Lead fundraising. Build skills. Change lives. Make your mark.
Be the change. Make an impact. Lead your community.
A Hoops Ambassador is a middle or high school student who uses their passion for basketball and leadership to create real educational opportunities for students in India. You're not just raising money—you're building bridges across the world, developing professional skills, and creating change that matters.
As an ambassador, you become part of a nationwide movement of student changemakers. You'll organize fundraising events, connect with students in India through our pen pal program, and gain hands-on experience in leadership, marketing, event planning, and social entrepreneurship.
This isn't just another volunteer opportunity to list on your college application. It's a transformative experience that will shape how you see the world, develop skills that colleges and employers desperately want, and give you stories that will set you apart in any interview or essay.
You just need to care about using sports as a tool for change and be willing to lead your community toward something bigger than yourself.
Transform yourself while transforming lives
Stand out with compelling leadership stories, recommendation letters from our founder, and resume-building achievements that admissions officers actually care about.
Connect with your pen pal in India, see exactly how your fundraising changes their life, and develop cross-cultural competencies that matter in today's world.
Learn fundraising, public speaking, event management, social media marketing, and leadership through monthly workshops and hands-on experience.
Earn certificates, digital badges for LinkedIn, exclusive merchandise, and invitations to annual summit events recognizing top performers.
Connect with sports industry professionals, college coaches, social entrepreneurs, and fellow ambassadors across the country.
Track exactly what your fundraising accomplishes through quarterly impact reports, photos from India, and video messages from the students you're helping.
Your journey from application to impact
Submit your application with a short essay and video. We review applications twice yearly (August and January). You'll hear back within two weeks.
Attend virtual orientation, receive your welcome kit (t-shirt, fundraising playbook, supplies), and get matched with your pen pal in India.
Create your personal fundraising page, set your financial goals, and start planning your first campaign or event.
Host events, run social media campaigns, organize tournaments, and engage your community. We provide all the tools, templates, and support you need.
Exchange monthly letters with your pen pal, attend virtual workshops, participate in challenges, and join our ambassador community.
Receive quarterly reports showing exactly what your fundraising accomplished, watch videos from India, and celebrate milestones with recognition and awards.
See exactly what your fundraising accomplishes
Everything you need to know
Not at all! You don't even need to play basketball. We're looking for students who care about using sports as a tool for social change and who are willing to take leadership in their communities. If you have passion, we'll teach you everything else.
It's flexible! Most ambassadors spend 3-5 hours per month on fundraising activities, monthly letters to their pen pal, and optional workshops. You can do more if you want to, but we understand you have school, sports, and other commitments.
Perfect! We provide complete training, monthly workshops, pre-made campaign ideas, email templates, social media graphics, and one-on-one support. You'll also have access to a community of fellow ambassadors who can share what's worked for them.
No! The program is completely free. You receive a welcome kit, all training materials, ongoing support, and recognition—all at no cost to you. 100% of the funds you raise go directly to programs in India.
Transparency is everything to us. You'll receive quarterly impact reports with photos and videos from India, monthly letters from your pen pal showing their progress, and a dashboard showing exactly what your specific fundraising has accomplished. You'll see the faces and hear the stories of students whose lives you're changing.
Absolutely! Many ambassadors work together on events and campaigns. You can each have your own fundraising page (and pen pal), but collaborate on bigger events like tournaments or challenges. Team fundraising often raises more money and is more fun!
Yes! This program gives you everything admissions officers look for: demonstrated leadership, sustained commitment (not one-time service), measurable impact, and authentic stories that show character and growth. You'll have compelling material for essays, activities lists, and interviews. Plus, top performers receive recommendation letters from our founder, a TEDx speaker and educator with deep connections in the sports and education world.
Court Captains (Middle School): Focus on peer awareness and small-scale fundraising ($500-1,000 goal).
Impact Players (High School): Lead events and community organizing ($1,500-3,000 goal).
MVP Ambassadors (Invitation Only): Elite performers who handle strategic partnerships and large campaigns ($5,000+ goal).
We have two application cycles:
• Fall Cohort: Applications due August 1, program starts September 1
• Spring Cohort: Applications due January 1, program starts February 1
You can apply anytime, but you'll join the next cohort after your application is accepted.
Life happens—we get it. You can take a break or leave the program at any time with no penalty. We just ask that you let us know so we can properly transition your pen pal relationship. That said, we encourage you to stick with it—the students who do report the greatest impact on their college applications and personal growth.
Start your journey as a Hoops Ambassador