Ay’Anna Moody is transforming how professional sports teams give back to their communities. As executive director of the Warriors Community Foundation, she has driven over $50 million in economic impact since 2012. The Oakland native took on the leadership role in February 2025 after six years with the organization.
Moody’s approach goes beyond traditional charitable giving. Her foundation provides capacity-building training, free community spaces, and specialized support for Black women educators. This holistic model sets the Warriors apart from other sports philanthropy organizations across the country.
“I think we can definitely have 50 million more in 5 years just considering how we’re fundraising for the organization,” Moody shared. Her ambitious vision reflects a deep commitment to Bay Area communities. The foundation’s impact continues growing under her strategic leadership.
From Political Aspirations to Sports Philanthropy Leadership
Moody never imagined working in professional sports. The Oakland native originally planned to run for public office. She wanted to serve her community through traditional political channels.
However, the Golden State Warriors reached out six years ago. Something about the opportunity resonated with her community-focused values. “It’s crazy how my trajectory changed. But I ended up still doing the work that I was intended to do to serve the community,” she explained.
Her journey reflects a broader shift in sports philanthropy. Black women remain underrepresented in major sports foundation leadership roles. Moody joins a small but growing group of leaders changing this landscape. Her presence matters in an industry that doesn’t always reflect the communities it serves.
Building a Foundation That Serves All Bay Area Nonprofits
The Warriors Community Foundation stands out for its inclusive approach. Organizations of any size can find support tailored to their needs. This accessibility distinguishes the foundation from others in professional sports.
“I talk to my colleagues across the league and the NFL, and we’re the most generous foundation because we have different entry points,” Moody noted. Small startups and established nonprofits both find opportunities here. The foundation meets organizations wherever they are in their development journey.
This philosophy stems from Moody’s deep Bay Area roots. Growing up in Oakland shaped her entire leadership approach. She watched her aunt co-found the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights alongside Van Jones. Those early experiences planted seeds for her lifelong commitment to social justice and educational equity.
Generation Thrive Transforms Educator Support Across the Bay Area
Generation Thrive represents the foundation’s flagship initiative. Launched in 2019 with Kaiser Permanente, the program has reached over 10,000 Bay Area educators. Participants receive free professional development, wellness programming, and community space access.
Moody actively seeks emerging leaders to support alongside established organizations. She found Ahmed Muhammad, Oakland’s first Black high school valedictorian who founded a STEM nonprofit as a teenager. The foundation began funding his organization last year while he studied engineering at Stanford.
“Just to see how he’s been able to use the resources to scale…having him in our orbit has really helped us to talk about the work in a different way,” Moody shared. This investment in young leaders amplifies the foundation’s community impact. Supporting tomorrow’s changemakers creates lasting ripple effects throughout the Bay Area.
Navigating Challenges as a Black Woman in Sports Leadership
Moody speaks honestly about her journey in sports philanthropy. Her first year with the Warriors felt isolating and challenging. She hadn’t yet learned the sports industry language that surrounded her.
Learning to balance mission and profit became essential for her success. These aren’t separate goals—they work together in professional sports foundations. “I had to learn that and I had to be kind to myself because before I was really like, ‘Why am I not understanding this? Why am I not getting this?'” she admitted.
Now she mentors younger professionals navigating similar challenges. She teaches them how to communicate effectively without dominating conversations. “Sometimes the quietest in the room get more done,” she noted. Flexibility matters, but it requires finding your own authentic approach. “It’s not about code switching. It’s about how you make yourself bamboo. You know what I mean? Flexible.”
Learning to Set Boundaries While Staying Accessible
Setting boundaries remains one of Moody’s biggest challenges. Black women leaders often feel pressure to be accessible to everyone. This expectation creates an exhausting cycle of overextension.
“I want to be accessible, especially Black people, you never want to feel like you made it because then it’s like, ‘She acting funny. She act indifferent,'” she explained vulnerably. The weight of constant demands from inside and outside the organization adds up quickly.
Moody is learning the power of saying no. Being present for everyone isn’t sustainable long-term. She’s discovering that protecting her energy allows her to serve more effectively. This lesson proves especially crucial for Black women in leadership positions.
Creating a Bay Area Legacy Through Educator Recognition
Moody has clear goals for the foundation’s future identity. She wants the Warriors Community Foundation synonymous with educator support. The organization already launched the first-ever educator appreciation night at Chase Center.
“We want folks to know when you think about supporting educators, we want you to think about the Warriors and the Valkyries,” Moody stated. This focused mission creates a distinctive brand in sports philanthropy. Recognition matters just as much as financial support for teachers.
Moody maintains weekly conversations with superintendents in San Francisco and Oakland. She stays informed about challenges from school closures to federal funding changes. This responsiveness ensures the foundation addresses real community needs. Philanthropy works best as relationship building, not transactional giving.
Building Networks and Sustainability for Long-Term Impact
Moody envisions a network of Black women in sports philanthropy. This group would share best practices and discuss compensation openly. Traditional professional organizations often create expensive barriers to these conversations.
“These young girls on TikTok, they are having conversations. They’re saying, ‘This is what I’m getting paid.’ We need to, as older women, start having those conversations too,” she emphasized. Transparency around salaries helps everyone negotiate better opportunities.
Meanwhile, she focuses on building what she calls a “reservoir of goodwill.” This approach ensures community relationships outlast individual star players. “Community work is not charity work. At the end of the day, when we don’t have the Stephen Curry on our team, we still need to sell tickets,” Moody wisely noted.
Her work proves that sports philanthropy can genuinely transform communities. The Warriors Community Foundation under Moody’s leadership operates differently than traditional charity models. By centering community needs and building authentic relationships, she’s creating sustainable impact. The Bay Area benefits from her vision today and for generations to come.