Panthers Charities
Mission
The mission of Carolina Panthers Charities is to assess the needs of communities in North and South Carolina and develop programs and partnerships that create measurable and sustainable change. Our goal is to harness the resources and energy of the NFL, Carolina Panthers and our partners - corporate, civic and grassroots - to create new athletic opportunities for children, support their educational needs and promote healthy lifestyles for families in the Carolinas. Carolina Panthers Charities is a donor advised fund of the Foundation For The Carolinas. It is endowed by Panthers Football, LLC and Panthers Stadium, LLC.
Carolina Panthers Scholarship
The Carolina Panthers award two $10,000 scholarships each year to outstanding student-athletes who have completed their undergraduate work and are seeking support for their graduate level studies. Scholarships are awarded to one male and one female student-athlete in North Carolina or South Carolina on the basis of leadership, citizenship and academic merit. Past scholarship winners are now working in medicine, politics, law and education. For more information, please contact the Foundation For The Carolinas at 704-973-4500.
Carolina Panthers Players Sam Mills Memorial Scholarship
The Carolina Panthers players award two $5,100 scholarships each year to outstanding high school senior student-athletes who are seeking support for their undergraduate college level studies. Scholarships are awarded to one male and one female student-athlete on the basis of leadership, community service and academic merit. Applications are considered from candidates who are residents of Mecklenburg County in North Carolina and Spartanburg County in South Carolina. For more information, please contact the Foundation For The Carolinas at 704-973-4500.
Community Grants
Carolina Panthers Charities funding is available to non-profit agencies whose missions address the educational, athletic, and human services needs of communities throughout North and South Carolina. Resources are also made available to arts, science and civic organizations in the Carolinas. Grants are made once a year and are awarded to non-profit , tax-exempt, charitable organizations that are exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Apply for a Carolina Panthers Charities grant. The application deadline is May 1 each year.
Youth Football Grants
The Carolina Panthers provide several grant options to support youth football organizations at the grassroots level. Many athletic organizations and associations in the Carolinas benefit from these programs each year. Local level grant opportunities are available through the NFL Grassroots Field Grant Program, NFL Youth Football Fund and USA Football.
Carolina Panthers Riddell Equipment Grant
Recognizing the need for football equipment for youth organizations in North and South Carolina, the Carolina Panthers and Riddell have partnered to provide new and advanced equipment, promote growth and increased participation in youth football, and reinforce the commitment that the Panthers and Riddell have for the youth football community in the Carolinas. The program awards five equipment grants, each with a retail value of approximately $1,000. Five different grant options, each of which comes with a Riddell Mox Box hardware repair kit, are available.
Organizations must meet certain requirements to be eligible for the Carolina Panthers Riddell Equipment Grant. In order to apply, the Carolina Panthers Riddell Equipment Grant application must be completed in its entirety and include all specified information in the designated order.
NFL Grassroots Field Grant Program
The NFL Grassroots Field Grant Program is a joint venture between the NFL and Local Initiatives Support Corporation. The NFL Grassroots Field Grant Program provides non-profit groups, neighborhood-based organizations and high schools in low to moderate income areas with financial and technical assistance to improve the quality, safety and accessibility of football fields in underserved areas of NFL markets. The program makes matching grants of up to $250,000 available for capital improvement projects, including field surface grants and general field support. Applications are traditionally due December 15 each year with grant winners notified by March. For more information, including a request for proposals form and eligibility requirements, visit the Local Initiatives Support Corporation web site.
NFL Youth Football Fund Local Agency Grants
The development of youth football is one of the NFL's top priorities. The NFL’s support of youth football programs is conducted through a group of organized partnerships known as the NFL National Youth Football Partners. These eight organizations are national youth-serving agencies that are recognized for their positive work with children through athletics and mentorship programs.
The NFL National Youth Football Partners receive grants from the NFL Youth Football Fund to help support youth football development, permitting thousands of young people to participate in a variety of flag and tackle football programs. In addition, affiliates and branches of these national organizations may apply for grants to develop and support innovative youth football programs on the local level. This has been found to be the most organized and effective way to support football at the grassroots level.
If you are an independent school, league, team or other local organization that is not affiliated with one of the National Youth Football Partners, the NFL cannot provide support to you through grants, equipment, uniforms or other means. Please contact any of the organizations listed below to explore potential future partnerships.
USA Football Equipment Grants
The USA Football Equipment Grant program provides youth leagues and high school programs in the United States with more than $500,000 worth of new football equipment annually. USA Football awards youth football equipment grants of up to $1,000 and high school football equipment grants of up to $1,500. Dozens of organizations in the Carolinas receive support through this program each year. Applications are traditionally due September 30 each year. Visit the USA Football grants page for more information.