Travis Kelce made unusual $35,000 decision as Eighty-Seven and Running faced questions over its operations

Travis Kelce’s latest charitable decision has drawn attention for a reason that goes beyond the money involved. In January 2026, the Kansas City Chiefs star chose not to send his latest $35,000 charity prize to his own foundation. Instead, he directed it to a Kansas City nonprofit he has supported for years, a move that comes as questions surround the governance and financial reporting of his organization.Travis Kelce sends $35,000 prize to established Kansas City nonprofitKelce earned the money after winning the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Charity Challenge for the third time on January 7, 2026. Unlike his previous victories in 2020 and 2024, however, the prize will not benefit his Eighty-Seven and Running Foundation.The funds are going to Operation Breakthrough, a long-standing Kansas City organization that works with children, teenagers and families. Kelce has previously supported the nonprofit through his foundation’s partnership with its Ignition Lab, a program focused on workforce development for teens.The choice also comes shortly after Taylor Swift donated $250,000 to Operation Breakthrough, adding another high-profile connection to the organization.Kelce’s decision stands out because it breaks from his own recent pattern. Rather than keeping the award money within a foundation he established, he opted for an organization with an established structure and track record.CharityWatch CEO and executive director Laurie Styron viewed that decision positively.“As for Kelce’s decision to donate his contest winnings to an established charity, in the short term this was the right call,” said CharityWatch CEO and executive director Laurie Styron in her interview with The Arizona Republic. “The people operating the foundation need time to get their accounting, governance, and legal house in order. It was the responsible move under the circumstances.”Eighty-Seven and Running Foundation faces questions over its operationsThe timing of Kelce’s decision is important. His Eighty-Seven and Running Foundation, which he launched in 2015, has come under scrutiny following a review of its federal tax filings by The Arizona Republic.The reporting raised questions about the foundation’s spending and internal structure. Over a three-year period, the organization reportedly spent about 41 cents of every dollar on charitable activities. It also paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to A&A Management Group, a company co-founded by Kelce’s longtime business managers, Aaron and André Eanes.The foundation has also reportedly operated with only two board members and without several standard officer positions, including a president and secretary.Styron raised concerns about the relationship between the charity and the management company.“It appears to function more as an extension of the management company versus as an independent public charity,” Styron said after reviewing the filings. “That’s not how charities work. It’s wrong.”The foundation has disputed the implication that its spending figures tell the full story. Aaron Eanes, its executive director, said expenses connected to charitable work had been incorrectly classified as management costs on IRS filings for nearly a decade.According to Eanes, the organization has been correcting those filings. He also said management fees fell sharply in 2024 and reached zero in 2025, while plans are underway to expand the board and strengthen reporting.He stated that the organization is “dedicated to ensuring this foundation operates at the highest standards,” according to The Arizona Republic.Kelce’s move therefore carries significance beyond one $35,000 award. It highlights how athlete-led charities can face intense scrutiny once their public profile grows, and why financial transparency and independent oversight matter just as much as charitable intentions.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.