named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Ante Up for a Cause
Online fundraising poker series featuring former Major Leaguers and media personalities, launched during the pandemic to support local causes including schools and ACLU-Minnesota
Cooking for a Cause
Culinary fundraising event held at the Culinary Institute of America at Copia in Napa, CA, combining fine dining, wine, and baseball stories to raise funds
Environmental Sustainability Support
Funds eco-friendly initiatives through a grant to Players for the Planet, an organization uniting athletes to promote environmental stewardship
Grants to Other Foundations
Provides financial support to other athlete-led nonprofits, including $10,000 to the Shane Victorino Foundation and a $12,500 grant in 2026
STEM Grant Program
Provides funding to support science, technology, engineering, and math education in public schools, such as a grant to New Tech Collinwood High School in Cleveland
Social Justice Initiatives
Programs promoting community-police relations, such as a youth clinic in Encino, CA that included LAPD officers in coaching and dialogue with youth
Youth Baseball Clinics
Free baseball clinics for underserved youth held in cities across the U.S., including Cleveland, Dallas, Austin, and Gary, IN, often in partnership with local organizations and former Major Leaguers
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Culinary Workforce Training Programs 1 activity
- Culinary and educational programmingHosted specialized events such as a culinary boot camp at the Culinary Institute of America at Copia in Napa, CA, and supported STEM education through event proceeds and private tours of cultural institutions like the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City.
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Charity Event Organization 1 activity
- Fundraising eventsHosts annual fundraising events including poker and golf tournaments in cities such as Cleveland, Las Vegas, and Napa to support charitable programs. These events have drawn over 135 attendees and raised over $330,000 in 2026 alone.
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Teacher & Classroom Innovation Grants 1 activity
- Grantmaking to support STEM educationFunds STEM programs at public high schools, including New Tech Collinwood High School and Cleveland Metropolitan School District, through grants awarded from fundraising proceeds.
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Charitable Grantmaking to Specific Causes 1 activity
- Grantmaking to support athlete-led charitable initiativesProvides financial grants to charitable foundations led by former professional athletes, including multiple grants to the Shane Victorino Foundation and a grant to Players for the Planet to support environmental sustainability programs.
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Community Capacity Building & Leadership Networks 1 activity
- Network building for athlete and philanthropist collaborationConnects former professional athletes and charitable individuals to exchange ideas, share resources, volunteer, and co-develop programming that advances social change.
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Youth Sports Community Events 1 activity
- Youth sports clinicsOrganizes free youth baseball and softball clinics across multiple U.S. communities, engaging local youth through sports and dialogue with participation from former professional athletes and local law enforcement. Events have been held in Cleveland, Encino (CA), Dallas (TX), Austin (TX), Gary (IN), Fort Myers (FL), Hawaii, and other locations.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$559K
Contributions & grants$519K93%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$29K5%
Other revenue$11K
expenses
Total expenses$308K
Program expenses58%
Admin / overhead23%
Fundraising19%
Salaries & benefits$228K
Grants paid out$46K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.08M
Cash$978K
Investments$0
Liabilities$31K
Net assets$1.05M
Liquid reserves38.1 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +8.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MELISSA PERSAUD | ED/TREASURER | 40 | $180K |
board members · 10
- BENJAMIN POSEN — CHARIMAN OF
- BRENDAN MILLER — DIRECTOR
- GEORGE KENNETH GRIFFEY JR — DIRECTOR
- JOSEPH ROSEN — BOARD MEMBER
- KENNY LOFTON — DIRECTOR
- LATROY HAWKINS — DIRECTOR
- MICHAEL BUCKIUS — DIRECTOR
- ROBERT ANDREW STUBBS — DIRECTOR
- STEPHEN SOLAKA — DIRECTOR
- TORII HUNTER — DIRECTOR
relationships · 20
Who they work with
- ACLU-Minnesota Partner — Recipient of funds raised through SGGF's Ante Up for a Cause online events.
- Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation Partner — Collaborated with SGGF on organizing a youth clinic in Cleveland.
- Cleveland Guardians Partner — Partnered with SGGF to organize a youth baseball clinic in Cleveland.
- Cleveland Metropolitan School District Partner — Received funding from Still Got Game Foundation to support STEM education programs.
- Cleveland Metropolitan School District Partner — Received funding from Still Got Game Foundation to support STEM programs at Collinwood New Tech High School.
- Cleveland Metropolitan School District Partner — Recipient of funds raised through SGGF's Ante Up for a Cause online events.
- Cliffwater, LLC Partner — Sponsored the Foundation's annual fundraising poker and golf tournaments for the fifth consecutive year.
- Culinary Institute of America at Copia Partner — Hosted Still Got Game Foundation’s culinary boot camp in Napa, CA.
- JACK Cleveland Casino Partner — Venue partner for Still Got Game Foundation’s 2019 fundraising poker event.
- Keystone National Group Partner — Longtime supporter whose representatives participated in the Foundation's golf tournament.
- Los Angeles Police Department Partner — Collaborated with Still Got Game Foundation to co-facilitate a youth baseball clinic in Encino, CA.
- Major League Baseball Players Trust Partner — Former Executive Director Melissa Persaud previously served as director of the Major League Baseball Players Trust, indicating a professional affiliation.
- Monument Square Partner — Representative Ben Poirier participated in the Foundation's golf tournament.
- Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Partner — Provided a private museum tour for SGGF-hosted youth and families in Kansas City.
- New Tech Collinwood High School Partner — Received funding from Still Got Game Foundation to support STEM education programs.
- New Tech Collinwood High School Partner — Recipient of a STEM grant from Still Got Game Foundation
- Players for the Planet Partner — Receives grant funding from Still Got Game Foundation to support environmental sustainability programs.
- Shane Victorino Foundation Partner — Co-hosted a youth baseball clinic in Hawaii and received a $12,500 grant from Still Got Game Foundation.
- Shane Victorino Foundation Partner — Received a $10,000 grant from SGGF.
- Shane Victorino Foundation Partner — Recipient of a $10,000 grant from Still Got Game Foundation to support youth programs.
strategies · 2
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Athlete-Engaged Philanthropy for Social Changemethodology: athlete-engaged_philanthropyBy engaging former professional athletes and philanthropists as co-creators and contributors in programming, the organization produces social change because their shared influence, resources, and lived experience amplify community impact and model sustained service.
- Sports-Based Community Engagementmethodology: sports-based_community_engagementBy using youth sports clinics and athletic programming as a platform, the organization fosters positive relationships between youth and law enforcement and builds community trust because shared athletic experiences create neutral, constructive spaces for interaction.