Athletes for Hope
Athletes for Hope is the largest athlete-led U.S. sports nonprofit, founded in 2006, that educates professional, Olympic, Paralympic, college, and high school athletes on philanthropy and connects them with underserved schools and community organizations through programs like CHAMPS, AFH Wellbeing, and AFH University.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersBethesda, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Athletes for Hope does
Athletes for Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2006 and headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. It is described as the largest athlete-led sports nonprofit in the United States, founded by Muhammad Ali, Mia Hamm, Andre Agassi, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and four other legendary athletes, with a current Athlete Leadership Council including Stephen Curry, Katie Ledecky, Nathan Chen, Elena Delle Donne, Gabby Thomas, and Ezra Frech. The organization educates professional, Olympic, Paralympic, college, and high school athletes on philanthropy and community engagement through the Causeway workshop framework, and connects them with schools and community organizations for service.
AFH operates a portfolio of programs: the CHAMPS school-based program, which uses sport to promote mental and physical wellness among underserved elementary students and claims to reach 318,000+ students monthly across 1,300+ schools; AFH Wellbeing, an athlete-led mental health initiative developed in partnership with the American Psychiatric Association Foundation; AFH University, which extends programming to college student-athletes; the High School Leadership Academy for high school athletes; and the Athlete Leadership Council. Since inception, more than 12,000 athletes have been educated through the Causeway workshop series.
The organization is funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships (including Under Armour, Deloitte, Thrivent, and ESPN), and foundation grants (including the Pennington Foundation, Bender Foundation, Gordon & Llura Gund Foundation, and Carl M Freeman Foundation). Programs and workshops are provided free of charge to athletes and schools. The organization reports 1-10 employees and is led by CEO Jason Belinkie. No revenue figures are publicly disclosed. Annual fundraising events include the Play for Good gala and the Putt for Passion golf tournament, the latter of which raised $150,000 in 2026 for mental health programming.
Athletes for Hope firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Athletes for Hope
- Legal name
- Athletes for Hope
- Website
- https://athletesforhope.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Athletes for Hope is the largest athlete-led U.S. sports nonprofit, founded in 2006, that educates professional, Olympic, Paralympic, college, and high school athletes on philanthropy and connects them with underserved schools and community organizations through programs like CHAMPS, AFH Wellbeing, and AFH University.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Athletes for Hope industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sports Philanthropy Nonprofit Services
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Athletics Fundraising, Sponsorships & NIL Support (EDALAIAN), Athlete Wellness & Lifestyle Management/Concierge (Relocation, Personal Ops) (MPAKAMAK), Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH)
Keywords
Where Athletes for Hope is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bethesda
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Athletes for Hope business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Athletes for Hope accepts charitable donations from individuals who wish to support the organization's mission of educating and empowering athletes to make positive community impact.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners including Under Armour, Deloitte, Thrivent, and others provide financial support and in-kind contributions. Partners like ESPN, Nike, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have historically supported the organization's programs.
- Foundation Grants: Foundation partners including the Pennington Foundation, Bender Foundation, Gordon & Llura Gund Foundation, and Carl M Freeman Foundation provide grant funding to support operations and programs.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Athletes for Hope product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Athletes for Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that educates, encourages, and empowers professional, Olympic, Paralympic, college, and high school athletes to engage in philanthropy and community service. Its core offerings include the Causeway workshop series (a structured philanthropy-education framework), the CHAMPS school-based wellness program reaching 318,000+ students across 1,300+ schools, AFH Wellbeing mental-health initiatives, AFH University for college student-athletes, and the High School Leadership Academy, supported by an Athlete Leadership Council of elite athletes.
Product overview
Athletes for Hope is a nonprofit organization that operates as a portfolio of programs rather than a traditional software product. Its core offerings include the Causeway workshop series (a structured road map for athlete philanthropy), the CHAMPS school-based wellness program (reaching 318,000+ students across 1,300+ schools), AFH Wellbeing mental health initiatives, AFH University for college athletes, the High School Leadership Academy (HSLA), and the Athlete Leadership Council featuring elite athletes. The organization also hosts annual events (Play for Good gala, Putt for Passion golf tournament) and digital services including a newsletter and Hope Heroes podcast. These programs work together to educate, encourage, and empower athletes of all levels to find their charitable passions and volunteer with community organizations and schools.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CHAMPS Program: School-based program that uses sport to promote mental and physical wellness, leadership, and daily movement among underserved elementary school students, impacting over 318,000 kids across more than 1,300 schools nationwide
- AFH Wellbeing
- AFH University
- High School Leadership Academy (HSLA)
- Athlete Leadership Council (ALC)
- Causeway
- Play for Good
- Putt for Passion
Products and services
- Causeway Workshop Series A structured six-stage workshop framework that educates professional, Olympic, Paralympic, college, and high school athletes on smart philanthropy, helping them identify causes, connect with vetted community organizations, and sustain their engagement. Delivered directly to professional sports teams and collegiate athletic departments.
- CHAMPS Program A school-based program that uses sport to promote mental and physical wellness, leadership, and daily movement among underserved elementary school students. Free for schools, delivered by professional, Olympic, Paralympic, and collegiate athlete mentors using expert-designed curriculum; reaches more than 318,000 students across 1,300+ schools nationwide.
- AFH Wellbeing (Center for Athlete Wellbeing) Athlete-led mental health initiative providing resources, workshops, and community conversations focused on mental health and wellness support for athletes. Developed in partnership with organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association Foundation; the Hope Heroes podcast extends the program digitally.
- AFH University (AFH U) A program for college student-athletes to engage in workshops, leadership development, and facilitated volunteer opportunities at university campuses nationwide. Includes the AFH U Awards recognition program presented by Thrivent, with categories such as Student-Athlete of the Year and Team of the Year.
- High School Leadership Academy (HSLA) Leadership development program for high school student-athletes that empowers them to lead with purpose, engage in community service, and develop skills for advocacy and social impact.
- Play for Good Gala Ticketed annual fundraising gala celebrating Athletes for Hope's mission and impact while raising funds to support CHAMPS and other programs.
- Putt for Passion Golf Tournament Annual golf tournament that serves as a major fundraiser for mental-health education and athlete wellness programming; 2026 iteration raised $150,000.
- Hope Heroes Podcast Podcast series focused on mental health awareness and athlete wellbeing, featuring conversations with sports clinicians and discussions of frameworks such as the American Psychiatric Association Foundation's Notice. Talk. Act.
Quantifiable outcome
- 318,000+ underserved students impacted monthly through CHAMPS and core programs
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Athletes for Hope
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Athletes for Hope technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Athletes for Hope partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Under ArmourcoreUnder Armour is a corporate partner and sponsor of Athletes for Hope. The partnership supports the organization's mission of athlete community engagement and sports philanthropy.
- DeloittecoreDeloitte is a corporate partner supporting Athletes for Hope's operations and programs.
- ThriventcoreThrivent is the presenting sponsor of the AFH U Awards program, supporting recognition of student-athletes who demonstrate leadership through service. Partnership enables expansion of opportunities for athletes to serve their communities.
- ESPNcoreESPN is a media partner supporting Athletes for Hope's visibility and mission communication.
- Andre Agassi Foundation for EducationcoreOne of the founding partners of Athletes for Hope. Andre Agassi was one of the original eight founding athletes who established the organization in 2006.
- Williams & Connolly LLPminorLaw firm partner providing support to Athletes for Hope, with Mark Levinstein serving as AFH board chair.
- American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF)coreAFH Wellbeing partners with APA Foundation on mental health initiatives including the Locker Room Reimagined Men's Mental Health Forum, content creation, and distribution of Notice. Talk. Act. mental health resources. Partnership brings clinical credibility and reaches into the psychiatric community.
- Project BlackbirdminorPartnered with AFH and APA Foundation to host the Locker Room Reimagined: Men's Mental Health & Wellness Forum in Washington, D.C.
- WETA Well BeingscoreAFH and WETA's Well Beings initiative collaborated on the Out of The Dark film screening and mental health awareness content.
- Project SunshineminorNational nonprofit that delivers healing power of play to children with medical needs. AFH partners with Project Sunshine for virtual events connecting athletes with children facing medical challenges.
- HopeKidsminorOrganization serving families who have a child with a life-threatening medical condition. Partner in AFH virtual events for children and caregivers.
- Special OlympicsminorAFH athletes and student-athletes participate in Special Olympics events including Polar Plunge fundraising and athlete programming.
- First Contact Athletic Counseling PLLCminorAFH partnered with First Contact Athletic Counseling for a special panel on athlete maternal care in honor of Mother's Day, addressing mental health and wellness support for athlete mothers.
- Angel City SportsminorLos Angeles-based nonprofit providing free adaptive sport opportunities. Co-founded by Ezra Frech, who joined the AFH Athlete Leadership Council. Both organizations focus on athlete-driven community impact.
- DC Central KitchenminorWashington D.C. community partner for AFH University student-athlete volunteer programming.
- Potomac ConservancyminorEnvironmental organization serving as community partner for AFH University student-athlete volunteer opportunities.
- Starlight Children's FoundationminorAFH partnered with Starlight Children's Foundation to bring joy to hospitalized children. AFH athlete members visited over 40 different hospitals distributing Starlight Brave Gowns.
- Let's Move! Active SchoolscorePart of of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative. AFH facilitated athlete visits to schools and participated in Athletes for Active Schools Week campaigns. AFH received Partner of the Year Award in 2016.
- PanasonicminorCorporate partner supporting Katie Ledecky's STEM Forward program, an equal-opportunity STEM initiative with Discovery Education encouraging young students in science, technology, engineering and math.
- Discovery EducationminorPartner with Panasonic and Katie Ledecky on STEM Forward program, creating educational content for students.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Athletes for Hope competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- MusiCares: Recording Academy-affiliated nonprofit supporting music industry professionals in times of need. Analogous operating model: celebrity-founded nonprofit providing wellness, education, and emergency support to high-profile talent.
Direct peers
- Positive Coaching Alliance: Nonprofit developing positive sports cultures for youth through coach and athlete training. Overlaps with AFH's athlete-education and school-based programming for underserved youth.
- KIDS in the GAME: Chicago-based nonprofit providing sport-based youth development to underserved children. Comparable model of partnering professional/collegiate athletes with schools to deliver programming.
- Laureus Sport for Good Foundation: Global sport-for-development foundation that uses sport to address social challenges. Directly comparable as an athlete/celebrity-backed nonprofit funding community sports programs, with a wider international footprint.
- Right to Play: International nonprofit that uses sport and play to educate and empower children facing adversity. Comparable mission around athlete-driven sport-for-development programming in schools and underserved communities.
- Athletes for Care: Athlete-led nonprofit focused on holistic wellness, mental health, and cannabis research. Directly comparable as an athlete-driven nonprofit leveraging elite athlete leadership for community impact.
Broad incumbents
- Beyond Sport: Global organization that supports and convenes sport-based social impact initiatives. Comparable as a sport-for-development umbrella that overlaps with AFH's mission and audience.
- Special Olympics: Global movement providing year-round sports training for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. AFH has documented partnerships with Special Olympics; both focus on athlete empowerment and adaptive sports programming.
- Team UNICEF Athletes: UNICEF's network of elite athlete ambassadors who champion children's causes globally. Comparable model of high-profile athlete ambassadors engaging on behalf of youth-focused philanthropy.
Emerging players
- PeacePlayers International: Nonprofit using basketball to unite and educate children in divided communities. Comparable niche sport-for-development focus with athlete involvement and measurable youth impact metrics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Athletes for Hope social profiles
Digital presenceAthletes for Hope financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Athletes for Hope leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Athletes for Hope funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Athletes for Hope M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Athletes for Hope
What does Athletes for Hope do?
Athletes for Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that educates, encourages, and empowers professional, Olympic, Paralympic, college, and high school athletes to engage in philanthropy and community service. Its core offerings include the Causeway workshop series (a structured philanthropy-education framework), the CHAMPS school-based wellness program reaching 318,000+ students across 1,300+ schools, AFH Wellbeing mental-health initiatives, AFH University for college student-athletes, and the High School Leadership Academy, supported by an Athlete Leadership Council of elite athletes.
Is Athletes for Hope a public or private company?
Athletes for Hope is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Athletes for Hope founded?
Athletes for Hope was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Athletes for Hope based?
Athletes for Hope is headquartered in Bethesda, United States, in the North America region.
How does Athletes for Hope make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships and foundation Grants.
Who are Athletes for Hope's main competitors?
MusiCares is listed as an others. Direct peers are Positive Coaching Alliance, KIDS in the GAME, Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, Right to Play and Athletes for Care. Broad incumbents are Beyond Sport, Special Olympics and Team UNICEF Athletes. PeacePlayers International is listed as an emerging player.
Does Athletes for Hope have an API?
No public API is recorded for Athletes for Hope.
What industry is Athletes for Hope in?
Athletes for Hope's product category is Sports Philanthropy Nonprofit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAKAK, Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support), with a secondary code of EDALAIAN, Athletics Fundraising, Sponsorships & NIL Support. Its NAICS code is 611620 and its SIC code is 7900.