Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund Inc

EIN 20-8267965 · Park Ridge, IL

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF GRIDIRON GREATS ASSISTANCE FUND, INC. (GGAF) IS TO ASSIST RETIRED NFL PLAYERS IN DIRE NEED WHO WERE PIONEERS OF THE GAME AND HAVE GREATLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE NFL'S STATUS AS THE MOST POPULAR SPORT IN AMERICA.

Income
$387,303
Spending
$302,614
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
14.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
3
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$65,000, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $229,765 spent. PLAYER ASSISTANCE GRANTS ARE MADE ON BEHALF OF RETIRED NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYERS AND THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILIES FOR MEDICAL, SHELTER, OR OTHER BASIC NEEDS WHO ARE INDIGENT, IN POVERTY, OR HAVE MEDICAL NEEDS BEYOND THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. IN MOST INSTANCES, PAYMENTS ARE MADE DIRECTLY TO SERVICE PROVIDERS OR VENDORS TO COVER COSTS THAT HAVE BEEN INCURRED BY PLAYERS WHO HAVE MET ESTABLISHED GUIDELINES FOR MEDICAL COSTS, HOUSING, FOOD, SHELTER, AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS THAT QUALIFY UNDER GGAF'S POLICIES. GGAF IS ONLY ABLE TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY FUNDING ON A TEMPORARY BASIS. ACCORDINGLY, GGAF WORKS WITH PLAYERS TO ATTEMPT TO LOCATE LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS TO THEIR NEEDS. GGAF ALSO ATTEMPTS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE SIGNIFICANT NEEDS OF THE MANY RETIRED NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY DUE TO INJURIES INCURRED WHILE PLAYING IN THE LEAGUE. BY RAISING AWARENESS WITH THE NFL, NFL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION, CURRENT PLAYERS, AND THE PUBLIC, GGAF HOPES A LONG-TERM SOLUTION FOR THESE PLAYERS CAN BE ESTABLISHED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2007.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.