When U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens founded the Sloane Stephens Foundation (SSF) in 2013, her goal was simple yet profound: to give children in under-resourced communities the same chance to dream that tennis had given her. “Sloane was only 19 when she started the foundation,” recalls Sybil Smith, Executive Director of SSF. “She had a revelation that the sport had given her so much, and she wanted to find a way to give back.”
Over the last decade, that mission has grown into something much larger. From its roots in Compton, California, the foundation now reaches 10,000 students across California and Florida, combining tennis, education, and character development to help children thrive on and off the court. “We’re not just trying to grow tennis players; we’re trying to grow really healthy, thoughtful, caring people,” shares Sybil.
From Vision to Impact
SSF’s programs blend athletic and academic growth. Kids learn forehands and backhands, but they also discover a love of reading through the foundation’s literacy labs. As the foundation expanded, alumni began returning as mentors and coaches, a testament to the deep impact the program has made. “It’s powerful,” Sybil says. “They come back to make sure the next generation gets the opportunities they had.”
That word-of-mouth growth has been key to the foundation’s success. “Districts see the impact we have, and they invite us to new schools and even new counties,” she explains. “It’s the best kind of advertising—people see that we’re a great partner.”
Scaling with Purpose
As SSF grew to nearly 50 staff members, the foundation faced a new challenge: how to keep up with training, onboarding, and compliance across multiple sites and states. “Before Cornerstone, our onboarding and learning were all over the place,” says Sybil. “We didn’t have a mechanism to get information to our staff quickly. Everything was through email, and it could take weeks.”
The foundation’s coaches and mentors work directly with children, meaning they must complete numerous certifications like SafeSport, CPR, and child safety training. Managing those requirements manually was time-consuming and prone to error. “We tried different systems, but nothing worked the way we needed it to,” explains Sybil.
Creating a Culture of Empowerment
Beyond time savings, Cornerstone has helped SSF strengthen its culture of learning and accountability. “It’s become a cool talking point in our organization. Everyone’s talking about the training, the ease of use, and access to information. They see it as an investment in them,” shares Sybil.
Access has also led to real-world impact. After completing SafeSport training through Cornerstone, a young coach recently recognized a potentially unsafe situation and spoke up. “It showed us they were paying attention,” Sybil says. “They took the safety of our children seriously, and that’s exactly what this training is for.”
The foundation’s staff, many of whom are former students, now see training not as a requirement, but as a pathway to growth. “It builds confidence,” says Sybil. “When information is easy to find, people feel empowered to do their jobs well. It’s changing our culture.”
Streamlined Processes, Stronger People
Since adopting Cornerstone, SSF has:
- Reduced onboarding time from several weeks to just a few days
- Created a centralized learning hub for all 47 employees
- Ensured 100% completion of mandatory child-safety certifications
- Saved countless hours for leadership and HR teams
- Fostered a stronger culture of accountability, safety, and pride
“It’s simplified growth,” says Sybil. “We can focus on hiring great people and training them efficiently, which means we can expand faster and smarter.”
Looking Ahead
As the foundation prepares to bring its programs to more school districts and states, Cornerstone will continue to play a key role in scaling operations and nurturing talent. “We’re in a growth phase,” Sybil says. “We need systems that help us track progress, train effectively, and keep our standards high. Cornerstone is helping us do that.”
Her advice for other nonprofits? “Just dive in,” she says. “The process is easy, the professionalism is unmatched, and it really is turnkey. It saves time, builds confidence, and helps you grow.” We’re proud to partner with Sloane Stephens in powering potential both on and off the court. Through Cornerstone’s solutions and the Sloane Stephens Foundation, we’re helping support the next generation of learners and leaders.
