Project Backboard
Project Backboard is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 that renovates public basketball courts with site-specific artwork across 25+ U.S. states and 5 countries, serving underserved communities through donations and partnerships with the NBA, Nike, MoMA, and athlete-led foundations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersIrvine, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Project Backboard does
Project Backboard is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2015 and headquartered in Irvine, California. The organization renovates public basketball courts and commissions site-specific artwork for them, operating across more than 25 U.S. states and at least 5 countries (Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Portugal). To date, Project Backboard has completed over 100 court renovations and has facilitated over $4 million in public park investment. Its service population is primarily underserved communities that lack access to quality public recreational infrastructure.
The core offering combines physical court renovation with curatorial programming. Notable artistic collaborators include Nina Chanel Abney, Faith Ringgold, and Andy Warhol (reproductions, via the Warhol Foundation). Complementary offerings include downloadable guides, merchandise and publications, and the "Every Court Has A Story" program. The organization does not charge municipalities or communities for renovation services and does not disclose an API or technology platform.
Project Backboard's business model is donation-driven, supplemented by merchandise and art sales. It operates with a small team of 1-10 employees. Funding partnerships have included the NBA, Nike, Jordan Brand, Adidas, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the LeBron James Family Foundation, the Shaquille O'Neal Foundation, and other philanthropic entities, with major media coverage from ESPN, HBO, CBS, and GQ. As a 501(c)(3), it is not an investable equity target in the conventional PE/VC sense; rather, it is a mission-driven operator whose financial sustainability depends on a concentrated base of corporate, institutional, and celebrity/foundation donors.
Project Backboard firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Project Backboard
- Legal name
- Project Backboard
- Website
- https://projectbackboard.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Project Backboard is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 that renovates public basketball courts with site-specific artwork across 25+ U.S. states and 5 countries, serving underserved communities through donations and partnerships with the NBA, Nike, MoMA, and athlete-led foundations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Project Backboard industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Art Services
- NAICS
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sports & Recreation Facility Construction (Stadiums, Arenas, Community Centers) (IMAFACAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Multi-Sport Complexes & Community Sports Parks (MPAKAEAH)
Keywords
Where Project Backboard is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Irvine
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Project Backboard business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Project Backboard receives donations from individuals and organizations to support court renovation projects.
- Merchandise and Art Sales: Sale of limited edition art prints, publications, and Project Backboard gear through their web-store. Publications include books like 'Blacktop Memento, fragments of erosion' by Kevin Couliau ($55) and limited edition signed prints like Carlos Rolón's 'Gild the Lily (Caribbean Azulejo), 2019' ($400).
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Project Backboard product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Project Backboard renovates public basketball courts and integrates large-scale site-specific artwork onto court surfaces to strengthen communities, improve park safety, encourage multi-generational play, and inspire creative engagement with public spaces. The organization collaborates with contemporary artists and partners with municipalities, corporate sponsors, and community organizations to identify, fund, and execute these court transformations across the U.S. and internationally.
Product overview
Project Backboard offers basketball court renovation services combined with large-scale site-specific art installations. The organization collaborates with artists to transform public courts into works of art, strengthening communities and improving park safety. Supporting resources include downloadable guides for community planning and artist collaboration, while a publications line offers limited edition art prints. The Every Court Has A Story program engages communities through video storytelling and renovation opportunities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Every Court Has A Story: A related initiative/platform associated with Project Backboard's court renovation storytelling efforts
- Common Practice
- Real-Time Basketball Club
- #PlayWithPurpose
Products and services
- Basketball Court Renovation Services Full renovation of public basketball courts, including surface repairs, repainting, and infrastructure improvements, offered to municipalities, parks departments, and community organizations. The service is provided free of charge to project locations, funded through the organization's partner network.
- Site-Specific Art Installation Installation of large-scale, site-specific artwork on renovated basketball court surfaces, created in collaboration with contemporary artists (e.g., Nina Chanel Abney, Faith Ringgold, Tschabalala Self, Joana Vasconcelos, Andy Warhol reproductions). Each installation transforms public recreational spaces into artistic landmarks while preserving court functionality.
- Publications and Limited Edition Editions Sale of limited edition art prints and publications through the Project Backboard web-store. Examples include the publication 'Blacktop Memento, fragments of erosion' by Kevin Couliau ($55) and limited edition signed prints such as Carlos Rolón's 'Gild the Lily (Caribbean Azulejo), 2019' ($400). Sales support the organization's mission.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100 courts renovated since 2015
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Project Backboard
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Project Backboard technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Project Backboard partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- AdidascoreMajor sports brand partnership providing product support and marketing collaboration for basketball court renovation projects.
- National Basketball Association (NBA)flagshipFlagship strategic partnership with the NBA for court renovation projects, leveraging basketball's cultural significance for community impact.
- Jordan BrandcoreStrategic partnership with Jordan Brand for basketball court renovation projects, connecting street basketball culture with artistic expression.
- NikecoreMajor athletic brand partnership supporting court renovation projects and community basketball initiatives.
- MoMA: The Museum of Modern Art, New York CityflagshipPrestigious partnership with MoMA, validating Project Backboard's position in the contemporary art world and enabling museum-caliber artist collaborations.
- Under ArmourcoreAthletic apparel partnership supporting basketball court renovation projects and youth basketball programs.
- HBOminorMedia partnership with HBO, which has refurbished basketball courts as alternative marketing initiatives.
- Trust For Public LandcoreStrategic partnership with nonprofit focused on creating parks and public spaces, aligning with Project Backboard's mission for community spaces.
- Phillips Auction HouseminorArt world partnership connecting Project Backboard with high-profile artists and auction opportunities.
- GlossierminorBrand partnership including collaboration with artist Na Chainkua Reindorf on Tompkins Square Park court in NYC.
- Red BullminorEnergy drink brand partnership supporting artistic court renovation projects.
- LacosteminorFashion brand partnership supporting community basketball and art initiatives.
- ReebokminorAthletic brand partnership supporting basketball community initiatives.
- Universal PicturesminorEntertainment studio partnership supporting community basketball court projects as marketing initiatives.
- Chicago SkyminorWNBA team partnership supporting basketball court renovation projects in the Chicago area.
- National Basketball Retired Players AssociationminorAssociation partnership connecting retired players with community basketball court projects.
- Oklahoma ContemporaryminorContemporary art center partnership supporting artist collaborations and public art installations.
- VeniceballminorBasketball event and culture brand partnership supporting street basketball art projects.
- The HoopbusminorBasketball culture organization partnership supporting mobile basketball initiatives.
- Saint FleurminorArtist collective partnership for basketball court art installations.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Project Backboard competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- KaBOOM!: Nonprofit that builds community playgrounds in underserved areas using a partner-facilitated, volunteer-driven model. Closely comparable to Project Backboard's approach of using philanthropic capital and corporate partners to transform neighborhood recreational infrastructure.
- Mural Arts Philadelphia: Nonprofit that commissions large-scale public art murals to drive community revitalization. Mirrors Project Backboard's model of using site-specific public art as the vehicle for community impact and corporate partnership engagement.
- PeacePlayers International: Nonprofit that uses basketball to bridge divides between divided communities. Mirrors Project Backboard's positioning of basketball as a vehicle for community-building outcomes.
- Skatepark Project: Nonprofit (formerly the Tony Hawk Foundation) that funds community skateparks, including with public art elements. Closely analogous sport-meets-public-art-meets-community model to Project Backboard's basketball court work.
- Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation: Nonprofit that builds youth athletic fields and parks in underserved communities, often via corporate partnerships. Closely parallels Project Backboard's community-sport-facility construction approach but in baseball rather than basketball.
- City Parks Foundation: NYC nonprofit that programs and improves public parks through arts, sports, and environmental education. Comparable in combining arts programming with park-based community programming in a major US city.
- Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that creates and protects parks and public spaces. Listed as an active Project Backboard partner, it shares the mission of expanding community access to public recreational space and uses similar public-private funding mechanisms.
- Publicolor: Nonprofit that engages youth in painting and revitalizing public spaces through color and design. Shares Project Backboard's use of site-specific painting interventions as a community-development mechanism.
- Street Soccer USA: Nonprofit that uses soccer programming to drive community impact for underserved youth. Comparable grassroots-sport-as-community-development framework, though focused on programming rather than court infrastructure.
Emerging players
- Good Sports: Nonprofit that provides sports equipment, apparel, and footwear to youth in need. Adjacent to Project Backboard's work in expanding youth access to community sport infrastructure.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Project Backboard social profiles
Digital presenceProject Backboard financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Project Backboard leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Project Backboard funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Project Backboard 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 Project Backboard
What does Project Backboard do?
Project Backboard renovates public basketball courts and integrates large-scale site-specific artwork onto court surfaces to strengthen communities, improve park safety, encourage multi-generational play, and inspire creative engagement with public spaces. The organization collaborates with contemporary artists and partners with municipalities, corporate sponsors, and community organizations to identify, fund, and execute these court transformations across the U.S. and internationally.
Is Project Backboard a public or private company?
Project Backboard is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Project Backboard founded?
Project Backboard was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Project Backboard based?
Project Backboard is headquartered in Irvine, United States, in the North America region.
How does Project Backboard make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are merchandise and Art Sales.
Who are Project Backboard's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are KaBOOM!, Mural Arts Philadelphia, PeacePlayers International, Skatepark Project, Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, City Parks Foundation, Trust for Public Land, Publicolor and Street Soccer USA. Good Sports is listed as an emerging player.
Does Project Backboard have an API?
No public API is recorded for Project Backboard.
What industry is Project Backboard in?
Project Backboard's product category is Public Art Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFACAI, Sports & Recreation Facility Construction (Stadiums, Arenas, Community Centers), with a secondary code of MPAKAEAH, Multi-Sport Complexes & Community Sports Parks. Its NAICS code is 71.