Beyond Sponsorship: Strategies for Non-Profit Esports Funding

Today’s guest is Eliot J. Oreskovic. He is the Executive Co-Director of the United States Esports Association and an esports consultant.

In this episode of The Gamers Change Lives Podcast, Tom Leonard interviews Elliot Oreskovic, the executive co-director of the United States Esports Association. Elliot shares his background in gaming and entrepreneurship, discussing his involvement in an esports lounge project that faced funding challenges due to limited venture capital interest. The conversation also highlights the socioeconomic challenges in Cleveland, Elliot's hometown, impacting the development of an esports economy, although the city benefits from its large university population. The episode explores the importance of addressing environmental concerns in esports, emphasizing the United States Esports Association's initiatives in promoting environmental sustainability within the industry.

The interview further delves into the programs developed by the United States Esports Association to support students in the esports industry. These programs include mentorship, media and information literacy, community and civic engagement, and professional development. Elliot emphasizes the significance of providing holistic support to esports participants, helping them navigate the world and make informed decisions. The episode also touches on the complexities of securing government grants, the importance of understanding regulations and compliance, and the need for legal counsel in the grant application process. Additionally, the conversation briefly addresses the role of women in the gaming industry and the importance of diversity and inclusion.

Episode Webpage: https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/beyond-sponsorship-strategies-for-non-profit-esports-funding

*  *  *

Featured in this episode:

Eliot J. Oreskovic

Hello! My name is Eliot Oreskovic, and I'm an Executive Co-Director of the United States Esports Association. I began work in esports in 2018 while trying to find venture capital for a novel esports lounge for Greater Cleveland, where I was born, raised, and live today. In 2019, I co-founded a semi-pro organization called Azara Gaming, and we placed a team in the 2019 US Nationals for Rainbow Six Siege in the third stage against Evil Geniuses, Luminosity Gaming, and Disrupt Gaming (now Astralis). In 2020, I joined the United States Esports Association, and I've led the organization since. I hold a BBA in Marketing and recently completed my MBA. I'm passionate about community development and local histories, and I'm active in progressive politics around Northeast Ohio in my spare time.

Email: eliot@esportsus.org

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/eliotoreskovic

Website: https://esportsus.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/official_usea

*  *  *

Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you are listening to this episode.

Leave us a rating and a review if you like our content for others to discover what we are doing.

And tell your friends!

CONNECT WITH US ELSEWHERE:

Visit our website at https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/ to learn more about our program, our blog, and sign up for our emails to be notified of upcoming episodes.

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GamersChangeLives 

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gamerschangelives

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegclpodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gamerschangelives/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8TRl42z9cbMyZMhcpNo0cw

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gamerschangelives

Journey of a Gamer: http://journeyofagamer.com

PRODUCTION:

Creator and host: Tom Leonard (USA) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomeleonard/

Producer: Reginald Nsowah (Ghana) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginald-nsowah-09352929/

ABOUT THE SHOW:

Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.

This is a show about how to build an esports business from literally anywhere in the world where each week we showcase the journey of esports entrepreneurs and others to learn how they solved a particular problem that everyone will ultimately face.

In Season Three our theme is “Building a Business: Esports 101”.

I am your host, Tom Leonard. I have a background in entertainment marketing. After working with many amazing esports entrepreneurs from emerging markets, they inspired me to create a show to tell their stories so that others can be motivated to create their own esports business. Gaming and esports can create jobs tackling the problem of global youth unemployment. Creating jobs from playing games. What could be better than that?

Thanks for listening to The Gamers Change Lives Podcast!