NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) is a governing body of small athletics programs in North America, established in 1937. Originally founded as the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB), the organization changed its name to NAIA in 1952 when it began administering additional sports programs. The NAIA oversees athletic programs at nearly 250 primarily small, private colleges and universities across the United States. The organization manages 27 national championships across various men’s and women’s sports, including basketball, football, baseball, softball, soccer, and track and field. NAIA was the first collegiate athletics association to admit historically Black institutions and to sponsor both men’s and women’s national championship events. The organization is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, and operates under a set of core values emphasizing character development, academic success, and sportsmanship. NAIA institutions are known for their “Champions of Character” program, which focuses on five core values: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership. NAIA differs from the NCAA in its administrative structure, institutional size requirements, and eligibility rules. The association operates two divisions in basketball and one division in all other sports, providing competitive opportunities for smaller institutions that may not meet NCAA requirements.