Player Matching Community Grant

About the Program

This grant is designed to provide nonprofit organizations with funding of up to $5,000 on behalf of a current or former NFL player who has donated financially to a nonprofit organization doing work to better the community. This grant allows NFL players and Legends to help support broad community efforts through the work of nonprofit organizations. Areas of support include, but are not limited to, Disease Prevention and Awareness, Mental Health, Youth Health & Fitness, Military Appreciation, Disaster Relief, Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault, Character Education, Anti-Bullying, Animal Welfare, etc..  

* Please note the NFL Foundation will only match funding given in the 2023 calendar year. We cannot match donations made in previous years.

* Please note this is not the same grant program as the NFL Foundation’s Player Matching Social Justice Grant – If a player has made a donation to a nonprofit doing work in the social justice space, please apply for the Player Matching Social Justice Grant and not the Player Matching Community Grant. 

* Please note this is not the same grant program as the NFL Foundation’s Player Matching Youth and High School Football Grant – If a player has made a donation to a youth or high school football program please apply for the Player Matching Youth and High School Football Grant and not the Player Matching Community Grant

*Organizations may only apply for 1 of the different matching grant programs

Who Can Apply

  • Current players and NFL Legends (retired players) may apply for a Player Matching Community Grant for up to $5,000 in 2023, if they provide personal financial contributions to a nonprofit organization. 

  • NFL Legends must be vested in the Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle NFL Player Retirement Plan to be eligible to receive a 2023 Player Matching Grant. 

2023 Player Matching Community Grant Funding Criteria

  • Players are eligible to apply for up to TWO (2) matching grants in one year if the grants are awarded to different organizations.  

  • In-kind donations, sponsored donations, 3rd party donations, or volunteer hours are not acceptable forms of financial contribution for this grant program. This also includes appearance fees.  Players must provide a personal financial donation directly to the nonprofit organization that would be receiving the grant to be eligible for the matching grant. 

  • Benefiting nonprofit organizations may receive a maximum of TWO (2) grants in 2023.  Personal financial contributions must be made by different players and/or Legends directly to the benefitting nonprofit organization in order to be eligible for 2 grants. 

  • The NFL Foundation will not accept grouped applications. Individual applications may not represent multiple players. 

Important Dates

The application deadline is September 30, 2023.

*Due to the volume of submissions, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. However, the review process for submitted applications may take up to 90 business days. Some applicants may not be notified on the status of their grant applications until after the application deadline.

  • Matching Grants
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