Why Not? Foundation

What Why Not? Foundation does

The Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation is a private 501(c)-equivalent nonprofit organization founded in 2012 by NBA player Russell Westbrook and headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The foundation serves underserved communities across South Los Angeles, Oklahoma City, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, and additional US markets, with programming organized around four pillars: Education, Workforce Development, Mental Health and Wellness, and Community Engagement. Its core offerings include Westbrook Academy (a charter school serving 400+ grades 6-12 students in partnership with LA Promise Fund), Russell's Reading Room literacy initiative (39 reading rooms with 1,200 books each across OKC and LA), the Westbrook/Brownstein Green Tech Program (training 500+ Corpsmembers in digital job skills), the Changing Lives from Scratch culinary scholarship fund, mental health programming via the annual Women's Wellness Brunch, and recurring community engagement such as Thanksgiving meal distribution and 2025 LA wildfire relief.

The foundation does not develop proprietary technology. It operates with 1-10 employees and delivers programs through a dense partnership network including LA Conservation Corps, Comp-U-Dopt, LeadersUp, TEC Leimert, Little Kitchen Academy, Jordan Brand, Doritos, YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, and the World Poker Tour Foundation. Its revenue model is donation-driven, with the annual Poker Night in Las Vegas (raised over $1.5 million cumulatively in four years, ticket tiers $1,200-$10,000) functioning as the flagship fundraiser alongside the Women's Wellness Brunch, corporate sponsorships, and tiered giving programs ($1K-$25K). Russell Westbrook serves as Founder and primary public figure, with Nina Westbrook, Shannon Westbrook, Raynard Westbrook, Gary Scharf, and Bob Nouri on the Board of Directors.

The foundation's go-to-market is event-driven and community-led, relying on personal celebrity involvement, earned media coverage in outlets such as Sports Illustrated, People, Hollywood Reporter, and Black Enterprise, and grassroots referrals from community partners. Distribution occurs through direct program delivery at Westbrook Academy, partner-operated sites, and community venues, with digital channels (website, social media, email) serving donor acquisition and volunteer coordination rather than service delivery.

Name

Why Not? Foundation

Legal name

Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation

Website

https://whynotfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit, founded in 2012 by NBA player Russell Westbrook, that delivers education, workforce development, mental health, and community engagement programming to underserved youth and families across multiple US cities through partnerships, direct programs, and celebrity-driven fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

Keywords

• Youth education programs
• Workforce development training
• Mental health services
• Community engagement programs
• Digital inclusion initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and corporate donations form the primary revenue source, ranging from small individual contributions to large institutional gifts. Donation tiers include $1,000 for student wellness kits, $5,000 for community engagement programs, $10,000 for technology and learning resources, $15,000 for wellness programs, and $25,000 for dedicated counselors.
2. Annual Poker Night Fundraiser: Annual high-profile poker tournament held at Wynn Las Vegas (previously) and Fontainebleau Las Vegas (2026), with ticket prices ranging from $1,200-$10,000. The event has raised over $1.5 million in its first four years.
3. Women's Wellness Brunch Fundraiser: Annual signature fundraiser during Women's History Month in partnership with Bene by Nina, serving as a fundraiser for mental health and wellness initiatives in Los Angeles, Denver, and Oklahoma City communities.
4. Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: Corporate partners including Jordan Brand, Doritos, and other companies provide financial and in-kind support for foundation programs and initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation is a private nonprofit charitable organization that delivers programs and services for underserved youth, young adults, and families across four pillars: Education, Workforce Development, Mental Health and Wellness, and Community Engagement. Its offerings include a charter school (Westbrook Academy), literacy reading rooms, digital divide / laptop donation initiatives, basketball camps, wellness programs, holiday meal distributions, emergency wildfire relief, and annual fundraising events (Poker Night in Las Vegas and the Women's Wellness Brunch in Los Angeles).

Product overview

The Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation is a charitable foundation (founded 2012) that operates community programs across four pillars: Education, Workforce Development, Mental Health and Wellness, and Community Engagement. The foundation's offerings include Westbrook Academy (a charter school in South LA), annual fundraising events (Poker Night and Women's Wellness Brunch), youth basketball camps, literacy initiatives (Russell's Reading Room with 39 total reading rooms), the Changing Lives from Scratch Fund (cooking classes with Little Kitchen Academy), digital divide programs through Comp-U-Dopt, holiday meal distributions, and emergency wildfire relief. Fundraising events, particularly the annual Poker Night held in Las Vegas in partnership with the World Poker Tour Foundation, power the foundation's programming budget, which has raised over $1.5 million to date.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Westbrook Academy: A charter school in South Los Angeles serving grades 6-12, operated in partnership with LA Promise Fund, providing world-class education with athletic and artistic programs.
• Russell's Reading Room
• Westbrook / Brownstein Green Tech Program
• Bold Creative Futures
• Living Bene
• Changing Lives from Scratch Fund
• Why Not? Poker Night

Products and services

• Westbrook Academy A charter school in South Los Angeles operating in partnership with LA Promise Fund for students in grades 6-12. Provides world-class education with a focus on academics, athletics, arts, and activism, including a technology lab, food pantry, and college-bound student resources.
• Why Not? Poker Night Annual poker tournament fundraiser held in Las Vegas. Hosted in partnership with World Poker Tour Foundation. Primary fundraising vehicle for the foundation's community programming, having raised over $1.5 million to date. Enters its 6th year in 2026.
• Women's Wellness Brunch Annual wellness event held during Women's History Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. Hosted in partnership with Bene by Nina (Nina Westbrook's wellness brand). Features panel discussions on mental health, leadership, and community wellness. Enters its 4th year in 2026.
• Why Not? Foundation Basketball Camp Annual two-day basketball intensive camp for youth. Hosted by Russell Westbrook with coaching staff. Activities focus on health, wellness, basketball skills, dribbling techniques, and building confidence.
• Russell's Reading Room Literacy initiative featuring reading rooms in schools. 26 rooms established in Oklahoma City and 13 in Los Angeles, each filled with 1,200 books. Accompanied by Russell's Reading Challenge (part of Scholastic's Read 100,000 Challenge program) encouraging students to read and log 100,000 minutes.
• Changing Lives from Scratch Fund Scholarship and grant fund in partnership with Little Kitchen Academy. Provides cooking classes for underserved youth ages 6-18 across the US and Canada. Children learn to create recipes from scratch using a living food wall and well-stocked pantry. Little Kitchen Academy contributes one free class for every group of 10 students.
• Digital Divide Initiative Computer donation and digital literacy program in partnership with Comp-U-Dopt. Provides laptops to students lacking home technology access. During COVID-19 pandemic, over 1,000 laptops donated to enable virtual learning.
• Holiday Programs Annual community engagement initiatives including Thanksgiving meal distribution (14 years ongoing) at Jesse Owens Park in South LA, Christmas events, and Winter Wonderland activities. Partners with organizations like It's Bigger Than Us and Drew League Foundation.
• Fire Relief Initiative Emergency response to 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Delivered 600 activity bags to children at evacuation sites, provided meals to firefighters, distributed over 5,000 items (sleeping bags, hygiene kits, water, power banks) to displaced families, and provided grants to organizations and mutual aid funds in Altadena, Pasadena, and Pacific Palisades.
• Why Not? TakeOver Days Summer programming providing hands-on experiences with cooking, wellness, sports, and leadership activities across South LA and Pasadena.
• Bold Creative Futures Educational initiative in partnership with Doritos at Westbrook Academy, empowering diverse young creators through hands-on experience, real-world projects, and mentorship in media, design, and content creation. Supports underrepresented young Black creators.
• Westbrook/Brownstein Green Tech Program Tech training initiative in partnership with LA Conservation Corps. Provided job skills and digital training for over 500 Corpsmembers in Los Angeles. Skills taught include coding, computer literacy, drone piloting, and computer engineering. Also included the Green Futures Lab with computers and equipment for intro classes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 39 reading rooms established (26 in OKC, 13 in LA) with 1,200 books each
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• World Poker Tour FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2025Long-term partnership hosting the annual Why Not? Foundation Poker Night at Wynn Las Vegas (previously) and Fontainebleau (2026). The partnership has raised over $1.5 million for foundation programs. WPT provides professional poker expertise, celebrity participation, and platform visibility for the flagship fundraising event.
• LA Promise FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to create Westbrook Academy, a charter school in South LA serving grades 6-12 with over 400 students. The foundation provides funding, resources, and educational programming while LA Promise Fund provides operational management and educational expertise.
• Comp-U-DoptmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to bridge the digital divide by providing computers to underserved students. During COVID-19, the foundation donated over 1,000 laptops through this partnership, enabling students to access remote learning.
• LA Conservation CorpsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Westbrook/Brownstein Green Tech Program providing digital job skills training to at-risk young adults. The program trained over 500 Corps members in computer literacy, coding, drone piloting, and computer engineering.
• LeadersUpmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to bring jobs to South Los Angeles through career fairs and workforce development. The partnership supports the foundation's Coming Home event and employment opportunities for young adults in underserved communities.
• Jordan BrandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint investment with Russell Westbrook Foundation to revitalize Crenshaw Family YMCA facilities and create the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Hub Space and Academy. Investment included over $100,000 from Westbrook to the Crenshaw YMCA.
• Bene by Nina (Nina Westbrook)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Nina Westbrook's wellness brand for the annual Women's Wellness Brunch during Mental Health Awareness Month. The collaboration focuses on mental health and wellness programming for women and families in underserved communities.
• Little Kitchen AcademymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Changing Lives from Scratch Fund providing grants and scholarships to underserved children and teens to experience hands-on cooking classes and life skills development across US and Canada locations.
• TEC LeimertsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to bridge the digital divide in South Los Angeles by empowering the next generation with technology tools, resources, and employment opportunities in the emerging creative economy.
• Doritos (Frito-Lay)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched Bold Creative Futures initiative at Westbrook Academy providing hands-on experience in media, design, and content creation with mentorship from industry professionals. The program supports underrepresented young Black creators.
• NBA CaressupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBA's community engagement initiative supporting foundation programs and visibility.
• Advancement Project CaliforniasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolicy organization partnership around WeCountLA initiative supporting civic engagement in underserved communities.
• PolicyLinksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolicy organization partnership around WeCountLA initiative supporting equity and access in communities.
• RedFlight InnovationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided home STEAM kits to middle school girls in LA County teaching computer science, coding, circuitry, and engineering without requiring internet access.
• City of Los Angeles / Mayor Eric Garcetti's OfficemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership during COVID-19 to launch the Angeleno Campaign supporting LA families impacted by the pandemic through direct assistance and community resources.
• City of Houston / Mayor Sylvester TurnermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Houston Mayor's Office of Education to distribute 650 computers to students lacking home devices during COVID-19 school closures, targeting Mayor Turner's Complete Communities neighborhoods.
• Inner-City ArtssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partner benefiting from Honor the Gift T-shirt sales, providing arts education to children near Skid Row in Los Angeles.
• Advisory Board CrystalssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborative T-shirt release with Honor the Gift to benefit Inner-City Arts, combining heritage university-inspired branding with charitable impact.
• The Just TrustsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Living Bene wellness event gathering thought leaders for Women Leaders of Mental Health & Wellness during Women's History Month.
• YMCA of Metropolitan Los AngelesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Crenshaw Family YMCA revitalization including new sports facilities, the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Hub Space and Academy, and a six-week program for middle school youth combining sport, tech, and culture.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kevin Durant Charity Foundation: Founded by NBA star Kevin Durant to support at-risk youth through education, athletics, and social services. Comparable in pillar structure (education, wellness, community) and athlete-led operating model.
• Chris Paul Family Foundation: Founded by NBA point guard Chris Paul with programs in education, youth empowerment, and community support. Highly comparable structure to the Why Not? Foundation: active NBA founder, family-operated board, education/workforce/community programming.
• Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation (Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation): Founded by the late Kobe Bryant and Vanessa Bryant to support youth sports access, education, and storytelling. Comparable in scale and pillar structure (sports + education + community) for underserved youth.
• Tiger Woods Foundation: Founded by Tiger Woods, operates the TGR Learning Lab and scholarships for underserved youth. Comparable as a celebrity athlete-led foundation focused on education and youth development with multi-year direct-service assets.
• Carmelo Anthony's Stay Me7o Foundation: Founded by NBA star Carmelo Anthony to support underserved communities through education, recreation, and community development. Comparable as a mid-scale athlete-led foundation with education/community programming.
• LeBron James Family Foundation: NBA star LeBron James's family foundation, also founded by an active NBA player, focused on education (including the I PROMISE School) and youth/family support. Most directly comparable as an athlete-led foundation with charter-school-level direct service and similar scale of outcomes.
• Stephen Curry's Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation: Founded by NBA player Stephen Curry and his wife Ayesha, focused on child hunger, literacy, and physical activity for underserved youth. Comparable athlete-led foundation operating multi-pillar programs (education, food security, wellness) with strong corporate partnership and event fundraising.
• Magic Johnson Foundation: Founded by NBA Hall of Famer Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, focused on education, health, and social services for urban communities. Comparable as a long-running, athlete-led foundation serving underserved urban communities with education and workforce pillars.

Broad incumbents

• NBA Foundation: League-level foundation created by the NBA to drive economic empowerment in Black communities, including workforce development and education. Comparable mission overlap on workforce and youth development but operates as an industry-wide vehicle rather than a single-athlete foundation.
• Obama Foundation: Larger, high-visibility nonprofit foundation focused on leadership development, civic engagement, and education. Comparable as a high-profile, multi-pillar private foundation but operates at materially larger scale and broader geographic remit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/whynotfdn
• Facebookfacebook.com/whynotfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whynotfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/whynotfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Why Not? Foundation