About Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative Foundation
Creating an equitable future for all by supporting the next generation of leaders through the power of sport, education, and activism.
Focus Areas
sportseducationactivismyouth leadershipLGBTQ+ rightsgender equityresearch on inclusion
Funding Style
unrestricted/general operating supportcore operating supportflexible funding
About Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative Foundation
A $100,000 general-support grant to The Barack Obama Foundation is the largest recent award on file for the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative Foundation, and it helps show the breadth of its giving. The foundation backs work at the intersection of sport, education, activism, inclusion, and history, with grants flowing to both national institutions and community-based nonprofits. Recent awards also include support for the Hollywood Historic Trust, the Women’s Sports Foundation, and the Long Beach Public Library Foundation, suggesting a mix of civic, cultural, and sports-related priorities. Its program descriptions point to a structure that is unusually centered on sport as a vehicle for leadership and access. Some funding moves through partnerships with the Women’s Sports Foundation, while other grants go directly to nonprofits and cultural institutions. The portfolio includes general support for advocacy and equity groups, operating support for library and historical work, and targeted funding tied to athletics and leadership development. Several grants recur across multiple years, including support for the Women’s Sports Foundation, the Long Beach Public Library Foundation, and the National Women’s Law Center, indicating an ongoing relationship rather than isolated gifts.
What Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative Foundation Funds
In sport and gender equity, the foundation gave $25,000 to Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program for general support and $15,000 to Athlete Ally for general support, reflecting attention to athletics as a setting for inclusion and advocacy. It also funded City Parks Foundation with $25,000 for general support, a fit with its interest in access to sport and community wellbeing. Education and cultural heritage are another clear lane. The New York Historical Society received $25,000 for general support, and the Long Beach Public Library Foundation received $50,000 in 2025 and another $50,000 in 2024, both as general support. In public-interest advocacy, the National Women’s Law Center received $50,000 in 2025 and $25,000 in 2023, showing sustained support for policy and legal work tied to gender equity.
How Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative Foundation Gives
Typical grant size clusters at $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes a $100,000 award, showing that the foundation makes both mid-sized and larger general-support grants. The pattern is recurring rather than one-off: several recipients appear in multiple years, including the Women’s Sports Foundation, the Long Beach Public Library Foundation, the National Women’s Law Center, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, and Athlete Ally. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and the available program descriptions show both direct grants and partnership-based funding. Some initiatives accept unsolicited requests, including Rusty Kanokogi Fund, GoGirlGo! Grants, Travel and Training Fund, Scott Pioli & Family Fund, and Inspiring Leader Award.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$275K
Total Assets
$4.2M
Total Revenue
$937K
Total Expenses
$591K
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $15K and $50K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$50K
Geographic Reach
National7 states funded
About 0% of grants go to recipients in NY.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
THERESE O'HIGGINS
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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