Get Involved

GET INVOLVED

Select a tab below to view how you can get involved as an individual, top donor, or corporate partner!

There are many ways you can get involved and contribute to our mission. Through internships, events, and our annual donor program, we aim to make an impact in the U.S. and the African diaspora. Click one of the topics below to learn more about how you can get involved today!

Internships

Volunteer

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Give Annually

SHAPE Internship Program

The Goal

We provide an immersive 5-month experience (January–May & June–November) for students and young professionals to learn the ropes of nonprofit management, event planning, and fundraising.

Who We Look For

Undergraduate/graduate student or recent graduate with relevant skills needed to add value to make an impact internally and externally during their time at SHAPE
Types of roles:
- Digital Strategy & Operations - View Role Description
- Fundraising & Donor Outreach - View Role Description
- Business & Events Management - View Role Description

APPLY FOR AN INTERNSHIP

Join the "SHAPE Fam" with Annual or Monthly Giving

The Goal

Annual and monthly donors are the backbone of our foundation. By committing to a recurring gift, you provide the reliable funding needed to empower youth in the US and in Africa by engaging them in creative activities building skills that will help to become more resilient and valuable members of their societies.

The Catalyst

Annual Donation: $100-$249 ($10-$25 Monthly)

Benefits Include:

Personalized Thank You letter
SHAPE sticker pack
SHAPE shirt or hat

The Builder

Annual Donation: $250-$499 ($26-50 Monthly)

Includes all benefits of the Catalyst plus:

Free SHAPE merch item with every quarterly drop

The Accelerator

Annual Donation: $500-$999 ($51-$99 Monthly)

Includes all benefits of the Builder plus:

Newsletter name mention
Social media shout-out

Legacy Maker

Annual Donation: $1000+ ($100+ Monthly)

Includes all benefits of the Accelerator plus:

Name recognition at our Art Benefit
Documentary Acknowledgement

ANNUAL donor benefits

DONATION AMOUNT

SPACER

Personalized thank you letter

SHAPE Sticker pack

SHAPE shirt or hat

Free SHAPE merch item quarterly

Newsletter name mention

Social Media shout-out

Name recognition at our Art Benefit

Documentary Acknowledgement

The

Catalyst

$100 - $249

$10-$25 Monthly

Spacer

The

BUILDER

$250-499

$26-50 Monthly

Spacer

The

ACCELERATOR

$500-$999

$51-99 Monthly

Spacer

legacy

maker

$1000+

$100+ Monthly

Spacer

Event Volunteers

The Goal

Our events in the U.S. and the African diaspora thrive on community involvement. From fundraising events and skate drives to clinics and demos, it’s only possible through the support of our incredible volunteers. These opportunities are for non-skateboarders and skateboarders alike.

How It Works

By joining our volunteer list, you aren’t committing to every event. You’ll simply get first notice of upcoming opportunities and can sign up based on your interest and capacity.

What You'll Do

Roles vary by event—one month we may need skaters for demos/lessons for D.C. youth; the next, we may need help at a donation booth for an embassy event.

JOIN THE VOLUNTEER LIST

Make History with a Frontier NGO

SHAPE is a registered 501(c)(3) legacy-driven organization bridging the resource gap across the African diaspora. We invite Top Donors and Corporate Partners to join us on the frontier of the world’s fastest growing skate scene.

We specialize in high visibility "firsts." Our Naija Tour, supported by New Balance, was the first multi-city skate tour in Nigeria’s history. Through our collaboration with @theskatenomad, we brought tens of thousands of global eyes to the brands and donors who believed in our mission first.

PARTNER WITH US

Our Naija Tour supported by New Balance

Strategic Funding Opportunities

Donors and Partners can choose to direct their support toward specific high-impact initiatives:

Infrastructure & Access

Become a lead sponsor of our Abuja Skatepark Project (November 2026) to build a permanent sanctuary in Nigeria’s capital.

Youth Empowerment & Mentorship

Fund on-the-ground programs that provide disadvantaged youth with the tools to build grit and perseverance.

Athlete Development

Help level the playing field by sponsoring African athletes on the world stage, covering travel and training for international qualifiers.

Industry Development

Help us build a sustainable local skate economy through equipment drives and supporting skate shop startups.

Get recognized for your contributions & partnership and see your impact

First Mover Status

Be recognized as a pioneer in global youth culture and African sports development.

Direct Engagement

Top Donors receive an annual "Partner Briefing" with the Executive Director to discuss foundation growth and upcoming "firsts."

High-Level Recognition

For gifts of $5,000+, receive your name or logo on the SHAPE homepage, athlete uniforms, and project-specific permanent signage (e.g., at the Abuja Skatepark).

Storytelling

Feature in our vlogs and documentary series, reaching a massive, engaged global audience.

ANNUAL SHAPE Art benefit

Hosted in October, at the Embassy of France in Washington, D.C. Our flagship event is a prestigious celebration of skateboarding, heritage, and the creative arts.

This is an opportunity for brands and visionary donors to show their support in a high visibility setting attended by embassy officials, creative leaders, and global change makers.

SPONSOR OUR GALA

Sponsor our Annual SHAPE Art Benefit and receive a sponsorship package that includes:

Title Sponsorship

Exclusive branding of the evening’s fashion show, art exhibition, or live musical performance.

Hospitality

VIP athlete and artist meet-and-greets.

Marketing

Prominent brand placement across all gala digital media, physical signage, and press releases.

OUR MISSION

The SHAPE Foundation empowers black and brown youth and young adults in the African diaspora and in the U.S. We use skateboarding and the creative arts to build resilient communities, celebrate African culture, and develop the grit and perseverance needed to overcome adversity.

We accomplish this by building skatepark infrastructure, providing skate equipment, sponsoring talented African Olympic athletes, and hosting community-focused events.