When Lincoln Financial moved its headquarters from Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Philadelphia in 1999, the financial services company immediately set out to become part of its new community. And nothing captures the city quite like its most beloved institution: the Eagles. Just three years after its move to 1500 Market St., Lincoln Financial inked a 20-year deal that gave the company the naming rights to the Eagles’ new stadium, a partnership that’s since been extended through the 2032 season. Lincoln Financial Field was quickly woven into the city’s fabric, amplifying the company’s brand in Philadelphia and to national audiences.
“Everyone is happier when the Eagles are playing … the Eagles, they are Philadelphia,” John Kennedy, Lincoln Financial’s executive vice president and chief distribution and brand officer, said. “It gave us wide-spread, lasting brand recognition.” Today, with its headquarters now in Radnor, Lincoln’s partnership with the Eagles extends well beyond the stadium, and so does its investment in the greater Philadelphia region.
Beyond the Field: Turning Partnership into Progress
Over the past two decades, Lincoln Financial’s partnership with the Eagles has continued to deepen. The company has joined the football organization in philanthropic efforts that give back to the region that both organizations proudly call home.
In 2018, Lincoln Financial became the founding sponsor of the Eagles Autism Challenge, the Eagles’ signature bike ride and 5K run/walk dedicated to raising funds for innovative autism research and care programs. Championed by Eagles chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie, this destination event welcomes thousands of participants from around the world, with 100% of the funds raised making a transformational impact on our Eagles autism community. This past May, the Eagles Autism Challenge celebrated a record-breaking year with more than $10 million raised, bringing the total to $40 million raised since inception.
“One hundred percent of the proceeds are going into bringing greater autism awareness, and we’re all in on that effort,” Kennedy said when asked about Lincoln’s sponsorship of the event. He noted employees come from across the country to participate. “It’s become a big part of Lincoln culture. Employees from across the company are involved and willing to give back to raise money for this challenge.” Since 2018, Lincoln employees alone have raised more than $625,000 for the Eagles Autism Challenge, with hundreds of workers coming out to volunteer or participate in the event every year.
In the past, Lincoln Financial has partnered with the Philadelphia Eagles on philanthropic initiatives like the Eagles Eye Mobile, a mobile unit that provides free vision screenings, eye exams, and prescription glasses to more than 25,000 Philadelphia students annually. And just last year, the company announced a partnership with the Jalen Hurts Foundation, which works to strengthen communities by serving, mentoring, and advancing youth.
Lincoln Financial’s partnership with the Jalen Hurts Foundation focuses on promoting financial wellness through community engagement. Together, the two organizations helped to support a mentorship camp for 60 young men ages 11 to 13 years old, which included financial education sessions led by Lincoln team members and career development workshops.
“It’s not just about business; it’s about community,” Kennedy said.
A Commitment to Financial Literacy, Education, and Human Services
Lincoln’s growing partnership with the Eagles aligns closely with the company’s core philanthropic areas of financial literacy, education, and human services. The company’s commitment to these causes extends well beyond its partnership with the football team.
Established in 1962, the company’s philanthropic arm, the Lincoln Financial Foundation, provides grants to hundreds of nonprofit organizations each year. According to Lincoln, the foundation’s mission is to help individuals and communities achieve financial security through impactful grantmaking and partnerships with nonprofit organizations. In 2024 alone, the foundation contributed more than $9.2 million to support more than 250 nonprofits.
“We focus on education, human services, and financial wellness because each is essential to building long-term financial success,” Allison Green Johnson said. Johnson is the senior vice president of belonging and community impact, and the president of the Lincoln Financial Foundation. “These areas are deeply interconnected, from preparing students for academic, career, and post-secondary achievement, to ensuring access to stable housing and nutritious food, to equipping individuals with the skills needed for financial resilience,” Johnson said.
Annually, the Lincoln Financial Foundation awards grants to more than 200 grantees across the country, including more than 50 within Philadelphia and the surrounding region. Local partners include organizations such as Hopeworks, which provides technical and workforce training programs for young adults; and the Boys & Girls Club of Philadelphia, which supports youth through programs that build literacy, leadership, and career readiness.
“Children and teens who learn about saving, budgeting, and responsible spending are more likely to carry those habits into adulthood,” Johnson said. “Early exposure helps normalize financial planning and decision-making.”
Other partner organizations of the Lincoln Financial Foundation include Heights Philadelphia, which helps break the cycle of generational poverty by guiding students toward college and career success with individualized advising, campus visits, and stipends. The foundation has also backed nonprofits that tackle basic needs across the region, from the Red Cross House, which offers temporary housing and recovery services for families displaced by disaster, to MANNA, which provides medically tailored meals to improve health outcomes for people with serious illnesses.
A Sense of Pride for Employees
While Lincoln’s board of directors and local charitable contributions committees typically recommend grantees based on mission alignment, employees also help guide how the company invests in its communities. Lincoln matches employee donations to qualified nonprofits dollar-for-dollar and fuels hands-on service with paid volunteer time.
“Serving others is at the heart of our business purpose and core values, and our nearly 10,000 employees proudly extend that spirit into the communities where we live and work,” Ellen Cooper, the chairman, president, and CEO of Lincoln Financial, said. “Our employees rally together to create lasting change, and in the process, create a culture of integrity and care that we are very proud of.”
In 2024, the foundation matched nearly $1 million in contributions to more than 1,000 nonprofit organizations in 47 states and in Washington, D.C. Kennedy notes that both Lincoln’s volunteer culture and the Eagles partnership elicit strong enthusiasm from employees. Both also help to foster a sense of community.
“It’s a sense of pride for our employees that they can be part of something that’s so much bigger,” Kennedy said.
Cobbs Creek: Lincoln’s Biggest New Initiative
This spring, Lincoln deepened its commitment to Philadelphia with one of its most ambitious philanthropic efforts yet: becoming a founding partner of the Cobbs Creek Foundation. The investment supports the reinvention of the 350-acre Cobbs Creek Golf Course, which served the community from 1916 until 2020. The West Philadelphia green was the city’s first public course and one of the earliest in the country to welcome men and women of all races. Years of flooding and erosion combined with a 2016 fire that destroyed its clubhouse forced its closure. In 2022, the Cobbs Creek Foundation committed at least $65 million to revive the historic site, restoring the course and reimagining it as a dynamic hub for education, community, and opportunity, as well as golf.
“Cobbs was a melting pot for anyone that wanted to play golf,” Kennedy said. “Now, it will go so much more beyond golf, and 20, 30, 40 years from now, I truly think this will be such a big part of the Philadelphia community.”
The Cobbs Creek Golf and Education Campus will continue to expand its offerings over the next two years, including the 9-hole TGR Design short course. Led by golf architects Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, a restored championship course and new nine-hole course will follow, opening in 2026 and 2027.
“Lincoln Financial’s commitment to Cobbs Creek reflects their continued dedication to the city and people of Philadelphia. Together we are amplifying the power of true community partnership,” Jeff Shanahan, president of the Cobbs Creek Foundation, said. “For decades, Lincoln Financial has been a pillar of Philadelphia’s civic life, and together we’re building a space that honors history while creating pathways to education, recreation, and opportunity for generations to come.”
At the center of the project’s educational initiative is the TGR Learning Lab, created through a partnership with Tiger Woods’ nonprofit TGR Foundation. The new 30,000-square-foot facility opened in September with nine classrooms and a mission to empower youth through education. It features a full-time instructional staff and offers free, year-round Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education as well as college-access and career-readiness programs for students in grades 1-12. The after-school, weekend, and summer programs are expected to reach more than 4,500 local children and families each year.
Lincoln is bringing its financial expertise into that work. In collaboration with the TGR Foundation, the company is developing a hands-on financial education curriculum for use at the learning lab and across the campus. The lessons are designed to help young people build financial resilience and prepare for the future workforce. Adding further leadership support, Lincoln Financial chief financial officer Chris Neczypor has joined the Cobbs Creek Foundation’s executive committee and board of advisors to help guide strategy and ensure long-term economic stability.
Johnson sees Lincoln’s evolving philanthropy as a continuation of the company’s foundational values.
“Our ultimate goal is to help individuals confidently succeed by supporting strong, thriving communities,” Johnson said. “Since our founding in 1905, giving back has been core to Lincoln’s culture, in alignment with the values of our namesake, Abraham Lincoln: integrity, teamwork and responsibility.”
