About the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund:
The FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund is a joint initiative between FIFA and Global Citizen designed to expand access to quality education and sports for children worldwide. With a goal of raising over $100 million by the 2026 World Cup Final, the fund supports grassroots organisations improving learning outcomes and child development across 200+ countries. It connects education, sport, culture, and philanthropy to help community-based organisations grow and sustain their impact.
Cycle I (2025–2026) awarded 27 grants. Cycle II is now open, expecting to fund approximately 30 additional organisations globally.
What the Fund Supports — Four Priority Areas:
- Financial Barriers to Education: Organisations mitigating financial obstacles that prevent children from accessing or continuing education — school fees, uniforms, supplies, transportation, meals, and other costs that keep children out of school.
- Learning Environments and Infrastructure: Improving the quality of educational spaces — classrooms, libraries, WASH facilities, technology, teaching materials, and safe learning environments that enable better educational outcomes.
- Inclusive Education: Ensuring access for marginalised groups — girls and young women, children with disabilities, ethnic/linguistic minorities, refugee and displaced children, children in rural/remote areas, and other excluded populations.
- Sports-Based Learning: Using football and other sports as tools to enhance learning engagement, social-emotional development, physical wellbeing, life skills, teamwork, and community connection — especially for children who are disengaged from traditional education.
Eligibility — Must Meet ALL:
- Legally registered non-profit organisation.
- At least 3 years of audited financial statements — demonstrating financial track record and accountability.
- Direct implementation — must run own programmes, not pass funds through to other organisations.
- Serves 500–10,000 beneficiaries — grassroots scale, not micro or mega.
- Child safeguarding policy in place — non-negotiable for any child-focused funder.
- Grant request less than 50% of annual budget — if requesting $250K, your budget must exceed $500K.
- Already delivering impact — this is NOT for pilots, prototypes, or untested ideas.
- Must demonstrate measurable results and proven track record.
Nepal Eligibility and Relevance:
Nepal is fully eligible — the fund operates across 200+ countries with no geographic restrictions. Nepal's education and sports context makes it a strong candidate.
Nepal's Education-Sports Intersection:
- Football is hugely popular in Nepal — played in schools, communities, and open grounds across the country. Nepal has a growing youth football culture with district and national leagues.
- Community schools face severe resource constraints — financial barriers keep many children out.
- Girls' education access remains unequal — sports programmes can increase girls' engagement and retention.
- Children with disabilities face significant exclusion — inclusive sports create pathways.
- Dalit, Janajati, and other marginalised children face systemic barriers to quality education.
- After-school and sports-based programmes are proven engagement tools in Nepal.
Nepal organisations that could apply:
- Education NGOs with sports/football component serving 500–10,000 children.
- Sport for development organisations with education integration.
- Community football academies that also support children's schooling.
- Inclusive education organisations using sports for engagement.
- Girls' education programmes incorporating physical activity.
- Child club networks with education and sports activities.
- Community school support organisations that include extracurricular sports.
- Any registered Nepal nonprofit with 3+ years of audited accounts, child safeguarding policy, and education/sports programmes serving 500–10,000 children.
Budget Eligibility Check:
- If requesting $50,000 → annual budget must exceed $100,000.
- If requesting $100,000 → annual budget must exceed $200,000.
- If requesting $250,000 → annual budget must exceed $500,000.
- Check your budget before deciding on the request amount.
KEY DETAILS
- Fund: FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund — Cycle II
- Partners: FIFA + Global Citizen
- DEADLINE: May 29, 2026
- Cycle I: 27 grants awarded
- Cycle II: ~30 organisations expected
- APPLY: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/projects/fifa-global-citizen-education-fund/apply/
- One application per organisation only
- English portal — can apply in native language
- Confirmation sent upon submission
- GRANT: $50,000–$250,000 (one-time)
— ~30 awards globally
— TWO types: General Operating Support OR Project/Programme Support
— Request must be LESS THAN 50% of annual budget
- NEPAL: FULLY ELIGIBLE
— 200+ countries — no geographic restrictions
— Football hugely popular in Nepal
— Education barriers significant — strong case for support
- MUST MEET ALL:
— Legally REGISTERED nonprofit
— 3+ years AUDITED financial statements
— DIRECTLY implement own programmes (no pass-through)
— Serve 500–10,000 BENEFICIARIES
— CHILD SAFEGUARDING policy in place
— Grant < 50% of ANNUAL BUDGET
— ALREADY delivering impact (not pilot/untested)
- FOUR PRIORITIES:
— Remove FINANCIAL BARRIERS to education (fees, uniforms, supplies)
— Improve LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS and infrastructure
— INCLUSIVE EDUCATION (girls, disability, marginalised groups)
— FOOTBALL/SPORTS-BASED LEARNING and engagement
- WHY THIS IS EXCEPTIONAL:
— $50K–$250K is SUBSTANTIAL for grassroots Nepal orgs
— ~30 AWARDS — reasonable odds for strong applicants
— GENERAL OPERATING support available — unrestricted!
— FIFA + Global Citizen = extraordinary VISIBILITY
— Part of $100M+ initiative tied to 2026 WORLD CUP
— FOOTBALL is universally loved — powerful engagement tool
— Nepal's education + football culture = natural fit
— 200+ COUNTRIES — genuinely global reach
- IMPORTANT NOTES:
— Deadline — May 29
— NOT for PILOTS — must demonstrate existing impact
— 3 YEARS audited accounts is strict — verify you have these
— CHILD SAFEGUARDING policy is non-negotiable
— 500–10,000 beneficiaries = GRASSROOTS scale — not mega-NGOs
— 50% BUDGET RULE — calculate carefully before requesting
— ONE application per org — make it count
— Shortlisted may be INVITED TO MEET fund officials
— Mid-term + final REPORTS required
— FOOTBALL doesn't need to be the main activity — but sports integration strengthens application
— Education organisations WITHOUT sports can still apply if working on K-12 barriers
— Sports organisations MUST show education impact — football alone isn't enough
- CONTACT:
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/projects/fifa-global-citizen-education-fund/apply/
