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libertyville-fc-1974

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Libertyville FC 1974

EIN: 36-3123670 · Tax status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit (operates under parent Greater Libertyville Soccer Association)

Overview

Libertyville FC 1974 is the competitive-club program of the Greater Libertyville Soccer Association (GLSA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Libertyville, IL (Lake County, northern Chicago suburbs). The organization was established in 1974 — making it one of the oldest soccer organizations in Illinois — and operates under the parent entity “Greater Libertyville Soccer Association Inc” (EIN 36-3123670, IRS tax-exempt status granted January 1997). GLSA serves more than 2,500 members across competitive (FC 1974), recreational, and adult pathways, with programs from U4 through U23 plus adult amateur play.

Libertyville sits in central Lake County, an affluent corridor with median household income above $109K, anchored by communities along the Tri-State Tollway and Metra North Line.

Financials

Per the FY2024 Form 990 (HIGH confidence):

  • Revenue: $3,474,754 (~91% from program services; ~4.5% investment income; ~4.1% other)
  • Expenses: $2,644,698
  • Net assets: $5,818,885
  • Operating surplus: ~$830K (FY2024)
  • Debt: zero

The organization has compounded net assets from approximately $1.9M in 2012 to $5.8M in 2024 — a steady ~10% annual build that reflects consistent operating surpluses across more than a decade. Executive compensation is ~7.6% of expenses; total personnel costs another ~8.3%. The balance sheet is unusually strong for a single-market nonprofit youth-soccer club at this scale.

Teams & Players

  • 2,500+ members across all GLSA programs
  • FC 1974 (competitive): tryouts-based travel teams across boys and girls
  • RecPlus Program — intermediate developmental
  • Recreational seasons (Fall, Winter, Spring)
  • Youth Academy
  • U23 Program
  • Futsal
  • TOPSoccer (adaptive)
  • Blackmore League (adult)
  • Adult Program

Specific team and player counts broken down by competitive vs recreational are not publicly disclosed, but the overall 2,500 member figure aligns with a roughly 70/30 rec-to-competitive split typical of large GLSA-style hybrid organizations.

League Affiliations

  • ECNL Regional League Boys — Chicago Metro Conference (founding member, 2025)
  • ECNL-RL Girls (Elite)
  • NISL (Northern Illinois Soccer League)
  • US Youth Soccer (Illinois State affiliate)
  • UPSL (United Premier Soccer League) — reference appears in site navigation

FC 1974 does not hold full ECNL membership or an MLS NEXT franchise. Its competitive ceiling sits at the ECNL-RL tier — one rung below the top-flight national platforms.

Notable Achievements

  • 2022 US Youth Soccer National Champions (2005 Boys)
  • 2022 Elite Academy League Mid-America Champions (2006 Boys)

Facilities

  • Libertyville Township Soccer Complex — 110-acre private outdoor complex at 30080 Technology Way, Libertyville, IL 60048; “supported by user fees, receives no government subsidies and is maintained by volunteers”; locked when not in use (consistent with operator control over a long-term-leased or owned site)
  • Canlan Sports Complex — indoor winter venue at 1950 US 45, Libertyville, IL 60048

The 110-acre Libertyville Township site is the operational anchor — unusually large for a single-club venue in northern Illinois and a meaningful competitive asset for hosting tournaments and home matches.

Tournaments

GLSA hosts three significant in-house events:

Tournament revenue is bundled into program services on the 990 and is not separately disclosed.

Leadership

  • Michael Zovistoski — Executive Director (FY2024 compensation $202,000 per 990)
  • Michael Slago — Board President
  • Eric Cardwell — Treasurer
  • Adrienne Fitzgerald — Secretary

The board structure is consistent with a mature community nonprofit; the Executive Director compensation level (~6% of revenue) sits comfortably within nonprofit norms.

Competitive Position

FC 1974 / GLSA is one of the strongest financially positioned nonprofit youth-soccer organizations in northern Illinois. The combination of a large recreational base (rec fees fund the parent organization), a 110-acre controlled facility, ECNL-RL founding-member status on the boys side, and a $5.8M net-assets cushion makes it materially more durable than typical NISL-tier peers. Its competitive ceiling is league-tier — without full ECNL or MLS NEXT, top-end Lake County players still tend to migrate to Chicago FC United (MLS NEXT) or other national-platform clubs for U15+ exposure.

Industry Context

GLSA exemplifies the strong-form community nonprofit model in U.S. youth soccer: a large recreational base that subsidizes the competitive program, founder-era continuity via a multi-decade operating history, a substantial controlled facility, and a debt-free balance sheet. Organizations with this profile are increasingly uncommon as PE-backed platforms (3STEP Sports, Pioneer Sports, others) consolidate the competitive tier. The 110-acre Libertyville Township Soccer Complex in particular is the kind of long-controlled facility asset that distinguishes durable community clubs from tenant-only competitors.

Open Questions

  • Specific player and team counts broken down by FC 1974 competitive vs recreational
  • Ownership versus long-term lease status of the 110-acre Technology Way complex
  • Revenue split between recreational fees, competitive fees, tournament revenue, and concessions/other
  • Strategic plans following ECNL-RL founding-member milestone — pursuit of full ECNL?
  • Succession planning under current ED Zovistoski

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