Kensley Tolliver

Biography

Kensley Tolliver is the Founder and President of The November Saturdays Foundation. Her journey into nonprofit leadership began long before the Foundation’s official incorporation, rooted in a childhood shaped by her parents' open-door policy and her own firsthand experience supporting a loved one through the foster care and juvenile justice systems.

Originally from Athens, Alabama, Kensley's life experiences have included significant detours through Oregon, New York, and Wisconsin, experiences she cites as foundational to her current worldview and business philosophy. Kensley studied Communications Media and Public Affairs at Alabama A&M University in Normal, Alabama.

At just 16 years old, Kensley worked to provide the sports gear and basic necessities that the system failed to supply for her then-boyfriend, now ex-husband, witnessing how a lack of support can derail a young athlete's potential. This experience instilled in her a lifelong commitment to justice, love, and resilience. After years of navigating the healthcare system and witnessing the intersection of trauma and addiction, Kensley realized her purpose: to create an infrastructure that prevents others from falling through the same cracks.

Kensley envisioned November Saturdays as more than just a name; it represents a time of community, warmth, and connection. What started as a vision for a Roster Benefit Classic flag football tournament quickly evolved into a national movement. Her leadership is defined by a refusal to give up on people and a drive to build a community where every individual has the opportunity to achieve greatness.

On the ex.clusively: beyond the game podcast, Kensley co-hosts conversations that move past stats and highlight reels. Her style is direct, vulnerable, and purpose-driven, creating space for athletes, coaches, and sports figures to speak honestly about identity, pressure, faith, leadership, and life beyond the game. For Kensley, this work is deeply personal. It is not just about sports; it is about building something that helps people feel seen, supported, and prepared for who they become after the uniform comes off.