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Fritz Pollard Alliance Foundation

EIN 26-2701533 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 33% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE FRITZ POLLARD ALLIANCE FOUNDATION IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ADVANCING EQUITY AND INCLUSION ACROSS THE NFL AND THE BROADER SPORTS INDUSTRY. GUIDED BY ITS CORE PILLARS, EDUCATION, ACCESS, AND ADVOCACY, THE FOUNDATION PROMOTES JOB (USED AS A CONTINUATION OF PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES DESCRIPTION STATEMENT.) OPPORTUNITIES, PREPARES CANDIDATES FOR LEADERSHIP ROLES, AND FOSTERS AWARENESS THROUGH STRATEGIC STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT. SIGNATURE PROGRAMS INCLUDE: THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT INTERVIEW SERIES, EQUIPPING COACHING AND EXECUTIVE CANDIDATES FOR ADVANCEMENT WITHIN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL, THE FPA NFL DRAFT ACADEMY, PROVIDING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH EXPOSURE TO NFL CAREERS AND MENTORSHIP FROM NFL TEAM PERSONNEL, AND THE JOHNNIE L. COCHRAN, JR. SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE AWARDS, HONORING CHAMPIONS OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN SPORTS.

Income
$847,000
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
33%
Reserves
5.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
1
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$226,390, 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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 38% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    33% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $45,234 spent. THE FRITZ POLLARD ALLIANCE FOUNDATION CAREER DEVELOPMENT INTERVIEW SERIES:AS PART OF THE NFL'S BROADER COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP PIPELINES, THE FRITZ POLLARD ALLIANCE FOUNDATION CONDUCTS A SPECIALIZED CAREER DEVELOPMENT INTERVIEW SERIES DESIGNED TO PREPARE COACHING AND EXECUTIVE CANDIDATES FOR ADVANCEMENT WITHIN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL. THIS IMMERSIVE TRAINING INITIATIVE SIMULATES HIGH-STAKES NFL INTERVIEWS USING FORMER HEAD COACHES AND GENERAL MANAGERS AS EVALUATORS AND MENTORS. CANDIDATES ENGAGE IN MOCK INTERVIEWS, RECEIVE REAL-TIME FEEDBACK, AND GAIN INSIGHTS INTO THE EXPECTATIONS, DYNAMICS, AND DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES THAT SHAPE HIRING OUTCOMES AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF THE SPORT.
  2. $44,936 spent. THE FRITZ POLLARD ALLIANCE FOUNDATION NFL DRAFT ACADEMY:THE FRITZ POLLARD ALLIANCE FOUNDATION NFL DRAFT ACADEMY, HELD IN DETROIT, MI IN APRIL OF 2024, WAS A LANDMARK YOUTH EMPOWERMENT EVENT THAT LAUNCHED THE JUNIOR ACADEMY AND HONORED EQUITY AND INCLUSION CHAMPIONS IN SPORTS. NFL COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL WAS ON HAND TO "DRAFT" 14 NINTH-GRADE STUDENT-ATHLETES FROM THE DETROIT METRO AREA, RECOGNIZED FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT. THESE STUDENTS BECAME JUNIOR ACADEMY AMBASSADORS OF THE DETROIT LIONS, GAINING EXPOSURE TO SPORTS CAREERS AND MENTORSHIP THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.
  3. $287,195 spent. THE JOHNNIE L. COCHRAN, JR. SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE AWARDS:THE JOHNNIE L. COCHRAN, JR. SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE AWARDS, HOSTED ANNUALLY BY THE FRITZ POLLARD ALLIANCE FOUNDATION (FPA), RECOGNIZES INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE EFFORTS ADVANCE EQUITY AND INCLUSION ACROSS PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL AND THE BROADER SPORTS INDUSTRY. MORE THAN A CELEBRATION, THE AWARDS REFLECT THE FOUNDATION'S ENDURING COMMITMENT TO THREE PILLARS OF IMPACT: CAREER DEVELOPMENT, ADVOCACY, AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT. NAMED IN HONOR OF CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY JOHNNIE L. COCHRAN, JR., COFOUNDER OF THE FPA, THE AWARDS HONOR THOSE WHOSE WORK EMBODIES HIS LEGACY OF JUSTICE, EXCELLENCE, AND TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP.

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 November 6, 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 July 2009.

    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 November 4, 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.