Athletic Departments Host Unique Events

Our last post on the dueling pianos fundraising event at Oakland University got me thinking about other unique events athletic departments are hosting to raise funds and awareness.  For instance, at Oregon State University the Beaver Athletic Student Fund is organizing an “OSU Crab Fisherman’s Tour” for its members.

Specifically, the BASF is hosting this event through one of its graduates, Dave Lethin, owner of the Aleutian Ballad.  The Aleutian Ballad was featured on the Discovery Channel original series Deadliest Catch, which chronicles the lives of crab fisherman on the Bearing Sea.  For a number of years, Lethin and his crew have been organizing tours for fans of the Aleutian Ballad.  However, this particular tour of the Aleutian Ballad exclusively for the BASF shows a great deal of creativity in attracting supporters of OSU Athletics to the BASF.

Overall, unique events like the “OSU Crab Fisherman’s Tour” with OSU Athletics and the dueling pianos event with Oakland University Athletics are becoming more and more common.  By and large, they provide athletic departments with a fun and unique way to attract and meet potential supporters.

Michael Speight

Life insurance fundraising becoming a reality

In a unique attempt to fundraise over $250 million for Oklahoma State Athletics, OSU Athletics Director Mike Holder, who also serves as president of Cowboy Athletics, is moving forward with a unique fundraising initiative.  Specifically, the “Gift of a Lifetime” is centered on securing alumni who have a $10 million life insurance policy, and getting them to agree to make OSU Athletics the beneficiary.  Additionally, the program is a brainchild of OSU’s largest supporter T. Boone Pickens, and has received considerable attention.

Although this initiative is not entirely new, it has never been adapted to such a large model.  “It is believed to be the first time collegiate athletics has used a life insurance program on such a grand scale”.  To date, 25 OSU alumni have qualified and agreed to be a part of the “Gift of a Lifetime” program.  More importantly, the estimated $250 million that could be raised though the “Gift of a Lifetime” program, in addition to the $200 million donated by Pickens, will go to funding the construction of new OSU athletic facilities.

The potential success of the “Gift of a Lifetime” program at OSU could have a significant impact on the landscape of collegiate athletics development.  If successful, we could begin to see more than one university put a huge amount effort behind similar fundraising initiatives.

Michael Speight

UCF set to expand on Athletics facilities, approves $70 million plan

The University of Central Florida has recently announced its intention to expand its athletics facilities with a $70 million dollar plan to be raised over the course of 10 years. The plan will help all of athletics, but the three largest projects are renovation and improvement of the track and soccer complex, a new academic support center, and renovation of the baseball stadium.

In addition, UCF is looking to upgrade their football stadium, build a new tennis center, and expand the building which houses the football program. Already one the largest schools in the country, Central Florida is committing a large amount of money and effort into making their athletics facilities elite.

While some may mention that UCF’s current announcement comes on the hopes of conference realignment, the bottom line remains that the athletics department has created a plan that will require a massive fundraising effort for an extended period of time. A long-term vision and plan takes a good deal of determination from all those involved at the university.

History has shown that these plans can be successful, many times with program changing results. Indiana University is closing in on completion of a $80 million campaign that included enriching the athletics endowment, increasing annual giving, and constructing three new athletics facilities. Baylor University has also recently wrapped a $95 million campaign that saw numerous facility improvements, including a new academic support building and equestrian center.

Taylor Wood

Suh set to give back millions before he is even drafted

In what may be the best development story of the year, Ndamukong Suh, a projected Top 5 NFL Draft pick, announced this past weekend that he will donating $2.6 million to both Nebraska Athletics and the College of Engineering. $2 million will be earmarked for renovations to the football training complex, while $600,000 will got to the College of Engineering.

In discussions about the gift, Suh wants the donation to go towards the strength and conditioning of future Nebraska student-athletes. As a player, Suh was able to become one of the more dominant football players in recent memory playing defensive tackle. He wants to give the same opportunities to future Huskers. The $2.6 million is the largest gift ever from a former student-athlete to theUniversity of Nebraska.

While a large portion of the gift will go to athletics, $600,000 will be used to endow a scholarship for the College of Engineering, with preference being given to students coming from Suh’s home high school in Portland. An excellent student, Suh was able to maintain a 3.0 while competing at the highest level in college football.

This story is an excellent example of what can happen with a former student-athlete who has had a tremendous experience on campus. While most student-athletes wait a few years before giving back, Suh has taken it a step further and raised the bar by giving before he even plays a down in the NFL. This remarkable story speaks volumes about both the University of Nebraska and Ndamukong Suh.

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Taylor Wood

Western Michigan gets endowment gift during tough times

Western Michigan University, like many of its Mid-American Conference counterparts, is not an athletics juggernaut. Its men’s basketball team has not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2004 (and only three times ever) and its football team has been to just four bowl games in its 104 years of playing the sport. With these major revenue sports struggling greatly, raising money for the athletic department as a whole can be quite difficult. So, when an alumnus makes a major gift of any kind, it can play a major role in the development of the athletics department. Such a gift was recently given to the Mike Gary Athletic Fund, WMU’s athletics development foundation named for long-time Athletics Director Mitchell “Mike” Gary, by Bill Parsons. The gift of $300,000 creates the Parsons Family Endowment that will help fund the education of a football or basketball student-athlete on an annual basis.

What makes this gift ever more unique is that Parsons did not compete as a WMU student-athlete yet truly values the impact it plays on the development of young people. Despite his lack of involvement directly in athletics while receiving two degrees from Western Michigan, Parsons states that the athletics department played a major role in his development as a man and made his years in Kalamazoo unforgettable. Parsons also gives his time to the Mike Gary Athletic Fund as a volunteer and has been a season ticket holder for both basketball and football for over 35 years.

“I am a fan that understands that you are not going to win a championship every year but to get there, you need have the best and the brightest on the coaching staff and team. There’s no way you can build a strong program without financial resources and support. I have had season basketball and football tickets for years and I know that Western Michigan has always tried to put the best coaches and players on the field,” added Parsons.

This understanding from a donor makes raising money for athletics much easier. It is easy to raise funds during times of success, but it is those donors that support athletics during more difficult times that set the foundation for success for the department.

Parsons, who retired as a human resources director for Michigan-based law firm Miller Canfield, also supports other areas on campus including the Lee Honors College with both his time and money. His main motivation for supporting WMU is to thank the university and its supporters for his own financial support in receiving his two degrees from the school.

Sean Phifer

Oklahoma State and Pickens sue over life insurance fund-raising plan

Oklahoma State University and T. Boone Pickens, an OSU alumnus and the athletic department’s largest donor, have sued the Lincoln National Life Insurance Company over a life-insurance plan on alumni. The Oklahoma State University Athletic Department’s fund raising arm, the POSSE, established the Gift of a Lifetime program in 2007 that was expected to raise as much as $350 million after all 27 alumni had died.

The details about this case are being protected and what has been released is complicated, but the basis of the university and Pickens’ claim is that the insurance company “understated the costs of the program, overstated its potential financial benefits and charged the university inflated premiums.” Congress intervened with similar programs in 2006 and 2008, warning charities and fund raising organizations that these programs were set up to disproportionately benefit insurance companies.

Planned giving is certainly not the most popular giving method in most athletic departments, but if properly administered can be a lucrative gift option for the university. Oklahoma State’s case reveals the legal complexity of planned giving and identifies the reason many fundraisers steer clear of the giving option.

Due to the nature of planned giving, athletic departments need to be extra cautious, seek experienced legal advice, and partner with a trusted insurance company. If these precautions are not taken this form of giving becomes a less appealing big risk-big reward option.

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Matt Kirinovic

Make Jim Pay – Washington State uses radio talent to bolster new campaign

Washington State University, in need of a variety of facility upgrades to service all their sports teams, has launched a new development fund called the Student-Athlete Excellence Account. This new fund is designed to improve the experience for all WSU student-athletes and engage a donor group that includes former student-athletes, alumni, and university friends. The most unique part of this campaign is the use of their color analyst (and former WSU head coach), Jim Walden, for the fund drive.

Jim Walden has been describing Cougar football for the past nine years and, in an attempt to spur giving to the Student-Athlete Excellence Account, is putting up his own money as a matching gift to the athletics department. For each $5 donated to the new account, Jim will donate $1 of his own, up to $100,000. However, if the account grows to $1 million, Jim will donate an additional $100,000 for a total of $200,000 for WSU student-athletes.

The use of radio/television talent in fundraising is not unique, but the degree that Washington State is utilizing their long-time football analyst is impressive. Schools looking for a unique way to engage fans and facilitate new donations should look to WSU for an example of a creative, and perhaps effective, plan. To see the “Make Jim Pay” video and read more about the account, click here.

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Rob Norris

Indiana University Receives $15 million gift, names Basketball Development Center

Cook Hall is currently finishing up its finals stages of construction.

Indiana University recently received a $15 million gift from The Cook Group, the single largest gift in IU Athletics history. As a part of their For the Glory of Old IU campaign, the gift will name the basketball development center after the benefactors-Cook Hall. Located adjacent to Assembly Hall, the facility will house the Men’s and Women’s basketball teams, providing them with valuable practice and training space.

This announcement comes on the heels of an impressive facility expansion project, which included the construction of a new North End Zone Student-Athlete Development Center, located in Memorial Stadium, which houses the football program, a 25,000-square-foot weight room and administrative offices.

With a gift of this size, IU is now taking the proper steps of stewardship, announcing the receipt of the gift and the naming of Cook Hall in numerous press outlets. The release even included a nice quote from Bill Cook, who commented on what the gift meant to him and his wife. Their affinity towards IU makes this gift a win/win situation for both sides.

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Taylor Wood

Baylor wraps up Victory with Integrity Campaign, raises $95 million

Baylor University recently wrapped up a five year campaign dedicated to raising funds for the athletics department, raising $95 million. Over 6,000 loyal donors contributed to Victory with Integrity and the funds renovated or built seven facilities on the Waco campus, including the Highers Athletics Complex and Simpson Athletic and Academic Center.

The $95 million contained $62 million that went to facilities, $25.5 million that went to the annual fund, and $7.5 going to the athletics endowment. This type of concentrated campaign that benefited three major parts of the athletics department allowed Baylor to achieve new heights in their athletics program. Those who contributed have seen the tangible results of the campaign, with an increase in National and Big 12 championships.

These types of campaigns happen through the nation at many universities, but that does not demean the significance they can have on an athletics program. Five years ago, Baylor was a in a predicament with their athletics program. Since the success of this campaign, they have enhanced their program and made a concentrated effort to improve. With the help of their dedicated alumni, fans, and donors, they were able to accomplish their goal.

Taylor Wood

ESPN highlights College Athletics Endowments

ESPN’s Outside the Lines has recently published a story highlighting the success many schools are having endowing scholarships for their programs. The story covers USC’s endowment of position scholarships for their football program, Duke University’s endowments within their basketball program and Braylon Edwards‘ recent endowment of a football scholarship at the University of Michigan.

The endowment of scholarships is certainly not the largest avenue for revenue in the athletics department, but covering the scholarship bill is a large part of an athletics budget. The endowment of scholarships will free funds for other uses. Additionally, these scholarships are allowing players to give back to their alma mater in a way that will allow their legacy to be remembered in perpetuity.

by Taylor Wood

Note: This article was sent to ADF by Garrett Munro, a member of the MSA Class of 2010 at Ohio University.