A NOCCA Foundation culinary student works alongside an instructor in a professional kitchen classroom, highlighting pathways from creative education to career opportunity.

Expanding Pathways to Economic Mobility

The NBA Foundation announced its 16th round of grantmaking, continuing its mission to expand economic opportunity and workforce pathways for young people in under-resourced communities across the country. Through sustained investment in education, career readiness and workforce development, the NBA Foundation is building long-term pathways to economic mobility by partnering with nonprofit organizations that connect young people to training, mentorship and real-world career opportunities.

“We are thrilled to announce this latest grant round. These nonprofit partners help us to deepen our impact, and we are so proud of the work they do to uplift and support youth across all our markets,” said Ruth Jurgensen, Executive Director of the NBA Foundation.

Round 16 Impact and National Reach

With this latest round of support, the Foundation has now deployed more than $160M in total grantmaking, reaching more than 877K young people ages 14-24 with job-readiness resources, supporting over 260K college enrollments and helping secure more than 134,500 job placements, including internships and opportunities through the NBA HBCU Fellowship. Young people connected to Foundation-supported pathways are securing jobs with an average salary of approximately $43K, underscoring the lasting economic impact these investments are creating for individuals, families and communities.

Building a National Ecosystem of Opportunity

Since its launch in 2020, the NBA Foundation has built a national network of nonprofit partners delivering programs that drive measurable outcomes in career development and professional advancement. A growing segment of this portfolio focuses on careers in tech, media, art and live entertainment, reflecting the Foundation’s commitment to supporting digital-first learners, content creators and young people pursuing careers in the creative economy.

Investing in the Creative Economy

Round 16 reinforces the Foundation’s focus on the Tech, Media, Art, Entertainment and Creative Industries space, supporting programs that connect creative expression with workforce readiness. These investments strengthen access to career-connected learning across music, media production, design, digital content creation and live event production, creating new pathways for young people to translate creativity into sustainable careers.

Preserving Culture While Creating Careers

New Orleans-based NOCCA Foundation joins Round 16 as a new grantee, providing pre-professional training to high school students across disciplines, including media arts, jazz, culinary arts, classical and vocal music, visual arts, drama, and creative writing. The program has achieved universal college acceptance and full job placement in creative fields, while its partnerships with the New Orleans Pelicans and Saints have created real-world professional exposure through commissioned artwork and live halftime performances.

Renewal partner Jazz at Lincoln Center continues its legacy as a global leader in jazz education, performance and advocacy. Through initiatives such as Black, Brown and Beige and the Band Director Academy, the organization provides mentorship, career training and professional development for HBCU jazz programs, strengthening artistic pipelines and long-term career pathways in music education and performance.

Developing the Next Generation of Creators

Students at Otis College of Art and Design decorate customs bags through the Black Creatives Institute, building hands-on design skills and pathways into creative careers.

Los Angeles-based Otis College of Art and Design joins Round 16 through its Black Creatives Institute, a nationally recognized initiative that prepares emerging artists and designers for careers in creative industries by building professional skills, industry networks and long-term persistence in creative education.

Create Now also brings its commitment to youth empowerment in creative fields to this round of funding, delivering tuition-free instruction and workforce training in animation, music production and digital media, and connecting young people to career pathways that bridge creativity and economic opportunity.

Creative Careers as a Pathway to Second Chances

Supporting justice-impacted youth through creative workforce development, Driving Force Group, operating in partnership with C2C and Homeboy Productions, expands opportunities for young people in Los Angeles through hands-on media production training, workforce readiness coaching and wraparound support. Participants gain industry exposure through professional mentorship, access to production environments, and learning experiences connected to professional sports ecosystems, creating tangible pathways into the creative economy.

Where Creativity Meets Opportunity

Together, these Round 16 investments reflect the NBA Foundation’s belief that creativity, when paired with access, training and workforce readiness, becomes a powerful engine for economic mobility. By aligning creative education with career-connected learning and industry access, the Foundation continues to redefine what opportunity looks like for young people across its team markets and communities nationwide.

See the full list here:

Cosign Studios — New
White Hall Arts Academy Foundation — New
Otis College of Art and Design — New
Crosstown Arts — New
Science Museum Oklahoma — New
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts — New
Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona — New
Center for Black Excellence — New
Sol Collective — New
Department of Sound — New
RE:IMAGINE ATL — Renewal
Black Girls CODE — Renewal
America On Tech — Renewal
Jazz at Lincoln Center — Renewal
Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture — Renewal
Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation — Renewal
Team Inc — Renewal
Black Girl Film School — Renewal
Juxtaposition Arts — Renewal
All Star Code — Renewal
Ghetto Film School — Renewal
Collegiate Pathways, Inc. — Renewal
Ethos Lab Educational Society — Renewal