Reporters in Action: In-Depth Investigation Into NFL Player Charities

Jason Wolf at the Arizona Republic led a six-month investigation that led to a five-part story about nonprofits founded by NFL players who have won the coveted Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. The stories are behind pay walls (at both the Arizona Republic and USA Today), but at least as of today you can read the follow-up Arizona Republic story Reddit had questions about our NFL charity investigation. Here are key answers. without a subscription. Here are some highlights:

• "The investigation found most athletes’ nonprofits largely serve as fundraising vehicles — they collect money to give to existing nonprofits like hospitals or food banks that perform programmatic activities. But some spend less than half of the donations they receive on charity, with the rest paying for overhead."

• "NFL players often start nonprofits without having the slightest idea what they’re doing, and without considering partnering with established organizations."

• "[N]either the NFL nor the NFLPA, which presents weekly and annual awards for community service, match their promotional efforts when it comes to educating players on the nonprofit sector."

Lloyd Mayer