What Soccer Does Part 9

Meet Jennifer Martin Coyle , our incredible Director of Grants at the U.S. Soccer Foundation! Jen's role is all about storytelling—bringing the impact of our programs to life to inspire investments and drive change in communities nationwide.

Jen is incredibly passionate about shifting the paradigm of sports to ensure that every child finds their place on or off the field. Her favorite part of the job? Witnessing the transformative power of sports when focused on growth, learning, and connection.

Read through to learn more about Jen and her journey.?

Q: Can you describe your role at the U.S. Soccer Foundation??

A: As the Director of Grants at the U.S. Soccer Foundation, my role centers around telling the story of our organization and programs and the impact they have on catalyzing investments and, in turn, driving meaningful change in communities across the country. I hope to inspire others to contribute to our mission and join us in using soccer as a vehicle to create lasting, positive change for young people.???

Q: What is your favorite part about working at the Foundation??

A: I’m motivated by the idea of helping to shift the paradigm around sports and the idea that every child has a place in sports. I’m honored to be a part of a team that understands the impact sports can have when we center the experience around learning, growth, and connection rather than competition solely for the sake of who is the best and who is the worst.

Q: Using one word, what does soccer do for you, and elaborate on how it impacts you either personally or professionally??

A: Soccer inspires me and reminds me that anything is possible when we show up, work hard, and push ourselves. I played a lot of sports growing up – soccer, volleyball, basketball, etc – but soccer is the only one I never tire of. I didn’t realize it as a kid but it’s truly reflective of life. There are no timeouts. It’s fluid - ever-moving, ever-evolving, and everything can change in a split second. So, you have to learn to recognize when to sprint, when to pace yourself, and when to slow down. Moment by moment you have to learn to see what your role is and decide your movements and actions as an individual and part of the whole. You naturally learn about perseverance, resilience, individual contribution and teamwork, discipline, and adaptability. Soccer is life! And it’s beautiful.??

Q: As the Director of Grants, what has been the most impactful project you’ve worked on?

A: I’m always inspired when I hear the stories of impact from our program partners and have the opportunity to share those stories with others. Sports are such an undervalued contributor to change and when you can see that connection and understanding come together for others it inspires me to double down on the work. Because of this impact, I am able to attract new philanthropic partners and program supporters so that we can take our work to a new level of success ensuring a thriving generation of young people.?

Q: What brings you the most joy outside of work??

A: Spending time with my son, my family and friends. If those moments involve the sun and the beach, it is even better (too bad I don’t live closer to the ocean!). Add in coffee and nearly any sweet treat and I’ve found bliss.

This concludes part 9 of or "What Soccer Does" series. Stay tuned for more entries and learn more about what #SoccerDoes here: soccerdoes.org