Can an athlete combine his for-profit endorsement deals with his foundation?
Absolutely, and in fact, it will very often have the effect of enhancing those deals. Today’s corporate mantra is “Doing well by doing good.” Because of this, companies love to find ways to combine their business interests with social responsibility. Using the charities of popular athlete endorsers is an excellent way to accomplish this objective. The athlete can mine this opportunity quite effectively with a well-run charity that has a clear mission that appeals to the public. Why would an athlete need philanthropic consulting? For the same reason an athlete needs a trainer, a financial adviser or a contract agent: Philanthropy is a specialty requiring highly specific knowledge and expertise. The degree of success athletes will have with their charitable endeavors is most often in direct correlation to how well it is managed. Furthermore, since it can have a significant impact on an athlete’s brand, for good or for nil, it makes sense to enlist the assistance of a professional and tru
