Civic Leadership
Athletes Unlimited’s mission is to develop our athletes as civic leaders and elevate them as role models for the next generation of athletes and fans. In doing so, we aim to create a community of athletes and fans who recognize that the qualities that lead to excellence on the field are the same qualities that create strong civic leaders and participants in civic life.
Civic Leadership Initiatives
Power In My Voice
Power In My Voice is an initiative to show that everyone can have an impact by using their voice. Whether it is through voting, speaking up for a cause, standing up for your teammates and peers, or helping out in your community, every voice is powerful.
Every season, fans can see Power In My Voice activations in the Women Who Inspire displays in-stadium, Books That Inspire x Bookshop.org, and Becoming Unlimited.
Athlete Causes
The Athlete Causes program, in partnership with Give Lively and the Give Lively Foundation, provides capital and a fundraising platform for our athletes to play for the causes they care about most. At the end of each season, Athletes Unlimited, powered by Give Lively and the Give Lively Foundation, makes a grant equal to 100% of the athlete’s win bonus to the non-profit of the athlete’s choice.
As of Volleyball 2025, Athletes Unlimited has donated just over $3 million to over 250 non-profit organizations.
Learn More About Basketball's Athlete Causes
Intersectional Equity Working Group
Found in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd, the Intersectional Equity Working Group (formerly Racial Equity Working Group) is made up of staff and players from each Athletes Unlimited sport. The group seeks opportunities to empower action within Athletes Unlimited communities, promote intersectional equity, reduce bias, and highlight diverse voices and perspectives.
Examples of their work include the Power In My Voice campaign and related activations, consulting on Civic Leadership programming, voter engagement programs, and diversity, equity, and inclusion workshops, including player-led conversations.
An example of the group’s efforts is the #BecomingUnlimited program, which highlights the talents of BIPOC girls and young women in sports by celebrating players who are not only talented in their respective sports but also active leaders on their teams and in their communities. Winners are invited to a game of their choice and treated to a VIP experience, which includes a meet-and-greet with athletes and special shout out during the game.
Nominate an Athlete You Believe is #BecomingUnlimited
Impact Weeks
Impact Weeks are opportunities for Athletes Unlimited and its athletes to highlight a specific cause, observance, community partner, or AU initiative through targeted weekly programming, athlete experiences, and game presentations both in-venue and throughout broadcast content and activations. Themes for impact weeks are driven and chosen by the Player Executive Committees of each sport.
Learn More About Basketball's Impact Weeks
Learn More About Volleyball's Impact Weeks
Sustainability
Athletes Unlimited is the first professional sports organization to be structured as a Public Benefit Corporation and the first U.S.-based professional sports league to become carbon neutral.
POLICIES THAT SUPPORT OUR ATHLETES
Athletes Unlimited is committed to creating safe and inclusive spaces for both our athletes and staff while maintaining competitive equity in professional sports. Examples of our policies include:
- Child Care: We provide child care to our athletes while they are in market as well as a progressive pregnancy policy for staff and athletes alike that include reasonable accommodations related to pregnancy, parental leave, and breastfeeding.
- In 2022, Athletes Unlimited became a founding member of the Moms First (formerly Marshall Plan for Moms) coalition. The coalition includes members who have an interest in pursuing solutions that equitably provide childcare support for employees, demonstrate willingness to take action, increase transparency by sharing policies, data and best practices, and speak out publicly on the importance of childcare to the U.S. economic health and competitiveness and normalize the challenges of working parents.
- Gender Expression: We recognize all forms of gender expression and support our athletes choosing to express their gender beyond the binary of female and male through our Participation of Transgender and Non-Binary Athletes Policy. Additionally, we provide topical training for our athletes, staff, talent, and medical staff.
- Religious Headwear: We observe our athletes’ religious dress practices and respective religious prohibitions against wearing certain garments through our Religious Headwear Policy.
We also support external policies that impact equity within women’s sports. For example, in 2023, a group of our athletes met with members of the House Progressive Caucus to discuss perspectives on H.R.734, a proposed bill that seeks to remove protections under Title IX that prohibit discrimination based on gender identity in athletic programs. Additionally, as a company, we joined the Women’s Sports Foundation and National Women’s Law Center’s letter of opposition.
CIVIC LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Civic Leadership Award aims to recognize one Athletes Unlimited athlete each year for their civic leadership efforts both during the seasons and in the off-season.
Whether nominating themselves or their peers, athletes speak to the depth of civic leadership activities that they, or the person they are nominating, are involved in both outside and within the Athletes Unlimited programs. These civic leadership activities include athlete’s involvement in Athlete Causes, volunteerism, community service, fundraising, voter engagement, raising awareness, advocacy and more.
2021 Recipient: Jazmyn Jackson
2022 Recipient: Cassidy Lichtman
2023 Recipient: Mira Shane
2024 Recipient: Kaz Brown