Professional Athletes Foundation
The Professional Athletes Foundation (PAF) is a Washington, DC-based public charity that supports former professional and amateur football players and their families through financial assistance, wellness initiatives, health screenings, and other resources. Its website describes its work as helping former NFL players navigate challenges and build stability after their playing careers.
Professional Athletes Foundation at a glance
In short: Professional Athletes Foundation gave $381K across 5 grants in 2024 (avg $76K). Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $380,700
- -18.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 5
- -50.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $76,140
- +63.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $39,776,192
- +7.4% vs 2023
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Professional Athletes Foundation
- How to Apply
-
For charitable grants, review the guidelines on PAF’s website; the 2026 cycle is closed. For the Gene Upshaw P.A.T. program, review its guidelines, assemble the required documents, and apply online.
- Review Cycle
- The charitable grant cycle for 2026 is closed.
- Deadline
- The charitable grant cycle for 2026 is closed.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1133 20Th Street Nw, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 756-9100
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Professional Athletes Foundation
Who Professional Athletes Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2024
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
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,018 grants of 1,023 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
PAF’s charitable grant page does not specify a geographic scope. Its PAF Family Scholarship program listing specifies a United States scope.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $381K (2024) to $2.6M (2021). In 2024 it made 5 grants totaling $381K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $39,776,192 | $10,638,551 | $4,542,361 | $380,700 | 5 | — | $6,769,056 | — |
| 2023 | $37,052,683 | $4,005,784 | $4,531,855 | $465,700 | 10 | — | $858,009 | — |
| 2022 | $34,685,437 | $5,429,644 | $4,023,462 | $436,700 | 12 | — | $1,828,441 | — |
| 2021 | $39,661,719 | $3,614,289 | $3,270,163 | $2,609,372 | 613 | $3,096,488 | $1,884,024 | $1,812,321 |
| 2020 | $36,444,275 | $4,166,574 | $2,449,087 | $1,839,677 | 383 | — | $2,509,553 | $1,642,515 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 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 describes providing scholarships to high school graduates planning to compete in collegiate activities.
The website lists financial and education assistance, health and heart screenings, peer-support groups, mental health support, addiction counseling, informational symposiums, and budget-building assistance. Its charitable grant page says organizations working in education, advancement and accessibility of youth sport, and human services may review the guidelines and apply. The Gene Upshaw P.A.T. program provides financial assistance to eligible former players, including help with household bills, mental health treatment, certain tuition costs, emergency disaster assistance, and uncovered medical bills.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, PAF reported five grants totaling $380,700. Grant amounts ranged from $5,700 to $345,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest awards were $345,000 to Living Heart Foundation Inc.; $10,000 each to Goodie Two Shoes Foundation Inc., Smithsonian National Museum of African American History, and Smooth Inc.; and $5,700 to Brignace Brigade Foundation Inc. Each was recorded as a charitable contribution.
PAF’s charitable grant page lists the 2026 cycle as closed. For the Gene Upshaw P.A.T. financial assistance program, the website directs applicants to review the guidelines, collect required documents, and apply online. Eligibility includes having signed a contract with an NFL team for any length of time and experiencing financial hardship. After an award, applicants must wait three years from the initial approval before applying again. Payments are made directly to creditors, and awards depend on available funds and PAF criteria. The guidelines state that assistance is intended for short-term financial, medical, or educational challenges, not long-term support, supplemental pension or disability income, or business transactions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Lloyd Howell as chairman and Nolan Harrison as acting chairman. It also lists Ned Ehrlich, Emery Moorehead, David Joyner, Ken Jolly, Charles Swisher, Pete Kendall, Maxine Baker, and Yvette Stewart as directors.
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2021 filing was $500, to David Joyner (Director). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
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?
For charitable grants, review the guidelines on PAF’s website; the 2026 cycle is closed. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Professional Athletes Foundation make grants?
PAF’s charitable grant page does not specify a geographic scope. Its PAF Family Scholarship program listing specifies a United States 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 October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Professional Athletes Foundation funds
Recreation & Sports Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Professional Athletes Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Professional Athletes Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?