--- title: "Michael Jordan Donations Strike Careful Political Balance" id: "34289" type: "post" slug: "michael-jordan-donations-strike-careful-political-balance" published_at: "2016-07-27T22:57:44+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T16:48:21+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/07/27/michael-jordan-donations-strike-careful-political-balance/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/07/27/michael-jordan-donations-strike-careful-political-balance.md" excerpt: "One of the greatest basketball legends of all time is troubled by the recent increase in violence against black people. But he made a significant point by splitting his donations between two organizations in the midst of a contentious debate." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "community data" - "donors" - "HR" - "Leadership" - "social justice" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Director" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Industry Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Michael Jordan Donations Strike Careful Political Balance Basketball legend Michael Jordan is speaking up on an important issue—while avoiding some of that issue’s messier political angles. [This week, the basketball legend noted a desire (opens in a new tab)](http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-police-michaeljordan-idUSKCN105274) to contribute to human rights efforts on an issue close to his heart. “As a proud American, a father who lost his own dad in a senseless act of violence, and a black man, I have been deeply troubled by the deaths of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement and angered by the cowardly and hateful targeting and killing of police officers,” Jordan said in a public statement [published on ESPN’s subsidiary website, The Undefeated (opens in a new tab)](https://theundefeated.com/features/michael-jordan-i-can-no-longer-stay-silent/) . Jordan, the retired Chicago Bulls icon who currently owns the Charlotte Hornets, announced two charitable donations of $1 million each to the [NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (opens in a new tab)](http://www.naacpldf.org/) (LDF) and the [Institute for Community-Police Relations (opens in a new tab)](http://www.iacp.org/ICPR) [(ICPR) (opens in a new tab)](http://www.iacp.org/ViewResult?SearchID=2678) , which was recently established by the [International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) (opens in a new tab)](http://www.iacp.org/) . Both organizations are excited about the donations. “I am so pleased and honored that Michael Jordan will be making this donation to LDF in support of our policing reform efforts,” President and Director-Counsel Sherrilyn Ifill [said in a news release (opens in a new tab)](http://www.naacpldf.org/press-release/ldf-receive-1-million-gift-michael-jordan-policing-reform-work) . The group is [in the midst of a policing-reform campaign (opens in a new tab)](http://www.naacpldf.org/case-issue/policing-reform-campaign) , focused on community-building and accountability. Working in large U.S. cities, including New York City and Baltimore, and smaller ones, such as Ferguson, Missouri, LDF works to ensure federal funds to police departments are used to support critical training and reforms to end racial bias and to promote best practices for community policing. “It is an act of true leadership that Mr. Jordan has chosen to use his stature to highlight the importance of this issue to all Americans and by taking a personal stance in support of organizations directly engaged in addressing this crisis in our nation,” Ifill added. ### Seeing Both sides At the same time, [Jordan condemned (opens in a new tab)](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/26/sports/basketball/michael-jordan-statement-on-police-related-violence.html?_r=0) the recent spate of targeted violence against police officers. “We need to find solutions that ensure people of color receive fair and equal treatment and that police officers—who put their lives on the line every day to protect us all—are respected and supported,” he wrote in [his Undefeated article (opens in a new tab)](https://theundefeated.com/features/michael-jordan-i-can-no-longer-stay-silent/) . IACP’s ICPR, started in May of this year with the hope of helping law enforcement enhance their culture and procedures to prioritize community-building, was a key beneficiary of the basketball legend’s desire to focus on the issue holistically. “The IACP is thrilled by Mr. Jordan’s generous donation in support of the Institute for Community-Police Relations and his commitment to enhance and build trust between community members and law enforcement,” Terrence Cunningham, IACP president and chief of the Wellesley, Massachusetts, police department, [said in a news release (opens in a new tab)](http://www.iacp.org/ViewResult?SearchID=2678) . (Charlotte Hornets handout photo) [Patrick deHahn](https://associationsnow.com/author/patrick-dehahn/) Patrick deHahn is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/patrick-dehahn/) Tags: [#community data](https://associationsnow.com/tag/community-data/) [#donors](https://associationsnow.com/tag/donors/) [#HR](https://associationsnow.com/tag/hr/) [#Leadership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/leadership/) [#social justice](https://associationsnow.com/tag/social-justice/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoWhy We Donate to ASAE Research FoundationNovember 30, 2023](https://associationsnow.com/2023/11/30/why-we-donate-to-asae-research-foundation/) - [VideoUrban Land Institute- Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles After the January 2025 WildfiresSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/urban-land-institute-project-recovery-rebuilding-los-angeles-after-the-january-2025-wildfires/) - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) - [VideoNCRA: Safeguarding Cancer Surveillance: An Advocacy Response to FY26 Budget ThreatsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/ncra-safeguarding-cancer-surveillance-an-advocacy-response-to-fy26-budget-threats/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2016%2F07%2F27%2Fmichael-jordan-donations-strike-careful-political-balance%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !