Tewaaraton Foundation

What Tewaaraton Foundation does

The Tewaaraton Foundation is a private nonprofit organization founded in 2001 and headquartered at 1135 16th St NW, Washington, D.C. It operates the preeminent annual award in United States collegiate lacrosse — The Tewaaraton Award — honoring the top male and female college lacrosse players across NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, with the "Tewaaraton" name used with permission from the Mohawk Nation Council of Elders to honor the Native American origins of the sport. Each year the Foundation selects five men's and five women's finalists, hosts a single annual ceremony (the 2026 edition was the 26th, held at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium on May 28), and announces additional honorees through the Spirit of Tewaaraton Award (2026: Jack Emmer) and the Tewaaraton Legend Award (2026: Mike French).

The Foundation's product portfolio comprises four core award and scholarship programs (The Tewaaraton Award, Spirit of Tewaaraton, The Tewaaraton Legend, and the Tewaaraton Outstanding Haudenosaunee Scholarships Presented by Hildene Capital) plus two media products (the "Behind The Trophy" podcast launched March 2025 and a digital Media Library dating to 2011). The Foundation does not develop proprietary technology; its operating stack consists of a Wix-hosted website, social media accounts (Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, X), an ESPN+ livestream integration for the annual ceremony, Eventbrite ticketing, and a merchandise licensing partnership with Lacrosse Unlimited.

The Foundation's revenue model is event-driven and donation-dependent: corporate sponsorships — led by Stifel Financial Corp. as presenting sponsor and Hildene Capital as scholarship sponsor, with secondary support from Hilton Worldwide, Vornado, Tria, Kelly Benefits, Axia Time, McKenna & Associates, and others — together with individual donations (online via Donor Support and by check) and merchandise royalties. The Foundation does not disclose financial statements. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors led by Chairman Jeffrey Harvey and President Andrew Phillips, expanded through 2024-2025 with eleven new members drawn from professional lacrosse (Paul and Mike Rabil, Kyle Harrison), Olympic governance (Jim Scherr), and finance (Sol Kumin, Brad Raymond, Kevin Ridgway, Abby Holmes, Andrew McKenna, Dan Glading, Jake Byrne, Aaron Earls).

Name

Tewaaraton Foundation

Legal name

The Tewaaraton Foundation

Website

https://tewaaraton.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Tewaaraton Foundation is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit founded in 2001 that annually awards the preeminent college lacrosse honor in the United States, alongside scholarships for Haudenosaunee student-athletes and supporting media products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Awards & Scholarships

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional) (MPAKACAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)

Keywords

• Collegiate lacrosse awards
• Athlete scholarship programs
• Nonprofit sports foundation
• Lacrosse recognition awards
• Haudenosaunee student scholarships

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from financial services firms (Stifel), investment firms (Hildene Capital), and lacrosse-related companies provide funding for operations and scholarships.
2. Donations: The Foundation accepts donations online and by check to support its mission of honoring lacrosse excellence and supporting Native American communities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Tewaaraton Foundation is a nonprofit organization that annually presents the preeminent Tewaaraton Award honoring the top male and female NCAA college lacrosse players in the United States. It also administers the Spirit of Tewaaraton and Tewaaraton Legend recognition awards, awards scholarships to Haudenosaunee student-athletes, and operates the annual awards ceremony broadcast on ESPN+. The foundation preserves the Native American heritage of lacrosse through its mission and programs.

Product overview

The Tewaaraton Foundation operates a portfolio of awards and programs centered on honoring lacrosse excellence. The core offering is The Tewaaraton Award (the preeminent collegiate lacrosse award), complemented by the Spirit of Tewaaraton Award and The Tewaaraton Legend Award for special honorees. The Foundation also manages Tewaaraton Outstanding Haudenosaunee Scholarships for student-athletes from the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and produces the 'Behind The Trophy' podcast and a Media Library of event content. All offerings honor the Native American heritage of lacrosse and are presented at an annual ceremony.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Tewaaraton Award: The preeminent award annually honoring the top male and female college lacrosse player in the United States
• Spirit of Tewaaraton
• The Tewaaraton Legend
• Tewaaraton Outstanding Haudenosaunee Scholarships
• Behind The Trophy

Products and services

• The Tewaaraton Award The preeminent award in college lacrosse, annually honoring the top male and top female college lacrosse player in the United States. Open to NCAA Division I, II, and III men's and women's lacrosse players selected by coach-led selection committees.
• Spirit of Tewaaraton Award Award honoring individuals who exemplify the values and traditions of lacrosse while contributing to the growth and integrity of the sport. 2026 recipient: Jack Emmer.
• The Tewaaraton Legend Award Award recognizing individuals whose careers have left a lasting legacy on lacrosse and who would have won the Tewaaraton Trophy had it existed during their playing careers. 2026 recipient: Mike French.
• Tewaaraton Outstanding Haudenosaunee Scholarships Annual scholarships awarded to two student-athletes from the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (Mohawk, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca, and Tuscarora Nations) who excel academically and athletically while demonstrating commitment to their communities and the values of lacrosse. Presented by Hildene Capital.
• Behind The Trophy Podcast Podcast featuring interviews with former Tewaaraton winners, legends, and traditions of lacrosse. Hosted by Tari Kandemiri with inaugural episodes featuring Kyle Harrison and Charlotte North.

Quantifiable outcome

• 26 years of presenting the premier college lacrosse award

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Lacrosse UnlimitedcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 11 December 2025Long-term licensing partnership allowing Lacrosse Unlimited to manufacture, market, distribute, and sell officially licensed apparel featuring the Tewaaraton name and branding.
• Stifel Financial Corp.flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerStifel serves as the presenting sponsor of The Tewaaraton Award. As a diversified financial services firm (NYSE: SF) founded in 1890 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Stifel supports one of college lacrosse's premier events and helps showcase the incredible celebration of the sport on ESPN+.
• Hildene CapitalflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerHildene Capital presents the Tewaaraton Outstanding Haudenosaunee Scholarships. Hildene Capital Management is an investment firm founded by Brett Jefferson, a Tewaaraton Foundation Board of Governors member.
• University Club of Washington, D.C.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded at the University Club of Washington, D.C., in 1904. The Club has a long-standing tradition of fostering community and has been a historic partner in establishing the Tewaaraton Award.
• Premier Lacrosse League (PLL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier Lacrosse League is a partner of the Tewaaraton Foundation. PLL co-founders Paul and Mike Rabil joined the Foundation's Board of Directors. PLL also sponsored the 2024 Haudenosaunee Scholarships.
• USA LacrossecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSA Lacrosse is a partner organization that endorses the Tewaaraton Award and supports the Foundation's mission of honoring lacrosse excellence.
• World LacrossecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Lacrosse is a partner organization. CEO Jim Scherr joined the Tewaaraton Foundation Board of Directors, bringing decades of leadership experience including his tenure as former CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee.
• Kimball Stroud & AssociatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership announced for the 2026 Tewaaraton Award Ceremony. The firm provides event-related services for the annual ceremony.
• ESPN+coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorESPN+ provides exclusive livestreaming of the annual Tewaaraton Award Ceremony, bringing college lacrosse's most prestigious night to fans across the country.
• McKenna & AssociatesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAndrew McKenna, Founder and CEO of McKenna & Associates, joined the Tewaaraton Foundation Board of Directors as a businessman and philanthropist.
• Hilton WorldwideminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHilton Worldwide is listed as a partner/sponsor of the Tewaaraton Foundation, providing hospitality support for events.
• Axia TimeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner that presented custom watches to finalists and special honorees at the 2026 Tewaaraton Award Ceremony.
• Kelly BenefitsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner/sponsor of the Tewaaraton Foundation.
• VornadominorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner/sponsor of the Tewaaraton Foundation.
• TriaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a partner/sponsor of the Tewaaraton Foundation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• USOC / Team USA Awards Programs: Runs national athlete recognition, scholarships, and ceremonial honors across Olympic sports. Adjacent nonprofit awards-and-recognition model at broader scale; relevant because former USOC CEO Jim Scherr now sits on Tewaaraton's board.
• USA Lacrosse: National governing body for lacrosse in the U.S., of which Tewaaraton is a partner organization. Broader sport-governance nonprofit with awards, programs, and grassroots development that envelop the niche the Foundation serves.
• National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA): Umbrella body for college football's major awards (Heisman, Maxwell, Biletnikoff, etc.). Comparable awards-and-ceremonies nonprofit cluster, but at a much larger portfolio scale.

Direct peers

• Heisman Trophy Trust: Operates the preeminent annual award for the top U.S. college football player. Same nonprofit model, single-event revenue, corporate presenting sponsor, and national broadcast footprint, applied to college football instead of lacrosse.
• The Bowerman Award: Annual award honoring the top male and female NCAA track-and-field athlete. Mirrors Tewaaraton's gender-paired finalist format and event-driven recognition model.
• Davey O'Brien Foundation: Runs the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award and related character-based honors for college football. Comparable nonprofit awards-and-scholarship structure with national sponsors and annual ceremony.
• Golden Spikes Award: USA Baseball's annual award for the top amateur baseball player. Same single-event, single-recipient (male), NCAA-amateur focus as Tewaaraton.
• John R. Wooden Award: Annual award honoring the most outstanding men's and women's college basketball player. Closely mirrors Tewaaraton's male/female finalist structure, scholarship mission, and event-driven nonprofit operating model.

Others

• Lacrosse Unlimited: Official licensing partner for Tewaaraton merchandise; broader lacrosse apparel retailer. Comparable customer community but operates as a commercial retailer rather than an awards nonprofit.

Emerging players

• Hockey Humanitarian Award: College hockey's premier humanitarian/character award with scholarship component. Smaller-scale niche-sport award that mirrors Tewaaraton's values-based recognition and scholarship framing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tewaaraton
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheTewaaratonFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/Tewaaraton
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-tewaaraton-foundation/about
• Instagraminstagram.com/tewaaraton

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Tewaaraton Foundation