Diversity and Inclusion is a strategic priority for the USTA and one of our core values. Diversity allows us to touch "All of America" and Inclusion allows "All of America" to touch us.
Our responsibility as the National Governing Body for the sport obligates us to identify and lead in removing barriers to allow us to be inclusive so that tennis reflects all of America.
Follow us on our mission to develop and promote the growth of tennis!
Click here for an outline of the Diversity & Inclusion statement and definitions.
USTA Multicultural Participation Initiative
The USTA Multicultural Participation Initiative is made up of a national and sectional volunteer Multicultural Participation Committee and full-time staff members at the national and sectional level. The volunteer committees and the staff work in a coordinated effort to achieve greater multicultural participation all areas of the USTA.
The Multicultural Participation Committee is part of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), a volunteer-based, not-for profit membership organization that works year-round to promote and develop the growth of tennis. The Multicultural Participation Committee (MPC) was formed by the USTA to increase minority participation-particularly in the African-American, Asian, Latino, Hispanic, and Native American communities.
The USTA has made multicultural participation a Level I Strategic Priority and approved a Diversity Plan to make the priority a reality.
For more information, please contact Yasmine Osborn.
Grants
Financial disparity is consistently identified as a significant barrier that prevents multicultural players from getting into the sport. To help boost tennis participation among aspiring multicultural players, the USTA has created the Multicultural Grants Program, which offers grants to programs, community tennis associations and individual players.
National Grants
- Multicultural Excellence Program Grant
- Multicultural Individual Player Grant for National Competition and Training
- Okechi Womeodu Scholar Athlete Grant
- Community Outreach Grant
- Althea Gibson Leadership Award
Southern Grants - www.southerntennis.com/grants
Supplier Diversity
It is the policy of the USTA to ensure that opportunities to participate in the bidding and procurement process are provided to certified Diverse-Owned businesses*. Grounded in the organization’s culture of High Performance, this policy promotes diversity among the USTA’s supplier base, and is reflective of the desire to "Look like America" across all disciplines.
The effective implementation of our Supplier Diversity policy broadens the USTA’s access to the widest selection of qualified supplier candidates, increases competition in the vendor selection process and demonstrates our resolve to have a positive impact on all communities in which we live, work and play .
For more information on the USTA’s supplier diversity program, or to register as a Diverse Supplier, please click on the link: http://supplierdiversity.usta.com.
Please note: To register as a diverse-owned business with the USTA, businesses must be certified by a third party. The USTA recognizes third party certification by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (www.nmsdc.org), Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (www.wbenc.com), or that of federal, state or local governments.
* Diverse owned businesses are defined as businesses that are 51% owned by women or members of the following minority groups: African-American, Latino .