A total of $800,000 in grant funds will be allocated to organizations advancing social justice across the country
NEW YORK – Dec 16, 2024 – As part of Inspire Change Week celebrations, the NFL approved four new Inspire Change grant partners, totaling $800,000 in additional funding to support social justice work across the country. Making an impact within the Inspire Change pillars of education, economic advancement, police-community relations, and criminal justice reform, this year’s grant recipients include the Center for Employment Opportunities, Harlem Children’s Zone, Law Enforcement Action Project, and SMASH.
“The fight against social injustice is ongoing, and the NFL family embraces its responsibility to be a catalyst for positive change and creating stronger, more vibrant communities,” said Anna Isaacson, senior vice president of social responsibility for the NFL. “We are truly inspired by our grant partners who are unsung heroes committed to driving progress through grassroots efforts within their communities.”
The new Inspire Change grant partners include:
Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) provides immediate, effective, and comprehensive employment services exclusively to those recently released from incarceration. Inspire Change grant funding will support:
- The Emerging Leaders Program, a 12-week work-based learning and training program.
“Having the support of the NFL is a game-changer for so many people rebuilding their lives after incarceration,” said Samra Haider, president of the Center for Employment Opportunities. “By partnering with CEO, the NFL recognizes the scale of employment barriers faced by people re-entering their community after incarceration and demonstrates the NFL’s commitment to eliminating them to ensure everyone has access to social and economic mobility. The Inspire Change grant will support CEO’s work to help people obtain good-paying, quality careers regardless of their background.”
Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) is a preeminent anti-poverty organization based in Central Harlem that breaks the cycle of intergenerational poverty through its holistic pathway of cradle-to-career services. Inspire Change grant funding will support:
- HCZ’s William Julius Wilson Institute, which provides communities nationwide with technical assistance and field-building support.
“Through our work in Central Harlem and across the country, we are committed to removing barriers, providing opportunities, and ending poverty for one million young people,” said Kwame Owusu-Kesse, ceo of Harlem Children’s Zone. “Harlem Children’s Zone is proud to be partnering with the NFL on the Inspire Change initiative to help make this vision a reality.”
Law Enforcement Action Project (LEAP)mobilizes law enforcement to make communities safer by prioritizing the greatest threats to public safety, promoting alternatives to arrest and incarceration, tackling the root causes of crime, and working toward healing police-community relations. Inspire Change grant funding will support:
- Expanding community responder contracts in municipalities nationwide
- Developing a first-of-its-kind national database to track community responder programs, mapping where services have launched and comparing different program models
- Conducting a rigorous Racial Impact Study to demonstrate the effects of community responder programs in reducing crime and arrest rates, particularly in communities of color
“The Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP) is honored to be selected as a recipient of the NFL’s prestigious Inspire Change grant,” said Lieutenant Diane Goldstein, (Ret.) executive director of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership. “As an organization composed of current and former law enforcement officials, LEAP understands that true public safety cannot be achieved through traditional policing alone. We collaborate with cities to develop ‘community responder’ programs that dispatch unarmed specialists to low-risk 911 calls instead of police. These programs enable cities to reduce arrests and police use of force, refocus law enforcement resources toward more serious crime, and connect people to services to help resolve the root causes of crime. With the NFL’s partnership, LEAP is eager to advance this critical work and continue making a positive difference in communities across America.”
SMASHexpands equity and innovation in computer science (CS) education by addressing systemic barriers that have historically limited access for underrepresented youth. Inspire Change grant funding will support:
- Strengthening and expanding SMASH Academy, a cost-free, three-week hybrid program for scholars of color, first-generation college students, and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds
- Increasing access to the year-round College Catalyst and Career Catalyst platforms
- Offering more opportunities for students to participate in Open Innovation Challenges, where they apply CS skills to solve real-world problems
“We are honored to join forces with the NFL Inspire Change initiative to create lasting opportunities for underrepresented youth in computer science,” said Jonathan Durfield, ceo of SMASH. “This grant is more than support—it’s an investment in equity, innovation, and the potential of future leaders. Together, we are paving the way for young people to thrive in CS and build a more inclusive tech industry. We are thrilled and grateful for this partnership.”
These new grant partners were approved by the Player-Owner Social Justice Working Group, a 10-member panel of players, legends, and team owners. Each year, the Social Justice Working Group reviews submissions and requests from players and other members of the NFL community and votes on the organizations that best fit the Inspire Change mission.
The Inspire Change social justice grants have supported over 650 local nonprofits, nearly 2,000 matching grants from current and former players, and over 50 national grant partners, with the NFL family contributing over $375 million to date.
For more information about the Inspire Change grant partners, please visit https://www.nfl.com/causes/inspire-change/resources/grant-partners/.
