The nonprofit Why Not You Foundation founded by Denver Broncos star Russell Wilson and wife Ciara spent nearly twice as much on employee salaries as it did toward charitable causes between 2020 and 2021, according to the Arizona Republic’s Jason Wolf.
An investigation by USA Today “found that Wilson’s organization reported it spent almost $600,000 — or just 24.3 cents of every dollar — on charitable activities in 2020 and 2021 combined and nearly twice as much, $1.1 million, on salaries and employee benefits in that span, according to federal tax records.”
Scott Pickett, the foundation’s chief financial officer, told Wolf the Why Not You Foundation works with third parties and that the results of those partnerships aren’t reflected in tax returns.
Those salaries and benefits also include more than $200K a year for an executive who also worked for Ciara and Russell Wilson’s family office.
The Why Not You Foundation, was established in 2014. His nonprofit work was cited by the NFL when Wilson received the 2020 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, the league’s most prestigious honor.
Broncos QB Russell Wilson and wife Ciara. Photo courtsey of Leon Bennett/Getty Images
