Community
The NFL Foundation funds and supports league-wide initiatives aimed at making a big difference in communities across the nation.
NFL PLAY 60
Through the League’s NFL PLAY 60 partnerships, we championed youth health and wellness by supporting and reaching over 600,000 students through digital PLAY 60 fitness break videos and more than 2.6 million students were reached through over 4,200 NFL FLAG-In-School kits being distributed to schools across the country.
Join the movement here.
CRUCIAL CATCH
Since 2012, the NFL has funded ACS’ Community Health Advocates implementing Nationwide Grants for Empowerment and Equity (CHANGE) grants, which have contributed to over 650,000 screenings in under-resourced communities and reached more than 1.3 million individuals through education, screening reminders and patient navigation, bringing these life-saving messages and screening services to those who need them most. Some of the services provided this season included providing funding for mobile mammograms, expanding screening services to the uninsured and operations outside of normal business hours, plus rides to those experiencing transportation barriers.
Additionally, the NFL Foundation provides grants to its 32 clubs to support activities in their communities to help in the fight against cancer. Learn more about Crucial Catch.
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, the NFL has raised more than $66 million for its core nonprofit military partners—the Pat Tillman Foundation, TAPS, USO, Wounded Warrior Project and the Bob Woodruff Foundation.
The NFL Foundation provides its 32 clubs with grant funds to fund 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. Learn more about Salute to Service.
INSPIRE CHANGE
NFL Inspire Change is the League’s social justice platform, open to all teams and players. It includes an acknowledgment of the ways that systemic racism contributes to barriers to opportunity. Inspire Change work encompasses programs and initiatives in four key areas: Education, Economic Advancement, Police-Community Relation
Since 2017, the NFL has provided more than $375 million to advance social justice causes in the areas of education, economic advancement, police-community relations and criminal justice reform. To date, the NFL Foundation has provided more than 2,000 Inspire Change matching grants to current NFL players and Legends for nonprofits of their choice to help reduce barriers to opportunity. For more information, click here.
WALTER PAYTON NFL MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
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 outstanding community service activities off the field, as well as excellence on the field. First established in 1970, the national award was renamed in 1999 after the late Hall of Fame Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton.
All 32 team winners were highlighted as nominees and recognized for their important work during the weekend leading up to Super Bowl LVIII. The 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award winner received a $250,000 donation to the charity of their choice, while the remaining 31 nominees each received a donation of up to $50,000 in their name to their charity of choice. All donations are courtesy of the NFL Foundation and Nationwide.
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end CAMERON HEYWARD was named the 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Presented by Nationwide for his unique contribution to the city of Pittsburgh—also his hometown—through his dedication to supporting youth literacy, mentorship and social justice.
For a list of all 32 team nominees and to see how they create a positive impact in their communities click here.
MY CAUSE MY CLEATS
The player-led campaign began in 2016, fueling crucial conversations and putting important causes at the forefront. This season, almost half of the participating players, coaches and team staff chose to support various forms of cancer and other physical-health-related causes, such as raising awareness of neurodegenerative disorders and promoting preventive services for conditions like diabetes. Other participants identified a number of important causes to support, including promoting mental health services in underserved communities, empowering youth, advancing various women’s health initiatives, supporting social justice and highlighting resources to assist people affected by domestic violence.
In Week 13 and 14, a record number of NFL players, coaches and staff across the League wore custom-painted cleats highlighting the different nonprofit organizations and causes that mean the most to them. Select players donated their cleats through NFL Auction, where 100% of funds raised were donated to the charities they selected. More than $150,000 was raised in 2023 to support player causes.
SUPER BOWL LEGACY GRANTS
Each year, the NFL, via the NFL Foundation, aims to leave a legacy of philanthropy and positive economic impact in the communities surrounding the Super Bowl host city through its Super Bowl Legacy Grant. In support of Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, the NFL Foundation and the Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee contributed $3 million in grants to 117 local nonprofit organizations, all with a proven track record of supporting underserved communities in the Las Vegas area.