Washington Nationals Philanthropies

What Washington Nationals Philanthropies does

Washington Nationals Philanthropies is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 2007 as the official philanthropic arm of the Washington Nationals MLB franchise, originally incorporated as the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation and rebranded to its current name in March 2020. It operates exclusively in the Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) market, with a programmatic focus on underserved youth in D.C. Wards 7 and 8 east of the Anacostia River.

The organization's signature asset is the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy (YBA), a nine-acre campus in Fort Dupont Park (Ward 7) that delivers a continuum of programs: BASE after-school academic enrichment for grades 3-8, HUSTLE competitive travel baseball/softball that removes pay-to-play barriers, and YBA PLAY free introductory clinics for ages 5-12. The portfolio is rounded out by Legacy Fields (four renamed/capital-renovated community ballfields across the region since 2016), food-access programs (Field of Greens Market with 4P Foods; Healthy Corner with DC Central Kitchen since 2024), the NATS4GOOD Community Response Fund for emergency relief, volunteer and mentorship programs (635 matched mentors, 1,800+ volunteers), and the Washington Nationals Diabetes Care Complex at Children's National Hospital.

Nationals Philanthropies does not sell a technology product; its underlying "platform" is the combination of MLB brand affiliation, access to Nationals Park's 81 home-game calendar, and the physical YBA campus. Revenue mechanics are diversified across in-ballpark fundraising (5050 Raffle, Scoreboard Messages, Jerseys Off Their Backs, License Plates), donor programs (Champions Circle multi-year pledges at $2,019/$5,000/$10,000 tiers), signature events (Homecoming Gala ~$1M annually, Mushball Classic, Turkeypalooza), corporate presenting sponsorships (Nike, BetMGM, KPMG, Lerner Family Foundation), direct donations, and foundation grants. Since 2006 the organization reports $45M+ invested in the community, $7M+ in grantmaking, 1M+ meals delivered, 7K+ youth participants, and recognition as the 2024 Allan H. Selig Award recipient for philanthropic excellence.

Name

Washington Nationals Philanthropies

Legal name

Washington Nationals Philanthropies

Website

https://nats4good.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Washington Nationals Philanthropies is the 501(c)(3) charitable arm of the Washington Nationals MLB franchise, operating the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy and complementary programs to deliver youth development, food access, and community investment across the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Youth Development and Community Philanthropy

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA), Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE), Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs) (MPAKAFAF)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Community philanthropy
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Youth baseball academy
• Community grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. 5050 Raffle: Fans purchase raffle tickets at Nationals Park home games for a chance to win cash prizes. Half of proceeds benefit Nationals Philanthropies community programs. Since 2017, has raised $4.5M for the organization.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Direct donations from individuals, fans, and supporters to support community impact work and youth development programming.
3. Champions Circle Membership: Multi-year pledges and annual gifts at three tiers ($2,019, $5,000, $10,000 annually) with benefits including event access, suite nights, and board engagement.
4. Scoreboard Messages: Fans purchase scrolling scoreboard messages during home games. Standard messages and full-screen marriage proposals available at various price points.
5. License Plates: Custom Nationals license plates sold in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Proceeds support community enhancement work.
6. Jerseys Off Their Backs: Raffle program where fans can win jerseys worn by Nationals players during the final home game of the season.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Washington Nationals Philanthropies is the official 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the Washington Nationals MLB franchise. It runs youth development and education programs centered on the 9-acre Nationals Youth Baseball Academy in southeast Washington, D.C., issues community grants to local nonprofits across the DMV, and operates fundraising programs (5050 raffle, scoreboard messages, Champions Circle giving society, District plate specialty license plates). Since 2013, it has invested more than $42 million in the Washington, D.C. region.

Product overview

Washington Nationals Philanthropies operates as a unified charitable platform offering multiple interconnected programs under its umbrella. The signature program is the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy (YBA), a nine-acre campus providing holistic youth development through baseball and softball with three integrated sub-programs: BASE After-School Program for academic enrichment (grades 3-8), HUSTLE for competitive travel teams, and YBA PLAY for free introductory clinics (ages 5-12). Supporting programs include Capital Projects (Legacy Fields and Diabetes Care Complex), Community Grants, Player Philanthropy, and Food Access programs (Field of Greens Market and Healthy Corner). Fundraising vehicles include the 5050 Raffle, Champions Circle donor program, Scoreboard Messages, License Plates, and events (Nationals Homecoming Gala, Mushball Classic, Turkeypalooza). The portfolio also includes volunteer/mentorship programs and the NATS4GOOD Community Response Fund for emergency relief.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nationals Youth Baseball Academy: The signature program of Nationals Philanthropies - a nine-acre campus in Ward 7 offering holistic youth development programs, baseball/softball instruction, academic enrichment, and community engagement for underserved youth in D.C.
• Legacy Fields
• NATS4GOOD Community Response Fund

Products and services

• Nationals Youth Baseball Academy (YBA)

Quantifiable outcome

• Served over 6,000 youth participants since 2013
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• DC Central KitchencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 June 2024Over a decade-long partnership providing meals to Academy participants. Expanded in 2024 with the 'Healthy Corner' program - a Healthy Corners location at the Academy providing affordable fresh produce to the community.
• Peace For DCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023D.C. sports teams pledged $100,000 to Peace For DC for community violence intervention programs as part of Wear Orange Weekend.
• BetMGMsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 November 2022Presenting sponsor of Turkeypalooza, the annual Thanksgiving meal distribution event delivering thousands of meals to the community.
• NikecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2022First-ever presenting sponsor of YBA PLAY providing direct financial support for program operations, equipment, and apparel for summer league uniforms.
• Children's National HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2007Lead gift of $1.25M cash and $750K in assets for the Washington Nationals Diabetes Care Complex - the largest pediatric diabetes program in the Mid-Atlantic region.
• 4P FoodscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding foodservice partner operating the only year-round farmers market in Ward 7 at the Academy. Partnered with Nationals Philanthropies to expand food access during COVID-19 through the NATS4GOOD Community Response Fund.
• Fight For ChildrensupportingOthersFunder supporting YBA PLAY grassroots clinics and youth baseball programming.
• Joseph E. Robert, Jr. Charitable TrustsupportingOthersFunder supporting YBA PLAY grassroots clinics and youth baseball programming.
• Seeber FamilysupportingOthersFunder supporting YBA PLAY grassroots clinics and youth baseball programming.
• KIPP DCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Ferebee-Hope redevelopment project bringing new education and recreation facilities including Max Scherzer Field to the Ward 8 community.
• The Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of the Power of Baseball Award at the annual Homecoming Gala, the organization's signature fundraising event.
• KPMGsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of the 2024 Nationals Homecoming Gala.
• Capital Area Food BanksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood access partner providing opportunities for volunteers to support equitable food access in the region.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Players for the Planet: Athlete-driven nonprofit aggregating player philanthropy across multiple sports — comparable in mobilizing player ambassadors for charitable causes similar to the Nationals Player Philanthropy program.

Others

• DC Central Kitchen: D.C.-based nonprofit addressing food insecurity through healthy food access — direct strategic partner to Nationals Philanthropies and comparable community food access operator in the same geography.
• Capital Area Food Bank: Regional food bank serving the D.C. metro area — partner of Nationals Philanthropies and adjacent peer in DMV food access programming like Turkeypalooza.

Broad incumbents

• MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation: League-level foundation supporting youth baseball and softball programs across all MLB markets — provides comparable funding/grants context for Nationals Philanthropies' youth baseball programs.

Direct peers

• Boston Red Sox Foundation: Official charity of the Boston Red Sox, focused on youth education, health, and community grants with signature youth baseball programs — closely parallels the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy model.
• St. Louis Cardinals Community Fund: Official charity of the St. Louis Cardinals supporting youth baseball/softball and community grants — comparable MLB team foundation operating in a single metro region.
• Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation: Official charity of the Los Angeles Dodgers running Dodgers Dreamfield capital projects and youth development programs in underserved communities — directly mirrors the Legacy Fields and Academy model.
• New York Yankees Foundation: Official charitable arm of the New York Yankees MLB franchise, operating youth development, community grants, and ballpark-based fundraising — directly comparable MLB team foundation model to Washington Nationals Philanthropies.
• San Francisco Giants Community Fund: Official charity of the SF Giants operating Junior Giants youth baseball program and community grants — directly comparable youth baseball and community investment model.
• Chicago Cubs Charity: Official charitable arm of the Chicago Cubs running youth baseball academies (e.g., Cubs Nation) and community grants — directly comparable in MLB-affiliated youth baseball and community impact focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Nats4Good
• Facebookfacebook.com/nats4good
• Instagraminstagram.com/nats4good

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Washington Nationals Philanthropies