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Cincinnati Bengals – Donation Request Program (2026)

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Charitable Donations for Nonprofits Serving Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky

The Cincinnati Bengals accept donation requests from registered nonprofit organizations supporting communities throughout the team’s three-state region of Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.

Organizations may submit requests for autographed items, financial contributions, or other charitable support. The Bengals place particular emphasis on initiatives positively impacting young people through football and health and wellness, with priority given to youth tackle football and youth flag football programs serving athletes within the Bengals’ home market.

Requests must be submitted at least eight weeks before the event or funding need.

Organization: Cincinnati Bengals
Support Type: Autographed items, financial contributions, and other charitable donations
Geographic Focus: Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky
Eligible Applicants: Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
Application Timeline: Rolling
Required Lead Time: At least 8 weeks
Request Limit: One fulfilled donation per organization per year

New to corporate grant fundraising?
Read our Corporate Grants for Nonprofits: Ultimate Guide to learn how corporate funding works.

About the Funder

The Cincinnati Bengals are a National Football League team based in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Through charitable donations, community outreach, youth football programming, health and wellness initiatives, and nonprofit partnerships, the Bengals work to positively impact communities throughout their three-state regional footprint.

The team’s community mission places a particularly strong emphasis on young people, football, and health and wellness.

The Donation Request Program gives eligible nonprofits an opportunity to seek support for charitable programs, events, and fundraising initiatives.

Types of Support Available

Unlike some professional sports donation programs that provide only memorabilia, the Cincinnati Bengals offer several types of charitable request options.

Autographed Items

Eligible nonprofits may submit a request for an autographed Bengals item.

These donations may provide useful fundraising support for eligible charitable events and activities.

The Bengals determine what item will be provided based on availability.

Applicants cannot request:

A particular player autograph
A specific piece of merchandise
A specific donated item

Organizations should not send their own merchandise to the Bengals for autographing.

Financial Contributions

The Bengals also maintain a separate application option for organizations seeking a financial contribution.

The team does not publish standard donation amounts, minimums, or maximums.

Organizations seeking financial support should make a clear charitable case for the request and explain how the contribution would benefit communities within the Bengals’ three-state region.

Other Requests

Organizations seeking another type of charitable support may use the Bengals’ “Other” request option.

Applicants should clearly describe what they are seeking and how the proposed support will advance an eligible charitable purpose.

Community Giving Priorities

The Bengals state that their community mission is specifically focused on positively impacting young people through:

Football
Health and wellness initiatives

Organizations working in these areas may have particularly strong alignment.

Youth Tackle Football

Priority is given to initiatives supporting youth tackle football, particularly programs directly benefiting athletes within the Bengals’ home marketing area.

Potentially aligned organizations may include:

Youth football leagues
Community football programs
Football access initiatives
Player development programs
Coaching and safety initiatives
Programs expanding participation among underserved youth

Youth Flag Football

The Bengals also specifically prioritize youth flag football.

Programs expanding access to flag football, including opportunities for girls and other young people who historically may have had fewer opportunities to participate, may be especially relevant.

The Bengals have made significant investments in growing flag football throughout their region.

Health & Wellness

Programs improving youth health and wellness may also be considered.

Potential areas of alignment could include:

Physical activity
Youth fitness
Sports and recreation
Mental wellbeing
Healthy lifestyles
Sports safety
Community health
Programs helping young people develop healthy habits

Organizations should clearly explain how their proposed program or event contributes to youth wellbeing.

Other Charitable Causes

While football and health and wellness are central priorities, the Bengals’ donation program supports fundraising initiatives throughout Bengals Nation.

Organizations outside these primary focus areas may still submit requests if they meet the published eligibility requirements.

Applicants should emphasize:

The community need
Population served
Geographic impact
Charitable purpose
Expected benefit of the requested support

Eligible Organizations

The Bengals will fulfill donation requests only from registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.

Applicants must provide their organization’s Tax ID as part of the request.

If a business is sponsoring a charitable event, the business should not submit the donation request itself.

Instead, a representative of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit benefiting from the event must complete the request.

Geographic Focus

The Bengals support organizations serving communities throughout their three-state region:

Ohio

Eligible nonprofit organizations serving Ohio communities may submit requests.

Kentucky

Kentucky nonprofits within the Bengals regional footprint may also apply.

Indiana

Eligible Indiana organizations may submit requests as well.

The Bengals give particularly strong priority to youth tackle and flag football initiatives directly benefiting athletes within the team’s home marketing area.

Ineligible Requests

The Cincinnati Bengals cannot fulfill requests related to:

Awards & Incentives

The program does not support:

Awards
Door prizes
Incentive programs

Events Without a 501(c)(3) Beneficiary

Fundraising must benefit a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Religious, Fraternal, Labor & Political Groups

Requests from the following are not eligible:

Religious groups
Fraternal organizations
Labor organizations
Political organizations

Third-Party Fundraising

The Bengals do not fulfill third-party fundraising requests or campaigns.

Examples include:

Individual fundraising teams
Walk or run participants fundraising on behalf of another organization
Outside groups fundraising for an unrelated nonprofit

The beneficiary 501(c)(3) organization should submit its own request directly.

Game Tickets Are Not Available

The Bengals are currently unable to consider charitable requests for game tickets because of limited ticket inventory.

Organizations seeking ticket opportunities for children may instead explore the Bengals’ partnership with Most Valuable Kids, which distributes donated event tickets to eligible tax-exempt agencies serving children.

Most Valuable Kids – Cincinnati:

➡️ https://www.mostvaluablekids.org/cincinnati-get-tickets

Donation Restrictions

Organizations receiving Bengals merchandise should be aware of several restrictions.

Donated Items Cannot Be Resold for Profit

Merchandise donated by the Cincinnati Bengals cannot later be sold for private profit.

The item should be used only for the approved charitable purpose.

No Special Autograph Requests

Approval of a donation request does not give an organization the ability to request:

A specific player
A specific autograph
A specific piece of memorabilia

The Bengals determine what they are able to provide.

Do Not Mail Items for Autographs

Organizations should not mail merchandise to the Bengals requesting player autographs.

The team cannot fulfill those requests, and mailed items cannot be returned.

Bengals Branding Requires Permission

Receiving a charitable donation does not automatically make the Bengals a sponsor or official partner of an event.

Organizations must receive written approval before using Bengals:

Name
Logos
Trademarks
Copyrighted materials

or advertising language implying that the Bengals or NFL officially sponsor or endorse the event.

Request Limit

Organizations may receive a donation from the Cincinnati Bengals:

Once per calendar year

Nonprofits holding several events should therefore determine which program, event, or request provides the strongest strategic fit before applying.

Application Timeline

📅 Application Timeline: Rolling
📅 Minimum Lead Time: At least 8 weeks before the event
📅 Request Limit: One fulfilled request per organization per year

Donation fulfillment occurs on a rolling basis, with requests generally processed sequentially.

The Bengals specifically ask applicants not to submit duplicate requests or contact the team by phone or email to check the status of an application.

Organizations should also avoid building a fundraising plan that depends on receiving Bengals support.

A donation should be considered a potential complement to an existing event or program, rather than a guaranteed source of support.

Application / Request Process

All requests must be submitted online.

The Bengals do not accept donation requests by:

Email
Fax
Mail
Phone

Applicants must complete the applicable online form and provide all requested documentation.

Additional Equipment Opportunities

Youth-serving organizations may also want to explore equipment grant programs highlighted by the Bengals.

Good Sports Equipment Donation Program

Good Sports provides brand-new sports equipment, footwear, and apparel to eligible youth-serving organizations.

➡️ https://www.goodsports.org/apply/

USA Football Grants

USA Football offers grants that can help youth football leagues and scholastic teams purchase equipment and improve playing fields.

➡️ https://usafootball.com/grants

These are separate programs with their own eligibility requirements and application processes.

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

This opportunity is a strong fit for organizations that:

Hold registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit status
Serve communities in Ohio, Indiana, or Kentucky
Can submit a request at least eight weeks in advance
Support youth tackle football
Support youth flag football
Promote youth health and wellness
Are planning an eligible charitable fundraising activity
Can benefit from an autographed item
Have a defined charitable need that may qualify for financial support

Youth football organizations in the Bengals’ home marketing area have particularly strong alignment because the team explicitly identifies both tackle and flag football as priorities.

For other nonprofits, the strongest approach is to clearly demonstrate local community impact and how the requested Bengals support will advance a legitimate charitable purpose.

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Support Types: Autographed items, financial contributions, and other charitable requests
Application Timeline: Rolling
Minimum Lead Time: 8 weeks
Geographic Focus: Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky
Eligible Applicants: Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
Priority Areas: Youth tackle football, youth flag football, and health and wellness
Request Limit: One fulfilled donation per organization per year
Game Tickets: Not currently available through the donation request process
Third-Party Fundraising: Not eligible
Application Method: Online only
Best Suited For: 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving the Bengals three-state region, particularly organizations benefiting youth through football and wellness
Key Strategy: Apply early, make a specific charitable request, and highlight any direct connection to youth football, health and wellness, and communities within the Bengals’ regional footprint.

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