

2014: Established Advisory Boards at each of our regional hub locations

2015: Recognized by President Barack Obama as a Champion of Change

2016: Awarded Lipman Family Prize by the Wharton School; 10 year Strategic Plan launched

2017: Won FIFA Diversity Award for anti-discrimination values through football

> Strategic Growth (2018-2022)

During this period, we formalized regional growth plans, doubled in staff size, and expanded to 42 program sites. We deepened our investment in systems, staff development, and strategic partnerships to meet rising global demand. The pandemic forced us to reassess priorities, highlighting that belonging—not just soccer—was our core impact. These lessons led to the development of a new Theory of Change, positioning us to grow sustainably while staying grounded in youth-centered values.

2018: Developed regional expansion tools and strategies; Received Robert J. Wood Foundation Sports Award

2019: Program culture enshrined through our Mantras; Delegation of refugee youth sent to the Women's World Cup Youth Festival in Lyon, France.

2020: Awarded Beyond Sport Collective Impact Award for Gender Equality; Launched Creating Belonging campaign and Stay Home Season in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

2021: Surpassed $10 Million in lifetime revenue raised; Building purchased to house SWB's headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland

2022: First Executive Director transition and search; Formally launched SWB Assist, a new service by SWB to diversify mission delivery; Developed a new Theory of Change tool

2023–2025: Strengthening & Growing

After years of building and growing, this period was about looking inward – solidifying our systems, investing in our people, and making sure the foundation could support the future. We focused on collaboration, resilience, and readiness to grow, ensuring that the SWB model wasn’t just scalable, but sustainable. This chapter positioned us to lead with clarity, strength, and care.

(Click a phase below to expand and learn more!)

> Executive Director Transition (2023)

This period marked a major leadership transition, as long-time Executive Director Mary McVeigh Connor stepped down after 15 years. The Board led a thoughtful, inclusive process that incorporated staff voices at every stage and reaffirmed SWB’s core values. A national search followed, culminating in the appointment of Jennifer Tepper as our new Executive Director. The transition brought renewed clarity, energy, and alignment heading into SWB’s next chapter.

Developed a strategic and thoughtful Executive Director transition plan and timeline

Engaged a third party search and recruitment agency

Conducted exhaustive and inclusive interview process to source board and staff input

> Readiness to Grow (2024)

This phase focused on aligning our people, systems, and tools to meet the demands of our next stage of growth. We deepened collaboration across departments and hubs, strengthened board capacity, and upgraded systems to better capture learning and streamline operations. These investments positioned SWB to enter new research partnerships and scale our impact with intention.

Fostered inter-departmental collaboration

Broadened board membership

Invested in systems & tools that increased efficiency and capacity

Positioned our work for research partnerships

> Organizational Resilience (2025)

During this period, we laid the groundwork for long-term impact by strengthening the systems, structures, and policies that sustain our work. We enhanced safeguarding practices, codified trauma-informed approaches, and improved digital tools, information systems, and how we set clear expectations and structures for our teams and board. These investments helped SWB mature as an organization while staying grounded in youth-centered, community-led values.

Instilled and iterated on trauma-informed policies and practices with staff and participants

Enhanced safeguarding processes

Matured SWB by strengthening digital security, IT, data, and document retention, as well as governance policies and practices

2026–2030: Validating & Scaling the Model

In this next phase, we're focused on expanding with purpose—bringing our proven model to more communities while influencing how sport is used as a tool for creating positive change. Aligned with Ashoka Sport for Changemaking's Framework and guided by four strategic priorities, we're investing in systems, sharing what works, and collaborating with others to drive broader change. This moment isn't just about growth; it is about helping shift the values and mindsets of the sports ecosystem toward a more just and joyful future.

(Click a phase below to expand and learn more!)

> Developing the Whole Person Through Sport (Priority 1)

This Strategic Priority, Delivery of High Quality Youth Services, affirms our commitment to meeting the needs of the whole person, both on and off the field. We’re investing in youth mental health, emotional well-being, and skill-building, while creating consistent, inclusive spaces where young people feel seen, supported, and safe. By centering youth voice and belonging, we’re helping participants thrive in sport and in life.

We will enhance the lives of underserved youth by continuing to:

Provide a lifelong affinity for physical, mental and emotional wellness through soccer

Promote a sense of self-efficacy and agency that benefits self, family and community

Provide exposure and guidance to employability skills - formalizing this emerging area of programming

> Sport Creates Opportunities for All to Thrive (Priority 2)

This Strategic Priority, Increase Access to Quality, Free, Fun, Competitive Play, addresses the structural barriers that prevent many newcomer and marginalized youth from participating in organized sport. Through localized programs, trusted partnerships, and a deep focus on equity and inclusion, we’re creating consistent, welcoming environments where all young people—especially girls and newcomer youth—can experience the joy, challenge, and belonging that come from playing the game.

We will create and support increased opportunities through:

Soccer league operations

League capacity building and knowledge sharing

League incubation

> Sport Builds Community Around Shared Values (Priority 3)

This Strategic Priority, Improve Quality of and Access to Inclusive Coach Education, builds on SWB’s reputation as a leader in the sport for development field. We are codifying and expanding our coach education tools and making them more widely accessible through trainings, certifications, and partnerships. By equipping more coaches with inclusive, youth-centered approaches, we’re working to elevate the entire coaching ecosystem and grow our impact beyond SWB programs alone.

We will increase access through:

Dissemination of frameworks and methodologies

Creation of coach education products and services

Integration of SWB content into coach training certification

> Redefining Success Through Sport (Priority 4)

This Strategic Priority, Align SWB Outcomes to Systems Change, connects the impact of our programs to broader movements in education, public health, mental wellness, and equity. We’re leveraging what we learn at the grassroots to inform policies, influence perceptions, and contribute to a more inclusive, youth-centered ecosystem. By tracking and sharing outcomes, we aim to show how sport can be a powerful driver of systemic change.