Community Support

The NFL Foundation funds and supports league-wide initiatives aimed at making a big difference in communities across the nation. View our 2024 Social Responsibility Annual Report here.

To learn more about how each club is making a difference in its community - on and off the field - visit the NFL’s community page here.

Salute to Service

Salute to Service is a year-round effort to honor, empower and connect our nation’s service members, veterans and their families. It is grounded in deep partnerships with nonprofits and organizations that support the military community in the United States and across the world. Since 2011, more than $73 million has been raised to help support its nonprofit military partners including the Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF), Pat Tillman Foundation (PTF), Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), United Service Organizations (USO) and Wounded Warrior Project (WWP).  

The NFL Foundation provides its 32 clubs with grant funds to support programs and provide resources that positively impact active duty and veteran military members and their families. Funds are raised through two primary channels: NFL Auction and the sale of Salute to Service identified merchandise at retail. The NFL does not profit from the sale of Salute to Service products. Charitable contributions are awarded by the NFL Foundation to the NFL’s Salute to Service military partners. Learn more about Salute to Service. 

My Cause My Cleats

The My Cause My Cleats initiative celebrates the positive impact that NFL players have made in communities across the country and provides players with an opportunity to highlight the cause-related work they are passionate about on the field. During Week 12 of the 2025 NFL season, players will wear custom-painted cleats highlighting the different nonprofit organizations and causes that mean the most to them. Select players will donate their cleats through NFL Auction, where 100% of funds raised will be donated by the NFL Foundation to the players’ charities of choice.

Inspire Change

Inspire Change is the NFL’s social justice initiative, aimed at reducing barriers to opportunity, particularly in communities of color, and showcasing how the NFL family is working together to create positive change.  

The NFL Foundation supports the following Inspire Change grants and initiatives:

·       The 306 Black History digital education course, powered by EVERFI, explores the lives, stories and lessons on Black Americans throughout history. 306 brings history to life for students through immersive and engaging learning content that highlights themes, narratives and geographic concepts to help provide important context and frameworks for learners to analyze historical events.

·       The Inspire Change Changemaker Award which recognizes an individual in each NFL club market making a difference in their community with their social justice work. Each Changemaker receives a $10,000 donation from the NFL Foundation for their charity of choice as well as special recognition at their respective NFL team’s Inspire Change game.

·       Grant funding to NFL club foundations to help address social justice needs in the areas of education, economic advancement, police-community relations and criminal justice reform, as well as digital divide and mental health initiatives in underserved communities.

·       Matching grant funding for NFL players and Legends to support nonprofits working in the social justice space.  

Walter Payton Man of the Year

Considered one of the League’s most prestigious honors, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award Presented by Nationwide recognizes an NFL player for his excellence on and off the field. The award was first established in 1970 and renamed in 1999 after the late Pro Football Hall of Fame running back, Walter Payton. 

Each NFL club nominates one player who has had a significant positive impact on his community, with one winner selected from the 32 nominees. That winner receives up to $265,000 for his charity of choice, while the remaining 31 nominees receive up to $55,000 each for their respective charities of choice. All donations are courtesy of the NFL Foundation and the Nationwide Foundation.

*** Arik Armstead (right) being awarded the 2024 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for his philantropic efforts, commitment to creating positive impact in his community, and demostration of excellence on and off the field.