NBA Foundation FAQs

Eligibility Criteria

What are the grant requirements for an organization to be considered for funding?

Your organization must:

▪ Be a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization or a T3010 if operating in Canada

▪ Have a current IRS Form 990 or Form 990 or Form 990-EZ from the most recent fiscal year

▪ Focus on promoting school-to-career employment opportunities targeting under resourced youth ages 14-24 years old in a market with an NBA team

▪ Serve a minimum of 25 youth annually across your programs

▪ Submit an organizational budget, program budget, and list of board members

When can eligible nonprofits apply for funding?

The NBA Foundation has two application windows. Below are the application windows for the current fiscal year:

▪ October 1st– November 14th 2025

▪ Spring 2026 (exact dates to be released)

How does the NBA Foundation define under-resourced youth?

The work of the NBA Foundation embodies the NBA’s ongoing commitment to better reflect the communities and backgrounds that make up each NBA market. The NBA Foundation defines under-resourced youth as individuals between the ages of 14 and 24 who are talented and ambitious, but systemically excluded from the networks, opportunities, and capital necessary to pursue higher education and enter the workforce. The NBA Foundation’s work focuses on creating economic opportunities and addressing employment disparities for these young people to foster social mobility and economic empowerment.

If our organization supports youth and individuals outside of the designated age range (for example ages 10-18 or 21-35), are we still eligible to apply for funding?

Yes, your organization may still be eligible to apply for funding if the program serves youth outside of the NBA Foundation’s designated age ranges (10–18 or 21–35), as long as the requested program also meaningfully impacts youth within the age range of 14–24. We highly encourage you to submit a proposal for programming that reaches youth within the 14–24 age range. However, if the program for which you are requesting support exclusively serves individuals outside of this age range, your organization would not be eligible for funding under the NBA Foundation’s guidelines.

How do I apply for a grant at the NBA Foundation?

o Review the Grant Requirements on our website’s Grants Page to see if you’re eligible.

o Create an account on our grant application portal, FLUXX.

o Once your organization is registered, review the confirmation email sent from FLUXX that include credentials to log in to the portal. Please note that the credentials link expires within 48 hours.

o Complete and submit the grant application in our FLUXX portal. Once you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email. You can expect to hear from us within 12 weeks of submission.

My organization does not have a 501(c)(3) status and we plan to apply/applied for status already.

We cannot review organizations without a 501(c)(3) status. We encourage your organization to apply once you receive it or are partnered with a fiscal sponsor.

My organization is brand new and we have not yet filed for an IRS Form 990 or a 990-EZ.

We cannot review an application without an IRS Form 990 or organizations with a 990-N. We encourage your organization to apply once you receive your IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

What documents are required to apply?

To submit the application, you must upload the required documents: Program Budget, 990 Form, Board List, and Organizational Budget. Uploading the Annual Report is optional.

Program Budget (+)

990 Form (+)

Board List (+)

Organizational Budget (+)

Annual Report (+)

My organization does not operate or provide programming/services in one of the 28 NBA markets.

We only fund organizations whose programming occurs in an NBA market. Please see here for a full list of NBA markets.

My organization is headquartered outside an NBA market but does work with under resourced youth in an NBA market.

Your organization is eligible to submit a proposal, which should focus on serving under resourced youth in the targeted NBA market.

Renewed Applicants

I was awarded a grant award from the NBA Foundation and my grant contract is ending. What is the renewal process?

Once an organization’s grant ends and the final report is submitted, the NBA Foundation will complete a review and determine whether the organization is invited to apply for a renewal grant. Please note that submitting a renewal application does not guarantee funding, as it will still undergo a holistic evaluation and approval process. The NBA Foundation typically considers grantees for renewal based on mid-year and final report impact data to determine renewal eligibility during our next review period. Once our review is complete, our team will determine whether we will nominate your organization for renewal in our upcoming grant round.

If you’re not invited to reapply, your organization must wait for the next available application cycle after the end date of your current grant before re-applying, even if the proposal is for a different program.

Once granted, what do nonprofit organizations receive as partners of the NBA Foundation?

NBA Foundation grantee partners receive:

Capital– The NBA Foundation manages and distributes critical resources to its nonprofit partners, supporting their efforts to create economic opportunities for underserved youth. This also helps grant partners secure additional funding and achieve long-term sustainability.

Connection– The NBA Foundation connects nonprofits and NBA teams. It facilitates the sharing of best practices by:

o Hosting quarterly “learning community” meetings;

o Cultivating relationships through in-person and virtual meetings and site visits; and

o Developing collaborative opportunities at NBA Tent-Pole Events

Content– The NBA Foundation leverages its brand to amplify the visibility of its grant partners, featuring them on the NBA App, NBA.com, and social media to extend their global reach.

Organization Requirements

My organization is a local affiliate of a national nonprofit organization. Can our affiliate still apply for funding?

Chapters and/or affiliates of a national organization are eligible to receive funding from the NBA Foundation. Local chapters are also welcome to apply jointly under the national organization’s proposal.

We recommend that the national organization is aware of your proposal to the NBA Foundation prior to submission to avoid any conflicts.

My organization is a national nonprofit with affiliates both inside and outside NBA markets. Can our organization apply for funding?

Applicants can include multiple NBA markets in their proposal. If you are operating in cities not in an NBA market, we ask that the proposal target NBA markets.

Does the NBA Foundation fund programs and/or organizations based at colleges or universities?

We do not typically fund university programs unless there is a partnership with a 501(c)(3) organization.

We consider these types of applications on a case-by-case basis. We specifically consider:

University-affiliated programs that operate through a separate 501(c)(3) foundation
Workforce development initiatives housed within colleges or universities that serve youth in the eligible age range. Programs must demonstrate a clear focus on career readiness, employment, mentorship, or related areas that support upward mobility for under resourced youth. If your university-based initiative meets these criteria, we encourage you to apply.

Does the proposed project have to be sports or male-centered?

No, the NBA Foundation supports workforce development and career readiness programs in a variety of industries in service of boys, girls, and non-binary youth ages 14-24. These industries include:

1. Traditional Workforce Development focused on Job Placement

2. Education and College Access

3. Sports, Tech, and Media

4. Arts and Entertainment

5. Entrepreneurship

6. Justice-Impacted Workforce Development Programs, the Trades, and Alternative Pathways to Success

7. Environmentalism and Green Jobs

8. Health, Medicine, and Disability Justice

Grant Application

What types of funding support do NBA Foundation grants offer?

The NBA Foundation primarily offers flexible programmatic support funds that target a defined project of the organization related to workforce development and career readiness. General operating support funds that support overall programmatic needs are also accepted on a case-by-case basis. This includes overhead expenses and day-to-day operations such as salaries, rent, technology, and infrastructure.

Does the NBA Foundation offer multi-year grants?

The NBA Foundation provides both one-year and two-year grants based upon several factors including budget size, demonstrated impact of success, proposed project scope and scale, and outcomes.

Will nonprofits be able to re-apply for grants?

Former Applicants: Former applicants are organizations that have previously applied for funding from the NBA Foundation, but were not selected for a grant. These organizations may reapply during future NBA Foundation application windows. All applications will be reviewed in accordance with the Foundation’s current funding priorities and eligibility criteria.

Active Grantee Partners: Active Grantee Partners are organizations that have received a grant award from the NBA Foundation and whose grant contract is approaching its conclusion. Upon submission of the final grant report, the NBA Foundation will conduct a comprehensive review to assess the organization’s impact and alignment with Foundation goals. Based on this evaluation, the Foundation may extend an invitation to apply for a renewal grant. Please note that receiving an invitation to apply does not guarantee continued funding.

Former Grantee Partners: Former grantee partners are organizations that received grants previously, but were not nominated for renewal. These organizations are welcomed to re-apply during the next available application window.

How soon will nonprofit organizations hear from the NBA Foundation after submission?

Nonprofits will receive a response within 12 weeks after submission. Each application is reviewed to determine if it meets our mission and guidelines. Responses will indicate approval, a request for more information, or a respectful decline.

Can we contact a member of your staff before applying?

Given the high volume of inquiries, our team does not conduct any conversations prior to a complete review of applications before setting up a preliminary call. We encourage organizations to review our Grant Requirements and for inquiries not answered on this page, please email grants@nba.com for additional support.

My application has been declined by the NBA Foundation. Can I request feedback on my application?

Due to the high volume of proposals, unfortunately, we are unable to meet individual organizations and provide application feedback. We encourage you to review our grant requirements and if your organization is qualified, please apply during one of our application cycles.

Team Partnership

Will the local market teams be involved in the grant selection process?

We work collaboratively with NBA Teams during the selection process. The NBA Foundation evaluates each applicant against a rubric to score proposals based on the grant requirements listed on our website. Decisions are made based on how applicants are scored against this rubric and approval from the NBA Foundation board on a quarterly basis.

Does my organization need a connection to an NBA team?

A connection with an NBA team is not required to be eligible for a grant. While a relationship with a local NBA team is not required for funding, we do prioritize and track organizations that actively partner

with NBA teams for opportunities. This can include organizations that have:

i. Received funding and/or a grant from an NBA team

ii. Participated in a community event executed by an NBA team

iii. Received tickets and/or participating in group sales

iv. Engaged with a player (e.g, player participated, such as large-scale events or galas)

v. Engaged with a team executive (e.g, team executive serves on an organization’s board or

volunteers with the organization)

Can I ask my local NBA Team for funding if I do not receive funding from the NBA Foundation?

If your organization does not receive funding from the NBA Foundation, please do not to reach out to your local NBA team independently to explore other opportunities for financial support. Each team manages its own community engagement and philanthropic efforts, so funding and partnership opportunities may vary. Examples of team engagement we recognize include:

i. Receiving funding or a grant from an NBA team

ii. Participating in a community event hosted by a team

iii. Receiving tickets or participating in group sales

iv. Engaging with NBA players at events or galas

v. Collaborating with team executives (e.g., serving on your board or volunteering

vi. To connect with your local NBA team, we recommend visiting the team’s official website to

explore partnership opportunities.

Budget

What is an appropriate grant request amount or grant size?

Our average grant size is $250,000 and award amounts are typically 10-12% of the organization’s budget. The amount requested should be proportionate to your organizational budget, project budget, and expected income from other funding sources. The lowest grant amount we deploy is $25,000.

Are funds able to support direct program costs only?

Primarily, yes, unless the application requests general operating support funds for indirect costs, which we review on a case-by-case basis. This includes overhead expenses and day-to-day operations such as salaries, rent, technology, and infrastructure.

Do you fund summer programs or internship stipends?

Yes, however, we consider the holistic proposal/program when making decisions to fund these activities (i.e. frequency of summer programming touchpoints, post-summer program support for youth, stipend purpose, etc.)

Technical Assistance

I have registered for an account in FLUXX, however I am receiving an error message when I try to submit my application.

Please refer to the list of troubleshooting items below for assistance. If these do not resolve the error message you are receiving, please send a screenshot of the error message to grants@nba.com and we will respond to your inquiry within 48-72 hours:

i. Target NBA Market

Click the green plus sign to the far right of “Target NBA Markets” and select the city / NBA team this grant will target

ii. Financial Health Worksheet

Click the green plus sign to the far right of the “Financial Health Worksheet” to input financial information from the organization’s IRS 990 documentation or audited financials

Target Population Section – Age Breakdown:

Click the green plus sign to the far right of the question “Please provide the below breakdown for all age groups your program or project will target” and select the percentage of students impacted by age

I created a new organization profile with my current email, however my organization has an old profile with a prior declined grant under a different primary contact, but both with the same tax ID. Should I delete the old profile?

Please keep your previous organization profile and simply re-apply with a new application under the initial account so there are no duplicates in our systems. In the event of employee turnover or staff change at a nonprofit organization applying for funding, please update your profile with the new primary contact and remove the former primary contact. For technical support on updating a profile contact, please email grants@nba.com

Other/Non-Grant Related Requests

Does the NBA Foundation provide free tickets to NBA Games or tentpole events (All-Star, Summer League, NBA Draft, etc.) to nonprofit organizations?

The NBA Foundation is a charitable foundation. Our primary role is to provide capital and partnership to nonprofit organizations. We are not responsible for the ticketing process to NBA games and tentpole events. On occasion, the NBA Foundation provides free tickets to existing grantees on a case-by-case basis.

Does the NBA Foundation support NBA Players charitable organization?

At this time, the NBA Foundation does not support current players charitable organizations. However, former NBA players seeking support for their nonprofit organization that align with the NBA Foundation mission should consider applying.

Can the NBA Foundation/local NBA team support player asks such as a player attending an event, receiving an award, or attendance at a gala, etc.?

At this time, the NBA Foundation does not facilitate requests for NBA players to attend events for fundraising or promotional purposes. Player appearances are coordinated separately and are not part of the NBA Foundation’s grantmaking process.

Can my nonprofit organization request for the NBA Foundation to sponsor a table at our annual gala?

The NBA Foundation does not typically sponsor tables at one-time events or fundraising galas. As a strategic grantmaker, the NBA Foundation prioritizes investments that directly advance its mission of driving economic opportunity for under resourced youth. While it values opportunities to engage with community partners, our funding approach focuses on long-term impact rather than short-term event sponsorships.