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Non-profit

Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation

Website:

www.commanders.com/community
Location:

Ashburn, VA
Tax ID:

54-1982366
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $1,998,508
Expenses: $1,992,744
Assets: $2,140,086
Type:

Nonprofit Charitable Corporation
Founded:

2000
President:

Tanya Snyder

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The Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation is the charitable nonprofit associated with the Washington Commanders NFL franchise.

The Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation has come under scrutiny for failing to follow nonprofit best practices. The Foundation only has one voting board member, has paid expenses to a company owned by team co-owner Dan Snyder while not disclosing his involvement, claiming grant money expended that should have been listed as an expenditure, and shifting focus from the Foundation’s mission to funding other organizations. The Foundation also received bad press for bouncing a $14,000 check to a fan as part of a charity raffle.

History

The Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation was founded in 2000 as the “Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation” after the former name of the football team. 1 After the team dropped “Redskins” from its name in 2020, the Foundation changed its name to the Washington Football Charitable Foundation. 2 In 2022, the Foundation changed its name again to the “Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation” to align with the football team’s new name. 3

In 2014, amid controversy over the team’s then-current “Washington Redskins” name, team owner Dan Snyder began the Washington Redskins Original Americans Foundation nonprofit to focus on Native American issues and programs. 4 The Original Americans Foundation nonprofit was disbanded in 2020. 5

Activities

In 2021, the Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation stated it donated over $2 million in support of community and charitable programs, distributed over 2,000 books to youth on diversity, equity, and inclusion, distributed over 120,000 pounds of food during the holidays, and over 46,000 students attended virtual and in-school programs hosted by the Foundation. 6

Criticism

An analysis by sports journalism network ESPN and nonprofit watchdog groups CharityWatch and National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy of the Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation’s tax filings found “apparent red flags” in various aspects of the Foundation’s operations. 7 It discovered that the Foundation had only one board member, failed to disclose that a company the Foundation regularly does business with is owned by team owner Dan Snyder, made grants not in line with the Foundation’s stated mission, and had unusual transactions in financial filings. 8

Board

In 2021, Washington Commanders co-owner and co-CEO Tanya Snyder became president and sole voting board member of the Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation. 9 Aaron Dorfman, president and CEO of the left-wing National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, advises that nonprofits have at least five board members to make sure “people aren’t making nefarious, self-interested deals.” 10 ESPN found that seven NFL team-affiliated charities had less than five board members but the Commanders’ charity is the only nonprofit with one board member. 11

Failure to Disclose Business Transactions with Interested Parties

The Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation regularly lists liabilities to WFI Group, the for-profit holding company owned by team owner Dan Snyder located at the team’s corporate address. 12 The Foundation had not disclosed that WFI Group is owned by Dan Snyder. 13 The Foundation owed WFI Group $217,073 in 2021, $61,405 in 2019, $53,000 in 2018, and over $242,000 in 2017. 14 A team spokesperson said such payments were made as reimbursement for Foundation expenses paid by the team. 15 Dorfman called not reporting that WFI Group is owned by Dan Snyder “a very big deal.” 16

Grants Outside the Foundation’s Stated Mission

Prior to the pandemic, the Foundation regularly donated money to schools and children’s charities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. 17 In 2021, only two donations to schools were listed as recipients of grant money. 18 The Foundation continued to give to other charities to benefit children such as the Capital Area Food Bank and World Food Kitchen, but other donations included a behavioral health group in Florida and a philanthropy group focused on Ohio. 19 A team spokesperson stated that in recent years the Foundation has expanded to include charities fighting cancer and addressing social justice. 20

Unusual Grant Listing

In its 2021 tax filings, the Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation lists a grant to HZDG. 21 HZDG is a marketing firm hired by the Foundation and is not a nonprofit. 22 A team spokesperson stated this was an error in the Foundation’s tax filings. 23 Concern was raised by CharityWatch’s executive director Laurie Styron over this entry, as she notes the Foundation’s website lists over $31 million given in grants since 2000 while IRS filings list the number at $20 million. 24

50/50 Charity Raffle

In fall 2022, the Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation held a 50/50 raffle at the first home game where fans bought tickets for a raffle with the winner and the Foundation each receiving half the money. 25 After a month passed and the winner had not heard from the Foundation, he made numerous attempts to inquire about his winnings. 26 The Foundation sent a $14,822 check to the winner only to have the check rejected for inadequate funds in the Foundation’s account. The Foundation and team blamed it on a bank error. 27

Funding

In 2021, Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation had net assets of $1,419,938. 28 According to the organization’s tax returns, in 2021 Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation recorded $814,743 in revenue and $1,251,419 in expenses. 29 In 2020, the Foundation had $1,998,508 in total revenue and $1,992,744 in expenses. 30

Leadership

Tanya Snyder is co-owner and co-CEO of the Washington Commanders football team and president of the Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation. 31 Tanya Snyder became co-CEO to run the day-to-day operations of the Washington Commanders in 2021 after sexual misconduct allegations were made against her husband and fellow co-owner Dan Snyder. 32 Dan and Tanya Snyder were married in 1994 before purchasing the Washington Commanders (then known as the Washington Redskins) in 1999. 33 Previously, Tanya Snyder was a fashion model and philanthropist. 34

References

  1. Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2019.
  2. Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2020; Gaydos, Ryan. “Commanders’ Tanya Snyder Faces Scrutiny After ‘Redskins’ Name Drop.” Fox News. October 24, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.foxnews.com/sports/commanders-tanya-snyder-faces-scrutiny-redskins-name-drop.
  3. Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2021.
  4. Snyder, Dan. “Redskins’ Dan Snyder Launches Original Americans Foundation.” NFL.com. March 24, 2014. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.nfl.com/news/redskins-dan-snyder-launches-original-americans-foundation-0ap2000000336553.
  5. Schad, Tom. “Washington Football Team Ends Relationship with Daniel Snyder’s Charitable Foundation for Native Americans.” USA Today. November 28, 2020. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/washington/2020/11/18/washington-football-team-nonprofit-native-americans-daniel-snyder/3765485001/.
  6. “2021 Impact Report.” Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation. 2021. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/v1659621619/redskins/hqwhjalahov4z0urbr2u.pdf
  7. Thompson, Trisha. “Analysis of Commanders Charity Raises Questions from Watchdog Groups.” ESPN.com. December 22, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35298372/watchdogs-question-finances-washington-commanders-charity
  8. Thompson, Trisha. “Analysis of Commanders Charity Raises Questions from Watchdog Groups.” ESPN.com. December 22, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35298372/watchdogs-question-finances-washington-commanders-charity.
  9. Thompson, Trisha. “Analysis of Commanders Charity Raises Questions from Watchdog Groups.” ESPN.com. December 22, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35298372/watchdogs-question-finances-washington-commanders-charity; Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2021.
  10. Thompson, Trisha. “Analysis of Commanders Charity Raises Questions from Watchdog Groups.” ESPN.com. December 22, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35298372/watchdogs-question-finances-washington-commanders-charity.
  11. Thompson, Trisha. “Analysis of Commanders Charity Raises Questions from Watchdog Groups.” ESPN.com. December 22, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35298372/watchdogs-question-finances-washington-commanders-charity.
  12. Thompson, Trisha. “Analysis of Commanders Charity Raises Questions from Watchdog Groups.” ESPN.com. December 22, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35298372/watchdogs-question-finances-washington-commanders-charity.
  13. Thompson, Trisha. “Analysis of Commanders Charity Raises Questions from Watchdog Groups.” ESPN.com. December 22, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35298372/watchdogs-question-finances-washington-commanders-charity.
  14. Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2021; Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2019; Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2018; Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2017; Thompson, Trisha. “Analysis of Commanders Charity Raises Questions from Watchdog Groups.” ESPN.com. December 22, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35298372/watchdogs-question-finances-washington-commanders-charity.
  15. Thompson, Trisha. “Analysis of Commanders Charity Raises Questions from Watchdog Groups.” ESPN.com. December 22, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35298372/watchdogs-question-finances-washington-commanders-charity.
  16. Thompson, Trisha. “Analysis of Commanders Charity Raises Questions from Watchdog Groups.” ESPN.com. December 22, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35298372/watchdogs-question-finances-washington-commanders-charity.
  17. Thompson, Trisha. “Analysis of Commanders Charity Raises Questions from Watchdog Groups.” ESPN.com. December 22, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35298372/watchdogs-question-finances-washington-commanders-charity.
  18. Thompson, Trisha. “Analysis of Commanders Charity Raises Questions from Watchdog Groups.” ESPN.com. December 22, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35298372/watchdogs-question-finances-washington-commanders-charity.
  19. Thompson, Trisha. “Analysis of Commanders Charity Raises Questions from Watchdog Groups.” ESPN.com. December 22, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35298372/watchdogs-question-finances-washington-commanders-charity.
  20. Thompson, Trisha. “Analysis of Commanders Charity Raises Questions from Watchdog Groups.” ESPN.com. December 22, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35298372/watchdogs-question-finances-washington-commanders-charity.
  21. Thompson, Trisha. “Analysis of Commanders Charity Raises Questions from Watchdog Groups.” ESPN.com. December 22, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35298372/watchdogs-question-finances-washington-commanders-charity.
  22. Thompson, Trisha. “Analysis of Commanders Charity Raises Questions from Watchdog Groups.” ESPN.com. December 22, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35298372/watchdogs-question-finances-washington-commanders-charity
  23. Thompson, Trisha. “Analysis of Commanders Charity Raises Questions from Watchdog Groups.” ESPN.com. December 22, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35298372/watchdogs-question-finances-washington-commanders-charity.
  24. Thompson, Trisha. “Analysis of Commanders Charity Raises Questions from Watchdog Groups.” ESPN.com. December 22, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35298372/watchdogs-question-finances-washington-commanders-charity.
  25. Flack, Eric. “Fan Says Commanders $14,000 Prize Check Bounced.” WUSA9-Washington. October 19, 2022. Accessed December 12, 2023. https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/investigations/washington-commanders-fan-says-teams-14000-dollar-prize-check-bounced/65-02631143-b75a-4e2b-a92a-ad489e901563.
  26. Flack, Eric. “Fan Says Commanders $14,000 Prize Check Bounced.” WUSA9-Washington. October 19, 2022. Accessed December 12, 2023. https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/investigations/washington-commanders-fan-says-teams-14000-dollar-prize-check-bounced/65-02631143-b75a-4e2b-a92a-ad489e901563.
  27. Flack, Eric. “Fan Says Commanders $14,000 Prize Check Bounced.” WUSA9-Washington. October 19, 2022. Accessed December 12, 2023. https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/investigations/washington-commanders-fan-says-teams-14000-dollar-prize-check-bounced/65-02631143-b75a-4e2b-a92a-ad489e901563.
  28.  Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2021.
  29. Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2021.
  30.  Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2020.
  31. “2021 Impact Report.” Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation. 2021. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/v1659621619/redskins/hqwhjalahov4z0urbr2u.pdf; Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2021.
  32. Maske, Mark. “Some NFL Owners Support ‘Tough Suspension,’ Wary of Forcing Snyder Out.” Washington Post. May 24, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/05/24/nfl-owners-daniel-snyder-washington-commanders/.
  33. Bentley-York, Jacob. “Who Is Daniel Snyder’s Wife Tanya?” The Sun. April 13, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.the-sun.com/sport/5113571/who-daniel-snyders-wife-tanya/.
  34. Bentley-York, Jacob. “Who Is Daniel Snyder’s Wife Tanya?” The Sun. April 13, 2022. Accessed January 12, 2023. https://www.the-sun.com/sport/5113571/who-daniel-snyders-wife-tanya/.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: March - February
  • Tax Exemption Received: March 1, 2001

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Mar Form 990 $1,998,508 $1,992,744 $2,140,086 $283,472 N $2,130,448 $0 $0 $107,672 PDF
    2019 Mar Form 990 $3,259,879 $3,348,029 $2,399,115 $548,265 N $3,295,905 $0 $0 $248,808 PDF
    2018 Mar Form 990 $3,209,096 $3,236,028 $2,627,242 $688,242 N $3,182,940 $0 $0 $243,486 PDF
    2017 Mar Form 990 $2,648,783 $2,663,474 $2,254,235 $288,303 N $2,764,093 $0 $0 $205,902
    2016 Mar Form 990 $2,841,193 $2,838,325 $2,027,837 $47,214 N $2,801,801 $0 $0 $194,865
    2015 Mar Form 990 $2,021,623 $1,867,723 $2,326,646 $348,891 N $2,100,350 $0 $0 $158,736 PDF
    2014 Mar Form 990 $2,137,926 $1,599,730 $2,178,086 $354,231 N $2,203,081 $0 $0 $153,503 PDF
    2013 Mar Form 990 $962,652 $1,014,268 $1,637,407 $351,748 N $1,010,337 $0 $0 $141,297 PDF
    2012 Mar Form 990 $1,091,788 $1,341,614 $2,304,451 $967,176 N $1,185,991 $0 $0 $92,177 PDF
    2011 Mar Form 990 $1,289,368 $1,022,673 $1,779,685 $192,584 N $1,289,368 $0 $0 $91,440 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Washington Commanders Charitable Foundation

    21300 Coach Gibbs Drive
    Ashburn, VA 20147-6323