We Back
The Teams
Behind The Team
Through a united coalition of 37 youth sports organizations, Fight For Children provides the backbone that helps young people across the DC metropolitan area discover, access, and thrive through sport.
SUPPORT US
Your donation strengthens the grassroots sports leaders shaping our next generation.
We Back The Teams
Behind The Team
Through a united coalition of 37 youth sports organizations, Fight For Children provides the backbone that helps young people across the DC metropolitan area discover, access, and thrive through sport.
SUPPORT US
Your donation strengthens the grassroots sports leaders shaping our next generation.
YOUTH SERVED
ANNUALLY
MEMBER
ORGANIZATIONS
Grants Distributed
SINCE 1990
PLAYING IS BECOMING
Thank You for Supporting Equitable Youth Sports.
Playing Is Becoming unlocked $20,000+ to help more young people in Washington, DC access the power of youth sports.
In 2026, that impact comes to life through Early Access to Sports (EATS) and 37 nonprofit youth sports organizations.
OUR MISSION
We unite and fuel the youth sports community in the DC metro area so more young people can discover and access the life-changing power of sports.
Fighting for Every Child’s Right to Play
We believe every child deserves the chance to play, grow, and discover their potential. That’s why we partner with non-profit organizations that offer free high-quality sports programs—making sure cost is never a barrier. Together, we fight for children and their right to access sports.
How We Work: Our 4-Part Model
We translate community passion into systemic change, ensuring every child has equitable access to the transformative power of sport.
Rally
We mobilize the community and drive discovery by putting the full menu of sports on the table. Events like Youth Sports Day, Early Access to Sports, and Youth Sports Town Hall serve as the backbone, linking families directly to the teams and essential resources they need to ensure their children can discover and thrive through sport.
Recruit
Through outreach and a rigorous review, we identify the city’s most effective leaders, from high-potential rising stars to established pillars. The most promising are invited to become members of our Youth Sports Collaborative. We curate a diverse portfolio of partner organizations, working as The Team Behind the Teams to ensure every child can find a lasting fit.
Fuel
We strengthen programs with grants, capacity-building, coach development, and operational support, helping great organizations get even better and powering them for long-term growth.
Accelerate
As a unified coalition, we take on big challenges that no single organization can solve alone. Together, we drive system-level change in policy and infrastructure, making lasting investments, like the Sports Medicine Center, to lower costs and expand access for all.
Our Impact By The Numbers
Of youth showed measurable growth in Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) competencies
Increase in member revenue through FFC grants and fundraising capacity building
Introducing FFC Youth Sports Fund
When sports reach every child, they spark lasting change that strengthens generations. The FFC Youth Sports Fund powers this vision by investing in youth and mobilizing a region-wide movement to ensure every young person in the DC metro area can access the benefits of sport.
our events
Youth sports town hall
Our ongoing Town Hall series gathers private, public, and nonprofit leaders to share insights, build connections, and strengthen our collective commitment to youth through sports.
YOUTH SPORTS
DAY
Over 2,000 kids and families join our annual back-to-school celebration, connecting with free, high-quality afterschool sports programs and sharing in the joy of community across DC.
our initiatives
YOUTH sports collaborative
The Youth Sports Collaborative unites leading youth sports organizations and community leaders—empowering them to grow, collaborate, and thrive.
EARLY ACCESS TO SPORTS
Through our Early Access to Sports program, young kids start their mornings playing, learning, and growing—discovering a range of sports before the school day begins.
Stories from Our Member Organizations
Hear directly from the organizations driving change in our community. These videos highlight the innovative non-profit programming offered by Open Goal, Flagstar Football, and the Dance Institute of Washington, and showcase how their partnership with Fight for Children is essential to expanding their reach and impact. Explore their stories to see the power of collaboration in action.
Dance Institute of Washington
The Dance Institute of Washington (DIW) is committed to providing world-class dance training and holistic support to youth from diverse backgrounds, regardless of their ability to pay. Their programs use the discipline of dance—including classical ballet and diverse styles—to cultivate artistic excellence, build life skills, and prepare students for college and careers.
Open Goal
Open Goal is dedicated to empowering youth through 100% free-to-play soccer programming. Their unique model eliminates traditional barriers to participation, harnessing the transformative power of sport to promote positive youth development, leadership, and upward social mobility for underserved communities.
Flagstar Football
Flagstar Football offers a safe, low-pressure environment for K-12 students of all skill levels to play and learn in an organized flag football league. They focus on fostering team sports, positive coaching, and a strong sense of community, ensuring that financial need never prevents a child from having the opportunity to play.
FAQs
We help kids find their place in sports and stick with it, while giving organizations the support and collective strength to tackle big systemic issues together.
You can support us in many ways: by making a grant or donation, attending our events, becoming a program partner, volunteering your time, or contributing goods, services, or professional expertise. Be sure to follow us to stay up to date on all the impactful work we do!
Many children never get the chance to discover a sport they might enjoy. After-school programs are often expensive, far away, or simply not available in their neighborhood. Without exposure, kids miss out on opportunities to stay active, build discipline, and experience the confidence that comes from teamwork. We created Early Access to Sports to fix this problem by introducing kids to a range of sports before the school day begins (all for free!). Through trusted local partners, kids explore new sports, stay active, and start their mornings with a burst of energy. Along the way, they discover after-school programs they can continue, making it easier for every child to thrive through sport.
Youth organizations know their communities best, but too many are underfunded, working in silos, and struggling with technical and capacity gaps. They face the same challenges but without coordination or support, their impact is limited. The Youth Development Institute is a collaborative network that provides funding, training, capacity-building, and shared tools—so organizations can move from working alone to working together, reaching more kids and delivering stronger results.
Interested organizations can apply through our Leadership Council. For more information or to be notified when applications open, please contact us at ffc.email@fightforchildren.org.
The Institute includes 37 nonprofits across DC offering over 35 sports and play-based programs that combine coaching, mentorship, community partnerships, and youth development.
Help Us Go Beyond The Game
Your support fuels access, inclusion, and opportunity. Give today and change a child’s tomorrow.