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Tillies Touch
East Syracuse, NY · EIN 451489903 · Form 990 · FY2025 · NTEE O50 · Youth Development · Small ($100K-$1M) · tilliestouch.org
revenue
$235K
expenses
$179K
net assets
$109K
employees
0
volunteers
15
program ratio
100%
mission · from form 990

Tillies Touch uses soccer to drive educational success while assisting refugees adjust to their new lives in the United States. Our primary goal is for the children we serve to graduate high school pursue higher education and achieve economic independence.

profile · synthesized from sources

Tillies Touch is a Syracuse-based nonprofit that uses soccer to promote educational success and support refugee integration. The organization serves youth in Central New York by providing free soccer programs, academic tutoring, and school supplies. It emphasizes holistic development, combining athletic participation with academic support and mentorship to help children succeed both on and off the field.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2025

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $51K
    Travel soccer program- serving a subset of overall children served. Expenses include tournament fees vehicles gas lodging insurance and food and a portion of rental and administrative expenses.
  2. #2 $16K
    Khan Academy program: serving 50-60 children to help boost academic achievement. Expenses include equipment school supplies fees for tutors and a portion of rental and administrative expenses.
named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Academic Support and Tutoring
Academic program requiring players to maintain good grades; provides tutoring for those falling below standards to promote educational achievement alongside athletic participation.
Recreational League
Free outdoor spring soccer league for children in grades 1–6 focused on skill development, conditioning, and participation; includes equipment lending and jersey distribution.
School Supply Giveaway
Annual August event distributing approximately 400 backpacks filled with school supplies to local children, supporting academic readiness for the upcoming school year.
Travel Soccer Program
Competitive soccer program for youth that includes tournament participation, transportation, lodging, and meals; emphasizes discipline, teamwork, and commitment.
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Youth Sports Access and Equipment Support 3 activities
    • Provision of soccer equipment and uniforms
      Provides a jersey to each player and offers equipment borrowing to children in need to ensure full participation in soccer programs.
    • Provision of sports and school equipment
      Provides sports and school equipment or opportunities to children whose families cannot afford them, including through the school supply giveaway and equipment borrowing.
    • Youth travel soccer program with full cost coverage
      Operates a travel soccer program for youth, covering tournament fees, transportation, lodging, insurance, and meals to ensure access for children whose families cannot afford them.
  • Youth Soccer Development Programs 2 activities
    • Free soccer and academic support in Syracuse
      Provides free soccer and academic support to children in Syracuse, combining athletic and educational services to promote youth development.
    • Outdoor spring soccer league for youth
      Runs an outdoor spring soccer league from May 22 to June 26, 2026, with five weekly Friday night sessions for children in grades 1–6, divided by age group: 1st to 4th graders from 5:30 to 7:00pm and 5th to 6th graders from 7:00 to 8:30pm.
  • Student Support and Academic Services 1 activity
    • Academic support for travel soccer players
      Provides tutoring to travel soccer players who are not meeting academic standards to support their eligibility, including payment of tutor fees.
  • Back-to-School Supply Distribution 1 activity
    • Annual school supply giveaway
      Organizes an annual school supply giveaway in August, distributing an average of 400 backpacks filled with school supplies to local children.
  • Youth Sports Community Events 1 activity
    • Awards and recognition for youth participants
      Distributes trophies to all 1st through 4th grade participants and to league winners and MVPs in the 5th–6th grade division to recognize participation and achievement.
  • Alumni Leadership and Career Support Programs 1 activity
    • Coach development and engagement
      Engages former players as coaches within the organization, supporting leadership development and continuity in programming.
  • After-School Academic and Enrichment Programs 1 activity
    • Khan Academy academic achievement program
      Runs a Khan Academy program serving 50–60 children to improve academic achievement, including provision of equipment, school supplies, and tutor fees.
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$235K
Contributions & grants$235K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$179K
Program expenses100%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$18K
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$109K
Cash$109K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$109K
Liquid reserves7.3 mo
5 years on record · 2021–2025 · YoY revenue +26.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

board members · 5
  • Fred Daley — Director
  • Joseph Talarico — Director
  • Kelly Patrick — Director
  • Moo K Polo — Director
  • Suzanne Talarico — Director
relationships · 6

Who they work with

  • Cicero-North Syracuse Partner — Collaborates with student-athletes from Cicero-North Syracuse High School participating in the Tillie's Touch program.
  • Henninger High School Partner — Collaborates with student-athletes from Henninger High School participating in the Tillie's Touch program.
  • Marcellus High School Partner — Collaborates with student-athletes from Marcellus High School participating in the Tillie's Touch program.
  • Nottingham High School Partner — Collaborates with student-athletes from Nottingham High School participating in the Tillie's Touch program.
  • Schiller Park Partner — Hosts the outdoor youth soccer league at the park located at Whitwell Dr. and Farmer St.
  • local businesses Partner — Local businesses are solicited for donations to support the provision of sports equipment and school supplies.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Academic-Athletic Integration
    methodology: academic-athletic_integration
    By linking athletic eligibility to academic performance and providing mandatory tutoring, we improve educational outcomes because structured support systems reinforce accountability and create incentives for academic engagement.
  • Financial Access Removal via Equipment and Program Support
    methodology: financial_access_barrier_removal
    By removing financial barriers to sports equipment, school supplies, and program access, we increase participation and engagement in both athletic and academic domains because access to essential resources enables full involvement regardless of socioeconomic status.
  • Sports-Based Youth Development with Holistic Outcomes
    methodology: sports_based_youth_development
    By using soccer as a platform for teaching life skills, building community, and fostering personal growth, we promote leadership, mental wellness, and long-term development because structured team sports create relational and experiential learning opportunities that extend beyond the field.