Travis Kelce(Image via Getty Images)
Kelce’s Eighty-Seven and Running Foundation raised more than $1.5 million between 2021 and 2024, yet its reported charity spending was notably lower than that of several other NFL-linked organizations. Eighty-Seven and Running reported about $1.5 million in revenue during the three-year period and roughly $1.1 million in expenses, according to federal tax records examined by The Arizona Republic. About $446,000 was listed under charitable spending, while $469,000 was reported as management costs.
“It appears to function more as an extension of the management company versus as an independent public charity,” said Laurie Styron, the executive director of CharityWatch, an independent charity watchdog group that reviewed the nonprofit’s tax filings for The Arizona Republic. Travis Kelce ’s reputation for giving back is now facing a closer look after an investigation into NFL players’ charitable foundations raised questions about how some donated money was spent.
Eanes said the foundation has since changed its approach, adding that management fees fell sharply in 2024 and reached zero in 2025. Aaron Eanes said the reported figures did not properly classify some operational expenses tied to charitable work.
“Operational costs for charitable efforts were “mistakenly reported under management rather than allocated adequately to program services,” Eanes told The Republic, so the public records do not provide an accurate “indication of where the resources were truly directed. He also said the organization plans to expand its board, bring in nonprofit advisers and improve its reporting practices. Kelce’s team disputes the picture presented by the filings. The scrutiny comes as the NFL continues to highlight charitable work through the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year program. Kelce has been nominated three times and has supported causes in both Kansas City and his hometown of Cleveland.