Philanthropy & Community Engagement

We are committed to championing causes that unite our fans, employees, and partners, while also harnessing our reach – 22,000+ employees and 900+ partners, suppliers, and vendors worldwide – to make an enduring, positive impact on our global communities. 

FANATICS PHILANTHROPY PROGRAMS 

Global Volunteerism

Fanatics employees volunteer more than 20,000 hours throughout the year, and our annual Global Volunteer Day empowers thousands of employees to serve locally alongside their teammates. In 2025, over 4,000 employees contributed 15,000+ hours across 15 countries, engaging in projects from aiding food pantries to sorting and distributing sports merchandise for those in need, as well as supporting local Make-A-Wish chapters, Boys and Girls Clubs, and a broad range of others.

Learn more about our 2025 Global Volunteer Day. We are so proud of the collective impact our employees made in just one day.

We also mobilize support during crises, matching donations for disaster relief such as the horrific California wildfires and Hurricanes Helene and Milton in Florida. Our new Philanthropy Platform, powered by Benevity, allows employees to join company-led initiatives or pursue personal causes, track impact, and launch campaigns during emergencies. 

We are committed to being engaged as a company and encourage our employees to do the same in the communities in which we live, work and play. Together, we’ll continue to make a real difference.

“A natural disaster has an immediate and devastating impact on the community. Upon hearing of OASIS Opportunities’ need to process clothing donations following Hurricanes Helene and Milton in October 2024, Fanatics jumped in. Their support provided hundreds of teachers, students, and family members with clothing and renewed hope in our community. Thank you, Fanatics!'“

Employee Grant Programs

To amplify employee impact and help them champion causes they are passionate about, in 2024 Fanatics introduced the Fanatics Community Impact Grants, where bi-annually, employees can nominate nonprofits and community-based organizations that align with Fanatics Foundation’s strategic giving pillars, and the Foundation will award grants for up to $2,500 each. Take a look below to learn more about the organizations supported through this program.

In-Kind Donations

In addition to significant financial support from Fanatics and thousands of employees generously volunteering their time, Fanatics expanded its merchandise donation program, creating more opportunities to donate merchandise directly to nonprofits that primarily serve youth in underrepresented communities. In 2024, nearly one million items (valued at $37M+ at retail) were donated to a range of deserving nonprofits, clubs and schools, reducing waste while providing quality product to those in our communities who can really benefit from it. Additionally, Fanatics donated over 60,000 yards of fabric to various colleges, universities as well as nonprofits in support of their fashion programs.  

FANATICS MAKE-A-WISH

Launched in October 2023, our first-of-its-kind partnership with Make-A-Wish America positions Fanatics as the "Official Sports Partner" to fulfill sports-related wishes. In the first year of our partnership, we supported over 600 wishes by providing premier hospitality during sports events, and gifting wish kids licensed sports merchandise from their favorite teams and players – many at major events like the NFL Super Bowl, NHL All-Star Game, NBA All-Star Game, WWE’s WrestleMania, MLB All-Star Game, and Fanatics Fest, as well as creating unique group wish events and other customized sports experiences with league and team partners.

Fanatics pledged $10M over three years to Make-A-Wish and provides in-kind donations including custom and sports team merchandise, trading cards and memorabilia, and storytelling support. Our unique access to athletes, teams and leagues enables unforgettable experiences and helps grant wishes faster.  

We are incredibly proud of our partnership and honored to help bring these wishes to life for truly inspiring children, many of whom wish to meet their sports heroes or serve as a team member of their favorite sports team. Take a look for more on this great partnership and its invaluable work. 

“Thank you so much, for everything. For a day my son will never forget, and I will treasure forever. We are so grateful.”

- Fanatics Fest NYC 2024

“I want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the warm welcome at All-Star Game weekend and for everything your team organized for Zack and the other kids. It was beyond anything Zackary had expected, and we will remember and cherish that family moment forever!”

- NHL All-Star 2024

FANATICS foundation™

Founded in 2022, the Fanatics Foundation™, a 501(c)(3), serves as the philanthropic arm of the Fanatics enterprise and drives lasting global impact across four giving pillars:

  • Community – championing the causes that inspire the betterment of skills for youth

  • Social Justice – advocating for a just and equitable society

  • Relief and Aid – activating our network to meet society’s pressing needs

  • Sustainability – reducing waste by donating returned and obsolete merchandise

The Board of Directors for the Foundation is led by Fanatics Founder and CEO Michael Rubin. The Foundation receives an annual grant of approximately $10 million from Fanatics and carries out its mission through philanthropic engagements with nonprofit organizations in alignment with the strategic giving pillars and in collaboration with our partners across professional sports leagues, teams, athletes, and colleges to deliver enduring results.

Philanthropic Engagements   

Fanatics and the Fanatics Foundation(TM) engage with a variety of nonprofit organizations to help raise awareness and advance their respective missions. Below are a few examples of our unique engagements and the impact they created.

Children of Promise NYC (CPNYC)

In partnership with the Brooklyn Nets, Fanatics hosted 30 kids at Barclays Center for a home game. The kids' experience included a $100 private shopping experience at the Brooklyn Fanatics team store, watching the team warm up before the game, and joining them on the court during the National Anthem before settling into their seats to watch the Nets play. Additionally, through our merchandise donation program and in partnership with our in-venue retail team, we were able to donate nearly 6,000 units of Nets gear to CPNYC, ensuring every child they serve experienced some holiday magic.  

Special Olympics Florida’s Sunshine Bowl:

Fanatics employees participated in the 2024 Sunshine Bowl. Hosted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium, the Sunshine Bowl brings together dozens of flag football teams from across the state to help raise money for Special Olympics Florida, an organization that brings the joy of sport to nearly 70,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities across the state. Fanatics put together a team for the Unified division, which comprised corporate employees as well as Special Olympics’ athletes, to participate in the friendly competition.

K9s for Warriors

Fanatics partnered with K9s For Warriors, a nonprofit dedicated to ending veteran suicide by providing highly trained service dogs for veterans diagnosed with service-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and/or military sexual trauma (MST). Through Fanatics’ sponsorship, we were able to support two lives – a veteran and rescue dog Scout, who was named by Fanatics employees. Scout completed his training in February 2025 and was paired with a veteran.

PHILANTHROPY AS A BUSINESS DRIVER

Fanatics’ charitable initiatives are more than just goodwill gestures—they are powerful tools for strengthening brand perception and customer loyalty. A Fall 2024 survey revealed:

  • 84% of fan respondents view Fanatics more positively because of our giving efforts;

  • 83% are more likely to support Fanatics as a direct result of it; and

  • 71% associate Fanatics with Make-A-Wish, showcasing its strong brand alignment.

These strong positive responses highlight that people not only notice Fanatics' philanthropic efforts but also align their feelings of trust and brand support with Fanatics’ commitment to giving back.  

LOOKING AHEAD

We remain focused on creating opportunities to engage our communities and deepen our impact. We’ve done a lot but want to do even more:

  • Fulfill more sports-related wishes through our Make-A-Wish partnership.

  • Host our fifth annual Global Volunteer Day in Spring 2026.

  • Optimize merchandise donations with a greater focus on youth nonprofit support and more efficient donation mechanisms.

  • Launch the Fanatics Invitational charity golf tournament in Fall 2026.

  • Grow our culture of giving within Fanatics and beyond, including our growing international locations.