Is Super Dad a Scam? What the Contest Rules Actually Say

Super Dad opens for public voting on September 8th, 2026. The pitch is simple: one dad wins $25,000 and a national TV commercial provided by Ace Hardware, with actor Adam Devine motivating competitors along the way. Whenever a Colossal contest launches with that kind of prize and a recognizable face attached, the same question follows: is Super Dad a scam, or is this real?

I competed in a Colossal contest with my son and reached the semifinals. Here's the complete, factual answer.

Who Runs Super Dad

Super Dad is operated by Colossal Management LLC, a Delaware-registered, for-profit professional fundraising company. Ace Hardware is a sponsor providing the television airtime for the winner's commercial — not an operator. Adam Devine is a brand ambassador who appears in motivational videos throughout the competition; he's also a father and a Children's Miracle Network supporter in his own right, but he doesn't run the contest. Colossal Management runs the competition entirely.

The Charity

Super Dad benefits Children's Miracle Network, which raises funds for local children's hospitals across the United States and Canada, supporting pediatric treatment, research, and equipment.

Donations don't reach Children's Miracle Network directly. They flow through Action Initiative Team (AIT), a registered 501(c)(3) public charity, which distributes a grant to Children's Miracle Network after competition fees of 36.5%, variable costs of up to 12.5%, and a 1% fee retained by AIT are deducted. Donations are tax-deductible.

The Prize

The grand prize is valued at an approximate retail value of $32,500 and includes two components: a $25,000 cash honorarium, and a professionally produced Ace Hardware television commercial featuring the winner, airing as at least four 30-second spots during the 2027 Ace Shootout on the Golf Channel. Confirm current prize details on the official contest website, as packages can vary between cycles.

Who Can Enter

Entry is open to fathers 18 and older — including expectant fathers, stepfathers, adoptive fathers, and past fathers — who are U.S. or Canadian residents (excluding Quebec). Entry is free. Competitors can't donate or cast votes by donation for themselves; friends, family, and supporters can.

Is This a Scam?

No. Super Dad is not a scam in any legal or criminal sense. Colossal Management is a registered entity. AIT and Children's Miracle Network are independently verifiable nonprofits. The fee structure is disclosed in the official rules. The prize package is documented in detail.

The same honest criticisms that apply to every Colossal contest apply here. The fee structure reduces what actually reaches the charity. The group-based ranking creates the appearance that every competitor is performing well at once — see How Super Dad Voting Works for exactly how that structure functions round by round. Ace Hardware's sponsorship and Adam Devine's involvement are brand partnerships, not an operational role or an implied editorial endorsement.

None of that is fraud. It's a complex fundraising competition — one that rewards contestants who understand how it actually works.

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