The NBA Foundation Provides $2 million in Grants to Promote Minorities
- Author: Jeffrey Simmons
- Posted: 2024-01-12
The NBA foundation has awarded $2 million in grants to several organizations in the Black community that will encourage youth economic empowerment in employment and career advancement.
The selected recipients adhere to the mission of the Foundation to provide mentorship, training, coaching, and development for high school students, college-aged adults, career-ready Black men and women in diverse communities in America. Several organizations were chosen to receive the grants:
- The Knowledge House
- Operation Dream
- Youth Empowerment Project
- Team Inc.
- Exalt
- Manage Leadership for Tomorrow
- Marcus Graham Project
The NBA Foundation's grants aim to provide employment possibilities in African American communities and increase educational awareness in the U.S.A. and Canada.
Community Needs
The NBA Foundation wants to make inroads in income, employment, and education disparities for minority communities.
- White households have ten times more wealth than black families.
- For every $11.49 accrued for White college-educated households, Black households obtain $1 in wealth.
- Black unemployment rate is 12.9%.
- Black enterprise only represents 3.2% of businesses and 0.6% of Fortune 500 companies.
- Only 40% of African American students will complete their undergraduate education.
By encouraging African American enterprises, neighborhoods can experience revitalization through entrepreneurship, professional development, and the cultural arts and entertainment industries. The NBA sports world can pursue excellence in all fields through the work and grant recipients' assistance.
The Knowledge House
A New York City organization, The Knowledge House operates in underserved communities through impact empowerment. Young people are prepared for the 21st century with skills for the workplace and to launch ventures that will uplift depressed communities through the employment-to-education ladder.
Operation Dream
Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Operation Dream provides 250 black men developmental opportunities through employment readiness and mentoring with programs that are age appropriate.
Youth Empowerment Project
Empowering the disadvantaged in New Orleans, Louisiana, the Youth Empowerment Project serves over 1,000 children per month through enrichment programs, mentorship, and education.
Exalt
The Exalt organization is based out of New York City which propels personal success for at-risk youth who have been involved in the court system with culturally relevant and enriched programming. Exalt emphasizes:
- Critical pedagogy
- One-on-one support
- Opportunities for advancement
- Paid internships
Prospects have opportunities to advance in the criminal justice system, the employment career pipeline, and education.
Team Inc.
Situated in Oakland, California, TEAM or Tech Exposure & Access through Mentoring Inc. desires to empower students by building STEM skills and funneling their passion for sports as opportunities for the future.
Management Leadership for Tomorrow
MLT is changing the facial landscape inside the employment spheres in America. It is an accelerated network that assists over 10,000 professionals and students of color. MLT gets results for communities with:
- Breakthrough results for minorities
- High-performance playbook
- Professional sports coaching
- Network of like-minded mentors and peers
Marcus Graham Project
America is a land of diversity; therefore, the Marcus Graham Project is developing leaders to be included in the fields of media, advertising, and marketing primarily through mentorship, training, and developmental opportunities to guarantee that the business industry becomes more inclusive as a better reflection of the national ethnicity.
NBA Governors
The NBA Foundation supports the local charities and organizations of the affiliated 30 teams. Over the next decade, each of the NBA 30 team governors will collect and contribute $30 million per year through fundraising. The NBA Foundation works with media partners to market and develops more funding sources.
Furthering black economic empowerment is the motto for the NBA Foundation. The Executive Director is Greg Taylor. Other board members include Forward Harrison Barnes, Chairman Michael Jordan, Forward Tobias Harris, New Orleans Pelicans Governor Gayle Benson, Atlanta Hawks owner Tony Ressler, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, and Toronto Raptors Governor Larry Tanenbaum.
New Grant Applications
The next round of grant applications is coming soon. To inquire about the selection process for the grants, click here.
On the webpage, you will select the type of inquiry: grant application, media inquiry, or other information. Next, complete the fields for your name, title, email address, and organization. Afterward, click the right arrow button for submission. A representative will contact you soon.
