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Professional Athletes Foundation

Public charity · Grantmaker Washington, DC EIN: 52-1205920 Website

The Professional Athletes Foundation (PAF) is a public charity based in Washington, DC. It supports former NFL players and their families through financial assistance, health and wellness initiatives, educational resources, and other services.

Key facts about Professional Athletes Foundation

In short: Professional Athletes Foundation gave $381K across 5 grants in 2024 (avg $76K). Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

EIN
52-1205920
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$380,700
Grants made (2024)
5
Average grant
$76,140
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$39,776,192
Deadline
The charitable grant program lists a June 1, 2026 deadline for its 2026 cycle.

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$39.8M

+7.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$381K

-18.3% YoY

Grant Count

5

-50.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$76K

+63.5% YoY

How Professional Athletes Foundation gives

  • Giving fell 85% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2021 it paid out 171% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

PAF’s stated mission is to provide grant assistance to former professional and amateur football players or their immediate family members during financial crises, along with wellness initiatives, health screenings, and other quality-of-life resources. It also provides scholarships to high school graduates with confirmed plans to compete in collegiate activities.

The Gene Upshaw P.A.T. (GUPAT) program offers financial assistance to former NFL players experiencing hardship. The website lists household bills, mental health treatment, trade-school tuition, undergraduate degree-completion tuition, emergency natural-disaster assistance, and uncovered medical bills among possible needs. Applications are reviewed individually; assistance depends on available funds and PAF criteria. Approved payments go directly to creditors, and the board retains final authority over awards. A person who received assistance must wait three years after the initial approval before applying again.

PAF also offers a charitable grant program for organizations whose missions align with education, advancement and accessibility of youth sport, or human services. Separately, its PAF Family Scholarship is a one-time scholarship for eligible children of NFLPA former players who plan to compete in collegiate athletics.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, PAF reported five grants totaling $380,700. Awards ranged from $5,700 to $345,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest recipient was Living Heart Foundation Inc. ($345,000). Other recipients were Goodie Two Shoes Foundation Inc. ($10,000), Smithsonian National Museum of African American History ($10,000), Smooth Inc. ($10,000), and Brignace Brigade Foundation Inc. ($5,700). Each grant was listed as a charitable contribution.

Review Cycle

The charitable grant program lists a June 1, 2026 deadline for its 2026 cycle.

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Professional Athletes Foundation

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The PAF Family Scholarship lists the United States as its geographic scope. The charitable grant program’s listed mission categories do not specify a geographic scope.

Grant Distribution by State

13states
+5 more states

Cities

WashingtonTampaAtlantaDetroitJacksonLittle SilverAlpharettaBaltimoreCincinnatiLaurelMemphisMiamiNorwichOrlandoParadise ValleyPhiladelphia

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$1M$2M$3M383 grants2020 613 grants2021 12 grants2022 10 grants2023 5 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $381K (2024) to $2.6M (2021). In 2024 it made 5 grants totaling $381K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 5 recipients in 2024

Living Heart Foundation Inc: $345KLiving Heart Foundation Inc$345KGoodie Two Shoes Foundation Inc: $10KGoodie Two Shoes FoundationInc$10KSmithsonian National Museum of African American History: $10KSmithsonian National Museum ofAfrican American History$10KSmooth Inc: $10KSmooth Inc$10KBrignace Brigade Foundation Inc: $6KBrignace Brigade FoundationInc$6K

The largest 2024 recipient was Living Heart Foundation Inc ($345K). Together the top 5 received $381K.

Grant Size Distribution

1,023 grants across all recorded years

1018<$50K$50–100K$100–250K5$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,018 grants of 1,023 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Living Heart Foundation Inc Charitable Contribution$345,000
Goodie Two Shoes Foundation Inc Charitable Contribution$10,000
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History Charitable Contribution$10,000
Smooth Inc Charitable Contribution$10,000
Brignace Brigade Foundation Inc Charitable Contribution$5,700

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2024 $39,776,192 $10,638,551 $4,542,361 $380,700 (5)
2023 $37,052,683 $4,005,784 $4,531,855 $465,700 (10)
2022 $34,685,437 $5,429,644 $4,023,462 $436,700 (12)
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$5M$10M$15M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$39,776,192$37,052,683$34,685,437
Revenue$10,638,551$4,005,784$5,429,644
Expenses$4,542,361$4,531,855$4,023,462
Net Investment Income$6,769,056$858,009$1,828,441

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
  5. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Lloyd Howell as chairman and Nolan Harrison as acting chairman. Directors listed are Ned Ehrlich, Emery Moorehead, David Joyner, Ken Jolly, Charles Swisher, Pete Kendall, Maxine Baker, and Yvette Stewart.

Professional Athletes Foundation is led by Andre Collins, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 12 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Andre Collins

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Nolan Harrison

    Acting Chairman

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lloyd Howell

    Chairman

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Charles Swisher

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $500 (2020) → $0 (2024)

  • David Joyner

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $250 (2020) → $0 (2024)

  • Dewey McClain

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $500 (2020) → $0 (2024)

  • Emery Moorehead

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $500 (2020) → $0 (2024)

  • Ken Jolly

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $500 (2020) → $0 (2024)

  • Maxine Baker

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $500 (2020) → $0 (2024)

  • Pete Kendall

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $500 (2020) → $0 (2024)

  • Yvette Stewart

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $250 (2020) → $0 (2024)

  • Ned Ehrlich

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Demaurice Smith (2020–2022) — Chairman

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2021 IRS filing

David Joyner — Director: $500David JoynerDirector$500Ken Jolly — Director: $500Ken JollyDirector$500Charles Swisher — Director: $500Charles SwisherDirector$500Pete Kendall — Director: $500Pete KendallDirector$500Maxine Baker — Director: $500Maxine BakerDirector$500Dewey McClain — Director: $500Dewey McClainDirector$500Emery Moorehead — Director: $250Emery MooreheadDirector$250Yvette Stewart — Director: $250Yvette StewartDirector$250

The highest reported compensation on the 2021 filing was $500, to David Joyner (Director). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 1133 20Th Street Nw, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 756-9100
Website: https://yourpaf.com

Frequently asked questions about Professional Athletes Foundation

How much does Professional Athletes Foundation give each year?

Professional Athletes Foundation gave $381K across 5 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $466K across 10 grants.

What is Professional Athletes Foundation's typical grant size?

Professional Athletes Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $76,140, across 5 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.

Who are Professional Athletes Foundation's largest grantees?

Professional Athletes Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Living Heart Foundation Inc ($345,000), Goodie Two Shoes Foundation Inc ($10,000) and Smithsonian National Museum of African American History ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 96% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Professional Athletes Foundation?

Professional Athletes Foundation reported $39.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $10.6M.

What does Professional Athletes Foundation fund?

PAF’s stated mission is to provide grant assistance to former professional and amateur football players or their immediate family members during financial crises, along with wellness initiatives, health screenings, and other quality-of-life resources. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Professional Athletes Foundation?

Professional Athletes Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check yourpaf.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

Where does Professional Athletes Foundation make grants?

The PAF Family Scholarship lists the United States as its geographic scope. The charitable grant program’s listed mission categories do not specify a geographic scope.

What is Professional Athletes Foundation's EIN?

Professional Athletes Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1205920. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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