National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 92 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE FOUNDATION WAS ORGANIZED TO HONOR THE GREAT PLAYERS AND COACHES IN THE HISTORY OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND TO INSPIRE OUR NATION'S YOUTH TO COMPETE ON THE ATHLETIC FIELDS AND IN THE CLASSROOM AND TO ASSUME LEADERSHIP ROLES ON HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE CAMPUSES. THE ORGANIZATION PARTLY ACCOMPLISHES THIS BY AWARDING SCHOLARSHIPS TO HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS BASED UPON ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, ATHLETIC ABILITY, AND LEADERSHIP QUALITIES.
- Income
- $4.6 million
- Spending
- $5.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 3.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 45%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $515,885, president & ceo
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
Weak: 46 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 25% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 92 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: 93 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2559 of 59 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $3.7 million spent. 22 COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAMERS SELECTED AND HONORED. 16 NATIONAL SCHOLAR ATHLETES SELECTED AND HONORED. HALL OF FAME ON-CAMPUS SALUTES. NATIONAL SCHOLAR-ATHLETE PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES WHERE NFF CURRENTLY DISTRIBUTES MORE THAN $1.3 MILLION EACH YEAR IN SCHOLARSHIPS, INCLUDING $300,000 AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND MORE THAN $1 MILLION THROUGH ITS CHAPTER NETWORK AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL. NFF CHAPTER NETWORK WHICH INCLUDES 120 OUTPOST IN 47 STATES AND ENCOURAGES LEADERSHIP, SPORTSMANSHIP AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AMONG AMERICA'S YOUNG FOOTBALL PLAYERS. MORE THAN 12,000 MEMBERS HOST OVER 300 EVENTS EACH YEAR, REACHING MORE THAN 600,000 FOOTBALL PLAYERS AT 6,000 HIGH SCHOOLS. NFF HIGH SCHOOL SHOWCASES; HAMPSHIRE HONOR SOCIETY, HONORING COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS FROM ALL DIVISIONS OF PLAY WHO EACH MAINTAINED A CUMULATIVE GPA OF 3.2 OR BETTER THROUGHOUT THEIR COLLEGE CAREERS. 2,016 PLAYERS FROM 343 SCHOOLS QUALIFIED FOR MEMBERSHIP.
- $117,406 spent. CROSS-PLATFORM MIXED MEDIA CAMPAIGN TO CELEBRATE THE POSITIVE IMPACT THE GAME HAS MADE ON MILLIONS OF PLAYERS, ADMINISTRATORS, VOLUNTEERS AND FANS ALIKE. HIGHLIGHTS LEAGUES AND PLAYERS AROUND THE COUNTRY, THE MANY WAYS TO BE INVOLVED IN THE GAME ON AND OFF THE FIELD. THE CAMPAIGN HAS PRODUCED OVER 1,500 ORIGINAL CONTENT PIECES WITH MORE THAN 10 MILLION MINUTES OF VIDEO VIEWED.
- $23,426 spent. COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SUPPORTING THE HALL OF FAME OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION AND COLLEGE HALL OF FAME, INC.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1975.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.