The Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Trophy Trust is a private non-profit that has awarded the Heisman Memorial Trophy annually since 1935 to the most outstanding college football player, running the ESPN-broadcast ceremony, managing voting records, and funding youth development through sports via the Heisman Trophy Fund for Youth Development.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1935
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Heisman Trophy does
The Heisman Trophy Trust is a private non-profit organization that has administered the Heisman Memorial Trophy — the most prestigious annual award in U.S. college football — since 1935. The Trust operates an event-driven model centered on the annual Heisman Trophy Weekend in New York City, where the winner is announced at a ceremony broadcast on ESPN. Voting is conducted via electronic ballots distributed to approximately 870 media members and 58 living former Heisman winners across six regions (Northeast, Southwest, South, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Far West), with ballots tabulated by Deloitte & Touche LLP as an independent third party. The product surface is narrow but high-prestige: the annual trophy, a year-round website (heisman.com) hosting historical voting records, statistics, trivia, and winner profiles, the monthly Heisman Trophy Podcast, and the Heisman Central micro-site for in-season coverage. The Trust's extended offerings include the Heisman Trophy Fund for Youth Development (established with the New York Community Trust), high school scholarships, the Heisman Humanitarians program, and partnerships with charities such as Desire Street Ministries, supporting over 300 charitable organizations focused on youth development through sports. The organization is governed by a board of trustees, funded through corporate sponsorships (notably Nissan, which sponsors the Heisman House tour, plus ESPN, Jostens, and Axia Time), grants, and charitable contributions. In May 2026, the Heisman Foundation committed its largest single grant in history as founding partner of the Aspen Institute Captains Leadership Academy, with pilots launching in 2026 and national expansion planned for 2027.
The Heisman Trophy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Heisman Trophy
- Legal name
- Heisman Trophy Trust
- Website
- https://heisman.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1935
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Heisman Trophy Trust is a private non-profit that has awarded the Heisman Memorial Trophy annually since 1935 to the most outstanding college football player, running the ESPN-broadcast ceremony, managing voting records, and funding youth development through sports via the Heisman Trophy Fund for Youth Development.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Heisman Trophy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sports Awards & Recognition
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- National Collegiate Governing Bodies (e.g., NCAA/NAIA/NJCAA/USCAA) (MPAKACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Fundraising & Annual Giving (EDALAOAB)
Keywords
Where The Heisman Trophy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Heisman Trophy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Charitable Funding & Grants: The Heisman Trophy Trust funds charitable organizations through grants, including the Heisman Trophy Fund for Youth Development established with New York Community Trust. The Heisman Foundation serves as a founding partner for initiatives like the Aspen Institute Captains Leadership Academy through significant grants supporting youth development through sports and education.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Heisman Trophy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Heisman Trophy Trust administers the Heisman Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the most outstanding college football player in NCAA Division I FBS. The organization also runs related programming including the Heisman Trophy Weekend ceremony, the Heisman Trophy Podcast, the Heisman Humanitarians recognition program, High School Scholarships, and the Heisman Trophy Fund for Youth Development supporting over 300 charitable organizations.
Product overview
The Heisman Trophy is a single unified product — the most prestigious award in college football, presented annually by the Heisman Trophy Trust to the most outstanding player. The organization operates related programs including the Heisman Trophy Podcast (monthly episodes with interviews), the Heisman Trust charitable arm (overseeing youth development funds and high school scholarships), Heisman Trophy Weekend events (annual ceremony and Legends Brunch), and digital content offerings including voting records, trivia, and statistical archives. The core Heisman Trophy award is complemented by the Heisman Humanitarians program recognizing winners' community service.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Heisman Memorial Trophy
- Heisman Trophy Weekend
Companies that use The Heisman Trophy
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Heisman Trophy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Heisman Trophy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Aspen InstituteflagshipThe Heisman Trophy organization and the Aspen Institute announced a new national initiative, the Aspen Institute Captains Leadership Academy, designed to develop high school team captains into civic leaders. The Heisman Foundation is serving as founding partner through the largest single grant in its history supporting youth development through sports and education.
- New York Community TrustcoreThe Heisman Trophy Trust established the Heisman Trophy Fund for Youth Development with New York Community Trust, established in 1924. The Fund supports NYC charitable organizations that use sports to engage underprivileged young people ages 8 to 18 in educational activities.
- ESPNcoreESPN broadcasts the Heisman Trophy ceremony and related events, including the finalists announcement show and annual ceremony coverage from Manhattan.
- NissancoreNissan is the sponsor of the Heisman House tour, an interactive experience that travels to various locations allowing fans to engage with Heisman winners and learn about the award. Nissan also sponsors related events and content.
- Deloitte & Touche LLPcoreThe accounting firm Deloitte & Touche LLP tabulates the Heisman votes as an independent third party, ensuring the integrity of the voting process.
- JostensminorJostens manufactures the Heisman Trophy, the physical award presented annually to the winner.
- Axia TimeminorAxia Time is listed as a sponsor on the Heisman website, providing timekeeping and related services.
- Desire Street MinistriescoreLed by 1996 Heisman winner Danny Wuerffel, Desire Street Ministries works to restore impoverished urban neighborhoods. The Heisman Trophy Trust supports this charity which focuses on bolstering leaders in urban communities.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Heisman Trophy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Walter Camp Football Foundation: The Walter Camp Football Foundation awards the Walter Camp Player of the Year annually — the oldest collegiate football award, directly comparable to the Heisman in mission, voting structure, and recognition status.
- Chuck Bednarik Award: The Chuck Bednarik Award recognizes the college defensive player of the year through a similar media-vote and ceremony structure, directly comparable to the Heisman Trophy in format and audience.
- Outland Trophy: The Outland Trophy honors the best interior lineman in college football annually through a similar media-vote and ceremony model, making it a direct structural peer to the Heisman Trophy Trust.
- Maxwell Football Club: The Maxwell Football Club presents the Maxwell Award to the college player of the year, operating a near-identical annual award model with media voting and a ceremony — directly comparable to Heisman.
- College Football Hall of Fame: Operated by the National Football Foundation, the College Football Hall of Fame celebrates college football excellence with induction ceremonies, archives, and educational programming — a direct peer in collegiate football recognition and storytelling.
- Doak Walker Award: The Doak Walker Award recognizes the nation's premier college running back annually via a media vote, mirroring the Heisman's structure for a position-specific award with similar ceremony and voting mechanics.
- National Football Foundation: The NFF runs the College Football Hall of Fame and multiple awards (MacArthur Bowl, NFF Scholar-Athlete), operating an annual collegiate football awards portfolio directly comparable to the Heisman Trophy Trust's model.
- Davey O'Brien Foundation: The Davey O'Brien Foundation administers the Davey O'Brien Award for the nation's best college quarterback, following the same award-and-charity model as the Heisman Trophy Trust.
Broad incumbents
- ESPN ESPY Awards: The ESPYs are ESPN's flagship multi-sport awards show — a broader incumbent that competes for sports-award media attention and sponsorship dollars across all sports, including college football.
- NCAA: The NCAA is the national governing body for collegiate athletics and runs championship events tied to the same players and audiences the Heisman Trophy Trust engages — a broad incumbent in the collegiate sports ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Heisman Trophy social profiles
Digital presenceThe Heisman Trophy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Heisman Trophy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
The Heisman Trophy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Heisman Trophy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Heisman Trophy
What does The Heisman Trophy do?
The Heisman Trophy Trust administers the Heisman Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the most outstanding college football player in NCAA Division I FBS. The organization also runs related programming including the Heisman Trophy Weekend ceremony, the Heisman Trophy Podcast, the Heisman Humanitarians recognition program, High School Scholarships, and the Heisman Trophy Fund for Youth Development supporting over 300 charitable organizations.
Is The Heisman Trophy a public or private company?
The Heisman Trophy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Heisman Trophy founded?
The Heisman Trophy was founded in 1935. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Heisman Trophy based?
The Heisman Trophy is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Heisman Trophy make money?
One revenue line is on record: charitable Funding & Grants.
Who are The Heisman Trophy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Walter Camp Football Foundation, Chuck Bednarik Award, Outland Trophy, Maxwell Football Club, College Football Hall of Fame, Doak Walker Award, National Football Foundation and Davey O'Brien Foundation. Broad incumbents are ESPN ESPY Awards and NCAA.
Does The Heisman Trophy have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Heisman Trophy.
What industry is The Heisman Trophy in?
The Heisman Trophy's product category is Sports Awards & Recognition. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKACAC, National Collegiate Governing Bodies (e.g., NCAA/NAIA/NJCAA/USCAA), with a secondary code of EDALAOAB, Fundraising & Annual Giving. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 7997.