Fanatics Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $17.5 million (2023), $7 million (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not specified (rolling basis)
• Grant Range: $5,500 - $9.6 million
• Geographic Focus: National (emphasis on NY, CA, NJ)

Contact Details

• Website: https://www.fanaticsfoundation.org
• Application Portal: https://www.fanaticsfoundation.org/contact-us
• Email: Not publicly listed
• Phone: Not publicly listed
• Office: 95 Morton Street, New York, NY 10014

Overview

Founded in 2022, the Fanatics Charitable Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of Fanatics Inc, the global sports merchandise giant. With approximately $10 million in annual funding from its parent company and total assets of $10.3 million, the foundation has rapidly scaled its grant-making from 3 awards in 2022 to 80 awards in 2024. Under the leadership of Executive Director Grace Farraj and Board Chair Michael Rubin (Fanatics CEO), the foundation leverages its unique position in the sports industry to create positive change through strategic partnerships, cash grants, and extensive in-kind merchandise donations valued at over $37 million in 2024 alone. The foundation's approach combines traditional grant-making with the innovative use of Fanatics' vast sports network and inventory.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Major Partnership Grants: $500,000 - $9.6 million (multi-year commitments to strategic partners like Make-A-Wish and Criminal Justice Reform Foundation)
• Fanatics Community Impact Grants: Up to $2,500 (bi-annual program for employee-nominated nonprofits, rolling basis)
• In-Kind Merchandise Donations: Variable amounts (nearly 1 million items donated in 2024, online application)

Priority Areas

The foundation operates through four strategic giving pillars:

1. Community: Youth sports programs in underserved communities, mentorship, skills development
2. IDEA/Social Justice: Advocacy for equity, systemic discrimination awareness, policy change for vulnerable populations
3. Relief & Aid: Disaster relief, emergency response, hunger alleviation
4. Sustainability: Environmental impact reduction through merchandise redistribution

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation requires alignment with their four strategic pillars and appears unlikely to fund:

• Individual requests (unless through partnerships)
• Programs outside their strategic focus areas
• Organizations without clear youth, sports, or community impact components

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

• Michael Rubin (Chair) - Founder and CEO of Fanatics Inc
• Orlando Ashford

Executive Team:

• Grace Farraj - Executive Director (oversees global philanthropic efforts)
• Gregg Winiarski - Secretary
• Justin Sebastiano - Treasurer

Michael Rubin emphasizes the foundation's philosophy: "Everyone deserves access to basic needs, education, and opportunities for growth. We focus on sustainable change, not temporary relief, leveraging our vast social network for innovative impact."

Grace Farraj notes their approach to partnerships: "We aim to bring lightness and joy to families on difficult journeys, particularly through our Make-A-Wish partnership where we can provide unique sports experiences."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through an online donation request form at https://www.fanaticsfoundation.org/contact-us

Required information includes:

• Organization details and contact information
• Geographic location (country and state/region)
• Organization type (Registered Charity, Education Institution, Individual, Other)
• Request type (Event Sponsorship, Merchandise Donation, General Funding, Other)
• Detailed description of the request
• Decision deadline if applicable

Decision Timeline

No specific timeline is published. The foundation operates on a rolling basis for general applications, with bi-annual windows for Community Impact Grants.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation notes they cannot support all worthy causes and only respond to approved requests or those requiring additional information.

Reapplication Policy

No specific policy stated. Organizations that don't receive responses to initial requests may reapply.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's funding patterns and stated priorities:

• Clear alignment with strategic pillars: Applications must explicitly demonstrate fit within Community, IDEA/Social Justice, Relief & Aid, or Sustainability focus areas
• Sports connection advantage: Organizations with sports-related programs or those serving youth through sports have demonstrated higher success rates
• Geographic considerations: While national in scope, organizations in New York, California, and New Jersey appear to receive priority consideration
• Scalable impact: The foundation favors programs that can leverage Fanatics' unique assets - sports network access, merchandise, and employee engagement
• Youth focus: Programs serving youth in underserved communities align strongly with foundation priorities
• Partnership potential: Organizations capable of multi-year strategic partnerships receive larger grants

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The foundation accepts unsolicited applications year-round through their online portal - no need for prior relationships
• Consider requesting in-kind merchandise donations ($37M+ value in 2024) as an entry point if cash grants seem competitive
• Highlight any sports connections or potential to incorporate sports into programming
• Employee-nominated organizations can access smaller Community Impact Grants bi-annually
• The foundation doesn't respond to declined requests, so ensure applications are comprehensive on first submission
• Major partnerships (like Make-A-Wish receiving $10M over 3 years) suggest openness to multi-year commitments for aligned organizations
• Leverage the foundation's interest in employee volunteerism by proposing volunteer engagement opportunities

References

• Fanatics Charitable Foundation Official Website (https://www.fanaticsfoundation.org) - Accessed February 2025
• IRS Form 990 Returns for Fanatics Charitable Foundation (EIN: 92-1289552) - 2022, 2023, 2024
• "Fanatics Foundation Partners with Make-A-Wish America as Official Sports Partner" - Press Release, October 2023
• Foundation Center/Candid Grant Database - Grant awards data 2022-2024
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Financial data and board information
• "Fanatics' Michael Rubin on Philanthropy and Business" - Various interviews and statements 2023-2024
• Fanatics Inc Corporate Social Responsibility Reports - 2023, 2024
• Make-A-Wish America Partnership Announcement - October 2023
• K9s For Warriors Partnership Announcement - 2025