The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy and The Fund Raising School partnered to help prepare two groups of 40 rising professionals from college athletic departments across the United States become leaders in their organizations and their field. They participated in an eight-week virtual course, Foundations of Fundraising, in spring 2022 and winter 2023. Participants were selected by the NCAA, with preference given to women and people of color. The program was designed to help increase diversity, equity, and inclusion within the leadership ranks of college sports through access to training that is essential for upward career advancement.
Athletes to Advocates with the WNBA Indiana Fever
Sports are an integral part of society, transcending race, religion, socio-economic status, and cultural difference, and they provide athletes with a unique platform for raising social awareness, which in turn can inspire valuable solutions to societal issues. For the past two years, in collaboration with the WNBA’s Indiana Fever basketball team and Anthem, Inc. (now known as Elevance Health), the Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy, with curriculum support from The Fund Raising School has led the Athlete to Advocate program for Fever players through which they earn a professional executive certificate on “Sports, Leadership and Social Justice.”
The program is designed for emerging leaders in athletics seeking to gain insights and apply cutting-edge knowledge to their leadership roles on and off the basketball court. Participating players expand their awareness of how philanthropy, sports, leadership and social justice intersect to inform effective approaches to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion while alleviating social inequality. They hone skills that enhance their philanthropic activities and advocacy and enable them to have a positive impact across society, including on issues associated with racial injustice, through their unique platform as professional athletes.
Athlete to Advocate equips athletes to engage new external audiences within their local communities; help develop and cultivate national audiences; demonstrate and set an example of how philanthropy (including time, talent, treasure, and testimonies) has a positive impact on reducing systematic racial inequality; and display how sports can help pioneer the way to a better tomorrow.
“We are honored to collaborate with and learn from these organizations as they create meaningful change,” said Una Osili, Ph.D., Dean’s Fellow for the Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy. “By sharing our research, expertise, and proven practices, the school and these partners are taking positive, practical steps that foster greater diversity in professional fundraising and the leadership of the philanthropic sector.”
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