Scholarships & Grants
Since its inception in 2006, the Foundation has awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships to 229 girls across the country. Each scholarship provided an opportunity to spend a week at the Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy (JFSLA). With help from local youth programs and non-profit organizations, the Foundation aims to target young women who may lack the opportunity to obtain organized leadership training in their community. The Foundation's goal is to reach those girls and young women who have the personal drive to be a leader, but may lack the financial means to pursue an opportunity of this nature.
The Foundation believes that a great opportunity exists for girls to develop their leadership skills by engaging in community service and/or initiating their own leadership project. In support of that belief, last year, the Julie Foudy Leadership Foundation established the "Choosing to Matter" grant program. The "Choosing to Matter" grant is awarded to former JFSLA students who have a specific project in mind. Each grant then serves as seed-funding to support the girls' efforts in initiating their project. In the first 3 years of the program's existence, the Foundation has provided funding for 32 JFSLA alumni leadership projects. These 32 alumni were awarded a grant because the Foundation believed in the contribution they were willing to make in their communities.
— Mahatma Gandhi