A Golden State Warriors charity event raised a record $5 million for education and youth programs(Getty) The Golden State Warriors raised more than $5 million at their annual charity poker tournament on Jan. 31, 2026. The fundraiser set a new record for the event and will support education and youth programmes through the Golden State Community Foundation. The tournament took place at Chase Center in San Francisco, with MGM Rewards returning as the presenting sponsor.The fundraiser also continued a recent rise in donations, topping the $3.8 million raised in 2025. The foundation will use the proceeds to support nonprofit organisations working with young people in Alameda and San Francisco counties
Warriors Charity Poker Tournament breaks its fundraising record
The 12th annual tournament raised more than the $3.8 million collected at the 2025 event. It also topped the previous record of more than $3.5 million, set in 2024. The latest result marked a new high for the Warriors’ annual fundraiser.The Warriors and their community foundation host the event to raise money for the foundation’s annual grants programme. Players, coaches, front-office members and foundation supporters attend the tournament. Participants can compete against Warriors players and coaches, with special prizes and experiences also part of the event.Poker brings everyone together for the evening, but the money raised serves a purpose beyond the tables. The foundation directs its grants towards nonprofits working on educational equity and youth development in Alameda and San Francisco counties.That focus gives the fundraiser a clear local purpose. The organisations supported by the foundation work with young people in communities where access to educational resources and opportunities can be limited.The foundation has confirmed the record total for 2026. However, it has not released a detailed breakdown showing how much of the tournament’s proceeds each nonprofit will receive. The $5 million figure represents the amount raised for the foundation, not a confirmed payment to one school or organisation.The increase from $3.8 million in 2025 to more than $5 million in 2026 also continues the event’s recent fundraising growth. The 2024 tournament raised more than $3.5 million, making the latest result the strongest of the three editions.
How the foundation supports education and youth
The Golden State Community Foundation supports nonprofits that work to improve educational opportunities for young people. Its annual grants programme focuses on educational equity and youth development in Alameda and San Francisco counties.Its wider community work includes STEM education, elementary literacy, college access and other youth development programmes. These efforts support organisations that help students build academic skills and access opportunities beyond the classroom.The foundation’s work covers more than one area of education. Literacy programmes help children develop reading skills, while STEM initiatives introduce students to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. College access programmes help students prepare for education after high school.The charity poker tournament raises funds for the foundation’s annual grants programme, but the official event recap does not identify the specific programmes that will receive money from the 2026 proceeds. It would therefore be premature to assign part of the $5 million to a particular school, subject or nonprofit without a separate announcement.The Warriors also support youth organisations through other fundraising efforts. One example is Hoops 4 Kids, a programme that links the team’s three-point shooting during the regular season to donations for local nonprofits.The foundation announced $643,000 in grants through Hoops 4 Kids in 2026. The total came from 1,286 Warriors three-pointers during the 2025-26 regular season, with each basket generating $500 for local organisations.Eight nonprofits received support through that initiative. They included the Boys and Girls Clubs of Oakland and San Francisco, East Oakland Youth Development Center, OneGoal, Playworks Northern California, Horizons at San Francisco Friends School, New Door Ventures and Scientific Adventures for Girls.The organisations serve young people in different ways. Some focus on academic support and college preparation, while others provide after-school activities, job training, play-based learning or access to science and technology.The $643,000 raised through Hoops 4 Kids is separate from the poker tournament’s $5 million total. The two programmes have different fundraising structures, even though both support youth in the Bay Area.
Warriors continue their community work beyond basketball
The poker tournament is one part of the Warriors’ broader community efforts. The Golden State Community Foundation also works with local nonprofits through other programmes and partnerships that support education, youth development and community wellbeing.Hoops 4 Kids offers a direct link between the team’s performance and charitable funding. Every made three-pointer during the relevant regular season generates $500 for the programme’s beneficiaries. That approach allows the team’s on-court results to contribute to community funding throughout the season rather than at a single event.The poker tournament follows a different model. It brings supporters and members of the Warriors organisation together for one annual fundraiser, with the proceeds supporting the foundation’s grants programme.The recent fundraising totals show how the event has grown. It raised more than $3.5 million in 2024, reached $3.8 million in 2025 and surpassed $5 million in 2026. The latest edition established a new record for the tournament.The foundation’s community work also extends beyond the amounts raised at individual events. Its grantmaking supports nonprofit organisations that work directly with students and young people. Those groups deliver programmes in local communities, where access to educational support and youth services can make a difference.The foundation has not yet published a breakdown of the 2026 poker tournament proceeds by recipient. The eventual distribution will provide a clearer picture of which organisations receive support from this year’s record fundraiser.The money will support the Golden State Community Foundation’s annual grants programme for nonprofits focused on educational equity and youth development in Alameda and San Francisco counties.