LA Bulls Soccer Club

SUCCESS STORY

A vision takes the field

22X

average return on contribution

8,000

people impacted

$800K

raised

7

organizational steps progressed

Commitment to inclusivity

BACKGROUND

Founded by accomplished female athletes, LA Bulls Soccer Club set out with a bold mission: to open elite-level youth soccer to a more diverse range of players. Their mantra, “Inclusion and Advancement,” was more than a tagline. Through MLSNext and Development Player League (DPL) platforms, the LA Bulls wanted to challenge the status quo.

While the club offered high-level training and competition, they lacked extensive philanthropic infrastructure to make that access equitable. Without financial aid, many talented players were left on the sidelines.

So in 2022, LA Bulls partnered with Philanthropic Expansion Fund (PEF) to build a fundraising program from the ground up: a new playbook for a team with no previous experience in the space.

PROCESS

The stakes get real

Nine months into the partnership, disaster struck. Wildfires tore through Los Angeles, directly impacting the Pacific Palisades, the Bulls’ home base and the heart of their player and family community. What started as an effort to expand access through financial aid became something bigger and more important: a test of the club’s resilience and leadership during crisis.

LA Bulls now faced two urgent goals: launch a scholarship program to level the playing field and provide both stability and connection for a community under extreme stress.

Building long-term strength

PROCESS

PEF’s role quickly evolved from builder to lifeline. The team helped the LA Bulls create a complete philanthropic infrastructure in time to meet the moment:

Educating leadership on philanthropy: PEF coached club leaders on the ethics, mechanics, and human side of fundraising, including how to confidently make the ask.

A system from scratch: From donation processing and donor management to messaging and campaign planning, PEF laid the groundwork for a fully operational fundraising engine. This included creating a compelling case statement, establishing systems for donation processing and donor management, and creating initial fundraising plans. This foundational work became essential for community communication and support during the crisis.

Funding for now and the future: Together, they developed diversified strategies to fund both day-to-day programming and the club’s growing crisis response.

Board and community engagement: PEF guided LA Bulls leadership in activating board members and positioning the club as a trusted voice amid chaos. The strengthened organization and communication channels let the LA Bulls step up as thought leaders and a beacon of stability when the community needed them most.

The timing was pivotal. The foundational tools and confidence built through this partnership gave the LA Bulls the means to launch financial aid, communicate with clarity, and rally support during the wildfire recovery.

RESULTS

A future on the front foot

The results have been powerful and enduring:

In only 15 months of fundraising, the LA Bulls raised more than

$800,000.

This aid let deserving players take the field, players who otherwise would have been excluded.

The philanthropic infrastructure gave the club the stability to lead during the fires, emerge stronger, and form deeper community ties, impacting about

8,000 people.

22x Return on Contribution™

With support from PEF and early champions, the LA Bulls scored a

and, most importantly, advanced through all

Through this, the LA Bulls are proving they’re not just creating elite athletes. They’re building a future where opportunity and excellence go hand in hand, no matter a player's ZIP code.

seven stages of organizational development.

The LA Bulls now have a sustainable model for financial assistance that ensures their commitment to inclusion and equity will last. Club leaders now have practical fundraising skills and a deeper understanding of philanthropy, tools they can use well beyond a single campaign. And with the systems, mindset, and vision now in place, the LA Bulls are poised to expand their reach and deepen their impact