USTA Foundation

What USTA Foundation does

The USTA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit incorporated in 1994 as the social-impact arm of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), headquartered in White Plains, New York. It operates the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network — a grassroots program model originally founded in 1969 by Arthur Ashe, Charlie Pasarell, and Sheridan Snyder — through 270+ community-based chapters that deliver year-round tennis instruction, academic support, mentorship, and scholarships to young people from under-resourced communities. The foundation reports serving 233,000+ young people annually with 413,000+ hours of programming, and claims strong outcome metrics including 99% of participants advancing on-time for grade level, 91% of national Excellence Team members going to college, and 90% of scholarship recipients graduating within four years.

The organization's product surface extends beyond core NJTL programming to include player-affiliated special funds (Frances Tiafoe Fund established 2023, Mackie McDonald College Fund launched spring 2025, Jimmy Evert Merit Scholarship Fund), signature fundraising events tied to the US Open calendar (Opening Night Gala, Pro-Am, Tennis Fantasy Camp), and a planned-giving program called the 1994 Society. The foundation does not operate a technology platform; its core 'technology' is the NJTL chapter framework combined with a CRM/data stack used for fundraising and impact measurement.

Revenue is generated entirely through voluntary contributions across five streams: individual donations (including Impact Societies for recurring givers), corporate partnerships, planned/legacy gifts, signature-event proceeds, and collaborative partnership fundraising (e.g., the $4 million Jersey Mike's campaign). The customer base is structurally bifurcated — donor-side (individuals, corporations, event attendees) and beneficiary-side (270+ NJTL chapters and the 230,000+ young people they serve) — with no transactional pricing model since programs are free or low-cost to participants. Leadership includes CEO Ginny Ehrlich, Chairperson Chris Evert (since 2019), and Board President Kathleen Wu, supported by a 11-50 person staff.

Name

USTA Foundation

Legal name

USTA Foundation Incorporated

Website

https://ustafoundation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The USTA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and social-impact arm of the USTA that operates the NJTL network of 270+ community chapters, delivering tennis, education, mentorship, and scholarships to 233,000+ young people from under-resourced U.S. communities annually, funded by individual donations, corporate partnerships, and signature events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Nonprofit Foundation

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cause, Community & CSR-Linked Sports Partnerships (Foundations, Youth Programs) (MPAKALAJ), Athletics Fundraising, Sponsorships & NIL Support (EDALAIAN)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Tennis education nonprofits
• Community mentorship programs
• College scholarship funds
• Charitable foundation services

Headquarters

HQ city

White Plains

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors support the foundation's core funding priorities including local program support, tennis court refurbishment, high-performance training, career pathways, and college scholarships. The foundation offers Impact Societies for dedicated recurring supporters.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners support USTA Foundation initiatives aligned with organizational social impact goals, co-host activations and events, create bespoke social impact campaigns, and provide client entertainment experiences.
3. Planned Giving / Legacy Gifts: The 1994 Society represents supporters who have made planned gifts to the foundation as part of their legacy. These legacy donations support long-term sustainability of the organization's mission.
4. Signature Events Revenue: Events such as the Desert Smash charity tennis event generate proceeds that benefit the USTA Foundation. Star-studded events featuring current and past top tennis players, celebrities, and pickleball players raise awareness and funds for youth programs.
5. Partnership Fundraising: Collaborative fundraising efforts with corporate partners like Jersey Mike's raised $4 million to support underserved children through aid and resources.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The USTA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit that uses tennis as a vehicle to help under-resourced youth through the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network of 270+ community-based organizations. It provides year-round free or low-cost tennis instruction, academic support, college and career pathway programs, scholarships, and mentorship, funded through individual donations, corporate partnerships, signature events, and planned giving.

Product overview

The USTA Foundation is a 501c(3) charitable organization that functions as the social impact arm of the United States Tennis Association. It operates primarily as a charitable foundation rather than a technology company, with its core product being the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. The organization delivers programs through 270+ community-based organizations providing tennis instruction, academic support, and mentorship. The foundation manages multiple special scholarship funds (Frances Tiafoe Fund, Mackie McDonald College Fund, Jimmy Evert Merit Scholarship Fund), hosts signature events (US Open Opening Night Gala, Pro-Am at US Open, Tennis Fantasy Camp), and offers planned giving programs through the 1994 Society. Supporting services include local program support, court refurbishments, college and career pathways, and high-performance training opportunities. The organization does not offer a technology product, API, or software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) Network Year-round free or low-cost tennis instruction, academic support, college and career pathway programs, and mentorship delivered through 270+ community-based organizations to young people from under-resourced communities across the United States.
• US Open Opening Night Gala Annual signature event featuring cocktails, fine dining, celebrity sightings, and premium US Open tennis viewing, used as a major fundraising and donor cultivation occasion.
• Pro-Am at the US Open Event allowing participants to compete with tennis legends on USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center courts, followed by live US Open men's semifinal action.
• Tennis Fantasy Camp Weekend experience at the USTA National Campus where participants train like professional players, eating, sleeping, and practicing like the pros.
• 1994 Society (Planned Giving Program) Legacy giving program representing supporters who have made planned gifts to the foundation as part of their estate and charitable legacy, supporting long-term mission sustainability.
• Frances Tiafoe Fund Special fund providing direct individual player grants, college scholarships, and organizational grants to support youth tennis, education, and mentorship programs.
• Mackie McDonald College Fund College scholarship fund for students demonstrating academic excellence, leadership, sportsmanship, and passion for tennis, supporting pathway programs in the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Jimmy Evert Merit Scholarship Fund Supports academic and college readiness programs and advanced tennis training through clinics, private lessons, and camps for young people from USTA Foundation chapters, primarily high-performance Excellence Program participants.
• College & Career Pathways Scholarships for young people pursuing college or post-secondary education, along with career pathway programs delivered through NJTL chapters.
• High-Performance Pathways No- or low-cost high-performance training opportunities for youth with potential to play collegiate or professional tennis.
• Court Refurbishments Tennis court refurbishment initiatives in under-resourced communities to expand access to tennis for young people and families.
• Local Program Support (NJTL Grants & Capacity Building) Strategic guidance, grants, and professional development opportunities provided to community organizations implementing NJTL programs across the chapter network.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of participants advance on-time for their grade level (K-12)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, notable, flagship and major.

• NJTL Chapters (National Junior Tennis & Learning)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2026Nearly 100 NJTL chapters nationwide participate in service initiatives including Althea Gibson Tennis Center events and Cadwalader Park court reopening. These chapters serve as grassroots delivery mechanism for tennis, education, and mentorship programs in under-resourced communities.
• Desert SmashnotableGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 February 2026Desert Smash selected the USTA Foundation as beneficiary partner for its 22nd annual charity tennis event at La Quinta Resort & Club in March 2026. The star-studded event featuring current and past top tennis players, celebrities, and pickleball players aims to raise awareness and funds for youth programs using tennis for education and mentorship.
• Realize the Dream Foundation (King Family)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024The King family's Realize the Dream Foundation partnered with the USTA Foundation in a community service collaboration to support the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Arthur Ashe. The initiative aims to reach 100 million hours of community service by 2029, with support from sports organizations and tennis players including Sloane Stephens.
• Jersey Mike'smajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 October 2022Jersey Mike's and the USTA partnered on a fundraising effort that raised $4 million to support underserved children through aid and resources. The collaboration leveraged both brands' community presence to generate significant funding for the foundation's youth programs.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tiger Woods Foundation (TGR Foundation): Athlete-founded foundation delivering education and college-access programs for under-resourced youth. Comparable in athlete-anchored brand power and scholarship pathway programs.
• Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation: Foundation supporting at-risk youth through sport-based mentoring and infrastructure (fields, facilities). Mirrors the USTA Foundation's use of sport + facility investment + mentorship.
• Laureus Sport for Good Foundation: Global foundation that funds sport-based youth development programs. Highly comparable mission, fundraising model (corporate partners + signature events), and chapter/grantee network structure.
• First Tee: National youth-development nonprofit that uses golf — analogous to how the USTA Foundation uses tennis — to teach life skills and provide academic support to under-resourced youth. Operates a chapter network model and is the closest structural analog to the NJTL framework.
• Police Athletic League (PAL): National nonprofit delivering youth development through athletic programs, including tennis, to under-resourced communities. Operates a similar chapter-based delivery model focused on sport for at-risk youth.

Emerging players

• Kids in the Game: NYC-based nonprofit expanding youth sports access in under-resourced communities. Smaller scale but directly overlaps on mission and operating geography.
• Mia Hamm Foundation: Athlete-founded foundation supporting bone marrow research and youth sports development for girls. Smaller in scale but directly comparable on athlete-brand-anchored youth sports mission.
• DREAM (formerly Harlem RBI): Sport-based youth development nonprofit combining athletics with education and college access for low-income youth. Direct overlap on the tennis-education-mentorship formula.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Largest U.S. youth-development nonprofit network, offering sports, education, and mentorship at local clubs. Operates a comparable chapter model but with a much broader programmatic scope.
• After-School All-Stars: Large national nonprofit providing after-school programming including sports, academics, and enrichment to under-resourced youth. Overlaps on educational + athletic programming for the same demographic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/USTAFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/usta-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/ustafoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about USTA Foundation