Ryan and Heather Zimmerman round the bases for charitable giving in the DC area.Ryan and Heather Zimmerman on the red carpet at Nationals Park.
Many of us still envision former Nationals’ third and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman with a curly W on this cap winning the 2019 World Series. But long before he retired from the Nats after 17 seasons, Zimmerman and his wife, Heather, were involved in several regional charities—most notably the ziMS Foundation (zimsfoundation.org), which the ball player founded.
Now that the couple has settled into the region as parents of school-age children, they have become even more active in the philanthropic world. We sat down with the couple to discuss their tremendous work.
Ryan and Heather Zimmerman with Ryan’s parents at a zimsFoundation event.
What inspired you to become actively involved in philanthropy? Heather: Our first philanthropic cause was the ziMS Foundation, started by Ryan and his family in 2006. This cause is personal for Ryan, as his mother has had multiple sclerosis since 1995. The goal of ziMS has always been to help fund research for multiple sclerosis and provide financial support to groups and programs with MS-specific therapies or events. We have been able to give back over $4 million since the inception of ziMS.
We also created Pros for Heroes (@prosforheroes) in 2020, which provided meals to first responders and healthcare workers during the pandemic.
Ryan, I’ve read that giving back was a big part of your upbringing. Ryan: My parents always taught me and my brother to give back if we had the opportunity. I’m so lucky to have the platform I do from my baseball career. I want to try and do as much good as I can. We’ve both had the opportunity to become involved with many charitable organizations in the area, through personal connections and our interests.
How do you decide which causes or organizations to support, and what causes are near and dear to you now? Ryan: We meet people at events around the city and are always eager to learn and be involved in various causes. The DC area is home to us, and we want to help our diverse community where possible. We enjoy contributing to philanthropic organizations who have low overhead and are able to directly donate a majority of the money they raise.
Heather, the National Children’s Museum has been near and dear to your heart. Heather: I sat on the Board of the National Children’s Museum (nationalchildrensmuseum.org) for seven years because fond memories of attending the original museum in DC as a child. I wanted to ensure a similar educational institution for our children and their peers to visit. It’s essential to keep ticket costs low so that students and children from all communities can enjoy the exciting STEAM learning during play at the museum.
What other local nonprofits do you love? Heather: The Washington Ballet (washingtonballet.org). The arts are so important to us. We would like to continue to see a robust variety of classic performances in the area. We are very excited about supporting the vision of the new Artistic Director, Edwaard Liang!
We find it of the utmost importance to support local groups like DC Central Kitchen (dccentralkitchen.org) and Food and Friends (foodandfriends.org), which work to provide nourishing meals to community members who need assistance.
What is the most pressing issue facing the DC community today? Ryan: I’m optimistic and seek to look at the positives. We’re so lucky to live in such a great area with many excellent opportunities. We need to return to focusing on kindness and building a sense of community.
How has your perspective on giving and community involvement evolved? Ryan: The more we ran our charity, the more we appreciate groups that are efficient and donate a high percentage of the money they raise. We respect the time commitment, volunteers and coordination that goes into running a well-structured philanthropic organization.
What advice would you give to individuals looking to make a meaningful impact through giving? Heather: Find a cause you are passionate about and an organization that aligns with your values. Any donation, big or small, makes an impact. Never think, ‘I can’t donate a lot so that it won’t matter.’ That couldn’t be further from the truth. You also don’t have to donate money. Volunteering your time is extremely valuable and meaningful.
Which philanthropic events are you most looking forward to in 2025? Heather: In March, the Washington Nationals Homecoming Gala (nats4good.org); in May, the Washington Ballet Spring Gala (washingtonballet.org); in November, DC Central Kitchen’s Food. We’re hoping for a new and exciting ziMS Foundation event this fall or during the spring of 2026!
