Double Play Matching Program

Requirements & Deadlines

• Current Minor League Players signed to Minor League contracts may request matching gifts up to a cumulative total of $500 per calendar year. Players may split their annual $500 allotment among more than one eligible organization. The Players Trust will match individual donations made to eligible organizations at a minimum of $250 and a maximum of $500. 

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• For our matching program, an active Minor League Player is defined as a Player signed to a 2026 Minor League contract and in is a MLBPA member in good standing. If a Player retires or is released during the 2026 season, he remains eligible as long as he was an active member at the time of his release or retirement. 

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• If a Player played any part of the 2026 or 2025 season in the Major Leagues, he is eligible for the Major League Matching Gifts Program instead, which offers a $3,000 match maximum. Players may not submit for both the Major League and Minor League match. However, if a Player uses their $500 Minor League matching allotment and is later promoted to the Major Leagues in the same calendar year, he may access the remaining $2,500 under the Major League program, provided they contact the Players Trust for assistance by reaching out to Laney Ortiz at eortiz@mlbpa.org or (770) 714-2568 

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• The 2026 Minor League Double Play Matching Gifts Program will be open until December 31, 2026. The 2027 Double Play Matching Gifts Program will open on April 15, 2027, and will close on December 31, 2027. 

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• Each individual eligible organization may receive a total in matching grants of $30,000 per year. 

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• Donations must be paid in full to the eligible organization before submitting a matching gift request. 

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• Donations must be from the donor’s personal funds paid directly to the eligible organizations in the form of check, credit card, or wire transfer. 

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• In order to be considered for a 2026 monetary matching gift, your contribution must be paid to the eligible organization by December 31, 2026, and the match request must be received by the Players Trust no later than January 15, 2027. 

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• If you would like to submit a matching gift request, please complete one of the forms at the bottom of this page.

Eligible Participants

• All Active Minor Leaguers 

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• Please note, eligibility does not extend to spouses, family members, or external associates/affiliates. 

Eligible Donations & Organizations

• Organizations located in the U.S., or internationally, recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as tax-exempt and designated a public charity under 501(c)3 of the IRS Code or an instrumentality of a federal, state or local government under Section 170(c) of the Code. ​​

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• A Player’s 501c3 nonprofit organization may be considered eligible if the donor can demonstrate how funds will be used towards programming and that no benefits are received by the Player or his affiliates as a result of the donation. ​​​​

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• University/college athletic associations, clubs, or specific teams are eligible for matching gifts, but are subject to review. Please contact Laney Ortiz at eortiz@mlbpa.org or (770) 714-2568 for more details. 

Matching Gift Restrictions

• The Player donation or matching gift may not result in the donor receiving any goods, services, or benefits with a monetary value. This includes (but is not limited to) donations where contributions are directed toward event tickets, galas, golf tournaments, entry fees, raffles, tuition or other forms of payment that reduces or eliminates tuition for the donor or their affiliates, bequests or deferred gifts, or dues to organizations.  
  

• Pledges or unpaid donations are not eligible for a matching gift. 
  

• The following organizations and programs are ineligible for matching gifts:

  • Donor Advised Funds 

  • Private Foundations 

  • Family Foundations 

  • Political Campaigns​​​

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• Organizations that work to directly affect legislative policy change.

Matching Gift Online Request Form

To submit a matching gift request, complete the form below. For step-by-step instructions, click here.

The Players Trust reviews and approves match requests on a rolling weekly basis. After a request is submitted with complete documentation, including text or email confirmation from the Player, payment is generally processed and delivered to the nonprofit within two to four weeks of approval.Email updates are provided when a request is received and approved.