Shift Up Now, an organization founded to help fund talented female racers in motorsport, is proud to announce the addition of a 501c3 foundation.
Shift Up Now was started by Lynn Kehoe in 2016, who turned over the organization’s management in 2020 to seven-time Indianapolis 500 competitor Pippa Mann. Its mission is to afford female racers the opportunity to climb ladders and break barriers. Thus far, Shift Up Now has accomplished its organizational goals via traditional sponsorships, partnerships and social media agreements.
The foundation will live alongside the for-profit business, continuing to strive for gender equality for female athletes in motorsport. The Shift Up Now Foundation will be able to further the mission by accepting tax-deducible gifts, donations and grants.
Funds raised from donations will be used to award opportunities to racers believed to have the talent and aptitude to succeed in motorsports. This will allow these racers access to more competitive equipment, seat time for testing and practice, and resources to help grow their careers.
“Women in sports received roughly one percent of the global sports marketing sponsorship spend,” said Mann, President of the Shift Up Now Foundation. “This has created inequality and lack of opportunity for women in many sports. In motorsport, where men and women can compete equally when afforded equal opportunities, we see this funding disparity manifest with fewer female athletes able to find the support to rise to the top levels of our sport.
“There is already proof of concept of the idea that when we fund female athletes in this sport they can win races. The Iron Dames all-female GT team won the Spa 24 hour race earlier this year. They stood on the podium in multiple World Endurance Championship races and finished second in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Championship Gold Cup.”
Additionally, Mann was part of an all-female driving lineup, and team of mechanics and engineers, at the Nurburgring for the past two seasons. Competing in the ADAC Total 24 Hour race, the team won their class and finished on the podium.
“These projects continue to inspire us as we work to help women rise to the top echelons of motorsport in every discipline,” said Mann.
Through partnership with Round 3 Racing, Shift Up Now has been able to afford talented female athletes access to quality equipment and sponsorship support to have appropriate track time, offering further proof that when properly funded, they win races.
Mann continued, "Our immediate goal now is to continue to work tirelessly, so that we can find the funding to continue to support and elevate talent across the board.”
Donations can be made to the Shift Up Now Foundation via the “Make a Gift” page on www.shiftupnow.com or at www.shiftupnow.org. To pay via check, please contact us at foundation@shiftupnow.org.
