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 impact a wide range of issues, including 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 Social Responsibility drives change on issues facing fans and communities by advancing needed resources and proven partners through NBA Cares, the league’s goal social responsibility platform.

NBA FOUNDATION

Established in August 2020, the NBA Foundation is the league’s first-ever charitable foundation dedicated to driving economic opportunity for under-resourced 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 $140 million in grant support to 260+ nonprofit organizations impacting 500,000 youth in all 28 NBA markets.

National Basketball Social Justice Coalition

The National Basketball Social Justice Coalition is a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization that leads the NBA family’s efforts to advance social justice. Formed jointly by the NBA, NBPA, and NBCA in 2020, the Coalition leverages the game of basketball’s influence to promote policy, build strategic partnerships, and empower action in NBA markets across the nation.

NBA DIVERSITY & 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.

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.

Jrue Holiday named 2024-25 NBA Social Justice Champion

Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday has been named the 2024-25 NBA Social Justice Champion and will receive the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy. The NBA will donate $100,000 to the Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund (JLH Fund). Holiday was selected from a group of five finalists for pursuing social justice and advancing Abdul-Jabbar’s life mission to engage, empower and drive equality for individuals and groups who have been historically disadvantaged.

Our Programs in Action

Remembering A Champion of Sustainability: Bill Walton

In celebration of Earth Day, we explore how NBA legend Bill Walton embodied sustainability principles that continue today. Long before sustainability became a mainstream movement, NBA legend Bill Walton was quietly living the principles that would later define environmental consciousness. His wife, Lori Walton, says her husband’s connection to nature began in his infancy.

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NBA Foundation Partners With 82 Non-Profits in Latest Grant Round

In its continued effort to drive economic empowerment in under-resourced communities, the NBA Foundation has announced its 14th round of grants—its largest to date. Partnering with 82 nonprofit organizations across the U.S. and Canada, the Foundation is awarding $16.3 million to support workforce development across a broad range of industries, including criminal justice reform, creative arts, healthcare, STEM and more.

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Anfernee Simons Named NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award March Winner

Portland Trail Blazers Anfernee Simons has been named the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for the month of March. As part of his efforts, Simons provided scholarships to 24 students, supported mental health wellbeing and hosted holiday events in Portland and his home state of Florida. Simons will receive the David Robinson trophy, and the NBA will donate $10,000 to Be A Light, an organization that supports at-risk youth and young adults.

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Tuskegee University Tops Morehouse College in 2025 NBA x HBCU Classic

Morehouse College and Tuskegee University men’s basketball programs have been selected to compete in the 2025 NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T as part of NBA All-Star 2025 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The teams were selected in collaboration with the SIAC due to their rich traditions, on-court rivalry and commitment to excellence.

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Celebrating Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Day in the Bay Area

Kids from across the San Francisco and Oakland Unified School Districts participated in our annual Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Day, having fun learning the fundamentals and values of the game!

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NBA All-Star 2025: NBA Total Health Walk

As part of NBA All-Star Weekend, the NBA teamed up with Evernorth Health Services and GirlTrek to host the first-ever NBA Total Health Walk at Golden Gate Park, engaging approximately 1,000 local community members. Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie and NBA All-Star Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder were on hand to help drive awareness of the interconnectedness of physical, mental, and community health.

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NBA All-Stars Surprised With Rings By Boys & Girls Club Youth

The Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco and Oakland gifted NBA All-Stars their official rings with a special Love Letter to Basketball.

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NBA Social Impact Report

The NBA embraces our responsibility to the communities where we live, work and play and the unique power we have to use our platform and resources to create meaningful change. Serving those connected to our game is the foundation of our impact around the world.

This report outlines the work of our league, teams and players over the past season that have helped break down barriers, create meaningful connections and support important causes. Together, the NBA family has used its collective influence to make a meaningful impact in communities in the United States and around the world.

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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, voting rights, community safety and 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 grants@nba.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 under-resourced youth ages 14-24 years old
  • Serve a minimum of 25 youth annually across your programs
  • Have an IRS Form 990 or a 990-EZ
  • Operate in one or more of the NBA’s 28 markets

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.

Yes, we offer both.

The NBA Foundation offers 3 signature programs that support our mission to drive economic opportunity for under-resourced youth through employment and career development. Our programs include the NBA x HBCU Fellowship, the NBA All-Star Pitch Competition, and Tech Challenge. To learn more about our signature programming, visit NBAFoundation.com

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