What Running Industry Diversity Coalition does

The Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization founded in October 2020 and headquartered at 1900 Market Street, Floor 8, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. RIDC's mission is to unite the running industry to improve inclusion, visibility, and access for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. It serves two primary beneficiary segments: BIPOC individuals and communities seeking access to running as a sport, and BIPOC retail employees, leaders, and aspiring entrepreneurs seeking careers, leadership, and ownership opportunities within the running industry. Secondary stakeholders include running brands, run specialty retailers, and run clubs seeking authentic DEI engagement, research-backed programming guidance, and access to BIPOC consumer and talent markets. The organization operates with a small staff of approximately 11 employees led by Executive Director Kiera Smalls.

RIDC delivers its mission through a portfolio of interlocking programs rather than a unified technology product. Core programs include the Movement For All coaching and training initiative (a three-year program powered by On, with in-person training across all 50 states plus 20+ virtual options), the RUN THE BLOCK grant program (a $200,000 Brooks-funded grant supporting BIPOC entrepreneurs in opening running retail stores, with Haraka Run and Walk in Prince George's County, Maryland as the inaugural December 2025 recipient), the Freedom to Run: Back Outside trail running initiative (in partnership with Superfeet, Altra, and GU Energy Labs), the TRE Scholarship Program (which has sent 80 BIPOC retail employees and leaders to The Running Event over five years), the annual CommUnity Run/Walk (powered by Saucony), THE COOKOUT celebration (900+ RSVPs in 2025), a Research & Insights function producing annual industry surveys and toolkits, the BIPOC Run Club Directory, and an Industry Jobs Board. The organization has no proprietary technology platform; its outputs are programs, events, research publications, and grant-funded retail expansion.

RIDC's revenue model is philanthropic: it is funded through individual donations (processed via GiveGab and by check), corporate annual partnerships, and grants from foundations and running brands. Brooks Running is the anchor funder, having renewed an initial five-year commitment made at launch and extended it through 2031, with an additional $200,000 commitment to the RUN THE BLOCK program. On, Saucony, HOKA, ASICS, Strava, New Balance, Patagonia, Altra, and GU Energy Labs serve as core event and program partners; REI Cooperative Action Fund and Superfeet have provided foundation and program grants. RIDC reported raising $500,000 across 2025 and operates with a Board of Directors that in late 2025 added Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Thomas, Meskwaki community leader Dirk Whitebreast, and former New York Road Runners CEO Kerin Hempel on three-year terms.

Name

Running Industry Diversity Coalition

Legal name

Running Industry Diversity Coalition

Website

https://runningdiversity.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that builds pathways for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color into the running sport and running industry through coaching programs, scholarships, retail ownership grants, research, and industry-wide coalition partnerships anchored by Brooks Running and On.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Diversity Coalition (Running Industry DEI)

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

Keywords

• Running industry diversity
• Nonprofit diversity coalition
• Community running programs
• Career pathways initiative
• Running retail grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: RIDC accepts donations directly from individuals and corporate partners. Donations are processed online via GiveGab platform and by check. Corporate partners can become annual partners to increase support through employee matching or unrestricted contributions.
2. Annual Financial Commitments from Brand Partners: Long-term annual financial commitments from running brands such as Brooks Running (extended through 2031) provide sustained funding for programs, grants, and operational expenses.
3. Grants from Foundations: RIDC receives grant funding from foundations such as the REI Cooperative Action Fund to expand efforts in amplifying underrepresented voices and supporting BIPOC-led run crews.
4. RUN THE BLOCK Grant Program: RIDC administers the RUN THE BLOCK grant program, in which partners such as Brooks Running commit $200,000 for a BIPOC entrepreneur to open a running retail store. RIDC selects recipients and manages the program.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

RIDC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit coalition that operates educational and community-building programs to expand inclusion, visibility, and access in the running industry for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Its core offerings are free programs for individuals (Movement For All coaching, Freedom to Run trail-running program, TRE scholarships, BIPOC Run Club Directory, jobs board) and industry-facing partnership programs (RUN THE BLOCK $200,000 grant for BIPOC-owned running stores, CommUnity Run/Walk events, research and toolkits, corporate partner activations).

Product overview

The Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves as a coalition-based platform rather than a single unified product. The organization operates multiple interconnected programs to unite the running industry and improve inclusion, visibility, and access for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Core programs include the RUN THE BLOCK grant program (providing $200,000 and mentorship for BIPOC-owned running stores like Haraka Run and Walk), the Movement For All coaching program (three-year initiative with in-person and virtual training across all 50 states), Freedom to Run: Back Outside (trail running access initiative with industry toolkit), TRE Scholarship Program, CommUnity Run/Walk events, THE COOKOUT annual celebration, Research & Insights reports, Resource Hub, Industry Jobs Board, and BIPOC Run Club Directory. The organization also publishes annual impact reports and hosts the Global Runner Survey to drive data-informed industry change.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Movement For All, Powered by On A three-year coaching and training support program providing six months of fully funded coaching and training to BIPOC individuals, with in-person training options across all 50 states and 20+ virtual options; designed to address barriers of cost, time, and access to community for people new to running or returning to movement.
• RUN THE BLOCK Grant Program A mentoring and grant program focused on expanding Black ownership in the running industry; the selected entrepreneur receives $200,000 plus mentorship from running-industry leaders to facilitate opening a run specialty store (requires at least 51% Black ownership).
• Freedom to Run: Back Outside An introductory trail-running program and case study testing how intentional support can bring BIPOC runners into trail running; selected participants receive six months of coaching, gear, community support, nutrition guidance, and race entry, and an accompanying industry toolkit is made available for retailers, brands, and run clubs.
• TRE Scholarship Program Scholarship program sending BIPOC run specialty retail employees and community leaders to The Running Event (TRE) industry conference; scholarship includes full conference pass, networking, educational workshops, mentorship, and travel and lodging support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 109 BIPOC entrepreneurs applied for the RUN THE BLOCK grant program in its first cycle
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• OncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026On is the founding partner of RIDC's Movement For All program, a three-year initiative offering six months of fully funded coaching and training support to BIPOC individuals. On's Social Impact Team co-created the program with RIDC. On also partnered with RIDC for Penn Relays events and hosted the Unimagined Athletics dinner during Peachtree Road Race weekend.
• SauconycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Saucony has partnered with RIDC on multiple events including the CommUnity Run/Walk at TRE (branded as 'powered by Saucony') and the Saucony Move With Love Community Mixer in Philadelphia. Saucony provides product, custom swag, and event support for these community-building initiatives.
• AltraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAltra partnered on the Freedom to Run: Back Outside program by providing gear support to program participants. Altra also collaborated with RIDC on an industry trail running toolkit titled 'Opening the Path to Trail Running.'
• GU Energy LabsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGU Energy Labs partnered on the Freedom to Run: Back Outside program by providing nutrition support to program participants. RIDC also partnered with GU Energy Labs and independent filmmakers to produce 'Deeper Than Running,' a short film highlighting the RIDC community.
• HOKAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHOKA was a partner for THE COOKOUT 2025, RIDC's signature annual celebration event held at TRE. HOKA contributed to bringing THE COOKOUT to life as one of the key brand sponsors.
• ASICScoreGTM or Marketing PartnerASICS partnered with RIDC for THE COOKOUT 2025. ASICS also hosted the Move Her Mind Summit, a year-long tour bringing women together across cities, with RIDC participating in the event to discuss barriers to movement and community building in running.
• StravacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStrava partnered with RIDC on RUN THE BLOCK as a supporting partner. Strava is also featured as a RIDC member spotlight organization and has collaborated with RIDC to connect with BIPOC runners on the platform.
• New BalanceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNew Balance was a partner for THE COOKOUT 2025, contributing to RIDC's annual celebration event at TRE.
• PatagoniaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPatagonia was a partner for THE COOKOUT 2025, contributing to RIDC's annual celebration event at TRE.
• Charm City RunminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharm City Run was a supporting partner of RIDC's RUN THE BLOCK pilot program, contributing to the initiative to boost Black ownership in running retail.
• PlaymakersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlaymakers was a supporting partner of RIDC's RUN THE BLOCK pilot program, contributing to the initiative to boost Black ownership in running retail.
• OutsidePRminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOutsidePR served as RIDC's public relations agency, handling media inquiries and communications for the RUN THE BLOCK program and other initiatives.
• Students Run Philly Style (SRPS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRPS was awarded a $300,000 three-year grant from the William Penn Foundation, with RIDC's research on racial diversity in trail running helping shape SRPS's Trailblazers program to bring trail running to over 1,000 youth runners in Philadelphia.
• Lapstone & HammerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn partnered with local boutique Lapstone & Hammer to host a Penn Relays kick-off event featuring a panel discussion with On athletes and RIDC representation, attended by middle and high school athletes from Philadelphia's Infinity Track Club.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Students Run Philly Style: Philly-based nonprofit running mentor program for youth, named RIDC research partner. Directly comparable as a running-focused youth nonprofit with scholarships, mentorship, and event programming; closer regional/target overlap than the broader national peers.
• Back on My Feet: Nonprofit using running to promote self-sufficiency and housing/f employment stability for those experiencing homelessness. Directly comparable as a running-based nonprofit combining coaching programs, brand partnerships, and community events to drive social outcomes.
• Achilles International: Nonprofit enabling people with disabilities to participate in mainstream running events. Comparable as a running nonprofit combining coaching, community events, and brand partnerships — overlapping operational model even though the demographic focus differs from RIDC.
• Outdoor Afro: National nonprofit connecting Black communities to outdoor recreation through leadership, education, and community-building programs. Directly comparable as a BIPOC-focused outdoor/sports inclusion coalition with a multi-program model reliant on brand and foundation partnerships.
• Girls on the Run: National nonprofit delivering running-based empowerment programs to youth girls. Comparable as a running-focused nonprofit combining scholarships/coaching, community events, and brand partnerships — though with a different demographic focus than RIDC's BIPOC industry-inclusion mission.
• Latino Outdoors: Outdoor equity nonprofit engaging Latino communities in conservation and outdoor recreation. Comparable as a coalition-style BIPOC outdoors organization building community, leadership, and brand partnerships — adjacent category (outdoors vs. running) but structurally similar.

Emerging players

• Melanin Base Camp: Community/media platform elevating BIPOC representation in outdoor adventure. Comparable as an emerging BIPOC-outdoor inclusion organization using storytelling, community, and brand partnerships — narrower scope than RIDC but overlapping mission.

Broad incumbents

• The Trust for Public Land: National land conservation nonprofit with active urban-equity and BIPOC-trail-access programming. Comparable as a broader-in-scope nonprofit operating inclusion-focused outdoor/trail access initiatives and overlapping with RIDC's trail research and access mission.
• Running USA: National trade association for the running industry that awarded RIDC's community member Jackie Hoffman in 2026. Comparable as the broader industry-body incumbent that RIDC partners with and which sits adjacent to RIDC's coalition role across the running ecosystem.

Regional players

• Brown Girls Climb: Nonprofit increasing representation of women of color in climbing. Adjacent peer — same BIPOC-inclusion-in-sport coalition model and brand partnership structure, but focused on climbing rather than running; useful comparable for cross-sport equity programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/running-industry-diversity-coalition

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 Running Industry Diversity Coalition