The U.S. Ryder Cup team has a powerful philanthropic model: each player donates their $200,000 stipend to charity. Half of this, $100,000 per player, goes to a national partner designated by the PGA of America, while the other $100,000 goes to a charity of the player's individual choice. This is a fantastic, multi-million dollar gesture that puts impact at the forefront of the event.
However, with players taking individual and often private approaches to their giving, it remains a collection of separate gifts rather than a unified, resounding story. This is a common challenge for leagues and nonprofits: the act of giving is great, but it's a missed opportunity to build a movement. From the NILi perspective, this is where the real work of amplification begins.
The PGA of America (the league) has already done the hard part: securing the funds and player buy-in. The existing structure—where players must donate—is a perfect foundation for a world-class amplification program. The opportunity is to move from a passive donation model to an active storytelling campaign that provides massive, measurable value back to the chosen nonprofits.
The PGA could evolve this program from a simple donation into a powerful, year-round impact platform. This would provide its partner nonprofits with an "always-on" marketing engine that goes far beyond a single press release about a one-time gift.
The NILi Playbook: Instead of just cutting checks, the PGA could use this program to provide its chosen nonprofits with a turnkey "NIL for Impact" campaign. WIN | WIN would partner with the PGA to build a "NILi Team" of collegiate golfers—perhaps from the Ryder Cup players' alma maters or in their home communities. This team of student-athletes would be paid (using a small portion of a separate brand's sponsorship budget) to spend the season amplifying the same national and local charities the pros are supporting. They would create authentic social content ("Here's why I, as a young golfer, am inspired by Scottie Scheffler's support of his Dallas community..."), host junior clinics benefiting those charities, and create a year-round drumbeat of awareness.
The Result: For the PGA (the league), this model transforms a "check-the-box" donation into a powerful, year-round brand story that engages the next generation of golfers and fans. For the nonprofits, the benefit is exponential. They don't just get a one-time check; they get a full-scale marketing campaign driven by authentic student-athlete ambassadors. This approach opens an entirely new, cost-effective pathway to reach younger audiences, driving higher donor conversion and providing a "constant stream of personally relevant content" that their traditional marketing budgets could never afford.