Tennessee consolidates giving clubs, increases efficiency

The University of Tennessee has combined their giving efforts into the aptly named Tennessee Fund, which will consolidate their benefits, create greater equality and ease donor confusion. As a program with two separate departments for men’s and women’s sports, the streamlining of the funds into one will ensure greater continuity, both internally and externally.

One interesting part of the new fund is the guaranteed money returning to the academic side of the campus. Historically, the Tennessee Athletics Department has given back to academics every year. Under the new agreement, the department will average a $5 million yearly donation back to campus, further strengthening their relationship.

With the combination of benefit programs, the university will seek to find an equal way to combine priority points and create equity under for all supporters of UT. While change certainly always ruffles some feathers, the department is reaching out to donors first, explaining the changes and providing answers to frequently asked questions within press releases and other publications.

Tennessee has always done an excellent job fundraising, donating funds back to the University nearly every year. With the new efficiencies created internally and the single front presented to the donors, the program will only grow stronger in the years to come.