Jason Hanold Contributed $20K to Damar Hamlin's GoFundMe — Who Is He?

After Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field during a Jan. 2, 2023, NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals, many people showed their support by donating to a GoFundMe page. The page was initially set up as a toy drive under Hamlin's nonprofit, Chasing M’s Foundation. Hamlin received more than $9 million in donations, of which $20,000 came from Jason Hanold.

But who exactly is Jason Hanold?

Hanold's donation to Hamlin's GoFundMe was among the largest. In fact, it topped the donations made by other NFL players such as Matthew Stafford, Russell Wilson, and Tom Brady. That fact by itself left many curious about who Hanold is and how much he's worth. After all, it isn't everyday a person hands over $20,000 in donation money, unless of course they are flowing in riches.

So, without further ado, let's explore the identity of Jason Hanold.

Hanold is the CEO and managing partner of the executive search firm Hanold Associates. The company’s client roster includes many sports organizations such as the NFL, Major League Baseball (MLB), Arizona Cardinals, Big Ten Conference, as well as Tom Brady and his TB12 brand.

He has also been on the Board of Directors for the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame since October 2022.

Hanold built his net worth through his career in human resources. Some sources estimate his net worth to be about $500,000. In a 2021 Fortune article on the Best Workplaces in Chicago, Hanold’s firm had reported revenue of over $8.7 million.

Hanold opened his firm in 2010. The retained executive search firm specializes in recruiting HR and Diversity & Inclusion leaders for different organizations. In December, the New York Giants commissioned Hanold Associates to search for the team’s head of HR and diversity.

Before opening his own firm, Hanold worked for almost six years as Global Human Resources Officer Practice Leader and Managing Director for Russell Reynolds Associates. He also spent three years as global head of talent acquisition for Whirlpool Corporation and three years as global head of recruiting for McKinsey & Company.

Hanold received his bachelor’s degree in organizational communications and small group dynamics from Illinois State University and a master’s degree in leadership and organizational culture from Northwestern. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in organizational leadership, learning, and talent from the University of Pennsylvania.

Hanold is married to Neela Seenandan, an HR executive and his business partner at Hanold Associates. The couple both worked at McKinsey & Company, where they most likely met. They have four sons and split their time between homes in the Chicago area and Jackson, Wyo.

Since Hamlin’s on-field medical emergency and hospitalization, Hanold has encouraged his Twitter followers to contribute to Hamlin’s GoFundMe drive.

“Keep up the prayers, give what you can and share if you chose,” Hanold tweeted on Jan. 3, 2023.

Since then, the GoFundMe campaign raised over $9 million. Hamlin announced that he would be moving that money to his charity. The Chasing M's Foundation is dedicated to "the development, health, and safety of youth through sports, engagement activities, training, and programming."