Our Focus

Our Focus

People. Planet. Relief.

Guided by our mission and vision, we organize our work across the three focus areas: People, Planet, and Relief. All three focus areas aim to work at the heart of where we see the deepest divides and most urgent crises facing communities.

We carry out long-term programs aimed at combatting inequality, fostering gender equity, and promoting peace while aiming to enhance mental and physical health and the overall well-being of individuals. We focus on the fight against hate and intolerance, harnessing the power of sport to foster peace and sustainable development in communities experiencing socio-economic challenges and promoting inclusive access to sport for all.

In addition, we plan cross-programmatic initiatives for environmental engagement and relief following times of disaster and crisis, which are designed to enhance the effectiveness and reach of our existing programs. In this regard, we focus on educational tools for partners and local communities that address environmental challenges and support communities affected by disaster and crisis.

We aim to support marginalized communities in their efforts to overcome the challenges they experience. In this context, sport has been found to be particularly effective at positively contributing to specific sustainable development goals related to:

• Social isolation, stigmatization, and stereotypes
• Mental health, low resilience, and self-esteem
• Physical health and preventable diseases due to lack of physical activity
• Social division which undermines community unity
• Institutional barriers, including unequal rights and representation

These issues are particularly pronounced for women and girls, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), people with disabilities, LGBTQI+ people, refugees, migrants, and internally displaced persons. Our work will specifically be dedicated to supporting these groups in the regions of greatest need, where we can collaborate meaningfully with effective local partners.

Through our program portfolio, we aim to support our partner organizations to further strengthen their organizational capacity by providing access to resources and trainings that will continue to support their work beyond the period of our financial support.

Our Partner Selection Process

We select partners for our program portfolio in two ways:

All organizations must undergo a due diligence process, including general compliance checks, before entering into a formal partnership.

Who do we partner with: Guiding principles for potential partners 

At the adidas Foundation, we believe in building collaborative partnerships and support diverse, impactful projects globally that reflect our core values and align with our mission. We primarily consider organizations for partnership that:

• Are politically and religiously independent and are inclusive of all individuals regardless of race, gender, gender identity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, ability, religion, age, ethnicity, and other identities.
• Operate for charitable or non-profit purposes, with valid legal registration in the country where the work is implemented.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to safeguarding and inclusivity, with policies and documented practices that protect all individuals and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Uphold transparency in operations, governance, and management, and are open to sharing internal practices and mechanisms as part of our due diligence process handled in line with applicable dataprotection laws.
• Are financially sustainable, with diverse sources of funding and a proven track record of responsible financial management.

These principles guide our selection process and reflect our commitment to working with partners who share our dedication to positive social impact through sport and community engagement.

Please note: Meeting these expectations does not guarantee partnership or funding. The specific requirements may vary based on the context of each project. We reserve the right to request further information and related documentation through our due diligence processes.

Interested in partnering with us?

If your work aligns with our mission of uniting communities through sport, your organization aligns with our guiding principles, and you would like to:

• Be notified when we open a call for proposals,
• Receive updates about our work,
• Make your organization’s information available for our team’s active research,

We invite you to submit your details using this form.

Please note that submitting your details does not guarantee collaboration or an individualized response.