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- Sports Court #91 | Rounding Up
Sports Court #91 | Rounding Up
The fastest 3 minutes in name, image and likeness
Tariq Ahmad
October 25, 2023
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Today’s Case
Oklahoma NIL collective Crimson & Cream launches roundup program
Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel (Photo Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)
Most NIL collectives generate revenues via donations - whether through a few big boosters, crowdfunding, or “flash sales.” (ie., After a big win, collectives post messages on social media encouraging fans to donate.)
Last week, the University of Oklahoma-driven NIL collective Crimson & Cream launched a new service to ensure revenue is not solely coming from donors. Powered by Student-Athlete NIL, members will be able to roundup all of their daily credit card purchases, with the roundup dollars going towards the collective and NIL deals for Oklahoma athletes.
Working with the fundraising company Ascend, the roundup program coincides with the launch of a membership loyalty rewards program. Members of Crimson & Cream will be able to access a network of discounts and perks, such as 8.40% cashback at Fanatics and 3.5% cashback at Target.
The program launched last Saturday in Norman during the Oklahoma-Central Florida football game. Throughout the game, call-to-action messages from athletes were shown on the stadium video boards. Every seat in the stadium also had a QR code, which linked to Crimson & Cream’s website.
Student-Athlete NIL Founder Jason Belzer: “This will create sustainable revenue for the Crimson & Cream collective. We’re bringing major brands into the NIL space through this program, too. It takes some of the weight off donors without asking for them to make significant donations. Now this will just be part of the fan experience.”
The Verdict
Small money = big revenue
While members rounding up their purchases to the next dollar might seem insignificant, all of the <$1 donations made en masse by members every day quickly adds up - with the student-athlete benefiting greatly for their NIL.
This is becoming more commonplace in general establishments (grocery stores, pharmacy stores, restaurants, etc.) so it makes sense to support a good cause and help athletes.
Innovative - but not the first
Companies such as Stashlete are operating a similar round up program, and have fostered relationships with numerous collectives to date.
Look for these initiatives to continue pushing creativity and uniqueness for revenue generation.
Exclusive “Double NIL days”
Perhaps for select days throughout the year, members who round up their purchases can have them matched by the collective (up to a specific dollar amount) and putting even more money in the pocket of athletes.
This can also tie-in to a membership drive to engage new donors, while said members can also receive additional benefits of supporting the collective. (Athlete meet and greet, early access to tickets, etc.)
What prevents student-athletes from posting content?
It comes down to two things - and I provide two solutions. Watch this video for more!
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