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As the NFL continues to expand internationally, Beyond Sport is helping translate visibility into funding, capacity building and opportunity for underserved youth.
As one of the world’s most influential professional sports leagues expands its reach beyond the United States, the question of impact becomes increasingly important. How does global growth translate into opportunity for young people and local communities?
For more than a decade, Beyond Sport has partnered across the National Football League ecosystem to support growth matched by meaningful community investment. Working alongside the NFL and its philanthropic arms, our current program focuses on using sport—specifically NFL Flag—as a vehicle for youth development, inclusion and long-term opportunity.
A partnership built over time
The NFL became a Beyond Sport Founding Supporter in 2011. Rooted in shared values around equity, opportunity and the positive power of sport, the partnership has evolved alongside the NFL’s expanding international footprint.
Over time, this collaboration has moved from foundational support to programmatic delivery, with Beyond Sport playing a central role in designing and implementing initiatives that strengthen community organizations and help young people reach their potential.
The challenge and the opportunity
Young people in underserved communities often face interconnected barriers related to education, employment, and physical and mental health, compounded by systemic inequality and discrimination. Many sport programs have historically struggled to reach girls, young people from low-income backgrounds and diverse ethnic communities.
Flag football presents a unique opportunity to address these gaps. Played by more than 20 million people across 100+ countries, its non-contact format makes it accessible for all genders, body types and ability levels—lowering barriers to participation while fostering teamwork, leadership and social connection.
The UK blueprint: Community Partnerships in action
A major milestone in the partnership came in 2021 with the NFL Foundation Community Partnerships flag football program in the UK.
The initiative uses American football and the NFL values of respect, integrity, responsibility to team and resilience to reduce inequality. Through grant funding, training and equipment, the program helps community organizations engage young people using NFL Flag as a tool for development.
Beyond Sport initially supported the program’s rollout in the UK, with early backing from the Mayor of London and Sport England. Across London, Birmingham, Greater Manchester and Leeds, community partners have upskilled more than 80 coaches and volunteers, reached over 2,500 young people and helped build a growing network of delivery partners that learn from one another. Notably, 43% of participants have been girls, 79% whom come from diverse ethnic communities.
Building on this foundation, we expanded our collaboration with the NFL Foundation in 2025. The Global Partnerships program is now being introduced in Australia, Brazil, Germany, Ireland and Spain. In each location, funding supports organizations to incorporate NFL Flag into existing programming focused on improving physical and mental health, building community and reducing inequality for young people.
Global growth, local responsibility
As the NFL and its clubs continue to expand internationally, hosting games and growing its presence in cities such as Munich and Calgary, the need to pair global visibility with local opportunity has become even more important. Beyond Sport’s role within the partnership is to help translate that momentum into sustained community impact, ensuring that young people are not only spectators of the sport’s growth but active participants shaping their own paths.
With flag football set to debut at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, it marks a pivotal milestone in the sport’s global evolution. For Beyond Sport and the NFL, this represents an opportunity to deepen investment in the communities that make participation in the sport possible, and to ensure the sport’s continued growth leaves a lasting, equitable legacy.
Where the partnership is today: Open funding opportunities
Today, Beyond Sport’s partnership across the NFL ecosystem is focused on providing direct grant funding and capacity building to community-led organizations using sport to support young people facing inequality.
Building on the multi-year initiative to support NFL Flag projects, Beyond Sport is currently delivering and supporting several open funding opportunities. Each program combines funding, training and equipment with locally tailored delivery to help organizations strengthen impact and close opportunity gaps.
Greater Manchester, UK
NFL Foundation UK and Beyond Sport are inviting Manchester-based organizations to apply for grant partnerships of up to £40,000, supporting the delivery of NFL Flag programs designed to engage young people and strengthen community wellbeing.
London, UK
Through the Go! London x NFL Foundation UK Grant Fund, London-based organizations can apply for up to £55,000 to introduce or expand flag football alongside wraparound support such as mentoring, education, or employability programming.
Brisbane, Australia
Beyond Sport and its NFL partners will soon launch a new grant opportunity in Australia, building on the same community-led approach developed through the UK programs.
COMING SOON – watch our program grants page and social media for the latest news!
The NFL is a Beyond Sport Founding Supporter.
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