NFL Foundation – Addressing Digital Divide in Underserved Communities Grant (2026)
Up to $5,000 Per NFL Club Foundation to Expand Technology Access for Underserved Youth and Young Adults
The NFL Foundation’s Addressing Digital Divide in Underserved Communities Grant provides funding to NFL club foundations to help reduce barriers to technology access for youth and young adults in underserved communities.
The Foundation will provide up to $5,000 per NFL club foundation to support local digital divide initiatives. Applications are available only to NFL team personnel, meaning nonprofits cannot apply directly. However, community organizations may benefit by developing partnerships with their local NFL club or team foundation.
Applications are due December 15, 2026.
Organization: NFL Foundation
Support Type: Community technology and digital access grants through NFL clubs
Funding Amount: Up to $5,000 per NFL club foundation
Geographic Focus: NFL club markets
Deadline: December 15, 2026
Who Can Apply: NFL team personnel only; nonprofits may participate as community partners
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Read our Corporate Grants for Nonprofits: Ultimate Guide to learn how corporate funding works.
About the Funder
The NFL Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the National Football League and supports initiatives related to youth development, health and wellness, football participation, social justice, and community impact.
Through its social justice grantmaking, the Foundation works with NFL clubs and community partners to reduce barriers to opportunity in areas such as education, economic advancement, criminal justice reform, police-community relations, and technology access.
The Digital Divide Grant gives NFL teams dedicated funding to address disparities in access to computers, internet connectivity, and other technology resources.
2026 Program Focus
For 2026, this grant is focused specifically on the digital divide.
The NFL Foundation defines the digital divide as the gap between people who have access to computers, the internet, and the opportunities those technologies provide and people who lack that access.
This grant specifically focuses on the digital divide affecting youth and young adults in underserved communities.
In previous years, this program also included mental health initiatives. The NFL Foundation now offers separate mental health funding through its Club Community Mental Health Grant, allowing this program to return to its original focus on technology access.
What This Program Supports
NFL clubs may use funding to address technology-access barriers affecting underserved youth and young adults.
Potential partnership opportunities could include:
Computer & Device Access
Programs providing computers, tablets, laptops, or other technology needed for education, workforce preparation, or personal development.
Internet & Connectivity
Initiatives helping young people access reliable internet service or connectivity resources.
Digital Literacy
Programs teaching young people how to effectively and safely use technology.
Technology Education
Programs exposing youth to technology, coding, digital skills, and related learning opportunities.
Educational Access
Initiatives ensuring students have the technology needed to complete schoolwork and participate fully in educational opportunities.
Career & Workforce Preparation
Programs helping young adults develop digital skills needed for employment and career advancement.
The strongest concepts should demonstrate a clear connection between technology access and reducing barriers to opportunity for underserved young people.
Who Can Apply?
Applications are available only to NFL team personnel.
Nonprofit organizations cannot independently apply to the NFL Foundation for this grant.
Instead, nonprofits interested in participating should explore partnerships with:
- Their local NFL team
- The team’s charitable foundation
- The club’s community relations department
- The club’s social justice or social impact team
An NFL club would submit the formal grant request and work with its selected community partner to implement the initiative.
Potential Nonprofit Partners
Organizations that may be especially well aligned include nonprofits working in:
- Youth development
- Digital equity
- Technology access
- Education
- STEM education
- Digital literacy
- College and career readiness
- Workforce development
- Economic mobility
- Community development
- Services for underserved youth and young adults
Organizations with an established program and a clear need for technology resources may be particularly compelling potential partners.
Geographic Focus
Funding is distributed through individual NFL club foundations, making this primarily a local NFL market opportunity.
Nonprofits should identify the NFL team serving their region and research the team’s existing:
- Community partnerships
- Social justice programs
- Youth initiatives
- Technology programs
- Education investments
- Foundation priorities
Organizations with a strong connection to the local community and a project serving underserved youth may have the best opportunity to develop a partnership.
Funding Amount
The NFL Foundation will provide:
Up to $5,000 per NFL club foundation
Because this is a relatively small grant, nonprofits approaching their local NFL team should consider presenting a focused project where $5,000 can produce a clear and tangible result.
For example, a partnership concept might identify:
- A specific number of laptops or devices to purchase
- A digital literacy workshop series
- Internet access for a defined group of students
- Technology equipment for a youth learning center
- Digital skills training for young adults preparing for employment
Specific outcomes can help demonstrate exactly what an NFL Foundation investment would accomplish.
How Nonprofits Can Pursue This Opportunity
Nonprofits interested in this funding should not submit an application directly to the NFL Foundation.
Instead:
- Identify the NFL club serving your local market.
- Review the team’s foundation, social justice, and community impact programs.
- Determine whether your organization addresses the digital divide for underserved youth or young adults.
- Develop a concise partnership concept that could be supported with up to $5,000.
- Clearly identify how many young people would benefit.
- Explain the technology barrier the project will address.
- Contact the team’s community relations, foundation, or social impact staff.
- Explore whether the club is interested in including your organization in its 2026 Digital Divide Grant application.
Organizations should ideally begin outreach well before the December deadline so the NFL club has sufficient time to evaluate the partnership and prepare its application.
Tips for a Strong Partnership Pitch
Because NFL teams select their own community partners, nonprofits should make it easy for the club to understand the opportunity.
A strong pitch should communicate:
- The technology-access challenge facing local youth
- The specific population your organization serves
- How many young people would benefit
- Exactly how $5,000 would be used
- What measurable outcome the funding would produce
- Why your organization is equipped to implement the project
- How the partnership aligns with the NFL’s focus on reducing barriers to opportunity
Organizations may also want to identify opportunities for NFL players, team employees, or volunteers to engage with the project when appropriate.
Timeline & Review
📅 Application Deadline: December 15, 2026
📅 Maximum NFL Foundation Funding: $5,000 per club foundation
Because applications are submitted by NFL team personnel, nonprofits interested in being selected as a community partner should begin outreach before the formal deadline.
Apply / Learn More
➡️ NFL Foundation – Addressing Digital Divide in Underserved Communities Grant:
https://www.nflfoundation.org/applications/grant_programs/view/18
Important: Applications are only available to NFL team personnel. Nonprofits should contact their local NFL team or team foundation regarding potential partnership opportunities.
Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit
This opportunity may be a strong fit for nonprofits that:
- Serve youth or young adults in underserved communities
- Operate within an NFL team market
- Work to close the digital divide
- Provide computers or technology access
- Offer digital literacy or technology education
- Support education, workforce development, or economic mobility
- Have a focused project that could make meaningful use of $5,000
- Are interested in building a partnership with their local NFL team
Although nonprofits cannot apply directly, the grant provides a useful corporate partnership entry point for organizations working on digital equity. A nonprofit with a well-defined local technology-access project may be able to position itself as an ideal community partner for its NFL club.
Corporate Grants Guide Notes
Review Type: NFL club-administered grant program
Deadline: December 15, 2026
Funding Amount: Up to $5,000 per NFL club foundation
Direct Nonprofit Applications: Not accepted
Applicant: NFL team personnel only
Nonprofit Role: Community partner
Geographic Focus: NFL club markets
Primary Priority: Closing the digital divide for underserved youth and young adults
Best Suited For: Youth-serving nonprofits focused on technology access, digital literacy, education, workforce development, and digital equity
