Beyond the Sidelines: Introducing The Equity Scorecard

Why we’re building a digital tool to fuel a physical movement in Columbus. Meet the Equity Scorecard.

We’ve all been there. You’re at a holiday dinner, a post-work happy hour, or a local gym, and someone drops a tired myth about women’s sports. Maybe they say "nobody watches women play," or they question the level of intensity or action.

In those moments, your heart rate spikes. You want to defend the athletes you admire, but sometimes the right words don't come fast enough. You want to compete for the truth, but you also want to maintain the cooperation that keeps a community together.

That’s why we created The Equity Scorecard.

Why Advocacy is a Leadership Skill

At Raise the Bar, we believe that sports are the ultimate leadership pipeline. We know that 94% of women in C-suite roles played sports, yet girls drop out at twice the rate of boys by age 14.

That dropout rate isn’t just about the game; it’s about the environment. When girls—and the adults around them—hear women's sports treated as an afterthought, they internalize a message about where they belong. Advocacy is the tool we use to break that cycle.

How The Equity Scorecard Works

The Scorecard isn't just a chatbot; it’s a "practice squad" for your voice. When you input a common myth or a tricky comment, the tool provides a framework to handle it with confidence

Type in the comment that got your blood boiling. You’ll get a series of responses that range from gently engaging to providing solid data to setting a boundary to protect your space. You can practice your response, or keep chatting with other comments. 

See It, Lead It

Visibility matters because role models are a "social vaccine". Based on the "See It, Lead It" principle, when young girls are exposed to female role models exhibiting strength and strategy, it increases their own professional ambition. By using the Equity Scorecard, you aren't just winning an argument; you are contributing to that visibility. You are ensuring that women’s sports are woven into the daily fabric of Columbus life.

The Ask:

1. Practice: Try it out today. Input the last "myth" you heard and see how it feels to have the stats in your pocket.

2. Donate: We are building a physical home for these conversations. Every donation helps us secure our permanent space in Columbus.

3. Share: Send this tool to a fellow fan. Let’s raise the bar for how we talk about the game.