Resources
Vetted specialists, treatment programs, legal counsel and recovery services — the right door, opened fast, so nobody burns precious weeks searching alone.
Mentorship
Former teammates and Buckeye alumni who have walked the same road — accountability, someone in your corner, and a locker room that never closes.
Financial assistance
Former athlete financial assistance for support, rehabilitation and recovery — because these scenarios require large amounts of money and time, and hope alone pays for neither.
The six critical needs
WHAT WE FUND01Medical
Surgeries, chronic conditions from playing years, long-term care and the bills insurance leaves behind.
02Mental health & recovery
Counseling, treatment, crisis support and the long unglamorous work of recovery — for the battles nobody sees from the stands.
03Legal
Counsel and representation when a legal fight threatens a family's stability.
04Natural disaster
Emergency relief and rebuilding help when fire, flood or storm takes everything at once.
05Crime victims
Advocacy and assistance for athletes and families victimized by crime.
06Education
Finishing degrees, retraining and certifications — momentum for the second career.
How a case moves
CONFIDENTIAL, ALWAYSYou, a teammate, or family — one call or message starts it. No forms first, no gatekeeping.
A confidential conversation to understand the circumstance, the timeline and the real need.
Resources, mentors and funding matched to the need — assembled as one play, not a stack of referrals.
We stay through rehabilitation and recovery — the brotherhood doesn't clock out.
THE SHORT VERSION
What is BTGL? A nonprofit for former college athletes
BTGL stands for Beyond the Goal Line, an independent nonprofit for former college athletes who competed at Ohio State. We focus on critical needs after competition through resources, mentorship and financial assistance. Those pillars describe the work, not automatic grants or career placement. If you are unsure where to begin, the private contact page lets you ask about your circumstances without posting them publicly.
When choosing a charity to support, look at whom it serves and how its work is described. BTGL is a 501(c)(3) focused on former Ohio State athletes in critical need, not every former college athlete nationally. Our three support pillars explain that focus without promising funding for an individual request. BTGL is independent of The Ohio State University.
Supporters can make a donation through BTGL's existing one-time giving options. Giving backs the mission described here rather than a guaranteed result for any individual.
The BTGL community offers another way to stay connected with former athletes, families, alumni and fans beyond a single event.
For a fuller picture of the circumstances covered by the mission, read the six need areas below before asking about a particular situation.
Finding help for former athletes
PROGRAMS FOR FORMER ATHLETESHow is financial assistance considered?
Financial assistance is one of BTGL's three program pillars, alongside resources and mentorship. It is described in the context of critical needs, not as an automatic payment for every inquiry. Circumstances differ from person to person; the contact page is the place to begin a private conversation about a specific need.
Where do mental health needs fit?
Mental health and recovery are listed among the six critical needs on this page. BTGL describes resources and referrals, mentorship and financial assistance as its forms of support for former Ohio State athletes. That description does not promise treatment, an award or a recovery outcome. For an individual situation, start with a confidential inquiry instead of sharing sensitive details in a public event or community post.
PILLAR 03, IN DETAIL
What is former athlete financial assistance at BTGL?
Financial assistance is one of BTGL's three published pillars for former Ohio State athletes in critical need. It sits alongside resources, referrals and mentorship. Together, they form a wider response to a difficult circumstance, rather than a stand-alone payment. The six need areas remain the scope of BTGL's mission.
This page describes whom the mission serves and how a conversation starts. It does not set out standardized funding criteria, award limits or a promised response timeline. Naming financial assistance as a pillar describes the mission; it does not guarantee an award. Not every inquiry leads to funding. Our Get Help guide explains how to begin a private conversation about a specific situation.
Questions to clarify before assuming funding is available
- Is financial assistance currently an option for this particular need?
- What information is appropriate to share during the initial conversation?
- Are there limits, conditions or timing considerations to understand?
- Would resources, referrals or mentorship be relevant alongside, or instead of, funding?
BTGL is a 501(c)(3) independent of Ohio State University, so this assistance is not a university program. Read who the mission serves before reaching out about a personal circumstance.
NEED 02, IN DETAIL
Where does mental health fit in BTGL's mission?
BTGL describes its support through resources and referrals, mentorship and financial assistance for former Ohio State athletes. Naming a need area does not establish which services are available for an individual request.
It helps to separate the broad mission from specifics. BTGL is not presented here as a treatment provider, clinic or crisis service, and this page does not verify particular providers, treatment types or recovery results. Nor does it promise funding for a given request. Those details are not published, and they should not be assumed from a need area being listed. A person in immediate danger should contact local emergency services instead of waiting for a reply from any nonprofit.
Questions about referrals, mentorship or possible financial assistance belong in a private conversation. None of these should be assumed to mean clinical care. Use the confidential contact page rather than sharing personal circumstances in a public post or event comment.
What to clarify with a nonprofit about mental health support
- Which of the published support pillars may be relevant to the situation?
- What resources or referrals, if any, are currently available?
- What can mentorship offer, and what requires a qualified treatment provider?
- If financial assistance is considered, what details need to be confirmed first?
QUICK ANSWER
What does BTGL fund?
BTGL funds resources, mentorship and financial assistance for former Ohio State athletes in critical need, including legal, natural disaster, crime victimization and education needs.
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Are there charities for former college athletes?
Yes. National advocacy and school-based programs exist, but their scope differs. BTGL focuses on former Ohio State athletes in critical need. BTGL is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by The Ohio State University.
Can former college athletes get financial assistance?
BTGL offers direct financial assistance to former Ohio State athletes in critical need. Our Get Help guide explains how to ask through the Contact page. An inquiry is not a guarantee of assistance.
How can former athletes ask BTGL for help?
Former Ohio State athletes, or someone reaching out on their behalf, can use the contact form to begin a private conversation about the circumstance and need. An inquiry is not a guarantee of assistance.
What kinds of help does BTGL offer?
BTGL's programs bring together expert referrals, peer mentorship and direct financial assistance for former Ohio State athletes facing a critical need. The support considered depends on the individual circumstance and available resources.
How do donations support BTGL's programs?
Donations support the resources, mentorship and financial assistance described in BTGL's programs. The donation page offers existing one-time giving options; a gift does not guarantee assistance for a particular person.