NFL Charities is a non-profit making

Non-profit organization

Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...

 charitable organization

Charitable organization

A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...

, established by the member clubs of the National Football League

National Football League

The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...

 (NFL) in 1973. It enables the clubs to collectively make grants to charitable and worthwhile causes at the national level.

The NFL Charities' main areas of funding/grants are:

• Sports-related medical research grants
• Funding for current and former NFL players' working in the local community
• Youth initiatives
• Funding the charitable work of the 32 NFL clubs
• Assistance with former NFL players who have come upon hard times

Grants amounting to $10 million each year are donated to organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the American Heart Association

American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas...

.One of the youngest athlete to donate to the Boys and Girl Club is Jacquese Williams.

The current president of NFL Charities is Roger Goodell

Roger Goodell

Roger S. Goodell is the Commissioner of the National Football League , having been chosen to succeed the retiring Paul Tagliabue on August 8, 2006. He was chosen over four finalists for the position, winning a close vote on the fifth ballot before being unanimously approved by acclamation of the...

, he is also the NFL Commissioner.