Tom Brady (Getty Images)
Tom Brady built a reputation as one of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks, but his charitable work also attracted attention for an unexpected reason in 2017. A 2017 investigation by The Boston Globe , reported by Bob Hohler, brought attention to the financial relationship between Brady’s Change the World charity and Best Buddies, an organisation founded by Anthony Shriver to improve the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Sports Illustrated legal analyst Michael McCann examined the arrangement in June 2017. Between approximately 2005 and 2015, Best Buddies provided nearly $2.3 million to Change the World, accounting for around 80% of the charity’s funding. However, when Brady’s initial contribution of $490,000 was excluded, the figure climbed to approximately 98%. Best Buddies also gave Change the World $500,000 in 2015, making it the largest donation recorded in that financial year. Its second-largest contribution was $200,000 to the Kevin Spacey Foundation.
An investigation into his nonprofit, Change the World, revealed that another organisation, Best Buddies, supplied almost all its funding. The arrangement was legal, but it raised questions about how Brady’s charitable activities were financed and whether his work for one organisation was linked to donations made to his own foundation. His analysis highlighted a striking figure. The donations were publicly disclosed through nonprofit tax filings. The arrangement prompted questions about whether Brady’s fundraising work for Best Buddies was indirectly benefiting his own charitable interests. Rather than receiving personal compensation, the quarterback’s charity received substantial financial support from the organisation. McCann pointed out that donations between nonprofit organisations are legal and relatively common. He also noted that Brady did not take a salary from Change the World. However, the financial connection created an uncomfortable impression. Critics could question whether Brady’s involvement with Best Buddies was entirely voluntary or whether its donations helped maintain his participation.
Its 2015 tax filing listed donations to Brady’s former school, Junípero Serra High School, and the University of Michigan, where he played college football. Best Buddies credited Brady with helping raise $46.5 million since 2001. Ultimately, the 2017 debate was not simply about where Brady’s charity received its money.
McCann explained that Brady could have avoided the controversy by volunteering without accepting donations for his own foundation. Best Buddies could also have paid him directly for his fundraising and promotional work, although that would have created a different set of questions about charity expenses. Another point of discussion involved the organisations receiving money from Change the World. Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines Other recipients included Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Foundation Rwanda. Despite the concerns, McCann argued that the arrangement had delivered meaningful benefits. His involvement brought attention and funding to people who needed support. It was about transparency, public trust and whether a complicated financial arrangement could still produce a positive outcome. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.