The Heisman Trophy Trust is a 501(c)(3) private foundation based in New York City that preserves and grows the legacy of the Heisman Memorial Trophy while advancing youth development initiatives. The organization operates as a charitable foundation dedicated to supporting amateur athletics and providing opportunities to underserved youth across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$54.2M
+8.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.5M
-1.6% YoY
Grant Count
36
+16.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$69K
-15.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Trust's mission is to grow the legacy and preserve the integrity of the Heisman Memorial Trophy, which is annually awarded to the outstanding college football player in the United States whose performance epitomizes great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work.
Beyond awarding the trophy, the Trust maintains a charitable mission to support and fund youth development programs in underserved communities throughout the country. The organization annually presents the Heisman Humanitarian Award to outstanding individuals in the sports world who further the Heisman vision.
The Trust's primary funding focus includes:
- Sports-based youth development programs that integrate physical activity with academic support and life skills
- Programs teaching leadership, teamwork, sportsmanship, and integrity
- Expansion of access to organized sports for young people up to age 18
- Academic achievement initiatives
- Programs prioritizing underserved and high-need communities
Grantmaking
The Heisman Trophy Trust administers grants through the Heisman Trophy Youth Development Fund, established in 2017 in partnership with The New York Community Trust.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Heisman Trophy Youth Development Fund operates across seven U.S. locations:
- New York City
- Long Island
- Westchester
- Newark, New Jersey
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Dallas, Texas
- Los Angeles, California
Primary grantmaking focuses on Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services, with particular concentration in New York, Florida, and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending October 2024:
- Total Assets: $54.2 million
- Total Revenue: $9.66 million
- Total Expenses: $6.14 million
- Net Income: $3.52 million
- Total Liabilities: $1.26 million
As of Fiscal Year Ending October 2023:
- Total Assets: $50.2 million
- Total Revenue: $10.2 million
- Total Expenses: $6.09 million
The organization maintains a staff of approximately 2-17 employees and has been tax-exempt since June 2008.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $54,218,150 | $50,198,057 | $45,563,717 |
| Revenue | $9,663,317 | $10,212,519 | $11,130,641 |
| Expenses | $6,143,236 | $6,086,479 | $5,537,719 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,478,750 | $2,517,895 | $2,485,890 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,790,929 | $1,205,211 | $2,616,194 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
167 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Jeff Price: Chief Executive Officer (joined January 2026)
- Tim Henning: Vice President (joined October 2025)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT WHALEN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $236,154 |
| MICHAEL J COMERFORD ESQ | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| ANNE F DONAHUE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BRIAN D OBERGFELL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CAROL A PISANO | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DANIEL W REED | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JAMES E CORCORAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MARVA A SMALLS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| N RICHARD KALIKOW | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SANFORD WURMFELD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| WILLIAM J DOCKERY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| VASILI KRISHNAMURTI | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Heisman Trophy Youth Development Fund has become a nationally recognized model of youth investment since its 2017 launch. The fund has:
Heisman Trophy Trust awards $115,000 in grants | Jax Daily RecordAwarded $10.2 million in grants
Supported 100,000+ young people
Provided funding to 64 youth-serving programs across seven U.S. cities
Recent grant announcements include awards of $115,000 in grants and $1.2 million distributed to New York City and Long Island nonprofits. The Trust continues to expand its reach in supporting sports-based youth development programs that combine athletic excellence with academic achievement and life skills training.
Heisman Trophy Trust awards $115,000 in grants | Jax Daily RecordSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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