The Artists and Athletes Alliance

What The Artists and Athletes Alliance does

The Artists and Athletes Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2008 by Steven G. Ross and headquartered at 1800 M Street NW in Washington, D.C. The organization functions as a nexus between the entertainment and athletics community and the U.S. public policy arena, educating artists and athletes on policy issues that affect their communities and empowering them to engage in advocacy. Its core programming consists of briefings, roundtables, forums, and educational events that convene high-profile entertainers and athletes with policymakers and corporate leaders. The organization has also hosted marquee activations tied to presidential inaugurations (2009 and 2013) and produced award-winning content such as its 2020 COVID-19 Frontline Workers video campaign.

The organization operates a Business Council comprising CEOs from major institutions including the National Retail Federation, Duke Energy, Craft Media, and Trustar Bank. Its advisory and partner network spans entertainment figures (Sylvester Stallone, Mike Tyson), policy advocates (Van Jones), and mission-aligned organizations including UCLA, Southern Company, Cut50, Sandy Hook Promise, Team Rubicon USA, and the USO. The organization has recorded a notable policy outcome credited to its advocacy: contributing to passage of the First Step Act.

The business model is donation-based 501(c)(3) charitable funding. There are no products, pricing tiers, or traditional commercial revenue streams. The go-to-market is event-driven and relationship-driven rather than technology-mediated. Revenue figures are not disclosed, and there are no indicators of M&A activity, funding rounds, or headcount disclosure in the supplied information.

Name

The Artists and Athletes Alliance

Legal name

The Artists & Athletes Alliance

Website

https://artistsandathletes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Artists and Athletes Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2008 that educates entertainment and athletics professionals on public policy and facilitates advocacy in Washington, D.C., funded by charitable donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Advocacy and Civic Engagement Services

NAICS

Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114), Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (71141), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Athlete Brand Management & Public Relations (Image, Media, Crisis) (MPAKAMAD)

Keywords

• Nonprofit advocacy
• Public policy education
• Civic engagement
• Entertainment advocacy
• Community outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a not-for-profit organization, The Artists & Athletes Alliance operates primarily through donations from supporters, corporate partners, and members to fund its educational programs, events, and public policy initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Artists & Athletes Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes and facilitates one-on-one meetings, private briefings, roundtable discussions, forums, Capitol Hill visits, federal agency meetings, and embassy engagements connecting artists, athletes, and entertainment-industry members with Washington, D.C. lawmakers and policymakers. It also produces digital content including a YouTube video library of member PSAs and educational resources on public policy issues facing the nation.

Product overview

The Artists & Athletes Alliance is a non-profit organization that operates at the intersection of the entertainment and creative community and Washington, D.C. Their primary services include organizing and facilitating one-on-one meetings, private briefings, roundtable discussions, forums, and other related events on public policy and national/international issues. They serve as a force multiplier and gateway to government for artists and athletes, helping them navigate the halls of government and engage with policymakers. The organization also maintains digital resources including a video library on YouTube, photo galleries, and links to government resources. Their core offering is advocacy coordination and educational programming rather than a technology product in the traditional sense.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Policy Education Programming Organized one-on-one meetings, private briefings, roundtable discussions, forums, and related events providing top-line educational information to artists and athletes on public policy and important national and international issues.
• Advocacy & Government Navigation Services Coordination of Capitol Hill visits, federal agency meetings, NGO engagements, foreign embassy visits, background briefings by senior Administration officials, media roundtable discussions, and customized updates on public policy issues for members.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully helped pass the First Step Act criminal justice reform legislation by working with #Cut50

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 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 and minor.

• UCLAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner supporting the Artists & Athletes Alliance's programs and events through academic collaboration and expertise.
• Craft Media DigitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia and digital communications partner providing expertise in PR, public affairs and political communications.
• National Retail FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner representing the world's largest retail trade association, supporting programs and events.
• Southern CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate energy partner supporting the organization's initiatives and mission.
• Vitaquest InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting the organization's programs and events.
• Cut50coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCriminal justice reform organization. A&A worked closely with Cut50 on the successful First Step Act campaign, partnering to amplify their message with members.
• Sandy Hook PromisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGun violence prevention organization. Hosted roundtable discussions on protecting children and school safety.
• Team Rubicon USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterans outreach organization. Hosted roundtable discussions on veterans issues with Sylvester Stallone.
• USOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting military personnel and their families. Jeff Ross (Veterans Outreach Ambassador) performs regularly for USO.
• World Central KitchenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable organization supported by members for disaster relief and community feeding programs.
• Fight for ChildrenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChildren's charity foundation supported by members.
• Jackie Robinson FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted reception honoring the Jackie Robinson Foundation and announcing the 2019 opening of the Jackie Robinson Museum.
• ziMS FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple sclerosis research foundation supported by members.
• We2MattercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered for events with Mike Tyson Cares to empower formerly incarcerated women.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• PEN America: PEN America is a literary and free-expression advocacy organization with a strong artist/entertainer membership base and policy advocacy footprint. Comparable as an artist-driven advocacy nonprofit engaging on public issues.
• Athlete Ally: Athlete Ally mobilizes athletes in advocacy on LGBTQ inclusion and social issues. Comparable as a nonprofit engaging athletes in policy and cultural advocacy, though more narrowly focused on a single cause.
• Athletes for Hope: Athletes for Hope is a nonprofit that mobilizes professional athletes around charitable causes and social impact. It mirrors A&A's athlete-side mission of channeling sports figures into civic engagement and philanthropy.
• The Creative Coalition: The Creative Coalition is a nonprofit advocacy organization for artists in entertainment that engages on public policy in Washington, D.C. Its mission and operating model — leveraging celebrity voices to influence lawmakers — directly mirrors A&A's artist-side work.

Emerging players

• Enough Project: The Enough Project is a policy advocacy nonprofit that engages entertainers and athletes (e.g., the "Not On Our Watch" campaign with George Clooney). Comparable celebrity-to-policy advocacy mechanism, though focused on conflict minerals and human rights.

Broad incumbents

• Global Citizen: Global Citizen is a much larger advocacy organization that uses celebrity and athlete ambassadors to drive policy and philanthropic outcomes. Operates at greater scale but in the same celebrity-to-policy advocacy category.
• DoSomething.org: DoSomething.org is a large youth-focused nonprofit that frequently partners with celebrities and entertainers on civic and social causes. Operates at significantly greater scale in celebrity-driven civic engagement.
• Rock the Vote: Rock the Vote is a long-running nonprofit using music and entertainment figures to drive civic engagement, especially voting. Comparable as an entertainment-celebrity-driven civic advocacy organization.

Regional players

• Voto Latino: Voto Latino uses celebrity and entertainment partnerships to drive Latino civic engagement and policy advocacy. Comparable celebrity-driven civic advocacy nonprofit, though more demographically focused.

Others

• Purpose: Purpose is a strategy and campaigns agency that helps advocacy organizations build movements and policy campaigns. Adjacent as a service provider to many of the same celebrity-driven advocacy nonprofits in this peer set.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ArtistsAthletes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/artistsandathletes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 The Artists and Athletes Alliance