What NATA Research & Education Foundation does

The NATA Research & Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 75-2395176) founded in 1990 as the official philanthropic arm of the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA). Headquartered at 1620 Valwood Parkway in Carrollton, Texas, the Foundation funds scholarships for athletic training students pursuing CAATE-accredited professional and post-professional degrees, research grants for athletic training investigators and faculty, and a portfolio of educational resources, mentorship programs, and professional development offerings for the athletic training profession. Its programs include Pre-Athletic Training, Professional, and Post-Professional scholarships; General, New Investigator, Education and Practice, Doctoral, and Masters research grants; Faculty and Doctoral Mentor Programs; the Free Communications Program and Student Writing Contest for research dissemination; the monthly Research to Clinical Practice newsletter; and 36 position statements organized across five clinical domains. Athletic training research agenda-setting, researcher-clinician convening, and evidence-based content production are coordinated through committees such as the Educational Resources Committee, the ATRA Committee, and the Pronouncements Committee.

The Foundation's underlying technology footprint is limited and conventional: a WordPress-based public website (natafoundation.org), online scholarship and grant application portals hosted at nata.secure-platform.com, PCI-compliant credit card processing for donations, and DTC-based electronic transfer of gifts of securities through UBS Financial Services. There is no proprietary software product, no mobile application, no API, and no AI/ML capability. Operational scale through 2026 includes 429 research grants awarded totaling more than $5.78 million, $4.52 million in scholarships disbursed to 2,177 students, more than 9,578 oral and poster presentations through the Free Communications Program, more than 30 scholarship endowments and more than 20 research endowments, and annual recognition of donors across the AT Loyal Giving Society (with tiers from Foundation Friend up to Legacy $10,000+), the Shoe Box Society for planned giving, and the Circle of Champions for monthly recurring donors.

The Foundation's business model is donation-funded rather than commercial. Revenue streams comprise individual donations (one-time and recurring via Circle of Champions), corporate sponsorships at Executive Partner, Program Sponsor, and Event Sponsor tiers (anchored by partners including PFATS Foundation, PBATS, NBATA Foundation, GLATA, SEATA, Gatorade, OOFOS, and ZetrOZ Systems), planned gifts through the Shoe Box Society and FoundATion EstATe Gift Champions program, and gifts of stocks and marketable securities. Funds are distributed competitively as scholarships ($2,300 Professional/Post-Professional, $10,000/year Pre-AT) and research grants ($1,000 Masters, $2,500 Doctoral, up to $20,000 New Investigator and Education & Practice, up to $50,000 General Professional, up to $20,000 PFATS Special RFP). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: the Foundation leverages NATA's 40,000+ member network across 11 U.S. districts and CAATE-accredited academic programs for distribution, and concentrates high-touch donor and sponsor engagement in annual events such as Rock & Bowl, ParTee for ATs at the NATA Clinical Symposia, and the November online silent auction.

Name

NATA Research & Education Foundation

Legal name

NATA Research & Education Foundation

Website

https://natafoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The NATA Research & Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1990, that funds scholarships and research grants for the athletic training profession as the philanthropic arm of NATA, distributing over $5.78M in research grants and $4.52M in scholarships to date.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Athletic Training Research & Education Funding

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fundraising & Annual Giving (EDALAOAB), Athletics Fundraising, Sponsorships & NIL Support (EDALAIAN)

Keywords

• Athletic training research
• Scholarship funding programs
• Nonprofit research grants
• Professional education grants
• Healthcare workforce funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Carrollton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual athletic trainers and supporters. Monthly giving program called Circle of Champions enables donors to spread contributions across the year. AT Loyal Giving Society recognizes cumulative lifetime giving across multiple tiers.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Executive Partners, Program Sponsors, and Event Sponsors provide financial support. Sponsors receive logo placement, social media recognition, and featured auction items. The foundation offers various sponsorship tiers for different events and programs.
3. Planned Giving: Shoe Box Society allows donors to include the foundation in estate planning through bequests, beneficiary designations, and life insurance. These planned gifts provide long-term sustainability and are recognized through the FoundATion EstATe Gift Champions program.
4. Gifts of Securities: Donors can contribute stocks and marketable securities, which are sold promptly upon receipt or as directed. Electronic transfer via DTC through UBS Financial Services facilitates efficient processing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The NATA Research & Education Foundation funds scholarships for athletic training students and research grants for athletic training investigators, and produces educational resources, mentor programs, and research dissemination forums for the athletic training profession. As the philanthropic arm of NATA, it disburses donor contributions as competitive awards across multiple categories, supplementing education and advancing the evidence base of the athletic training profession.

Product overview

NATA Research & Education Foundation operates as a unified platform of research, education, and professional development programs supporting the athletic training profession. The core offerings include Professional Research Grants (General, New Investigator, Education & Practice categories), Doctoral and Masters Student Research Grants, and a comprehensive Scholarship Program at Pre-AT, Professional, and Post-Professional levels. Additional programs include the Faculty Mentor Program and Doctoral Mentor Program for professional development, the Free Communications Program and Student Writing Contest for research dissemination, and the Research to Clinical Practice newsletter and Position Statements for evidence-based practice resources. The Athletic Training Research Agenda (ATRA) initiative coordinates research priorities across the profession. The Foundation also manages donor giving societies (AT Loyal Giving Society, Shoe Box Society) and hosts special events (Rock & Bowl, Online Silent Auction, ParTee for ATs) for fundraising. As a nonprofit 501(c)(3), funding comes from endowments, corporate sponsors, and individual donors. Through 2026, the Foundation has awarded over $5.78 million in 429 research grants and more than $4.52 million in scholarships to 2,177 students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Research Grant Program Competitive research grant program offering General grants (up to $50,000 over 3 years), New Investigator grants (up to $20,000 over 3 years for PIs no higher than assistant professor rank), Athletic Training Education and Practice grants (up to $20,000 over 3 years), and PFATS Special RFP grants (up to $20,000 over 2 years for football safety topics). For BOC-certified athletic trainers, faculty, and academic researchers.
• Doctoral Student Research Grant Program Grant awards of up to $2,500 in direct costs for doctoral students conducting research in athletic training, with up to one year for study activities plus a second year for dissemination travel. Applications open January 1 and due February 15. No indirect costs allowed.
• Masters Student Research Grant Program Grant awards of $1,000 each supporting master's athletic training students and their research endeavors, with funding available for hourly support, equipment, subject incentives, or travel to disseminate findings. Call for proposals January 1 - February 15. No indirect costs allowed.
• Scholarship Program Annual scholarship program awarding 50-75 scholarships at Pre-Athletic Training, Professional, and Post-Professional levels. Pre-AT scholarships provide $20,000 over two years ($10,000 annually); Professional and Post-Professional awards are $2,300 each. Administered by the Scholarship Committee. Minimum 3.2 GPA required for Professional level.
• NBATA Foundation Pre-Athletic Training Scholarship Pre-Athletic Training scholarship launched in 2026 in partnership with the National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association Foundation (NBATA Foundation). Provides $20,000 over two years ($10,000 annually) to support students entering their first year of a CAATE-accredited professional athletic training program, with focus on financial need.
• Faculty Mentor Program Mentorship program pairing junior faculty members with established faculty to provide guidance, advice, and assistance in navigating higher education employment during the first several years. Goal is to help mentees build knowledge and balance becoming successful researchers and educators.
• Doctoral Mentor Program Mentorship program sponsored by the University of Idaho Doctor of Athletic Training Program, pairing doctoral students with experienced faculty for mentorship centered on research collaboration, service to the profession, and advancing teaching practices to prepare for roles in higher education or industry.
• Free Communications Program Forum for researchers and clinicians to disseminate research and clinical case studies at the NATA Convention. Through 2026, more than 9,578 oral and poster presentations have been provided. Annual call for abstracts runs September 15 to November 17 for the NATA Clinical Symposia and AT Expo.
• Student Writing Contest Annual writing competition named for Deloss Brubaker, offering $1,000 in awards across three divisions: Original Research ($500), Summary Evidence Research ($250, including critically appraised topics, literature reviews, systematic reviews, meta-analyses), and Clinical Practice Research ($250, including quality improvement projects and case studies).

Quantifiable outcome

• 429 research grants awarded totaling over $5.78M through 2026
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• PFATS Foundation (Professional Football Athletic Trainers' Society)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Executive Partnership established in 2025. Joint issuance of Request for Proposals (RFP) for football safety-related research grants. PFATS Foundation co-sponsors ParTee for ATs fundraising event. Partnership aims to advance athletic training profession by supporting research and education initiatives that enhance knowledge and practice of athletic trainers at all levels. PFATS Foundation provided $20,000 Football Health and Safety Grant in 2026.
• Southeast Athletic Trainers' Association (SEATA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors the Distinguished Scholar Lecture Exchange program, which brings cutting-edge research presentations to NATA annual convention. SEATA enables members from other groups (ACSM, AMSSM, AOSSM) to benefit from athletic training speakers and vice versa.
• Great Lakes Athletic Trainers Association (GLATA)secondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors Student Writing Contest and multiple scholarship endowments including Z. Mel Blickenstaff Memorial Scholarship, Linda Weber Daniel Memorial Scholarship, Pinky Newell Living Memorial Scholarships, Denny & Linda Miller Scholarship, and Living Memorial Graduate Scholarship.
• University of Idaho Doctor of Athletic Training ProgramsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors Doctoral Mentor Program, providing mentorship support for doctoral students pursuing careers in higher education or industry.
• Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers' Society (PBATS)secondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerHole In One Sponsor for ParTee for ATs event. Multiple PBATS scholarship endowments including Hall of Fame Scholarship, Memorial Scholarship, and President's Scholarship.
• OOFOSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBirdie Sponsor for ParTee for ATs event.
• Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of AT Strategic Alliance along with NATA, BOC, and NATA Foundation. Collaborates on athletic training research agenda, terminology standards, and accreditation alignment.
• Board of Certification, Inc. (BOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of AT Strategic Alliance. Provides credentialing standards for athletic trainers. Collaborates on Athletic Training Research Agenda Committee and terminology work.
• National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization - NATA Foundation is the official philanthropic arm of NATA. Close operational integration with NATA for programs, events, and member communications.
• National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association Foundation (NBATA Foundation)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLaunched NBATA Foundation Pre-Athletic Training Scholarship providing $20,000 over two years ($10,000 annually). Focus on financial need for students entering first year of CAATE-accredited professional program.
• ZetrOZ SystemsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Free Communications Program and Research to Clinical Practice newsletter.
• GatorademinorGTM or Marketing PartnerGolf Club Sponsor for ParTee for ATs. Provides Gail Weldon Scholarship endowment.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• SHAPE America (Society of Health and Physical Educators): Professional society for health and physical educators with overlapping interests in school-based athlete health and sports safety research; adjacent mission rather than direct competitor.

Direct peers

• National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Foundation: Foundation supporting strength and conditioning research, scholarships, and professional development for a closely related sports performance profession, with overlapping student/researcher constituents.
• American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) Foundation: Health-profession-aligned foundation funding physician associate education and research, structurally similar in mission and donor model to the NATA Foundation.
• American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Foundation: The philanthropic arm of APTA providing scholarships and research grants to physical therapy students and researchers, structurally analogous to NATA Foundation as the research-and-education funding body for an allied health profession.
• American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Foundation: A 501(c)(3) foundation supporting occupational therapy research and student scholarships, directly comparable as another allied health profession's grantmaking and scholarship foundation.
• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Foundation: Sports medicine and exercise science research foundation funding grants and scholarships, overlapping heavily with athletic training research agenda and recipient pool.

Broad incumbents

• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS): Large orthopaedic professional society with overlapping sports medicine research funding interests and physician-athletic trainer collaboration; broader in scope but competes for sports medicine research dollars.
• Board of Certification (BOC) for the Athletic Trainer: Credentialing body for athletic trainers; AT Strategic Alliance partner setting certification standards that interact with foundation scholarship eligibility criteria.
• Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE): Accreditor for athletic training education programs; a core AT Strategic Alliance partner whose accredited program network defines the foundation's scholarship distribution universe.
• National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA): The parent professional association of the NATA Foundation, providing the membership ecosystem, distribution channels, and institutional credibility on which the foundation depends.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/NATAFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/natafoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/natafoundation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about NATA Research & Education Foundation