Our Impact | Smart Sports

Impact

The Challenge Is Real. So Is What We Are Doing About It.

We believe
opportunity should
not be left to chance

Helping young people connect what they learn today to what they can do tomorrow

Key Outcomes

Smart Sports first year of programming was summer 2025. We are not yet in a position to publish longitudinal outcome data, and we will not pretend otherwise. What we can tell you is what we designed this model to produce, what we observed in year one, and how we are measuring progress going forward.

That honesty is intentional. We believe funders and partners deserve to know exactly where we are, not a polished version of where we hope to be.

Increased engagement and attendance
Academic confidence and stronger performance
Career awareness and pathway exploration
Financial literacy and decision-making skills
Applied learning in real-world scenarios
Leadership development and ownership

The Challenge Is Real

Understanding the problem is the first step. Smart Sports is built to address it directly.

2 to 3
months

of reading skills students can lose over the summer

Source: Brookings

1 in 3
students

report persistent sadness

Source: CDC

2 to 3
times

Low-income youth are 2 to 3 times less likely to participate in sports.

Source: Aspen Institute

22%
of students

feel prepared for the workforce

Source: Gallup

When young people do not see how what they are learning
connects to their future, they disengage.

Smart Sports changes that by aligning academics, sports, and meaningful exposure so students can see what is possible and how to get there.

Ownership

Students take on leadership roles and shape their experience. This is not a program done to young people; it is built with them.

When scholars have voice and agency in their learning, ownership naturally follows. And ownership drives the kind of engagement that produces lasting outcomes.

Because of this, the work reflects what matters to them, not what is assumed for them.

Attendance

Are scholars showing up consistently? Consistent participation is the first signal that the model is working. A scholar who keeps coming back is a scholar who sees value in being there.

Confidence

Do scholars report stronger belief in their own academic ability? We track this through direct conversation and structured reflection, because confidence is often the thing that changes before grades do.

Career Awareness

Can scholars name careers connected to sports that they were not aware of before? This is one of the clearest indicators of whether the exposure component is landing.

Leadership

Are scholars stepping into roles that require them to take ownership, guide peers, and make decisions? Peer leadership is one of the strongest predictors of long-term engagement.

Real Stories, Real Impact

Hear from the students, parents, and mentors who are experiencing the transformation.

This Only Works If More Young People Have
Access

Your support helps us expand programming, build partnerships, and reach more young people with the tools they need to move forward.