The College Football Playoff Foundation

Name

The College Football Playoff Foundation

Legal name

College Football Playoff Foundation

Website

https://cfp-foundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The College Football Playoff Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that, through its Extra Yard for Teachers platform, channels corporate, conference, and bowl-game sponsorships into classroom resources, recognition events, professional development, and recruitment support for PK-12 teachers nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Nonprofit Foundation

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Athletics Fundraising, Sponsorships & NIL Support (EDALAIAN), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC), Fundraising & Annual Giving (EDALAOAB), Scholarships, Grants & Education Benefits Administration (Financing-adjacent) (FSAKAEAM)

Keywords

• Teacher support programs
• Education foundation grants
• K-12 educator resources
• Nonprofit teacher recognition
• Classroom makeover programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Irving

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: The foundation receives significant contributions from corporate partners including ESPN, Eckrich, Dr Pepper, Cheez-It, School Specialty, AT&T, Nike, and others. These partnerships fund Extra Yard for Teachers programs, classroom makeovers, grants, and teacher recognition initiatives. Investment amounts vary by partner, with some multi-year commitments exceeding $300,000.
2. Conference and Bowl Game Legacy Programs: Host cities and bowl games contribute funds as part of hosting agreements, which the foundation matches and directs toward local teacher support. This creates a predictable revenue stream tied to championship locations, with amounts such as $1.5M from LVCVA for Las Vegas 2027 championship.
3. Donations: Individual and organizational donations support the foundation's programs. The website features a donation portal for public contributions. DonorsChoose gift cards and classroom project funding are distributed through this mechanism.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The College Football Playoff Foundation operates the Extra Yard for Teachers platform, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit initiative that supports PK-12 educators across the United States through resources, recognition, professional development, and recruitment and retention programs. The foundation delivers classroom grants via DonorsChoose, $50,000 school makeovers, teacher recognition events tied to college football championships, tuition assistance for student-athletes pursuing teaching careers, and free event tickets to teachers, all funded by corporate sponsorships, conference and bowl game legacy investments, and donations.

Product overview

The College Football Playoff Foundation operates as a nonprofit organization focused on PK-12 education support through its primary platform, Extra Yard for Teachers (EYFT). The organization delivers a portfolio of programs including teacher recognition initiatives (Great Teacher Nomination, Eckrich Teacher of the Year Experience), annual celebration events (Extra Yard for Teachers Week, Extra Yard for Teachers Summit, Big Day for Teachers), classroom enrichment programs (Extra Yard Makeover, Touchdowns for Teachers), teacher recruitment efforts (Go Teach Program), and access initiatives (Tickets for Teachers). Regional variants like Miami Loves Teachers and the Georgia Teachers Initiative extend the core platform into specific markets. The foundation also produces educational resources including a Digital Literacy Playbook and Remote Learning Resources. The offerings are coordinated through partnerships with educational organizations, bowl games, conferences, and corporate sponsors, rather than a traditional software platform architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Extra Yard for Teachers (EYFT) The primary platform of the CFP Foundation dedicated to elevating the teaching profession by inspiring and empowering teachers through four core areas: resources, recognition, professional development, and recruitment and retention. It serves as the umbrella for all foundation programs serving PK-12 teachers nationwide.
• Great Teacher Nomination Program An online nomination system allowing students, families, colleagues, and community members to recognize outstanding PK-12 teachers, with selected teachers receiving $50 DonorsChoose gift cards and being featured on social media.
• Extra Yard Makeover A program transforming learning spaces in schools; partner School Specialty provides classroom makeovers valued at $50,000 or more, including library and media room renovations.
• Touchdowns for Teachers A program during bowl season where the CFP Foundation and ESPN team up to support teachers and coaches nationwide through school resources and sports access, combining college football's largest stage with educator support.
• Go Teach Program An initiative investing in the next generation of educators by supporting 'Grow Your Own' teacher pipeline programs, including the Go Teach Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway for student-athletes pursuing teaching careers; over 100 student-athletes have been awarded tuition assistance to become educators.
• Eckrich Teacher of the Year Experience A signature program developed in collaboration with the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) to recognize the nation's leading educators on the largest stage in college football.
• Tickets for Teachers A program providing educators with free and discounted live event tickets to music, theater, sports, and comedy events, developed in partnership with Tickets for Good.
• Extra Yard for Teachers Summit A signature in-person event bringing educators together for inspiration, celebration, and appreciation, featuring live performances, educational speakers, and special guests; includes professional development, giveaways, and networking.
• Extra Yard for Teachers Week An annual nationwide celebration (typically September) rallying the college football community around celebrating PK-12 teachers with resources, recognition, and celebrations across all FBS conferences.
• Extra Yard 5K A family-friendly 3.1-mile run held during national championship weekend to support Extra Yard for Teachers, including the six-week Classroom to 5K training program that integrates with the Nike+ Running App.
• Miami Loves Teachers A comprehensive regional initiative in partnership with The Education Fund, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and the 2026 Miami Host Committee to support more than 18,000 educators across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.
• Georgia Teachers Initiative A statewide initiative investing $1.5M to support students and educators across Georgia through resources, professional development, and enhanced classroom technology; co-founded with the Georgia Foundation for Public Education and Atlanta Football Host Committee.

Quantifiable outcome

• $104 million invested in education support; 756,000 teachers supported; 14 million students reached; 96,000 schools benefited

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Cheez-ItmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 March 2025Cheez-It partnership with Extra Yard for Teachers has increased to $300,000 donation for 2025-26 season, up from $250,000 previous year. Partnership supports teacher recognition and classroom resources.
• Cotton Bowl FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2024More than decade-long partnership awarding $200,000 to four North Texas educational organizations during 2024 Extra Yard Week. Organizations include Catch Up & Read, The Educator Collective, Principal Impact Collaborative at UNT Dallas, and United to Learn.
• ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2024Multi-year partnership supporting Extra Yard for Teachers Week, Big Day for Teachers, and grant distribution. Over $1.2 million given to support teachers in ACC footprint. ACC conducts $50,000 Extra Yard makeovers in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools.
• EckrichcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016Eckrich, the official Smoked Sausage and Deli Meat Sponsor of the College Football Playoff, has partnered for 8+ consecutive years. Partnership supports Extra Yard for Teachers and Teacher of the Year Championship Experience, with Eckrich providing significant funding and promotional support during championship events.
• Dr PeppercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2015Go Teach program partnership supporting student-athletes pursuing teaching careers through tuition assistance. Dr Pepper has invested over $2 million in the program, awarding over 100 student-athletes with tuition assistance to become educators.
• ESPNcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Long-standing partnership since 2014, with ESPN investing over $2 million in Extra Yard for Teachers. ESPN provides media exposure through College GameDay, game broadcasts, and network coverage during Extra Yard for Teachers Week and championship events. Partnership includes Touchdowns for Teachers program investing over $4 million in school resources.
• School SpecialtymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Extra Yard Makeovers, transforming learning spaces in schools. School Specialty has celebrated 100th makeover reveal in partnership with the foundation. Donations include classroom furniture and supplies, with nearly $100K donations to individual schools.
• DonorsChoosecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary platform for distributing classroom resource grants to teachers. Gift cards are provided to nominated teachers and through various foundation programs to fund classroom projects and supplies.
• All FBS Conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC, American, C-USA, MAC, Mountain West, Sun Belt)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll 10 FBS conference commissioners serve on the Board of Directors. Conferences execute Extra Yard for Teachers programs during their games and throughout the football season, distributing grants and celebrating teachers.
• Bowl Games (Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and others)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple bowl games partner with the foundation for Big Day for Teachers celebrations and legacy programs. Bowl games host teacher recognition events and contribute funding to local educational initiatives.
• Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with CCSSO to develop and execute the Teacher of the Year Championship Experience, recognizing the nation's leading educators on the largest stage in college football.
• NFL FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint initiative to auction Lee Corso's mascot headgear with proceeds supporting CFP Foundation's mission to recognize PK-12 educators.
• Tickets for GoodmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide free and discounted live event tickets to verified teachers nationwide through the Tickets for Teachers program. Originally launched in Georgia through the Georgia Teachers Initiative, now expanded nationally.
• AT&TminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Extra Yard for Teachers programs and initiatives.
• NikeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing support for Extra Yard 5K and other foundation programs.
• Comcast BusinessminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership through Georgia Teachers Initiative providing teacher events including kick-off brunches and Braves game outings. Comcast Business is connectivity provider for majority of school systems in Georgia.
• Georgia Foundation for Public EducationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder of Georgia Teachers Initiative alongside CFP Foundation and Atlanta Football Host Committee, investing $1.5M in teacher resources, professional development, and classroom technology.
• LVCVA (Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost committee partner for 2027 CFP National Championship, donating $1.5 million to support Clark County School District teachers. CFP Foundation matches to create $3 million total investment focused on teacher retention.
• Teach for AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting teacher recruitment and recognition. CFP Foundation has provided awards to Teach for America Texas teachers demonstrating exceptional dedication to students.
• Orange Bowl CommitteemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership spanning 10+ years executing Miami Loves Teachers initiative across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.

Scale indicators21 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• USTA Foundation: National tennis association's charitable arm funding youth education and life-skills programming through a national sports league platform; closely comparable structure.
• NASCAR Foundation: Philanthropic arm of NASCAR supporting education and youth initiatives; parallel model converting a professional sports brand into education grantmaking.
• PGA of America REACH Foundation: Charitable arm of the PGA of America using golf's tournament infrastructure to fund youth and education programs; same sports-ecosystem-to-education-channel play.
• NBA Foundation: League-affiliated foundation of the NBA focused on economic empowerment, youth development, and education; operates the same sports-league-plus-education-philanthropy hybrid model.
• NFL Foundation: League-affiliated philanthropic arm of the National Football League supporting youth and education, with an explicitly similar model of converting the league's largest stages into community impact and education funding.
• MLB Players Trust: Charitable arm of Major League Baseball players supporting youth education and community programs; comparable as a sports-affiliated grantmaking entity with education emphasis.

Regional players

• USA Football Foundation: National governing body for amateur football in the U.S., funding youth football development and education; adjacent football-ecosystem philanthropy overlap with CFP Foundation.

Broad incumbents

• Ad Council Education Campaigns: Producer of large-scale public education campaigns (historically including teacher recognition PSAs); broader incumbent in education-awareness funding with massive reach but less sport-specific.
• National Education Association Foundation: Established education-focused grantmaking foundation affiliated with the NEA, funding teacher innovation and recognition; larger, more established education-grantmaking incumbent with similar teacher-beneficiary mission.

Emerging players

• DonorsChoose: National classroom crowdfunding platform and a strategic distribution partner of the CFP Foundation; comparable as an education grantmaking/donor flow intermediary serving the same teacher beneficiary base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CFPExtraYard
• Facebookfacebook.com/cfpextrayard
• Instagraminstagram.com/cfpextrayard

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 The College Football Playoff Foundation