Champions for Literacy is a 501(c)(3) organization that leverages the power of sports and athletes to advance childhood literacy. Operating across 31 states with 691 athletes and 515 teams, the organization has impacted 139,000 kids by partnering with universities, professional athletes, corporate sponsors, and local literacy organizations. The organization's flagship Fight for Literacy Games program has hosted 463+ collegiate games across 7 sports, while its Impact Players program empowers athletes to fundraise and volunteer for literacy initiatives in their communities. CFL maintains a 100% Impact Promise, directing all funds generated through partnerships directly to literacy programming that serves K-3rd graders in underserved communities using evidence-based interventions.
Key facts about Champions for Literacy
- EIN
- 46-3588150
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $252,689
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- Average grant
- $19,438
- Median grant
- $18,675
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (3 of 13, 2025)
- Total assets
- $666,406
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (32% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Champions for Literacy funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Champions for Literacy's 13 itemized 2025 grants were Tennessee (32%), South Carolina (19%) and Kansas (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Memphis, TN (5 grants). None of its 13 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Literacy Intervention and Resources" (13 grants).
Is Champions for Literacy open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 13 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $22K. How we count
Medians: $11K first-time, $20K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Champions for Literacy
- How to evaluate Champions for Literacy as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$666K
-21.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$253K
+13.7% YoY
Grant Count
13
+8.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
+5.0% YoY
About Champions for Literacy
Based on IRS filings
Champions for Literacy is a nonprofit organization focused on Education, based in Memphis, TN. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $666K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 13 grants totaling $253K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 13 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $666,406 | $843,341 | $273,069 |
| Revenue | $4,214,628 | $3,889,040 | $1,476,520 |
| Expenses | $4,052,793 | $3,635,854 | $1,384,517 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
107 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include United Way of Pickens County Camp Irock ($48,091), United Way of the Plains ($25,142), Memphis Teacher Residency ($23,829).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNITED WAY OF PICKENS COUNTY CAMP IROCK Easley, SC | LITERACY INTERVENTION AND RESOURCES | $48,091 |
| UNITED WAY OF THE PLAINS Wichita, KS | LITERACY INTERVENTION AND RESOURCES | $25,142 |
| MEMPHIS TEACHER RESIDENCY Memphis, TN | LITERACY INTERVENTION AND RESOURCES | $23,829 |
| KNOWLEDGE QUEST Memphis, TN | LITERACY INTERVENTION AND RESOURCES | $23,077 |
| THE 2ND & 7 FOUNDATION Columbus, OH | LITERACY INTERVENTION AND RESOURCES | $20,000 |
| READERS 2 LEADERS Dallas, TX | LITERACY INTERVENTION AND RESOURCES | $20,000 |
| SMART READING Portland, OR | LITERACY INTERVENTION AND RESOURCES | $18,675 |
| HEART OF MISSOURI UNITED WAY Columbia, MO | LITERACY INTERVENTION AND RESOURCES | $15,852 |
| INDIAN PRAIRIE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION Auora, IL | LITERACY INTERVENTION AND RESOURCES | $15,000 |
| LITERACY MID-SOUTH Memphis, TN | LITERACY INTERVENTION AND RESOURCES | $11,543 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| John E Wilfong | Chairman | 2 | — |
| Jonathan Wilfong | Co-Founder | 1 | — |
| Andrew Renshaw | Co-Founder | 0.25 | — |
| Lamar Stanley | Director | 0.25 | — |
| Brian Hayhurst | Treasurer | 0.25 | — |
| Jonathan Wood | Director | 0.25 | — |
| Dr Alissa Campbell Shaw | Director | 0.25 | — |
| Graham Neff | Director | 0.25 | — |
| Dr Dawn Wade | Director | 0.25 | — |
| Ashton Emmanuel | Director | 1 | — |
| Jason Baker | Executive Director | 40 | $121,720 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Champions for Literacy?
Champions for Literacy is a nonprofit organization focused on Education, based in Memphis, TN. It holds $666K in total assets as of 2025.
How large is Champions for Literacy?
As of 2025, Champions for Literacy holds $666K in total assets with $4.2M in annual revenue. It awarded 13 grants totaling $253K in 2025.
Where does Champions for Literacy operate?
Champions for Literacy has awarded grants in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia.
What size grants does Champions for Literacy award?
In 2025, Champions for Literacy awarded 13 grants totaling $253K — an average of about $19K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Champions for Literacy's EIN?
Champions for Literacy's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-3588150. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.