Tom Brady built one of the most decorated careers in NFL history, but his influence has extended far beyond football. Long before his retirement, Brady became closely linked with Best Buddies, a nonprofit focused on creating opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. What began with his involvement as a volunteer grew into a two-decade partnership. By 2023, Best Buddies said Brady had helped the organisation raise more than $100 million, marking a remarkable chapter in his life away from the field.
Tom Brady’s $490,000 start with Change the World
Brady’s charitable story has an interesting starting point. In 2005, he established the Change the World Foundation and initially funded it with a $490,000 donation of his own money, according to reporting by The Washington Post based on Boston Globe research. The foundation later supported a range of causes and organisations connected to Brady’s interests.His relationship with Best Buddies had already become important by then. Brady first became involved with the organisation as a volunteer in 2003. Over the years, his role expanded well beyond simply lending his name to an event.Best Buddies says its mission centres on creating one-to-one friendships, employment opportunities, leadership development and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Brady became one of its most recognisable ambassadors, helping bring attention to that work through his enormous public profile.The relationship also developed into a significant fundraising partnership. In 2017, Best Buddies said that its 15-year partnership with Brady had helped it raise $46.5 million. The organisation also credited Brady with helping increase awareness of its mission and reach more supporters.That figure provides an important snapshot of how much the partnership had grown. Brady was not simply attending charity events. He was using the visibility that came with being an NFL superstar to bring supporters, sponsors and donors into the organisation’s orbit.
How Tom Brady helped Best Buddies reach $100 million
The scale of Brady’s involvement became even clearer several years later.In November 2023, Best Buddies honoured Brady with its Spirit of Leadership Award at its 25th Annual Best Buddies Gala in Miami. The organisation said Brady had served as a Global Ambassador for more than two decades and had helped raise more than $100 million for its work supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.That $100 million figure needs some context. It does not mean Brady personally donated $100 million. Best Buddies attributes the fundraising total to his efforts and involvement with the organisation. His contribution included appearances, fundraising events, memorabilia, personal outreach and connections with sponsors and supporters.That distinction matters when looking at the financial side of Brady’s philanthropy. His value to Best Buddies has largely come from his ability to attract attention and participation rather than simply writing enormous personal cheques.The organisation has described Brady as an advocate, friend and dedicated supporter. He has travelled for events, hosted gatherings and continued helping the charity connect with people in his wider network.His involvement also included fundraising challenges where fans and participants could directly contribute. In 2017, for example, Brady served as honorary co-chair of the Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port. The event raised a record $6 million overall, while a football toss and auctions involving Brady raised $118,800 during the surrounding festivities. Team Tom Brady itself raised more than $721,000 that year.Those events show how his celebrity status became a fundraising tool. A football appearance could bring supporters through the door. A signed item could generate an auction bid. His presence could turn an ordinary charity gathering into a major event.
Tom Brady’s personal foundation and the Best Buddies connection
Brady’s charitable history also includes a complicated financial chapter involving Change the World Foundation.In 2017, The Washington Post reported on Boston Globe findings that Best Buddies had provided substantial funding to Brady’s foundation. Through 2015, Best Buddies had supplied roughly $2.25 million of the foundation’s $2.3 million in contributions after Brady’s initial $490,000 donation. The reporting also noted that Best Buddies had pledged another $500,000 in 2017.The arrangement attracted scrutiny because money raised through Brady’s work with Best Buddies also flowed toward his personal charitable interests. However, reporting at the time noted that independent charity watchdogs did not identify the arrangement as illegal. Sports Illustrated’s legal analysis similarly explained that charities can legally support other charitable organisations while raising questions about the optics of this particular structure.Best Buddies defended the relationship by pointing to the results generated through Brady’s involvement. Its founder and chairman, Anthony K. Shriver, said the partnership allowed the organisation to provide services to tens of thousands of people while keeping Brady involved with causes he cared about.The numbers provide some perspective. Best Buddies said in 2017 that its partnership with Brady had already generated $46.5 million for the organisation. By 2023, that figure had grown beyond $100 million.
Why Tom Brady’s charitable legacy extends beyond football
Brady’s NFL career gave him an extraordinary platform. Seven Super Bowl victories, multiple MVP awards and two decades at the centre of American football made his name instantly recognisable. But his work with Best Buddies shows another way an athlete can use that visibility.The organisation has continued to highlight the wider effects of Brady’s involvement. Best Buddies says his support has helped with fundraising while also building awareness of initiatives involving friendship, employment, leadership development and inclusive housing.Brady has also spoken warmly about the people he met through the organisation. In a statement published by Best Buddies, he said:“It has been one of my greatest honors to serve as a Global Ambassador for Best Buddies,” said Tom Brady. “This organization has become a part of my life. I love meeting the inspiring buddies at events, seeing their smiles, and hearing them talk about how Best Buddies has changed their lives for the better by helping them make friends at school and find meaningful jobs in their local communities.”The statement captures an important part of his connection with the organisation. The relationship was not limited to fundraising totals. Brady repeatedly returned to events, met participants and remained involved over many years.In 2024, Best Buddies founder Anthony K. Shriver said Brady had chaired the organisation’s Hyannis Port Challenge for 20 years and that the event alone had raised more than $100 million for Best Buddies programs.That makes the headline figure more meaningful. The journey from a $490,000 personal foundation contribution in 2005 to more than $100 million raised through his long-running Best Buddies involvement was not a single donation or one-night fundraiser. It developed over decades.For Tom Brady, the football legacy will always be defined by championships and records. His charitable work tells a different story, one built through appearances, relationships, fundraising and sustained involvement. Away from the stadium, his name became a fundraising engine for a cause that has spent decades working toward greater inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
