NFL Foundation

The NFL Foundation is the charitable organization established by the member clubs of the National Football League in 1973. It was previously known as NFL Charities and serves as a collective grant-making and community-investment vehicle for the league and its clubs. Rather than operating as a conventional consumer business, the Foundation uses the reach, visibility, and financial resources of professional football to support nonprofit organizations and programs across the United States. Its work has historically centered on youth football, player safety, health, education, community development, and support for military personnel and veterans. The organization provides grants to youth and high-school football programs and works with USA Football on initiatives intended to introduce children to the sport and promote safer participation. NFL FLAG, a non-tackle version of football, has been developed through collaboration between the Foundation and USA Football, while the FUNdamentals program is designed to give children who have not previously played football an accessible introduction to the game. Player safety has been a prominent area of activity. The Foundation has provided funding for USA Football's Heads Up Football program, which focuses on coach education, safety procedures, and tackling technique. The Foundation and USA Football have publicized reductions in injuries and concussions associated with the program, but research cited in discussions of the initiative has challenged the scale of those claims, reporting no reduction in concussions and a smaller effect on injuries than initially asserted. This disagreement illustrates the scrutiny that can accompany health and safety programs connected with tackle football. The Foundation also supports broad public-service campaigns. Play 60 encourages children to be physically active for at least 60 minutes each day, linking football's youth audience with efforts to address childhood inactivity and obesity. A Crucial Catch, conducted with the American Cancer Society, raises cancer-awareness messages and has been associated with the NFL's annual October campaign. Salute to Service supports people who have served or are serving in the United States military. Other grant activity assists current and former NFL players and their charitable foundations. The organization also contributes to the league's recognition and legacy programs. The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award highlights players' community service alongside their on-field work. Super Bowl Legacy Grants provide funding for the city hosting the Super Bowl, with the cited program framework describing a one-million-dollar grant for the host community. The Foundation has also made substantial annual charitable grants to organizations including the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the American Heart Association; the reference material describes annual giving at approximately $10 million, although no independently documented financial period is specified here. Leadership is connected closely to the NFL and its clubs. Charlotte Jones Anderson, executive vice president and chief brand officer of the Dallas Cowboys, was appointed chair of the NFL Foundation by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in December 2012. Through its club-based structure, grant programs, football-development initiatives, and public campaigns, the NFL Foundation functions as the league's principal philanthropic platform.

The NFL Foundation was established in 1973 by the member clubs of the National Football League under the earlier name NFL Charities. Its original and continuing purpose was to allow the clubs to combine their charitable resources and make grants to worthwhile causes at a national level. The organization therefore developed as a league-wide philanthropic institution rather than as an independent sporting association or a commercial product brand. Over time, the Foundation's activities expanded across several related areas. Youth football became a central focus, with grants for youth and high-school teams and cooperation with USA Football to teach the fundamentals of the game. The Foundation and USA Football also developed NFL FLAG, a non-tackle format intended to make football more accessible to children and families who may not want to begin with full-contact play. FUNdamentals similarly provides an introductory pathway for children without previous football experience. The Foundation has also funded work addressing the safety of football participation. USA Football's Heads Up Football program, supported in part by the Foundation, was designed to improve coaching practices, tackling instruction, and general safety procedures. Public claims associated with the program described substantial reductions in injuries and concussions. Those claims have been questioned by research and commentary cited in the program's reference material, including findings that did not show a concussion reduction and that found a smaller injury effect than the program's promotional claims. Safety therefore became both a philanthropic priority and an area in which the Foundation's activities received critical examination. A second major strand of the Foundation's history is its support for national awareness and service campaigns. Play 60 encourages children to engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily. A Crucial Catch, carried out with the American Cancer Society, uses the NFL platform to promote cancer awareness, including the league's recurring October visibility campaign. Salute to Service directs support toward people who have served or are serving in the United States military. The Foundation also provides grants connected with the charitable activities of current and former NFL players. The Foundation's grant-making has included national nonprofit organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the American Heart Association. Its program portfolio also incorporates league ceremonies and event-related philanthropy. The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award recognizes a player's community contributions, while Super Bowl Legacy Grants direct funding to the community hosting the Super Bowl. The cited program description identifies a one-million-dollar grant for the host city. In governance, the Foundation remains closely tied to the NFL and its clubs. Charlotte Jones Anderson became chair in December 2012 after appointment by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Her role also connects the Foundation with the Dallas Cowboys, where she serves as executive vice president and chief brand officer. The Foundation's development has consequently mirrored the NFL's broader use of football as a platform for youth participation, community investment, public-health messaging, player service, and event-based local giving.

1. 2012Charlotte Jones Anderson becomes chair

   Charlotte Jones Anderson is appointed chair of the NFL Foundation by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in December.

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2. 1973NFL Charities is established

   The NFL's member clubs establish a collective charitable organization, later known as the NFL Foundation, to make grants to national charitable and community causes.

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The NFL's collective philanthropic and community-investment platform, using the league's clubs, players, events, and public reach to support youth football, safer play, health awareness, military communities, charitable organizations, and local Super Bowl legacies.

• NFL FLAGYouth football program

  A non-tackle form of football developed by the NFL Foundation in cooperation with USA Football. NFL FLAG is intended to introduce children to football in a format that emphasizes accessibility and participation without the full-contact structure of tackle football.

• FUNdamentalsYouth football introduction program

  An introductory football program designed for children who have not previously played the sport. It presents basic football concepts and participation in an entry-level format supported by the NFL Foundation.

• Heads Up FootballFootball safety education

  A USA Football safety initiative supported in part by the NFL Foundation. The program focuses on coach education, safer procedures, and tackling instruction. Its reported impact on injuries and concussions has been disputed by research cited in the program's public discussion.

• Play 60Youth health and activity initiative

  A youth-focused initiative encouraging children to be physically active for at least 60 minutes each day. The program connects NFL community outreach with efforts to reduce inactivity and childhood obesity.

• A Crucial CatchCancer-awareness campaign

  A cancer-awareness initiative conducted in partnership with the American Cancer Society. The campaign uses NFL teams, players, and league visibility to promote awareness, with recurring activity associated with October.

• Salute to ServiceMilitary-support initiative

  An initiative through which the NFL Foundation provides grants and support for people who have served or are currently serving in the United States military.

• Player Foundation GrantsPlayer charitable support

  Grant support connected with charitable work by current and former NFL players. The program helps extend player-led philanthropy to community organizations and causes.

• Super Bowl Legacy GrantsHost-community grant program

  Grants directed to the community hosting the Super Bowl. The cited program description identifies a one-million-dollar grant intended to create a lasting local benefit associated with the event.

• Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year AwardPlayer recognition award

  An award recognizing an NFL player's contributions both on the field and through community service. It connects player recognition with the Foundation's broader charitable mission.

• Play 60

  United States

  Encourages children to engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day and addresses concerns about inactivity and childhood obesity.

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• A Crucial Catch

  United States

  A cancer-awareness partnership with the American Cancer Society, amplified through NFL teams, players, and the league's recurring October awareness activities.

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• Salute to Service

  United States

  Supports current and former service members and military communities through NFL Foundation grants and related league activities.

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• Expand collective grant-making through youth and community programsStrategy

  The Foundation was created so NFL member clubs could make grants collectively at a national level, while also supporting local and football-related causes.

  What changed. It developed a portfolio spanning youth football, player safety, health awareness, military support, player philanthropy, and Super Bowl host-community investment.

  Aftermath. The Foundation became the NFL's principal league-wide charitable platform, combining grant-making with branded programs and public campaigns.

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• Support non-tackle youth football through NFL FLAGProduct launch

  The Foundation and USA Football sought to introduce children to football while offering an alternative to tackle participation.

  What changed. They developed NFL FLAG, a non-tackle version of football, alongside introductory youth programming.

  Aftermath. NFL FLAG became one of the Foundation's identifiable youth-development offerings.

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• Dispute over Heads Up Football safety claimsControversy

  The Foundation and USA Football have associated Heads Up Football with large reductions in injuries and concussions. Research cited in discussions of the initiative challenged those claims, reporting no reduction in concussions and a materially smaller effect on injuries than publicized.

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1. NFL Foundation
2. NFL Foundation official website