Eagles Care (The Philadelphia Eagles): Philadelphia Grants

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OVERVIEW: The Eagles’ philanthropy supports youth, education, healthy food, mentoring, and cancer care in the Greater Philadelphia region. Capacity building is the core of this funder’s support.

IP TAKE: Do not call yourself a grantseeker or a grantee: Eagles Care is all about teamwork and partnership. There is money involved, but getting the Eagles’ support is more about long-term connections and networking than anything else.

PROFILE: The Philadelphia Eagles created Eagles Care in 2013. It seeks to “make an impact in the Greater Philadelphia area.” Through this program, the Eagles typically choose five nonprofits to support each year, all in the Greater Philadelphia region. According to the Eagles’ website:

The Eagles support hundreds of non-profits in the Greater Philadelphia area through year-round Community Relations efforts. Core to that work is the Eagles Care initiative built off of our belief that strong non-profits build strong communities.  Through these season-long strategic partnerships with non-profits we are able to jointly increase the positive impact to a community we share.

In a recent year, the group chose as its partners the Family Lives On Foundation, Greener Partners, Little Smiles, Northern Children’s Services, and Steppingstone Scholars. The previous year, the Eagles partnered with the Center for Grieving Children, Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the Ronald McDonald House Philadelphia and Simon’s Fund. The inaugural year of the Eagles Care initiative in 2013 included Bringing Hope Home, Cradles to Crayons, the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger and the Riverbend Environmental Education Center. You can view current Eagle Care partners here on the Eagles Care website.

At the end of the season-long partnerships, nonprofit partners become part of the Eagles Care network and continue to collaborate with the Eagles and each other on community outreach events and campaigns. The Eagles also participate in “Community Monday,” which involves the players volunteering on their off day, and an annual healthy food drive. Eagles’ community events are often focused around children and youth in need of mentorship, positive influences, and guidance to healthy choices.

In the past, Eagles Care has posted a questionnaire around February/March of each year on the Eagles’ website. After a few months of reviewing applications and conducting interviews to determine if there is a match, decisions are often made in July. The group has also organized an Eagles Care Summit in recent years to bring nonprofit leaders together for employee development—a free service for nonprofits.

After a re-evaluation of overall grantmaking for the team, the Eagles decided to take a more non-traditional approach to charitable giving. It uses the skills of the Eagles organizations and expertise to teach nonprofits how to be the best versions of themselves. Eagles Care conducts a needs assessment for potential partners to determine what nonprofits need the most and how it can assist as a partner.

General questions can be sent through the Eagles’ online contact form and directed to the community relations team.

PEOPLE:

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