To submit a New Jersey Devils donation request, go to the team’s community page at nhl.com/devils/community and complete the online form at least six to eight weeks before your fundraising event. The program is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, with priority for groups in New Jersey and the greater New York metropolitan area.1Candid. New Jersey Devils LLC Corporate Giving Program Mailed and faxed requests are not accepted.
Who Qualifies
Your organization must hold a valid 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS.2Internal Revenue Service. Exemption Requirements – 501(c)(3) Organizations The Devils review requests case by case and favor nonprofits based in New Jersey or the broader New York metro area.1Candid. New Jersey Devils LLC Corporate Giving Program Schools and youth hockey programs tend to be a strong fit.
Several categories are generally excluded:
- For-profit businesses, individuals, and personal fundraisers
- Political campaigns, advocacy groups, and sectarian religious purposes
- Private schools and preschools
- Third-party fundraising events such as walks and runs where a team raises money for a larger organization
- Conferences, seminars, and workshops that are primarily educational or professional
Each organization can receive one donation per year. If your group was approved last season, wait until next year to apply again.
What to Have Ready Before You Open the Form
Gather this information first. Incomplete submissions get set aside without review.
- Your organization’s legal name, exactly as it appears on your IRS determination letter
- Your nine-digit Employer Identification Number (EIN), which the form uses to verify your tax-exempt status
- The event name and date
- How the item will be used (silent auction, live auction, raffle, or another format)
- A realistic expected attendance figure
- A brief mission statement describing what your group does and who it serves
- The mailing address where the item should be shipped
If you can’t find your EIN, check your IRS determination letter or a recent Form 990.
Submitting the Form
Open the donation request section on the Devils’ community page and complete every required field. Blank fields, especially the EIN or the event date, are the fastest route to a rejection.
Keep your writing plain. A sentence or two on your mission is enough; the review team is not looking for a grant proposal. For the intended-use field, be specific. “Silent auction at our annual spring fundraiser on April 12” is more useful than “charity event.”
Submit at least six to eight weeks before your event. Anything closer is much harder for the staff to work with. You should receive an automated confirmation email after you hit submit.
After You Submit
Requests are reviewed in the order they arrive, and most applicants hear back roughly one month before their event date. The exact timing depends on how many requests are in the queue at that point in the hockey season.
Do not call to check on a pending request. The Devils do not take follow-up calls about donation status, and calling will not move your request forward.
Approved items are usually shipped by standard mail to the address on your form. In some cases, the team arranges a local pickup at Prudential Center in Newark. Plan for the item to arrive at least a couple of weeks before your event so you have time to set it up.
What the Devils Typically Send
Donations fall into two broad categories: autographed memorabilia (such as pucks and photos) and team-branded merchandise. For some community events, like the team’s annual blood drive, the Devils have also provided game ticket vouchers and limited-edition apparel.
You don’t get to pick the item. The team chooses based on what’s available, so requests for a specific player’s autograph or a particular product are unlikely to be honored. Frame your request around your event, not a wish list. Items suited to silent auctions are the most common.
How to Strengthen Your Request
Submit early. Requests that arrive well ahead of the six-to-eight-week minimum give staff more flexibility, especially during the holidays and the NHL playoffs.
Make the local connection obvious. If your nonprofit serves kids in Newark or runs youth hockey programs in New Jersey, say so clearly. Community impact in the Devils’ home region is a priority.
Be honest about event size. An inflated attendance number does not help; a well-run 80-person fundraiser with strong community ties reads better than a claim of 500 attendees that doesn’t hold up.
If you were denied before, you can try again next year. The one-per-year limit resets. Confirm that your 501(c)(3) status is current and that your EIN matches IRS records, because administrative mismatches cause rejections that have nothing to do with the merits of your cause.