The Chasing M’s Foundation, a non-profit organization supported by Damar Hamlin, a safety player for the Buffalo Bills, will utilize the $10 million generously donated by supporters through online fundraising campaigns following his collapse on the field.

The 25-year-old’s plan begins on Monday, with the unprecedented outpouring of support that he received after his heart-stopping tackle during a Monday night football game in January, which he shared with the AP first.

Hamlin expressed in a statement that they have made a conscious effort and purposeful decision to allocate sufficient time to establish their charity correctly. Additionally, he expressed his enthusiasm for commencing the dissemination of information regarding the initiatives they are developing to influence the younger generation and contribute to the welfare of others.

As per Kelley Denny, a representative for Hamlin’s charitable organization, they have donated over $9 million to a GoFundMe campaign and close to a million to a second internet fundraiser established by The Giving Back Fund, a nonprofit organization that assists athletes and celebrities in managing their philanthropic contributions. The fact that individuals persist in contributing on a weekly, if not daily, basis to the fundraiser is merely one indication of the strong emotional impact and bond that Hamlin has with numerous people.

The representative of Hamlin’s marketing team said in January that the family had arranged for Fund Back Giving The to act as a fiscal sponsor and allow the millions given to eventually be transferred to GoFundMe, as a charitable entity.

According to Marc Pollick, CEO of The Giving Back Fund, the organization’s leadership stated that they have consistently acted in an ethical, suitable, and lawful manner. However, Marc Pollick disputed the accuracy of Sportico’s report in a statement. Last week, Sportico reported on the controversy surrounding whether the donations made to Hamlin’s GoFundMe campaign are considered charitable contributions, which caused turmoil within The Giving Back Fund.

Hamlin stated that donors will possess complete tax-exempt status and further mentioned that his charitable organization is unrelated to the difficulties encountered by The Giving Back Fund’s leadership.

It was incorporated as a nonprofit in Pennsylvania. According to Denny, the tax-exempt status was applied retroactively last month, and he was still a student playing with the University of Pittsburgh when Foundation M’s Chasing Hamlin first started in May 2020.

Despite the fact that Hamlin’s nonprofit organization is usually recognized as tax exempt retroactively for applying for status after 27 months, the IRS has the discretion to recognize it retroactively, according to Kramer. The decisions made by the IRS on Hamlin’s organization, which edits the nonprofit website, may depend on what they gave to GoFundMe after his injury, experts say, in terms of whether donors can claim a tax deduction.

Few donors to GoFundMe Hamlin’s will likely have a significant interest in claiming a tax deduction for their gift due to changes in the tax law made in 2017, which only allows those who itemize their taxes to claim charitable contributions deductions of around 11%.

Lisa Delpy Neirotti, the director of sport management programs at George Washington University School of Business, expressed her belief that the general public would benefit from further education on verifying the tax deductibility of their donations before contributing. She urged GoFundMe to enhance the distinction between fundraisers organized by tax-exempt entities and those that are not.

The company GoFundMe also confirmed that they will continue to hold the funds given to Hamlin’s campaign until they transfer them to the specified charitable organizations that benefit from those fundraisers.

The Foundation M’s Chasing will support the aspirations of youth through promoting safety and health in sports training for AED & CPR. The incorporation of articles in M’s Chasing, updated as of May 1st, has been filed with the Pennsylvania State Secretary’s Records, as shown by the application submitted by Hamlin.

She stated that having millions of dollars all at once is an extraordinary occurrence. However, Neirotti typically recommends that athletes collaborate with established organizations that focus on the causes they are passionate about, rather than initiating their own nonprofit ventures.

Regarding Hamlin, she commented, “Even after his retirement from playing, his contribution will endure indefinitely. It could truly be quantified in terms of a substantial sum of money.”

Hamlin, while being a part of the Bills, has received permission to engage in practice sessions and expressed his desire to resume playing in April. Moreover, he had the opportunity to meet President Joe Biden at the White House and actively supported the availability of defibrillators in educational institutions alongside Congressional representatives. Following his discharge from the hospital, Hamlin has collaborated with the American Heart Association to promote a simplified CPR training initiative.

Lora Golke, who leads donor engagement at the Arizona Community Foundation, stated that many families and athletes often underestimate the amount of work it takes to run a foundation or nonprofit and the knowledge and expertise required for it.

Golke stated, “Philanthropy is not his occupation. He is expected to perform his job as an athlete, and it is important to remember that he does so at the same time.” In order to provide guidance to former athletes who settle in the community and how they can make a difference, she established an organization that combines philanthropy and sports.