The Blueprint for Athletics & Advancement Partnership-Slides

Slides

Pdf Summary

The document outlines a comprehensive blueprint for fostering partnership between Athletics and Advancement departments in an institutional fundraising context. <br /><br />Currently, Athletics operates with passionate fundraising focused on facilities, scholarships, and NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) needs but lacks integrated data systems and coordinated outreach. Advancement, on the other hand, is strategic and data-driven but stretched thin, facing issues like donor fatigue, competing asks, and limited insight into athletics fundraising efforts. Both engage a shared audience of alumni, families, fans, and donors, but operate on separate systems, leading to overlapping outreach, confusion, and missed opportunities.<br /><br />The core challenge identified is not competition between these teams but lack of coordination. Trends like NIL rights, transfer portals, alumni-athlete networks, and independent athletics fundraising arms further complicate the landscape, creating duplication and inconsistent stewardship.<br /><br />The blueprint advocates for integration through a shared vision aligning both departments’ goals, unified data systems merging donor information and campaigns, coordinated outreach to avoid duplicate asks, and delivering a seamless donor experience. Success is measured by shared KPIs such as donor retention and average gift size.<br /><br />The fundraising model involves three stages: Assess (map overlaps, identify duplicates and data gaps, set goals), Align (pilot collaborations, equip athletics staff, share wins), and Act (scale engagement). Strategies include engaging alumni-athletes via ongoing community building and mentorship, coordinating campaigns to reduce donor fatigue, and personalizing stewardship using storytelling with authentic coach and athlete engagement.<br /><br />Key questions prompt institutions to evaluate donor tracking, event integration, stakeholder involvement, and tech alignment to create visibility and collaboration.<br /><br />Overall, the blueprint emphasizes turning shared passion and strategic advancement capabilities into united, efficient fundraising efforts that strengthen lifelong donor relationships and maximize institutional support.

Keywords

Athletics fundraising

Advancement departments

Institutional fundraising

Data integration

Donor coordination

NIL rights

Alumni engagement

Donor retention

Fundraising strategy

Collaborative outreach