NBA Foundation grantee City Year supports career development by placing young AmeriCorps members in schools across NBA markets.
In a groundbreaking stride towards economic empowerment, the NBA Foundation has unveiled its latest and largest wave of grants to date, totaling an impressive $16.3 million. This initiative, representing the Foundation’s 14th round of grants, is designed to uplift under-resourced communities across the U.S. and Canada through collaborative efforts with 82 nonprofit organizations.
Since its establishment in 2020, the NBA Foundation has committed over $140 million to empower youth aged 14-24. Their mission? To help young individuals sharpen essential skills, access mentorship opportunities, and forge pathways for sustainable career success. Remarkably, this commitment has already impacted more than 770,000 young lives across NBA markets. As Ruth Jurgensen, the Executive Director of the NBA Foundation states, “We are thrilled to announce this latest round of funding, offering support to amazing organizations that are providing workforce development opportunities in a diverse range of industries.”
This exciting funding cycle shines a spotlight on a diverse array of sectors, from criminal justice reform to STEM, creative arts, and healthcare, all aiming to create equitable access to opportunity and drive significant change.
Family Promise of Greater Cleveland: Tackling Homelessness through Employment Opportunities
Family Promise staff don Cavaliers gear while engaging with a client’s family.
A notable newcomer among this year’s grantees is Family Promise of Greater Cleveland, which exemplifies the Foundation’s dedication to holistic community development. This nonprofit organization provides transitional housing along with comprehensive support services for families facing homelessness, guiding them toward stability through job readiness and securing family-sustaining employment.
Connie Sievers, Grants and Communications Manager for Family Promise, expressed the transformative potential of the grant: “We see this opportunity as a life-altering chance for our clients to change the trajectory of their future. This grant will help us support heads of household in securing stable employment—the critical piece in helping families remain housed after their time in our program ends.”
With the newly funded Workforce Experience Program, Family Promise will match clients with employers offering flexible, well-paying jobs. The foundation covers wages during a probationary period, allowing both parties to determine a good fit and breaking down barriers to hiring while subsequently building long-term career paths. “We are so grateful to the NBA Foundation for allowing us to bring it back,” Sievers emphasizes. “This is equity in action.”
Additionally, Family Promise enjoys a strong partnership with the Cleveland Cavaliers and their G League affiliate, the Cleveland Charge. This collaboration not only provides game tickets and holiday gifts but also significant community support, ensuring the nonprofit can effectively assist families in need.
In the words of Pam Frasco, Cleveland Cavaliers Vice President of Social Impact, “The relationship the Cleveland Cavaliers have with the NBA Foundation helps us drive even greater impact and more positive outcomes for our Northeast Ohio community.”
City Year: Empowering Future Civic Leaders Through Service
City Year Corps Members leading youth in schools.
Another standout from this funding announcement is City Year, a longstanding partner of the NBA Foundation and a pioneer in civic leadership development. Since initiating their partnership in 2023, City Year has made an indelible mark, reaching over 6,000 young individuals and supporting their career paths across eight NBA markets.
City Year places AmeriCorps members, diverse individuals aged 17 to 25, in schools nationwide to inspire students and foster the next generation of leaders. The Foundation’s support has allowed City Year to enhance college and career pathways for its corps members while notably increasing the representation of Black participants in their programs.
“Corps Members are a diverse group of amazing young adults from all backgrounds,” says Stephen Spaloss, Executive Vice President and Chief Social Responsibility Officer at City Year. “They often tell me, ‘I’m setting an example, I’m seeing people who are like me, and I’m making the most of this year.’ That’s the goal—to inspire, connect, and uplift.”
As a direct result of the NBA Foundation’s support, City Year has:
- Served over 200,000 students across 8 NBA markets.
- Supported more than 6,000 young leaders in exploring their service-to-career pathways.
- Enabled 121 AmeriCorps members to enroll in college.
- Facilitated 385 full-time employment opportunities.
“This partnership is a model for how sports organizations can deeply engage with communities beyond symbolic gestures,” adds Spaloss. “The NBA Foundation doesn’t just talk the talk; they show up and do the work with us. That’s powerful.”
A Vision for Lasting Change
The NBA Foundation’s latest grant allocation marks a transformative milestone, not only in terms of funding but also in the lives impacted and futures reimagined. With their unwavering commitment to fostering economic empowerment, the Foundation continues to prove that thoughtful partnerships can yield substantial, positive change in our communities.
For a complete list of NBA Foundation’s grantees and to learn more about their vital work, visit the official website.
