We need your support!
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We are opening the path for a new generation of Americans — where intellect, focus, and confidence build the foundation for success in school, sports, and life.
A national movement developing America’s intellect, discipline, and leadership through chess.
A National educational & sports initiative
Chess for America Foundation
Every move counts
Support the next generation of thinkers and leaders.
Each day brings us closer to expanding chess programs across America — join the movement before time runs out.
Each day brings us closer to expanding chess programs across America — join the movement before time runs out.
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
We need your support!
25$
100$
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25$
(3) Annual expenses
(2) Opening of the First School Chess club
(1) Launch of the CFA Foundation
Total goal: ≈ $11,000
Every contribution leaves your mark on the future of American education and intellect. It means one more classroom where kids pick up chess pieces instead of phones. It means one more school where a future champion, engineer, or leader is growing.
Support the launch of Chess for America
What sponsors receive
- Your name or company listed on the Wall of Eternal Gratitude (official site: www.chessforamerica.org).
- Official Chess for America partner certificate.
- Recognition in reports and during the opening of the first club.
- Real, measurable social impact backed by public reports.
5,000
chess clubs within 5 years
500,000
children in active chess
$1,000,000
prize fund for Chess for America
Our 5-year goals
- Open 5,000 chess clubs within 5 years — 3× more than exist in the U.S. today.
- Engage 500,000 children in active chess — a 4× increase from the current level.
- Reach children in the most remote schools of America.
- Establish an annual $1,000,000 prize fund for Chess for America school championships.
- Strengthen children’s STEM skills, academic performance, and cognitive development.
- Make chess fashionable and popular.
- Build a system of free education access while maintaining commercial sustainability and the best pricing in the market.
- Support talents — scholarships, grants, and training.
- Make the USA a chess powerhouse.
- Attract top coaches from around the world.
- Create thousands of new jobs in the chess industry.
How we’ll achieve it
Chess for America is not dependent on constant donations —
we are building a scalable model where every club sustains itself, creates impact, and benefits the nation. Each club operates through a sustainable partnership model between the Foundation, the school, and local entrepreneurs (chess enthusiasts):
we are building a scalable model where every club sustains itself, creates impact, and benefits the nation. Each club operates through a sustainable partnership model between the Foundation, the school, and local entrepreneurs (chess enthusiasts):
The Chess for America Foundation provides grants, training materials, coach education, and 10–50% of social seats for children, while tuition fees are planned to be 30% below market rate.
Schools provide facilities free of charge and promote the clubs among students and parents.
Licensees (entrepreneurs) invest in club openings, creating sustainable local businesses while sharing the Foundation’s educational mission.
Each club becomes a center of growth — teaching children, hosting tournaments, and shaping a new generation of American intellectuals.
We need your support!
25$
100$
250$
500$
25$
We operate in alignment with international educational initiatives and are preparing for official cooperation with:
FIDE Chess in Education (CIE) — global program for integrating chess into education.
CIE-US (Chess in Education USA) — FIDE’s partner in the United States.
US Chess Federation — the national governing body for chess in the U.S.
FIDE Chess in Education (CIE) — global program for integrating chess into education.
CIE-US (Chess in Education USA) — FIDE’s partner in the United States.
US Chess Federation — the national governing body for chess in the U.S.
"Chess for America is a bridge between global chess institutions and the American education system."
International partnership & educational mission
About the founder of Chess for America
Hello everyone! I’m glad to welcome you to Chess for America.
My name is Ilya, and I’ve set a goal — to open 10,000+ chess clubs across the United States, to help millions of children develop the unique qualities that chess builds, and to bring back the lost popularity of the world’s most intellectual game!
A bit about me
I’m 38 years old — a husband, father of two sons, entrepreneur, marathoner, and Ironman 70.3. Together with my wife, Nadia, we created an art project that was recognized by the U.S. government as being in the national interest and is currently developing under a franchise model.
My chess story began with my older son, Marat, who has been playing and growing through chess since early childhood. To me, it’s truly remarkable that chess — a game that brings enormous benefits to human intelligence and stands as the most intellectual game in the world — is so underrated today, especially in America.
My chess story began with my older son, Marat, who has been playing and growing through chess since early childhood. To me, it’s truly remarkable that chess — a game that brings enormous benefits to human intelligence and stands as the most intellectual game in the world — is so underrated today, especially in America.
and my chess story
Everyone keeps saying it’s not exciting enough or that it can’t be monetized. That’s when my entrepreneurial mind started looking for ways to change that.
In 1972, more than 500 million people watched the match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky — as many as watch the UEFA Champions League Final today, and three times more than the Super Bowl! After watching the film “Pawn Sacrifice,” I realized — everything we need already exists.
We just need to focus our efforts on bringing it back to life and making it popular again!
In 1972, more than 500 million people watched the match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky — as many as watch the UEFA Champions League Final today, and three times more than the Super Bowl! After watching the film “Pawn Sacrifice,” I realized — everything we need already exists.
We just need to focus our efforts on bringing it back to life and making it popular again!
Any questions? Contact me and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Prefer to donate by mail?
Please send your contribution to:
Chess for America Foundation, Attn: Development Office, 9305 Miramonte, Irvine, CA 92618.
Chess for America Foundation, Attn: Development Office, 9305 Miramonte, Irvine, CA 92618.
Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Chess for America Foundation is a nonprofit organization.
Registered with the California Attorney General — CT No. 56447845.
The application for 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt status has been submitted and is currently under review.
The application for 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt status has been submitted and is currently under review.
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