When she's not in the pool, Manuel is helping others. In addition to serving as an ambassador for the USA Swimming Foundation, where she has worked to make the sport more inclusive and accessible for children in underserved communities, Manuel made sure an inclusion rider was built into her contract with TYR swimwear. "Through this stipulation [Manuel] ensures that her partners extend meaningful opportunities to traditionally underrepresented groups and that diversity be reflected in the creative efforts she pursues with the brand," TYR said in a press release in July 2018. It's believed to be the first rider of its kind in pro sports.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Manuel kept busy by giving back. "I've been working with Hunger: Not Impossible, and I actually donated several meals for people that need it during this time," Manuel told ESPN in May 2020. "I think that's something that is definitely needed, especially with the current situation of people not having jobs and experiencing [financial insecurity]. So that's really something that I'm excited about, and I've been trying to find ways of hopefully being a catalyst to inspire people to continue to be confident throughout this time and make the most of the situation."