Social Impact

NBA Mission: Inspire and Connect People Everywhere Through The Power of Basketball

As part of the NBA’s mission we will continue to use our influence to effect change around a wide range of issues, including racial equality, health and wellness, education, environmental responsibility and sustainability, and diversity and inclusion. Our work in these areas all fall within the below programs and initiatives.

NBA Cares

NBA Cares is the league’s global social responsibility program that unites people and communities through the game of basketball and shines a light on important social issues – including race, gender, LGBTQ and health equity, education, physical and mental health and wellness, environmental responsibility, and youth, family and community development.

NBA Foundation

Established in August 2020, the NBA Foundation is the league’s first-ever charitable foundation dedicated to driving economic opportunity for Black youth in NBA markets across the United States and Canada. The Foundation invests in local and national organizations that promote school-to-career and workforce development opportunities. To date, it has provided more than $53 million in grant support to 130+ nonprofit organizations impacting 70,000 Black youth in all 28 NBA markets.

National Basketball Social Justice Coalition

The National Basketball Social Justice Coalition is an organization of players, coaches, team governors, and executives leading the NBA family’s advocacy work to dismantle racial inequality and advance social justice.

NBA Diversity and Inclusion

At the NBA, we celebrate our common love of the game, building connections that enable us to leverage our differences. Basketball transcends all dimensions of diversity – those you can see, and those you can’t. We practice inclusion through recruiting and development, culture and economic engagement.

HBCUs

The NBA’s ongoing support of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) focuses on creating greater opportunity for students and alumni through professional development, career advancement, and increased support and awareness for HBCU athletics and institutions. Core components of this work include the NBA HBCU Fellowship Program and the NBA HBCU Classic.

Maui Relief Efforts

The NBA family is working together with a number of disaster relief organizations to provide immediate and critical support to those affected by the Maui wildfires.

Our Programs in Action

August WNBA Cares Community Assist Award Winner: Courtney Vandersloot

New York Liberty’s guard Courtney Vandersloot is the recipient of the August WNBA Cares Community Assist Award, which recognizes her efforts to raise awareness and support research for multiple myeloma.

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NBA Foundation Friday: Spotlighting efforts to reform the criminal justice system

The Anti-Recidivism Coalition and Youth Sentencing Reentry Project works with those affected by the criminal justice system, seeking to offer assistance and create a more just society.

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Jr. NBA Elevate: Jase Richardson

Join Jr. NBA Court of leaders member Jase Richardson and Coach Jeremiah Boswell in this weeks episode of Jr. NBA Elevate. Showcasing his game both on and off the court.

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First-ever Jr. NBA Showcase unveils future of youth basketball globally

Step into the epicenter of youth basketball excellence at the inaugural Jr. NBA Showcase. Presented by Nike, the showcase brought together 40 exceptional 13 and 14-year-old basketball players from 17 countries in an unforgettable week of skill development, fierce competition and leadership growth.

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NBA Foundation celebrates 3rd anniversary, announces $13.5M grant round

The NBA Foundation awards 40 new and renewed grants in latest grant round to help drive economic opportunity and empowerment in the Black community.

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NBA Foundation Friday: Spotlighting excellence in education

The Center for Black Educator Development, the Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization and InsideOut Literary Arts fight valiantly to even the playing field for students of color.

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NBA Social Impact Report

The 2022-23 NBA Social Impact Report is the second annual compilation of data and information regarding the league office’s efforts in what is commonly known as “Environmental, Social, and Governance“ (E.S.G.) work. Contents of the report include the league’s programs and initiatives around community outreach, youth and elite basketball development, social justice, and diversity and inclusion, among other important areas that reflect our values and commitment.

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FAQ: NBA Cares

Launched in 2005, NBA Cares serves as the league’s global social responsibility platform, fulfilling the NBA’s mission by working to address important social issues. Working alongside internationally recognized youth serving organizations, the NBA family has provided more than 6.2 million hours of hands-on service and helped create more than 2,041 places where kids and families can live, learn or play in 40 countries and territories.

All 30 NBA Teams work throughout the season to identify specific needs and challenges facing their communities and partner with local community stakeholders to make an impact through NBA Cares events and programming.

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FAQ: National Basketball Social Justice Coalition

The National Basketball Social Justice Coalition is a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization that leads the NBA family’s collaborative efforts to advance social justice. The Coalition was formed in 2020 as a joint venture of the National Basketball Association (NBA), National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), and National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA).

The Coalition leverages the game of basketball’s influence to promote policy, build strategic partnerships, and empower action on racial inequality and social justice.

The Coalition is led by a board of fifteen, including 5 players, 5 team governors, 2 head coaches, the NBA Commissioner, the NBA Deputy Commissioner, and the Executive Director of the NBPA. Day-to-day operations are executed by a team of full-time Coalition employees.

Since tipping off its agenda, the Coalition has advocated on a bipartisan basis for better laws and policies on policing reform, on voting rights, and on criminal justice reform.

As a 501(c)(4) organization, the Coalition adds new tools to the NBA family’s social impact work—engaging in direct legislative and policy advocacy on justice issues.

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FAQ: NBA Foundation

The Foundation makes grants across the United States and Canada with a specific focus on the NBA’s 28 markets.

The first step in the NBA Foundation’s grantmaking process is submitting a brief application through the Foundation’s grants application portal. Additional instructions can be found here. If you have any questions or technical issues, please direct all inquiries to info@nbafoundation.com.

To be considered for a grant from the NBA Foundation, your organization must meet the following requirements:

  • Qualify as a registered 501(c)3 tax organization or a T3010 if operating in Canada
  • Focus on promoting school-to-career employment opportunities that target Black youth ages 14-24 years old
  • Serve a minimum of 25 youth annually across your programs

The Foundation does not support:

  • Direct donations or grants to individuals
  • Individual scholarships or sponsorships
  • Projects or programs primarily focused on serving adults over the age of 25
  • Political campaigns and lobbying efforts
  • After school or Pre-K programs
  • Hospitals

The NBA HBCU Fellowship Program aims to provide career development opportunities in the business of basketball for undergraduate and graduate students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Fellows are selected by NBA teams and the league office to work within a variety of departments, including ticket sales, corporate partnerships, legal, social responsibility, and marketing. The Fellowship Program is a paid 10-week summer internship program and will run from June – August.

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