The Players Alliance Inc
The Players Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by current and former professional baseball players. Based in Fort Lee, New Jersey, the organization is dedicated to addressing systemic barriers to equity and inclusion in baseball by creating pathways to opportunities for Black talent both on and off the field.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$15.0M
+46.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.1M
-7.9% YoY
Grant Count
76
+13.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$28K
-18.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Address baseball's systemic barriers to equity & inclusion by creating pathways to opportunities on and off the field for an undeniable pipeline of Black talent.
Vision: The Players Alliance is where Black professional players commit to owning and supporting solutions to increase the participation of the Black community in baseball, recognizing that representation is important to both the community and the game.
Core Values
- Leadership: Black players have both the right and responsibility to lead using their unique, yet shared experiences, education, and collective voice
- Ownership: Players' experiences in baseball uniquely qualify them to transition from players of a game to owners of desired solutions to increase African American presence and involvement
- Protection: Committed to advocating for thoughtful interventions and protective guidance for players and their families to combat vulnerabilities and pitfalls in the journey toward and within professional play
- Service: Using voice at the table to serve on behalf of those unaware of the table's existence
- Stewardship: Responsible stewardship of resources and commitments
Primary Programs
Equip the Future: A mentoring program led by professional baseball and softball players targeting the game's loss of talent starting at middle school. Professional players use their journey to help youth craft successful paths. The program focuses on cities experiencing childhood poverty 2-3 times the national average with low access to the game.
Gear for Good: A player-led gift-in-kind program that transfers equipment, apparel, and other donations to needy schools, teams, and communities on an annual basis. Donations stem from players as individuals and influencers, with supply sourced from players via clubs and MLB partners, then matched with community coaches' identified needs.
Player Incubator: A programming laboratory where solutions are suggested, crafted, and tested by professional players for community implementation. Solutions summits facilitate conversations between baseball's influencers and the talent and opportunities the game seeks to engage.
Grantmaking
The Players Alliance functions as both a grantmaker and grant recipient. The organization earmarks funding for programs with the following missions:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Players Alliance operates through strategically selected focus cities that combine programming resources and collaborations to serve communities experiencing high childhood poverty and low access to the game. The organization has served over 20,000 community members across 33 cities as part of cross-country initiatives.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Summary:
- Total Revenue: $13.2 million
- Total Expenses: $9.22 million
- Total Assets: $15 million
- Total Liabilities: $6.65 million
2023 Financial Summary:
- Total Revenue: $12,630,537
- Total Expenses: $8,756,800
- Total Assets: $10,221,132
Tax-Exempt Status: The organization has been tax-exempt since January 2021 (EIN: 85-1823736).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $15,002,135 | $10,221,132 | $5,837,282 |
| Revenue | $13,203,212 | $12,630,537 | $3,452,360 |
| Expenses | $9,219,443 | $8,756,800 | $4,766,972 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $489,719 | $473,854 | $99,221 |
| 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
100 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Negro Leagues Baseball Museum ($100,000), Baltimore Urban Baseball Assoc ($68,500), Grandview High School ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY MONTGOMERY, AL | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR OPERATIONS | $6,500 |
| ECORSE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ECORSE, MI | FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR OPERATIONS | $30,000 |
| ENGLEWOOD RAIDERS TRAVEL BASEBALL ENGLEWOOD, NJ | FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR OPERATIONS | $20,000 |
| FULL COUNT FOUNDATION EASTPOINTE, MI | FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR OPERATIONS | $35,000 |
| HOUSTON SABERS INC HOUTSON, TX | FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR OPERATIONS | $30,000 |
| JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY JACKSONVILLE, MS | TECHNOLOGY | $6,500 |
| KIDS ON FIRST FOUNDATION MIDLOTHIAN, VA | FINANCIAL SUPPORT FO ROPERATIONS | $25,000 |
| MENTORING VIABLE PROSPECTS INC SNELLVILLE, GA | FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR OPERATIONS | $15,000 |
| MURRAH HIGH SCHOOL JACKSONVILLE, MS | FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR OPERATIONS | $3,500 |
| NATASHA WATLEY FOUNDATION WOODLAND HILLS, CA | FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR OPERATIONS | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Curtis Granderson serves as President of The Players Alliance.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOYCE WILLIAMS | VP COMMUNITY INVESTMENT | 40 | $104,436 |
| CURTIS GRANDERSON | BOARD CHAIR | 10 | — |
| CC SABATHIA | BOARD VICE CHAIR | 10 | — |
| EDWIN JACKSON | BOARD SECRETARY | 10 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**MLB and MLBPA Partnership:** Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association jointly committed $10 million to The Players Alliance to help fund innovative programs designed to improve representation of Black Americans in all levels of baseball. These grants were delivered annually through 2024, supporting efforts to improve access to the sport both in the Black community and in front office career opportunities.
THE PLAYERS Championship Announces 2024 Red Coats\u2019 Community Grants\**Hall of Fame Recognition:** The organization celebrated the induction of supporter Andruw Jones into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Class of 2026, recognizing him as one of the greatest defenders in the game.
**Toni's Promise Softball Initiative:** The Players Alliance announced Toni's Promise Softball Team set to compete in the Jennie Finch Classic during MLB All-Star Week, expanding the organization's reach into softball programming.
MLB, MLBPA JOINTLY COMMIT $10 MILLION TO THE PLAYERS ALLIANCEFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Players Alliance Inc fund?
**Mission:** Address baseball's systemic barriers to equity & inclusion by creating pathways to opportunities on and off the field for an undeniable pipeline of Black talent. **Vision:** The Players Alliance is where Black professional players commit to owning and supporting solutions to increase the participation of the Black community in baseball, recognizing that representation is important to both the community and the game. • **Leadership:** Black players have both the right and responsibi…
How do I apply for a grant from The Players Alliance Inc?
The Players Alliance functions as both a grantmaker and grant recipient. The organization earmarks funding for programs with the following missions: • Offer player-led mentorship • Increase participation in baseball among Black youth and young adults through funding individual leagues, equipment donations, special tournaments, clinics, and playground activities • Support Black cultural education, camps, and other programs designed to build pipelines and eliminate barriers to the sport • Increas…
Where does The Players Alliance Inc make grants?
The Players Alliance operates through strategically selected focus cities that combine programming resources and collaborations to serve communities experiencing high childhood poverty and low access to the game. The organization has served over 20,000 community members across 33 cities as part of cross-country initiatives.
What size grants does The Players Alliance Inc award?
In 2024, The Players Alliance Inc awarded 76 grants totaling $2.1M — an average of about $28K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Players Alliance Inc's EIN?
The Players Alliance Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-1823736. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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