NFL Foundation – NFL Club Community Grants (2026)
Funding Supporting Nonprofit Partnerships, Youth Programs, Health, Social Justice, Military Communities, and Local Impact
The NFL Foundation’s NFL Club Community Grants provide funding to each of the NFL’s 32 clubs to support community initiatives and partnerships with nonprofit organizations in their local markets.
Unlike a traditional open corporate grant program, nonprofits do not apply directly to the NFL Foundation. Applications are available only to NFL team personnel. For nonprofit organizations, the opportunity is to build a relationship with their local NFL club or team foundation and potentially become a community partner for one of the grant-funded initiatives.
The 2026 NFL Club Community Grants application deadline for NFL teams is November 1, 2026.
Organization: NFL Foundation
Support Type: Community partnership grants through NFL clubs
Funding Amount: Varies by initiative; Club Mental Wellness grants provide up to $10,000 per club foundation
Geographic Focus: NFL team markets, with some international initiatives
Deadline: November 1, 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 supports community initiatives across the National Football League’s 32 club markets.
Through the NFL Club Community Grants program, the Foundation gives individual NFL teams resources to address locally important issues while activating broader NFL initiatives related to youth health, football, social justice, volunteerism, cancer prevention, military communities, mental health, and other community priorities.
For nonprofits, this program is best viewed as a corporate partnership opportunity rather than a traditional open grant application.
What This Program Supports
NFL clubs may seek funding through several different Community Grant categories.
Social Justice
The Social Justice Club Community Grant helps NFL teams partner with nonprofit organizations working to reduce barriers to opportunity.
Priority areas include:
- Education
- Criminal justice reform
- Community and police relations
- Workforce development
- Economic development
This may be a particularly relevant partnership opportunity for nonprofits addressing systemic barriers and expanding economic or educational opportunity within an NFL market.
NFL PLAY 60
NFL PLAY 60 is the league’s youth health and fitness initiative encouraging children to be active for at least 60 minutes each day.
Grant funding can support local PLAY 60 activities as well as Youth Fitness Zones.
Past projects have included:
- Playgrounds
- Gymnasium renovations
- Activity trails
- Interactive fitness technology
- Other youth physical activity infrastructure
More than 265 projects have been implemented through this initiative.
Volunteerism
Volunteerism grants allow NFL teams to highlight and expand community service within their markets.
Teams may use funding to:
- Recognize outstanding volunteers
- Partner with organizations engaged in community service
- Create volunteer experiences
- Increase awareness of local causes
- Engage fans and employees in giving back
Nonprofits with strong corporate volunteer opportunities may find this category especially relevant.
Crucial Catch
Crucial Catch supports partnerships between NFL teams and nonprofit organizations working on:
- Cancer awareness
- Cancer prevention
- Cancer detection
- Screening services
NFL teams may focus on a particular form of cancer or take a broader approach to early detection and prevention.
The national Crucial Catch campaign typically includes a significant activation period during October.
Salute to Service
Salute to Service supports organizations serving:
- Active-duty military members
- Veterans
- Military families
The initiative centers on three themes:
Honor. Empower. Connect.
NFL clubs may partner with nonprofits providing services and programs for military communities throughout the United States and internationally.
Youth Football
Youth Football Club Community Grants help NFL clubs support:
- Nonprofit youth football organizations
- High school football programs
- Flag football
- Tackle football
- Other youth and high school football initiatives
Organizations working to expand safe and equitable access to football may be potential partners for their local NFL team.
Social Responsibility
Social Responsibility grants support nonprofit partnerships addressing community issues such as:
- Domestic violence
- Sexual assault
- Impaired driving
- Driving under the influence
- Drug and substance abuse prevention
- Mental health
- Character education
- Other social issues facing individual NFL markets
Huddle Legacy
The Huddle Legacy grant helps NFL teams engage fans and community members in the causes most important to their organizations.
Volunteer projects are one approach, but clubs are encouraged to develop creative opportunities that invite community members to participate directly in local impact.
Organizations capable of hosting meaningful volunteer or community engagement experiences may be particularly strong potential partners.
My Cause My Cleats
My Cause My Cleats celebrates the causes NFL players personally support.
Players wear customized cleats highlighting charitable organizations and issues that are important to them.
Club grant funding can help teams amplify player-supported causes and their positive impact in communities across the country.
International
The NFL’s international community strategy seeks to improve opportunities for underserved youth globally.
Priorities include:
- Youth health and well-being
- Safe and inclusive physical activity
- Reducing physical and mental health inequalities
- Addressing important social needs
- Expanding access to flag football
Funding may help NFL club foundations implement flag football and related social impact programs within their international markets.
Club Mental Wellness
The NFL Foundation Club Community Mental Health Grant supports NFL club foundations working to advance mental health initiatives in their communities.
Potential activities may include:
- Promoting mental wellness
- Reducing mental health stigma
- Increasing access to resources and support
- Addressing locally identified barriers to mental healthcare
Funding is available at up to $10,000 per NFL club foundation for this initiative.
Who Can Apply?
Only NFL team personnel may submit an application directly to the NFL Foundation.
Nonprofit organizations cannot independently submit an application through this grant program.
However, many of the grant categories are specifically designed to encourage NFL clubs to partner with nonprofit organizations in their local markets.
For nonprofits, the most effective approach is to identify the NFL team serving your region and research:
- The team’s community relations department
- The team foundation
- Existing community initiatives
- Current nonprofit partners
- Team-specific giving priorities
- Volunteer programs
- Player-supported causes
Organizations can then approach the team about a potential partnership that aligns with one of the NFL Foundation grant categories.
Geographic Focus
Most NFL Club Community Grants are designed to support organizations and initiatives within the local markets of the NFL’s 32 teams.
Organizations located in or near an NFL market may have the strongest opportunity to participate.
The NFL also supports international community initiatives through individual clubs with designated international markets.
Funding Amounts
The NFL Foundation does not publish one standard award amount covering all Club Community Grant categories.
Funding varies depending on the specific initiative.
For the Club Mental Wellness Grant, funding is available at up to $10,000 per NFL club foundation.
Nonprofits interested in other funding categories should work directly with their local NFL club to understand the scale and structure of potential partnership support.
Timeline
📅 2026 NFL Club Application Deadline: November 1, 2026
Because only NFL team personnel may apply, nonprofits interested in participating should ideally begin outreach to their local NFL club well before the November deadline.
Some NFL initiatives also operate around specific seasonal campaigns, making earlier relationship-building particularly important.
How Nonprofits Can Pursue This Opportunity
Rather than approaching the NFL Foundation directly, nonprofits should:
- Identify the NFL club associated with their local market.
- Review that team’s community relations and foundation programs.
- Determine which NFL Foundation grant category most closely aligns with the organization’s work.
- Develop a concise partnership concept showing how the nonprofit could help the team achieve measurable local impact.
- Contact the club’s community relations, social responsibility, or foundation team.
- Highlight opportunities for team, player, employee, and fan engagement where relevant.
Organizations should lead with a specific partnership idea, rather than simply asking whether grants are available.
For example, a youth-serving nonprofit might propose a PLAY 60 activation, while an organization serving veterans could present a Salute to Service partnership opportunity.
Apply / Learn More
➡️ NFL Club Community Grants Program:
https://www.nflfoundation.org/applications/grant_programs/view/4
Important: The online application is available only 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:
- Operate within an NFL team market
- Already have or can develop a relationship with their local NFL club
- Serve children and youth
- Promote physical activity and wellness
- Address social justice and barriers to opportunity
- Provide workforce or educational programs
- Support veterans, military members, or military families
- Provide cancer screening, awareness, or prevention services
- Address mental health or other community health needs
- Offer strong employee, player, or fan volunteer opportunities
- Operate youth football or flag football programs
This is not a traditional open grant opportunity, but it can be valuable for nonprofits pursuing corporate partnerships with professional sports organizations. The key is positioning your organization as a strong local partner that can help an NFL club activate one of its national community initiatives.
Corporate Grants Guide Notes
Review Type: NFL club-administered community grant program
Deadline: November 1, 2026
Direct Nonprofit Applications: Not accepted
Applicant: NFL team personnel only
Nonprofit Role: Community partner
Geographic Focus: NFL club markets, plus select international initiatives
Key Priorities: Youth health, social justice, volunteerism, cancer prevention, military communities, youth football, social responsibility, mental health, and community engagement
Best Suited For: Nonprofits seeking to develop strategic partnerships with their local NFL team or team foundation
