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New England Patriots Charitable Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$4.2M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.3M
Decision Time
2mo
Success Rate
9%

New England Patriots Charitable Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,240,277 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $5,382,155 (2023)
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $250,000
  • Number of Grants: 212 awards (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: New England region (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont)
  • Application Method: Online donation request form; nomination-based programs

Contact Details

Overview

The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation was established in 1994 by Robert Kraft immediately upon his purchase of the New England Patriots. The foundation serves as the 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm of the team with the mission to aid individuals and families who are often marginalized in society. Through year-round programming and support of philanthropic agencies, the foundation builds stronger communities throughout New England.

The Kraft family's philanthropic legacy is deeply rooted in values passed down through generations. As Josh Kraft stated: "We learned at an early age that we had a pretty good life, so my family and their philanthropy...was about providing access to opportunity for those who don't have that access or support." The foundation has maintained consistent giving levels, distributing over $4 million annually in recent years. Total Kraft family lifetime giving exceeds $900 million across all their philanthropic vehicles.

The foundation operates alongside the Kraft Family Foundation and several other Kraft family philanthropic initiatives, forming a comprehensive approach to regional and national giving.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards - $10,000 - $25,000

  • Annual program honoring community volunteers and providing grants to their nonprofits
  • 25 organizations receive $10,000 each; one grand prize winner receives $25,000
  • Total distribution: $275,000 annually
  • Nominations open February; awards presented in June at Gillette Stadium

Patriots Difference Maker Grants - $5,000 - $25,000

  • Recognizes outstanding volunteers during Celebrate Volunteerism initiative
  • 2024 distributed $185,000 to 17 nonprofits
  • Year's top honoree receives $25,000

NFL Grassroots Field Grant Program - Up to $200,000

  • Matching grants for synthetic turf installation (up to $200,000)
  • Natural grass/sod resurfacing (up to $100,000)
  • General field support for bleachers, lights, irrigation (up to $50,000)

USA Football Equipment Grants - $1,000 - $1,500 (equipment value)

  • Youth programs: $1,000 retail value
  • High school programs: $1,500 retail value
  • Equipment includes helmets, shoulder pads, blocking dummies, flag football gear

In-Kind Donations

  • Signed memorabilia for charity auctions and events
  • Player appearances at charitable functions
  • Rolling basis; submit requests at least 6 weeks before event

Priority Areas

  • Youth development and education
  • Character development and creativity programs
  • Cultural diversity initiatives
  • Family services and support
  • Health programs (particularly children's health)
  • Community engagement through sports
  • Violence prevention (including domestic violence and sexual assault prevention)
  • Food insecurity and hunger relief
  • Homelessness services
  • Veterans and military support
  • Early literacy programs

What They Don't Fund

  • Event tickets or game tickets
  • Assistance benefiting specific individuals or families (rather than community-wide charitable groups)
  • Unsigned merchandise sent for autographing
  • Religious institutional activities
  • Requests from individuals or commercial entities
  • Organizations outside New England region

Governance and Leadership

Chairman: Robert K. Kraft - Founder and owner of the New England Patriots; established the foundation in 1994

Treasurer: Joshua M. Kraft - President of Kraft Family Philanthropies; formerly President of the New England Patriots Foundation; spent 15 years as Executive Director of Boys & Girls Club in Chelsea which he founded in 1993

Directors:

  • Jonathan A. Kraft - President of The Kraft Group and New England Patriots
  • Daniel A. Kraft - President of The Kraft Group

The foundation operates with $0 in officer compensation according to 2023 IRS filings, reflecting the family's personal commitment to the mission.

Key Quote from Josh Kraft on the family's approach: "She would get dirty. She didn't just show up and write the check...She loved to engage with the staff genuinely." (describing his mother Myra Kraft's hands-on philanthropic philosophy)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For In-Kind Donations/Memorabilia:

  1. Complete the online donation request form at patriots.com/community/foundation-donations
  2. Submit requests at least six weeks before your event
  3. Track request status through the website portal

Requirements:

  • Must be a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization
  • Must provide tax identification number
  • Must be located within New England region

For Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards:

  1. Nominations open each February
  2. Submit nomination through patriots.com/community
  3. Nominees must be New England residents, 13+ years old
  4. Only one nominee per organization permitted
  5. Volunteers should not receive any compensation (monetary or otherwise)

For NFL Grassroots Field Grants:

  1. Review the NFL Grassroots Field Grant RFP
  2. Organization must exist for minimum 3 years
  3. Must employ at least one full-time staff member
  4. Must demonstrate proven track record in real estate development or parks programming
  5. Schools must demonstrate community access to the field
  6. Natural grass applicants must provide 5-year maintenance plan

For USA Football Equipment Grants:

  • Apply at usafootball.com/grants

Decision Timeline

  • In-kind donation requests: Allow at least 6 weeks
  • Myra Kraft MVP Awards: Nominations February; awards ceremony June
  • NFL Field Grants: Per NFL/LISC grant cycle

Success Rates

The foundation received close to 300 applications for the 2024 Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards and selected 26 winners (approximately 9% success rate for this program).

Grant volume has increased steadily: 123 awards (2020), 151 awards (2021), 180 awards (2022), 212 awards (2023).

Reapplication Policy

The foundation processes thousands of donation requests annually and notes they "cannot guarantee that every donation request will be met." Previous unsuccessful applicants may reapply for future opportunities.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Kraft Family Values:

  • The foundation explicitly focuses on "providing access to opportunity for those who don't have that access or support"
  • Projects serving marginalized youth and families receive priority
  • Emphasis on programs encouraging education, character development, and creativity

For Myra Kraft MVP Award Nominations:

  • Strongest consideration given to hands-on volunteers who receive no compensation
  • Nominees should demonstrate genuine community impact
  • Organizations representing causes including education, food insecurity, grief support, healthcare, homelessness, mental health, and violence prevention have been recognized

For NFL Grassroots Field Grants:

  • Natural grass applicants must provide detailed 5-year maintenance plan with corresponding financial budget
  • Demonstrate that organization will maintain field despite wear and tear
  • Show community access to facilities (schools must prove public benefit)
  • All grant funds must be used for capital expenditures, not maintenance

Past Funded Organizations:

  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
  • Breast Cancer Research Foundation
  • Crossroads for Kids
  • Luk Crisis Center
  • Kraft Family Blood Donor Center
  • Pine Street Inn
  • Greater Boston Legal Services
  • Tech Goes Home
  • Louis D. Brown Peace Institute
  • Rain Immigrant Center
  • Perkins School for the Blind

Understanding Their Partnership Approach: As Josh Kraft noted about his mother's philosophy: "The partnership was more than just financial. It was about the people who were being served and the people who were doing the work." The foundation values genuine engagement over transactional relationships.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Regional focus is strict: Only 501(c)(3) organizations serving New England communities are eligible
  • Youth-serving organizations have strongest alignment: The foundation prioritizes programs serving marginalized youth through education, creativity, and character development
  • Multiple pathways to support: Consider which program best fits your organization - MVP Awards (volunteer recognition), Difference Maker grants, field grants, equipment grants, or in-kind donations
  • Timing matters: Submit donation requests at least 6 weeks in advance; watch for February opening of MVP Award nominations
  • Volunteer recognition is central: The Myra Kraft MVP Awards recognize volunteers, not organizations - identify an outstanding volunteer to nominate
  • Hands-on engagement valued: The Kraft family values genuine partnership over simple check-writing; demonstrate community impact and engagement
  • Competition is significant: With nearly 300 MVP applications yielding 26 awards, ensure nominations are compelling with concrete volunteer impact stories

References

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