NIKE commits $140M to black communities in honor of black history month

Nike has committed $140 million to its Black Community Commitment, which funds groups that work to improve economic and social justice opportunities.

The money will be invested in national and local organizations such as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Black Girls Code, Black Girl Ventures, and Black Voters Matter over the next ten years by Nike's Black Community Commitment. As part of its promise, Nike will contribute an additional $2.75 million to help 44 local organizations in seven U.S. cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, and Memphis.

“NIKE, Inc.’s purpose is to move the world forward, breaking barriers and building community to change the game for all,” Karol Collymore, senior director of Inclusive Community for Social & Community Impact, said in a statement. “Our Black Community Commitment embodies this belief and drives how we are showing up to advance racial equality for Black people.”

Nike has managed to not only be fully committed to the communities that they serve over the years, but also to reach well beyond the storefront. The top sports brand has been a destination for merchandise, technical advice, and, most importantly, community since the establishment of its Blue Ribbon Sports store in 1967.

Nike has committed $16 million in 90 local and national groups aimed at boosting economic empowerment, social justice, and educational innovation during the last 20 months. By meeting communities where they live, work, and play, and by developing frameworks that will set the stage for national transformation, the investments will work toward assuring a better, stronger future.

Nike announced a new $5 million investment to help ten national groups this month, including four in the education innovation space: Son of a Saint, All Star Code, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

“Through our grant from Nike, the single-largest investment we’ve received to date, we’re able to expand and grow our network to 100,000 Black and Brown boys for whom these opportunities may have been out of reach. There’s an urgency to changing the face of tech, and we need to be part of it, because having the faces, ideas, and voices of Black and Brown leaders in the design rooms, and someday the boardrooms, is the biggest transformation that we imagine.”

In keeping with its Black Community Commitment, Nike, along with Converse, the Jordan Brand, and Michael Jordan, will continue to invest in local organizations dedicated to furthering equality in a number of U.S. cities, particularly in Los Angeles, CA, where it all began nearly 50 years ago. As the company celebrates its 50th year in the Los Angeles community, it continues to elevate those who will impact the future.

The L.A. Jets Track Club, one of the 2022 grant recipients, has provided access to the sport for Black youngsters in Los Angeles since 1973. The club has grown to a team of 185 athletes that compete at the highest level in the USA Track & Field program, thanks to an all-volunteer coaching staff.

Hundreds of national champions and scholarship athletes have been created by the organization throughout the years, demonstrating how this sport provides chances beyond the track. The L.A. Jets Track Club has received a $35,000 investment from Nike to help not just the club's youth runners, but also to enhance the club and grow its academic program and athletes.