ENDOWMENTS
Endowments provide vital, long-term support to our organization by creating a stable and sustainable source of funding.
Thanks to the generosity of those who have established these enduring gifts, we are able to invest in our mission with confidence - supporting scholarships, programs, staff, and other key priorities year after year.
PIOLI FAMILY ENDOWED HBCU SCHOLARSHIP
In 2019, Women Leaders in Sports and NFL executive Scott Pioli established the Pioli Family Endowed HBCU Scholarship, marking the organization’s first-ever endowment during its 40th anniversary. Pioli, a longtime advocate for women in sports, had been supporting Women Leaders since 2018 by funding scholarships for HBCU women leaders to attend conventions before officially endowing the scholarship. This fund provides long-term support for women from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) who aspire to advance in athletic administration.
Awarded annually, the Pioli Family HBCU Scholarship supports women who have graduated from or currently work at an HBCU, demonstrating a commitment to intercollegiate athletics and diversity in college sports. Recipients receive a one-year Women Leaders in Sports membership and must complete an application with a short essay outlining their professional goals and how the membership will help them succeed. Scott and Dallas Pioli view this endowment as a way to propel HBCU women into leadership roles in college athletics and beyond, reinforcing their dedication to fostering diversity and inclusion in the industry.
JAN R. GENTRY ENDOWED MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Established by her wife, Tara Bertram, siblings, Dawn Waltman, Brad and Todd Gentry, and friends, the Jan R. Gentry Endowed Memorial Scholarship will honor Jan's legacy for generations of Women Leaders to come.
Jan grew up in Fulton, Missouri. She attended the University of Missouri, earning her bachelor’s, master’s and law degrees.
Jan was a long-time employee of the NCAA. She started as an intern in 1996 and was quickly hired as a member of the Enforcement staff. In 2005, Jan moved to the Championships staff and remained in that position until her retirement in 2021. Most recently, Jan managed championships for Division III and national collegiate sports, including women’s volleyball, softball and women’s ice hockey. Jan’s main goal was to always provide student-athletes the best championship experience possible. Jan cherished the relationships she made with colleagues, people in the host communities and those in the NCAA membership.
Dedicated to equity and inclusion, Jan was a liaison to the NCAA’s Committee on Women’s Athletics and supported the accomplishments of female student-athletes through the annual Woman of the Year Award and program.
Jan attended the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA) National Convention many times and also participated in NACWAA HERS. In 2017, NACWAA rebranded to Women Leaders in College Sports. As a lifelong learner, Jan absolutely loved those experiences and valued the professional development. This is the impetus for the scholarship.
Jan and her wife, Tara, left Indianapolis and moved back to Kansas City in the summer of 2021 to be closer to their families. Jan spent her time playing pickleball, which was her main passion in retirement. She often played multiple times a day.
Jan passed away from injuries sustained in a car accident on April 18, 2022. Our collective hearts were broken. Jan’s spirit remains in all who knew her.
KRISTINA NAVARRO-KRUPKA
MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The Memorial Scholarship Fund, established in Loving Memory of Kristina Navarro-Krupka, was created in 2023 after her sudden and tragic passing. Kristina was a dedicated, energetic, and motivated DIII Athletic Director who had a tremendous impact on her student-athletes, department and broader campus.
This funds supports the opportunity for a DIII Athletic Director to attend the National Convention AND the DIII NEXT Event.