About Us
Let’s go, RVA!
Mission
Inspiring people from all corners of our community to live actively.
Core Operating Values
Engage Underserved Populations
Provide active living opportunities for all residents, with emphasis on underserved communities
Build Innovative Culture
Dedicate 10% staff time to innovation processes for continual improvement of active living initiatives
Diversify Funding Sources
Raise funds through diverse sources to support the active living movement
View our Sports Backers Storybook
View our 2017-2022 Strategic Plan At-A-Glance.
View our most recent Annual Report.
During the past 27 years, Sports Backers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has developed programs and events that are designed to inspire people from all corners of our community to live actively. We achieve this work by focusing on a network of collaborative partnerships with other organizations, businesses, local governments and faith based institutions. In order to have transformational change, we realize we can’t do it all alone, but rather we work to build a movement of change in our community to make active living the easy choice.
Bike Walk RVA
We support bike and pedestrian friendly infrastructure projects. Empower residents with the tools they need to advocate for safe and comfortable places to bike and walk throughout Richmond. Learn more about Bike Walk RVA.
Fitness Warriors
We offer free fitness classes throughout our community every week so that individuals, no matter where they live, can benefit from an active lifestyle. Learn more about Fitness Warriors.
Kids Run RVA
We provide kids the chance to have fun while being physically active on a regular basis. We support school-based run clubs. Learn more about Kids Run RVA.
Active RVA
A regional collaborative movement that works with businesses, schools and early childhood organizations to get every corner of our community moving. Learn more about Active RVA.
Scholar-Athlete Awards
Sports Backers celebrates the leadership and drive of scholar-athletes with a formal dinner and awards scholarships to 20 outstanding student athletes, 4 outstanding teams and a comeback athlete of the year. Learn more about Scholar-Athlete Awards.
Fall Line
The Fall Line is a proposed 43-mile paved trail in Central Virginia from Ashland to Petersburg. Sports Backers, through our Bike Walk RVA Program, is the lead organization advocating for the completion of this backbone of biking and walking in the Richmond Region and beyond. Learn more about the Fall Line.
Events and Training Teams
We celebrate Richmond’s active culture by hosting events that showcase our region’s greatest attributes. Sports Backers’ training teams, led by experienced volunteer coaches, will have you ready to take part in one of our many events.
Sports Backers now owns and produces 13 events each year that include some of the largest and most successful of their kind in the country. They include:
• Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k presented by Kroger and Virginia529 Kids Run
• Dominion Energy Riverrock
• Cougar 7v7 Field Hockey Tournament
• Anthem Corporate Run
• Run Bike Relay presented by Ragnar
• Richmond International Dragon Boat Festival
• Virginia Credit Union Moonlight Ride
• Patrick Henry Half Marathon
• Walmart Biz Bowl
• Trails & Ales
• Whole Foods Market Marathon Jr.
• VCU Health Richmond Marathon, Richmond Half Marathon, and Allianz Partners 8k
• CarMax Tacky Light Run
Last year the Sports Backers supported 25 other sports tourism events owned and operated by nonprofit organizations in the Richmond region
Audited financial statements and IRS Form 990 are available by request. Please email [email protected].