Creating a nation unified through sports committed to racial equity and social justice.

Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality

We are a national nonprofit that educates and empowers the sports community to eliminate racial discrimination, champion social justice and improve race relations.

Through partnerships and programs, we inspire leaders in sports to create positive change on matters of race and equality.

Our Impact

Explore this map to see where we are and who we’ve worked with to improve race relations in our country. Want to bring RISE to your community?

Take Action Now

Board of Directors

STEPHEN M. ROSS

Co-Chair, RISE; Chairman of the Board and Managing General Partner, Miami Dolphins

PAUL TAGLIABUE

NFL, Former Commissioner; RISE, Co-Chair; Covington & Burling, Senior of Counsel

KATRINA ADAMS

USTA, Immediate Past President

JOCELYN BENSON

Secretary of State, Michigan

GARY BETTMAN

Commissioner, NHL

PETE BEVACQUA

NBC Sports, President

MAVERICK CARTER

CEO, SpringHill Entertainment

GEORGE CASEY, JR

U.S. Army (Retired), General

JON DIAMENT

Executive Vice President, Turner Broadcasting

MARK EMMERT

President, NCAA

DON GARBER

Commissioner, MLS

ROGER GOODELL

Commissioner, NFL

MATT HIGGINS

President, RSE Ventures

LARRY JONES

Fox Sports Network Group, EVP

STACY TESSLER LINDAU, MD

University of Chicago, Professor of Ob/Gyn and Medicine

ROB MANFRED

Commissioner, MLB

KEVIN MARTINEZ

VP of Corporate Citizenship, ESPN

SEAN MCMANUS

Chairman, CBS Sports

STEVE PHELPS

NASCAR, President

SCOTT PIOLI

Former NFL Executive

MAX SIEGEL

CEO, USA Track & Field

ADAM SILVER

Commissioner, NBA

DONALD SUN

Managing Partner, AVP

SETH WAUGH

PGA of America, CEO

History

STEPHEN M. ROSS

Founder

Growing up in Detroit, Miami Dolphins Chairman of the Board and Managing General Partner Stephen M. Ross witnessed firsthand the negative impacts of racism within the community. As our society continues to address and navigate the very complicated issues of racism, he established the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE) in 2015 to bring the sports community together to advance equality, respect and understanding. Ross, his RISE team and their partners hope to spark enduring change by inspiring dialogue and providing tools for progress.

I saw a unique opportunity to harness the unifying power of sports, produce real change and create a new paradigm. Sports brings together athletes, coaches and fans of all races, uniting us with shared experiences and common goals that allow us to transcend our differences. If there is any place where there is real equality, it's sports. The sports community is uniquely positioned and empowered to break down barriers, and provides us with a vast platform in which to begin open conversations, impact youth and be an effective catalyst for social progress.

— Stephen M. Ross