April 25 – The UEFA Foundation for Children is marking a decade of impact with a new pan-European initiative aimed at reinforcing its mission through grassroots investment. As the foundation celebrates ten years of operations, it has announced a €1 million solidarity fund to be distributed among UEFA’s 55 member associations for the development of local social projects focused on disadvantaged children.
Launched in 2015 with the ambition of leveraging football as a force for good, the foundation has steadily grown into one of UEFA’s most visible philanthropic arms. In the ten years since its creation, it has supported 577 projects across 138 countries, reaching close to 5 million children. Its scope has ranged from educational and health support to social inclusion, life skills and career development.
At its core, the foundation operates on the premise that football’s global reach can be a powerful delivery mechanism for social development — especially when paired with trusted local partners and grassroots structures. Its continued success has relied heavily on cooperation with NGOs and football associations, many of whom channel UEFA support into projects that otherwise would never have materialised.
The new €1 million fund — which will be divided equally among all participating associations — is both a symbolic and practical gesture of UEFA’s commitment to the foundation’s aims. It invites national bodies to develop social programmes tailored to their local context, possibly in cooperation with local NGOs. It also reinforces a shared sense of purpose within the European football ecosystem, particularly as discussions about the game’s wider social responsibility continue to grow louder.
investing directly in grassroots-level impact — and doing so through its member associations — the foundation is aiming to make good on the values football often professes: fairness, inclusion, and a genuine sense of community.
“This initiative is another beautiful reflection of the compassion, solidarity and shared commitment that lives within the European football community,” said UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, who also chairs the foundation’s board of trustees. “The foundation is dedicated to bringing the magic of football to every child, creating a safe and joyful space where they can dream, play and grow.
“The work of the UEFA Foundation for Children sends a strong message that millions of children around the world need help, and we must not leave them behind. It goes beyond UEFA’s deep commitment to social responsibility – it is about standing up for the most vulnerable and using football as a catalyst to cheer up, inspire and empower them.
“We’ve reached almost five million children living in difficult and precarious conditions in just ten years. Through 500 projects across nearly 140 countries, the Foundation has brought hope, joy, and real change to numerous communities that needed it most. We are proud of the global impact made, but we see it only as a beginning.
“Looking ahead, we want to grow our support for more projects, forge new partnerships, and create more awareness and positive energy across the sporting world to connect with even more children. We’re excited to involve more sports entities and continue using football – and sport more broadly – as a force for positive change,” Ceferin finished.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1745603879labto1745603879ofdlr1745603879owedi1745603879sni@g1745603879niwe.1745603879yrrah1745603879