NIKE, Inc. Announces Its 2023 Black Community Commitment Grantees

“Every day I am inspired by my teammates here at Nike who recognize the importance of the work we are doing. I’m also inspired by the various organizations we partner with who are on the ground, in our communities, committed to creating change and combatting the inequities we all face daily,” says Karol Collymore, Nike Senior Director of Inclusive Community for Social & Community Impact. 

The NIKE, Inc. Black Community Commitment began in June 2020 after the murder of George Floyd. NIKE, Inc. committed $40 million over four years, and Jordan Brand and Michael Jordan committed $100 million over 10 years, together investing in and supporting organizations focused on economic empowerment, education innovation and social justice to address racial inequality for the Black community in the U.S. 

Today, NIKE, Inc. is announcing $8.9 million in new investments for our Black Community Commitment portfolio across 53 national and local nonprofit organizations focused on education innovation, economic empowerment and social justice.

These investments include partnerships with three new national grantees, renewed partnerships with seven national grantees, and new and renewed partnerships with 43 grantees across Boston; Chicago; Los Angeles; Memphis; New York City; Portland; Oregon, and St. Louis.

Combined, these national and local commitments with progressive, impactful organizations have the power to drive transformative change and help address systematic racism.

“As a proud recipient of Nike’s Black Community Commitment grant, we are dedicated to empowering Black communities and advancing our shared goals of equity and justice,” says Melanie Campbell, President & CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and Convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable. “Our organization’s mission to promote Black civic engagement and racial, economic, and social justice is anchored in building values-driven coalitions centered on women and youth empowerment, leadership development, health & wellness, education and global empowerment. When our community has a seat at the table, it benefits everyone in the nation.”

Since launching in June 2020, NIKE, Inc. has invested $28.9 million with national and city-specific partners through its Black Community Commitment.

Get to know the 2023 grantees below, and learn more about our Black Community Commitment here.

2023 New National Grantees

We’re excited to partner with three new national organizations that align with our three core commitments for a total of $750,000 in investments across the grantees.

Education Innovation 

BUILD teaches underserved high school students how to build their own businesses while becoming the CEO of their own lives. Entrepreneurship is the hook; college and career success are the goals.

Economic Empowerment

Fearless Foundation advances the progression for people of color by reducing racial inequities and providing access to capital.

Social Justice Reform

National Coalition on Black Civic Participation increases civic engagement and voter participation in Black and underserved communities. It strives to create an enlightened community by engaging people in all aspects of public life through service, advocacy, leadership development and voting.

2023 Renewed National Grantees

We’re also renewing seven national grantees for a total of $5.75 million in investments across the organizations.

Economic Empowerment

NAACP Empowerment Programs build inclusive criminal justice policies, healthcare systems, economies and classrooms through its commitment to dismantle racism and disrupt inequality.

The Goalsetter Foundation leverages digital platforms to engage youth and help them better understand financial well-being while saving for their future. NIKE, Inc.’s initial $1 million investment helped the organization seed 10,000 kids’ savings accounts through the Goalsetter app.

Education Innovation

All Star Code prepares underserved groups, particularly Black and Latino men, for careers in the innovation economy through computer science education. Their ultimate goal is to close the wealth, income and opportunity gaps within this field.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America connects children ages 5 and up with adults for one-to-one mentoring relationships that help foster the critical emotional development needed to build resilience and promote mental health and well-being.

Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design serves as a pipeline historically Black college/university for career education and professional development in the product-creation industry.

Social Justice Reform

NAACP Legal Defense Fund seeks structural change to expand democracy, eliminate disparities and achieve racial justice in a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all Americans through litigation, advocacy and public education.

Equal Justice Initiative provides legal representation to prisoners who may have been wrongly convicted of crimes, prisoners without the means to afford effective representation, and others who may have been denied a fair trial.

2023 City-Specific Grantees

We’re proud to partner with the following city-specific organizations for a total of $2.4 million in investments across 43 grantees.

BOSTON

Youth Guidance creates and implements school-based programs that enable children to overcome obstacles and succeed in school and life. Programming includes Becoming a Man, which supports young men through weekly group sessions with their peers and the guidance of a trauma-informed counselor, and Working on Womanhood, which works to improve social-emotional competencies for girls in 7th to 12th grade who were exposed to traumatic stressors in high-risk and under-resourced communities.

Citizens for Juvenile Justice works to improve the juvenile justice system in Massachusetts by advocating for statewide systemic reform and promoting community engagement, research and public education to the on important juvenile and youth justice issues.

Inner City Weightlifting amplifies the voice and agency of people who have been most impacted by systemic racism and mass incarceration by partnering with program participants through case management and promoting careers in and beyond personal training.

Roca disrupts incarceration, poverty and racism by engaging the young adults, police and systems at the center of urban violence in relationships to address trauma, find hope and drive change.

CHICAGO

Chicago Scholars works with academically ambitious, first-generation college students from under-resourced communities in Chicago with a seven-year program to help navigate the complex transitions into college, through college and beyond to a career.

Grow Greater Englewood works with residents and developers to create sustainable local food economies, green businesses and land sovereignty to empower residents to create wellness and wealth.

Hustle Mommies amplifies the voices of urban Chicago moms by providing them with resources to advocate for their families and their communities and focusing on emotional wellness, effective parenting and career/entrepreneurial development. 

Brave Space Alliance is dedicated to creating and providing affirming; culturally competent; for-us, by-us resources, programming and services for LGBTQ+ individuals on the south and west sides of the city.

Lawndale Christian Development Co. improves the lives of North Lawndale residents by providing affordable housing, addressing economic challenges, promoting homeownership and facilitating community organizing.

LOS ANGELES

The Girls Club of Los Angeles (Read Lead) provides summer and after-school learning enrichment for children in underserved communities.

Our Own dismantles systemic barriers in nutrition, education, entrepreneurship, mental health and physical fitness to further bridge the gap to ensure racial equity and social justice.

Children Striving Together supports at-promise youth and children in LA and Orange Counties by offering a variety of activities and events that foster their growth as individuals.

ThinkWatts Foundation focuses on community grassroots activations, including developing financial literacy programming with rental assistance and utility bill relief, custom container-housing solutions for the homeless and re-entry population, food and essential goods distributions, and charitable fundraising through entertainment industry efforts.

LA Jets Track Club supports Black elementary youth in the LA area in track and field; volunteer coaches prepare the athletes to compete in meets and potentially gain track and field scholarships to universities and colleges around the United States.

Yetunde Price Resource Center collaborates with partner organizations to offer trauma-informed programs that promote individual and community-wide healing and resiliency.
 

MEMPHIS

Schoolseed Foundation works with individuals, community groups and businesses to ensure children are provided with high-quality education.

Just City transforms local criminal justice policy and practice to ensure it is fair for all people regardless of wealth, race or ethnicity.

Knowledge Quest responds to the needs of the Memphis community by helping stabilize homes, providing access to health, and making the clear path to opportunities for families through extended learning academies, the Green Leaf Learning Farm and family stability centers.

Kudzukian Media Group harnesses distinctly unique voices to create turnkey production of on-demand virtual, in-studio and livestream content across all media platforms.

New Ballet Ensemble brings children and youth together by providing a professional standard of training, regardless of the ability to pay.

Pure Youth Athletics is a non-public, church-related school that gives students the necessary tools to become successful college students and productive members of the community through athletics.

Memphis Shelby Police Activities League prevents crime, builds character and promotes success for children through youth mentoring programs.

STS Enterprise serves 13- to 24-year-old minorities by providing mentorships, workshops, exposure to careers and experiences, and talent placement with a focus on building confidence, life skills and tools for secondary or postgraduate opportunities to achieve economic mobility.

The Consortium Memphis Music Town serves the city of Memphis by facilitating and coordinating a strategy to leverage the music resources and assets of the community in an intentional way to have a highly qualified and informed pool of talent that is poised for careers in the music industry.

NEW YORK CITY

Harlem Grown inspires youth to lead healthy and ambitious lives through mentorship and hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability and nutrition.

Hope Center Harlem provides quality therapeutic services to the Harlem community in an effort to directly impact mental health needs and promote health and wellness.

The HOPE Program empowers New Yorkers to build sustainable futures through comprehensive training jobs, advancement and lifelong career support.

City Year New York supports local schools and resources for New York students to feel a sense of belonging and builds a place where they can thrive.

YearUp-NYC closes the opportunity divide by ensuring young adults gain the skills, experiences and support that will empower them to reach their potential through careers and higher education.

Young Masterminds Initiative promotes leadership and positive self-awareness by creating unique experiences that teach young men of color about the value of brotherhood, community and the pursuit of excellence using a combination of peer learning, outdoor education and mentorship programs.

Justice for Black Girls serves Black girls’ needs for protection, safety and belonging through a holistic culture of care coupled with Black feminist curriculum, grassroots collaborations and academic partnerships.

 
PORTLAND, OREGON

Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC) builds safe, healthy and vibrant neighborhoods through a broad array of programs and services focused on economic development and supportive social services.

Albina Vision Trust champions the repair of historic harm to the lower Albina neighborhood through innovation solutions focused on public-private partnerships.

Built Oregon supports economic opportunities for Black business owners and entrepreneurs through empowerment, education and supportive services.

Black Parent Initiative supports the education and mobilization of parents and caregivers of African, African American and African American multi-cultural children to ensure they achieve success.

Word Is Bond supports a truth and reconciliation process between young Black men and law enforcement through leadership development, critical dialogue and engagement.

Elevate Oregon empowers young people toward success and leadership — with the goal that they become strong, positive influences in the community — through long-term, culturally responsive instruction and mentoring support.

Rosewood Initiative supports the building of safe, healthy and vibrant neighborhoods through a broad array of programs and services focused on economic development and supportive social services.

Portland NAACP (via Black United Fund of Oregon) supports political, educational, social and economic equality and the elimination of racial hatred and discrimination.

Taking Ownership PDX (via Elevate Oregon) renovates and revives Black-owned homes with an emphasis on enabling Black homeowners to age in place, generate wealth and simultaneously deter predatory investors and realtors to deflect the gentrification process.

North Starz Basketball (via Elevate Oregon) serves as a youth league in North Portland for children in underserved communities to participate in a competitive basketball league.
 

ST. LOUIS

Riverview West Florissant Development Corporation focuses on strengthening and stabilizing neighborhoods north of St. Louis.

Arch City Defenders uses holistic legal advocacy to help clients create civil rights lawsuits to challenge the direct abuses of the criminal justice system. 

Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis empowers African Americans and others throughout the St. Louis region in securing economic self-reliance, social equality and civil rights.

The Sophia Project engages, educates and empowers young women to make sound decisions, embrace personal awareness and build healthy relationships.