When the NBA Foundation was launched in 2020, the mandate was simple: to bridge the wide opportunity gaps that exist for Black youths in America. Now, that mandate is more critical than ever. Focused on grant-making to programs that promote education, workforce readiness, and career development, the NBA Foundation Grant Program is assisting tens of thousands of youths to transition from the school system to the labor system successfully.
This impactful program is not merely dollars granted, it's about lives altered, communities elevated, and economic mobility rewritten. For nonprofits committed to promoting equity and opportunity for Black youth, the NBA Foundation is a critical ally.
What Is the NBA Foundation Grant Program?
The NBA Foundation is the league-wide foundation for economic empowerment for Black communities. It is founded with the 10-year, $300 million commitment of the NBA Board of Governors, and it is aided and abetted by all 30 NBA clubs.
The Foundation supports agencies that directly serve Black youths between the ages 14 and 24, especially those living in NBA and WNBA markets in the United States and Canada. The Foundation aims at establishing sustainable routes to jobs, business, and upward economic mobility.
Core Focus Areas
The NBA Foundation grantmaking process invests in groups that:
- Offer training for jobs and employability
- Promote the facilitation of internship chances
- Provide career support and placement
- Promote entrepreneurship and fiscal discipline
- Encourage technology and STEM education access
- Serve children from impoverished areas
Through support for long-term employability, the Foundation is not simply assisting youth with their first employment, it's investing in the future.
Driving Real-World Impact Throughout the United States and Canada
Since its establishment, the NBA Foundation has also provided over $141 million worth of grants to over 300 nongovernmental organizations, impacting over 837,000 Black youth in the United States and Canada.
Every grant cycle, the Foundation finds and supports nonprofits that can show quantifiable success in preparing youth to develop skills, gain confidence, and gain meaningful career opportunities.
Spotlight on the Previous Grant Cycle
The NBA Foundation released the 15th round grantee list, distributing funds to 25 national organizations. These grantees are providing effective programming within:
- STEM education and workforce advancement
- Youth entrepreneurship incubators
- College and career readiness
- Arts and media training
- Skilled trades and apprenticeships
Whether it is a neighborhood coding school or a mentorship program for up-and-coming filmmakers, the through-line is empowerment through possibility.
Who Can Apply for the NBA Foundation Grant?
Organizations are eligible for consideration for grants if the following general requirements are satisfied:
- Be a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization or registered charitable organization
- Have been successful at working with Black youth aged 14–24
- Operate in or around NBA/WNBA markets
- Provide programs for career and economic progress
- Be ready to track and account for results
The NBA Foundation is especially concerned with investing in organizations that are Black-controlled or show strong connection to the community in underserved communities. Equity and representation are at the heart of the analysis process.
How to Apply for the NBA Foundation Grant
Application Process
Log onto the NBA Foundation Portal
All applicants should first establish an account through the Foundation’s grant portal prior to starting the application.
Filing the Application
Needed materials are:
- IRS Determination Letter (or Canadian counterpart)
- Newest IRS Form 990
- Organization current fiscal year budget
- Comprehensive program/project budget
- Board members and leadership team
Complete the Online Application
The program will request:
- Organizational mission and background
- Program description or name requesting for funds
- Intended effects and influence
- Population served and demographics
- How the organization supports the Foundation’s mission
Show Measurable Results
Strong applicants present data or influencer stories demonstrating how their programs advance education, employment, or entrepreneurship among Black youth.
Await Notification
Award decisions are usually made within several months of the cycle closing. Chosen organizations are awarded multi-month or multi-year grants, contingent on strategy and scope.
Applications should be submitted on their Grant’s page.
Why the NBA Foundation Matters
The racial economic opportunity gap for Black kids in America is deep-seated and structural. Institutional barriers, from unequal education and mentorship opportunities to institutional discrimination in hiring persistently block progress. The NBA Foundation is addressing this head-on.
Advancing Racial Equity
At its essence, this grant program is about something more than pathways to careers, it’s about equity, justice, and sustainable, long-term change. Through the power it is giving to grassroots organizations to grow with the funds needed to grow and to endure, the NBA Foundation is shifting directions.
A League-Wide Initiative
From team executives to players and coaches, the whole NBA system has committed to the cause. Foes turned allies, the Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, and Miami Heat team up intimately with the grantees within their markets, bringing forth more points of contact for youth engagement and progress.
Scaling Impact Through Strategic Partnerships
Besides going for direct grant giving, the NBA Foundation develops capacity through:
- Partnerships with HBCUs
- Public-private collaboration
- Workforce Development Networks
- Alumni and corporate mentorship programs
The multi-faceted strategy guarantees that the grant funds not only fund the programs but strengthen their coverage, efficiency, and duration.
Transitions from Promise to Possibility
The NBA Foundation Grant Program is not simply a grant program, it is a change maker. Each dollar granted is an investment toward a future business owner, future engineer, future designer, or future leader.
Through grants to organizations that open doors for Black youth to opportunities to thrive in the workforce, the NBA Foundation is changing the conversation from scant opportunity to boundless potential.
To see all NBA grant opportunities or to view eligibility, check out the NBA Foundation’s website.
