Number 136
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Kelsey Plum Launches Foundation
To Help LA Underserved Youth
Featured Focus:
Athlete-driven Impact, Access / Inclusion / Equality,
Health & Wellness
Scope of Impact:
Local
Scouting Report: LA Sparks guard, and four-time WNBA All-Star Kelsey Plum just launched her foundation with a commitment to community impact. Here’s what you should know:
A Dual-Pillar Approach: The foundation’s mission addresses two critical challenges with a dual focus on "Access Through Sport", especially for girls, to eliminate barriers to participation, and on "Mental Health & Athlete Well-Being" to address the youth mental health crisis.
Amplify, Don't Compete: Rather than starting new, independent programs, the foundation amplifies existing community nonprofits through grantmaking and collaborative partnerships. It is a strategic approach that acts as a force multiplier for proven local work.
Legacy Over Spotlight: Plum is building a legacy beyond her playing career. She uses her personal story of vulnerability as a "gift" to connect with youth and leverages her platform to bring in corporate partners like Under Armour to create lasting systems for change.
We love that the model for Kelsey Plum's foundation is to acknowledge and amplify proven, existing work, to ensure every granted dollar and effort is a force multiplier. It is a powerful declaration of trust in community partners and a smart investment in efficiency.
By grounding the mission of the foundation in her own vulnerability, Plum creates an undeniable sense of authenticity. She is not a distant benefactor, she is a relatable leader, showing young people that their struggles are valid and that help is within reach. The foundation’s model of co-creation with brands like Under Armour confirms a new trend for corporate social responsibility, moving beyond transactional sponsorships to become a genuine partner in purpose.
This initiative embodies the best of athlete-driven impact, where personal conviction meets strategic foresight to create a legacy that lasts.
Kelsey Plum already leveled up her off-the-court efforts by launching her foundation, so we’re curious about what more Under Armour, one of her long-time sponsors and partners, can do in this initiative.
Could they match grants to local nonprofits to double the intended impact? Could they create a Kelsey Plum Scholarship for high school students wanting to go to college? Could they offer her equity to ensure that philanthropy is built into their partnership?
What do you think?
Plum’s foundation launch is a good reminder that you don’t need to start from scratch. There are a lot of well-run and capable nonprofits out there that do a great job. Leaning on their expertise and infrastructure allows them to create more impact quicker. Which organizations can you partner with to amplify their work and impact?
