NBA Foundation Priorities

Vision

Support national and local organizations (with priority given to those operating in NBA markets) that provide skills training, mentorship, professional coaching and pipeline development to foster employment and career advancement for Black youth.

The Need

Income Disparities

10X

The median White family holds more than ten times the wealth of the median Black family.1

$11.49

For every $1 in wealth that accrues to Black households with a college degree holder, White households with a college degree holder accrue $11.49.2

Employment Disparities

12.9%

Recent job losses as a result of the pandemic have been felt hardest in Black communities, where the unemployment rate (12.9%) remains considerably higher than non-Hispanic whites (7.0%) and the national average (7.9%).3

3.2%

Underrepresentation in the U.S. of Black business people, who represent 13.4% of the U.S. population but only 3.2% of senior executives, and 0.6% of Fortune 500 CEOs.4

Education Disparities

50%

Among high school graduates, only 50% of Black students went on to pursue post-secondary education, compared to 67% among White students.5

40%

Historically, 40% of Black students who enter 4-year universities complete their degree, compared to 64% of White students.6

1Mckinsey 2019; 2U.S. Census Bureau, 2020; 3U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Sept. 2020; 4Center for Talent Innovation, 2019 & U.S. Census Bureau, 2019; 5U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019; 6National Center for Education Statistics, 2019

Community Investment

The NBA Foundation aligns with NBA teams and team-affiliated foundations to invest in partnerships that promote meaningful economic empowerment for Black youth in their local markets. The NBA Foundation also partners with national organizations to replicate effective programs in local team markets. All contributions from the NBA Foundation to local organizations in team markets are made on behalf of the team.