“For the first time in nearly a decade, the National Football League named a Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award winner who did not create his own tax-exempt entity and solely partnered with existing nonprofits,” according to The Arizona Republic. Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner, known for partnering directly with established hospital systems to support stroke recovery and education programs in honor of his late mother, was selected for this year’s award.
The development marks a significant departure from past trends. As reported by Jason Wolf of The Arizona Republic, 27 of the past 30 winners either created their own independent 501(c)(3) public charities or used fiscal sponsors to host their charitable projects before being honored. Wagner is the first winner since Eli Manning in 2016 who did not establish a separate tax-exempt organization or operate a quasi foundation through a fiscal sponsor.
CharityWatch CEO and Executive Director, Laurie Styron, praised the NFL’s decision.
“The NFL’s decision to honor a player who did not create a new charity marks a meaningful shift,” Styron told The Arizona Republic. “This model puts the charitable mission first and the structure second, exactly as it should be.”
The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award winner and nominees collectively receive more than $1.5 million in annual donations from the National Football League (NFL) Foundation and Nationwide to distribute to charities of their choice. Historically, many players created new charities to support their philanthropic efforts.
However, investigative reporting by The Arizona Republic has repeatedly exposed governance lapses, inefficiencies, and legal compliance failures among some player-founded nonprofits. Prior coverage by Wolf and The Arizona Republic led the NFL to revise its nomination rules before the 2025 season, requiring that nominees’ associated charities comply with state and federal nonprofit laws.
Styron addressed the broader implications of this year’s selection:
“Intentional or not, the NFL may have been inadvertently motivating players to start their own charities to get an edge in competing for this award,” Styron said. “This marks a much-needed course correction. The countless governance lapses, wasted donations, and other mishaps that have plagued player-founded charities have been embarrassing for players and disappointing to donors and fans.”
“If this decision helps to shift the culture away from nonprofit creation as a badge of honor and toward thoughtful, accountable philanthropy, that’s a win not just for football, but for charity as a whole.”
According to The Arizona Republic, Wagner has reportedly raised more than $600,000 for four hospitals, including significant personal contributions.
Nonprofit experts interviewed by The Arizona Republic noted that partnering with existing institutions often reduces overhead, eliminates administrative startup costs, and leverages existing governance and compliance infrastructure. For many athletes, this approach may represent the safest, most efficient path to impact.
CharityWatch has long cautioned that launching a new nonprofit is not always the most effective way for players to give back. Creating and maintaining a tax-exempt entity requires independent governance, financial reporting, internal controls, and regulatory compliance. When players rely on family members, business partners, or others who lack adequate knowledge and experience in operating nonprofit organizations, donor dollars can be diverted to overhead, professional fundraising contracts, or administrative inefficiencies rather than direct charitable impact
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