The USA Triathlon Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and the charitable arm of USA Triathlon.
We generate a greater impact on the multisport community through charitable giveback and grants that advance the Foundation’s three pillars, 1) Encourage youth participation 2) Inspire pathways to access and inclusion 3) Ignite Olympic and Paralympic dreams
Board of Trustees#
Represented by a strong group of business and non-profit professionals, age group athletes, and a two-time Paralympian, the USA Triathlon Foundation's Board of Trustees established and upholds the mission of transforming lives by opening pathways to all.
Brenda Smith
Chair
Rick Hrabchak
Vice Chair
Bill Shenkin
Treasurer
Reggie Waller
Secretary
Frantz Alphonse
Trustee
Alex Egan
Trustee
Cameron Hamilton
Trustee
Rosalind Jarrett Sepulveda
Trustee
Marci Jenkins
Trustee
Audra Mallow
Trustee
Justin Model
Trustee
Cheryl Perry
Trustee
Nathan Stuhlmacher
Trustee
Mike Wein
Trustee
Legacy Members#
USA Triathlon Foundation Legacy Membership acknowledges extraordinary service to the USA Triathlon Foundation and the Board of Trustees.
Jim Aust
Bob Babbitt
Stephen Ban
Scott Brown
John Cassimatis
Paul Craig
Tracy Disabato-Aust
Paul Gompers
Floyd Gregory (Gregg) Goolsby
David Lang
Dick Lansing
Jacqueline McCook
David Silver
Melissa Stockwell
History#
In 2014, USA Triathlon laid the foundation for what would become a significant chapter in the sport's history by establishing the USA Triathlon Foundation as a distinct 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity. The formation of this foundation marked a pivotal moment, as it was designed to serve as the charitable arm of USA Triathlon, aimed at advancing three key pillars, 1) Encouraging youth participation 2) Inspiring pathways to access and inclusion 3) Igniting Olympic and Paralympic dreams.
USA Triathlon made a commitment to invest in a philanthropic arm, creating USA Triathlon Foundation dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and access within triathlon with the distribution of grants to underserved communities and organizations.
Paratriathlon Development Program Grants, Elite Athlete Development Program Grants, Youth and Junior Development Grants, and Community Grants, were first disbursed on April 16, 2015.
The Foundation professionalized in 2018 with the appointment of an Executive Director, leading to the establishment of the Ambassador Program and Training Camp.
In 2020, USA Triathlon and the USA Triathlon Foundation launched the "Together We Thrive: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access" initiative, committing to long-term action to foster pathways to access and inclusion. This initiative initiated a granting process to support individuals and organizations dedicated to advancing DEIA in the triathlon community.
The Foundation experienced significant growth following the appointment of an Executive Director, with more and more triathletes coming alongside this critical work each year. Notably, in 2021, under the leadership of the first President and Chief Development Officer, the foundation achieved a milestone by raising over $1 million in support of expanding the sport.
The USA Triathlon Foundation witnessed a record fundraising year in 2022, raising more than $2 million from over 3,800 passionate donors. Additionally, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, became the 40th school to add varsity women’s triathlon, meeting NCAA requirements and furthering the sport's sustainability and success at the varsity level.
The momentum continued into 2023 with a transformational gift of $550,000 to formally create and support the Mallow Junior/U23 National Team, an important development program for aspiring U.S. Olympians. In the same year, USA Triathlon Foundation, in partnership with generous donors Todd Leff of the Leff Family Foundation, John Cassimatus, and USA Triathlon, launched the USA Kids Tri program, furthering youth pathways to swim, bike, and run. This program encourages youth participation at the grassroots level through a series of culminating races in select locations.
On February 27th, 2024, the USA Triathlon Foundation made history by announcing the largest gift to date, amounting to $850,000 from the TriDave Legacy Trust. This significant contribution was earmarked to support the official recognition of women’s collegiate triathlon as an NCAA Championship sport.
The USA Triathlon Foundation continues to play a crucial role in supporting the growth and development of triathlon in the United States, ensuring that the sport remains accessible and inclusive for all participants.