38 non-profit organizations received $11 million in grants from the NBA Foundation as part of the league’s Season of Giving.
The NBA Foundation has its fourth round of grants totalling $11 million across 38 non-profit organizations. The recipients were named as part of the league’s Season of Giving, a five-week celebration during the holiday season taking place from Nov. 22 through Christmas Day.
So far, the NBA Foundation has awarded 78 grants, totaling $22 million to non-profit organizations as part of a 10-year $300 million commitment from the NBA Board of Governors. Each year the foundation is required to spend at least $30 million. The foundation is led by Greg Taylor, who serves as executive director. Its board of directors consists of the Kings’ Harrison Barnes, the 76ers’ Tobias Harris, Pelicans governor Gayle Benson, Hawks governor Tony Ressler, Raptors governor Larry Tanenbaum, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, NBPA Executive Director Michele Roberts, andMichael Jordan.
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“We’ve had a history of being active in issues around social justice and civil rights issues over time. This commitment to the NBA foundation builds on that legacy,” said Taylor in an interview with Boardroom. “If you couple that with who the league is, our brand recognition, the reach we have into homes and lives across the world, it’s a powerful stance I think for issues around equity. That is the power of the NBA being involved in social justice. We’ve really put our money where our mouth is.”
The foundation’s first grants were confirmed in December 2020 and totaled $2 million across seven organizations. Those inaugural grants aimed to increase education and employment access in Black communities; the foundation’s second grant round came in April and handed out $3 million across nine non-profits.
This time, the focuses were on providing skills training, mentorship, coaching, and pipeline development for high school-aged, college-aged, and mid-career individuals in Black communities in the US and Canada. Four months later, the league donated $6 million to 22 new grant recipients.
Grant recipient So Others Might Eat (SOME) provides services and support to vulnerable populations in the Washington, DC area 
Grant recipient Legal Outreach seeks to create better career outcomes for BIPOC high school students
The fourth round of grants includes the league’s highest total amount given to date, as well as the highest number of organizations. The $11 million will help create employment opportunities, further career advancement and drive greater economic empowerment for Black youth.
“This is a labor of love for me and my staff. We work hard because this is an incredible opportunity to enrich the lives of the youth. It’s about opportunity and resources and I think we have both, but we want to make sure we get them to as many young people as possible to help improve quality of life as we move forward,” said Taylor.
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