Post A Winning Score This Giving Tuesday
Athlete Charities Worth Supporting
Whether we're ready or not, the holiday season is upon us—complete with gatherings that bring friends and families together, and traditions that send us to the mall or our computers for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday.
I’m dating myself, but I can remember when Giving Tuesday launched back in 2012. What started as a simple idea—pausing amid holiday chaos to give back—has exploded into a global movement. Now operating through GivingTuesday.org across 100+ countries, it generated an astounding $3.6 billion from 36.1 million donors in 2024 alone.
This year, why not merge your passion for sports with the spirit of Giving Tuesday this year on December 2? We've created an unconventional "gift guide" featuring athlete-led charities making an impact.
Kyle Schwarber's Neighborhood Heroes: After Kyle's stellar season with the Phillies, his off-field work deserves equal applause. He and his wife Paige founded this organization in 2017 to support police, fire, and military families through wellness grants, crisis assistance, and community-building events like station visits. They're addressing the unique challenges these families face with both gratitude and action.
Alex Morgan Foundation: The two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist may have retired from professional soccer, but she's not slowing down. Her foundation, launched in 2023, empowers women and girls in San Diego through soccer camps and grants supporting maternal advocacy and female mentorship programs. Alex's mission to elevate women's voices continues—just in a different arena.
Caitlin Clark Foundation: Basketball's brightest star started her foundation in 2023 with a focus on education, nutrition, and youth sports. What sets Caitlin apart? She leverages her endorsement deals to secure product donations for her initiatives. It's a brilliant model: athletes with sponsor credits can redirect those resources toward community needs.
Kevin Love Fund As one of the first athletes to publicly discuss his anxiety struggles, the five-time NBA All-Star has been reducing mental health stigma since 2018. His fund creates age-appropriate curriculum for coaches and educators, featuring athletes and celebrities sharing their experiences with anxiety, depression, and grief. The message? You're not alone, and it's okay to talk about it.
Schofield Family Foundation Love both football and hockey? Kendall Coyne Schofield (Olympic gold medalist and 2024 Minnesota Frost captain) and her husband Michael (recently retired from the NFL) combine their passions through their 2019 foundation. They fund the communities they love with youth parks, scholarships, and programs supporting first responders, military families, and education research.
Don't see your favorite athlete listed? If they don't have their own foundation, consider supporting your favorite team's charity instead. Many professional teams run foundations that benefit their local communities. Newer sports often have league-level foundations, like USA Pickleball Serves, or you can support nonprofits that grow emerging sports—such as flag football programs at your local Boys & Girls Club or adaptive sports organizations like one of our favorites Oscar Mike and their all-veteran wheelchair rugby team.
This Giving Tuesday, combine your sports passion with generosity! Whether through a donation, volunteering, or simply offering a smile, small acts of kindness can add up to make a real difference. Happy giving!
A Quick Note: Some of these athlete foundations operate as fiscally sponsored funds rather than independent 501(c)(3) organizations—both types accept tax-deductible donations. Want to understand the difference? Stay tuned for more details in a future article.