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Today’s Case

NFL players giving back to their colleges to support NIL efforts

Current pro athletes are making big NIL donations to their schools to help the next generation of athletes.

Last week, former Ohio State quarterback and Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud became a Platinum member of “THE Foundation”, an Ohio State collective. The first former student-athlete partner to become a donor, Stroud donated between $50,000-$100,000 - the dollar amount on the group’s website to earn that status.

Founded by former Ohio State national winning quarterback Cardale Jones, the group’s mission to bring NIL to Ohio State football and men’s basketball players and make them brand ambassadors.

Additionally, Fresno State alum brothers and quarterbacks David and Derek Carr teamed up to make a significant NIL donation to Fresno State's BulldogBread collective.

Per the Fresno Bee, the donation is the largest that the collective has ever accepted. While no dollar figure was made public, the collective’s development director Marcus McMaryion (also a former Bulldog QB) said it was a “significant push forward for Fresno State in the NIL game.”

The Carrs’ donation will support efforts to recruit and retain top players and potentially spark small-dollar donations from other Fresno State fans and supporters.

The Verdict

• Is this a new revenue stream?

  • Tapping into pro athlete alums or athletes who played at said schools seems to be a viable route to increased funding (and it makes complete sense).

    • Collective receives a large donation. Athlete gives back to support their school/team. Win-Win.

  • This may also provide an opportunity for the collective to leverage these athletes for future fundraising campaigns, meet and greet opportunities, etc.

• Other pro athletes in various sports to follow?

  • This seems like a model that can be implemented across other athletes and teams in all sports.

    • While the donations might not be five/six/seven figures from these athletes, their support (in additional to financial) can prove to be valuable for the longterm health of these respective collectives. Even multiple athletes pooling their money together to make a donation can be worthwhile.

    • I could see more Business Development Directors beginning to tap into notable athlete alums for funding.

• Will donor fatigue eventually set in?

  • While collectives are sometimes funded by a few wealthy donors, I could see donor fatigue amongst these athletes becoming a real thing.

    • Sure, high level athletes earn millions of dollars annually, but they may grow weary of making large donations if they don’t see their money being put to good use.

How high school phenom Cooper Flagg scored his first NIL deal

How did a magazine cover, a shirt, and a rules workaround made this happen? Watch this video for more!

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