SAFC Foundation's Trainee Programme has received a £20,000 boost thanks to a Football Association award.
Sunderland AFC won the FA's Respect and Fair Play Award for the good behaviour of their fans during the 2010-11 campaign.
Sunderland supporters chose SAFC Foundation as the recipient of the £20,000 prize and the donation will be put to use helping young people gain the skills, experience and qualifications necessary to find work through the charity's Trainee Programme.
The two-year programme works with young people aged 16-19 not in education, employment or training to give them a chance of better employment prospects.
On the last Trainee programme, seven of the nine youngsters who completed the course went on to gain employment, with one going into further education.
Goalkeeper Craig Gordon received a cheque on behalf of SAFC Foundation from Barry Bright, representing the FA, and a representative from the Barclays Premier League at the recent Stoke match.
Talking about the donation, SAFC Foundation CEO Lesley Spuhler commented: "Thanks to this donation from the FA we'll be able to help young people get a good start to their careers through a two-year Trainee Programme.
"I'd also like to extend my thanks to the Sunderland fans who chose us as the recipients of the donation and whose good behaviour made this award possible.
"They are a credit to their club and their community."
Dermot Collins, The FA's Respect Manager, added: "This award recognises the passion, loyalty and decency of Sunderland's fans."
