Indiana announces anonymous donor to match up to $1 million for NIL

Indiana announced Monday that an anonymous donor has committed to match up to $1 million in donations made to the NIL collectives Hoosiers For Good or Hoosiers Connect through Dec. 31, 2022.

“The opportunities that IU student-athletes have to impact area charities and businesses through NIL agreements is tremendous, and this is the latest example of the vision we’ve had as a department from day one to support our students’ efforts to maximize these NIL opportunities,” Indiana Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Dolson said in a statement. “The reason we can have that vision of being the NIL school is because we have supporters like this who are committed to making an enormous difference in this critical piece of the new era of intercollegiate athletics, and thousands more who I know will step forward and get involved following this announcement.

“I am excited to see our loyal fanbase take advantage of this and maximize the impact that can be made before Dec. 31.”

The phrase NIL collective serves as a catch-all term for various organizations, ranging from marketing agencies to nonprofit organizations, that facilitate NIL opportunities for athletes. Here you can view On3’s database of more than 190 NIL collectives across the country.

Hoosiers For Good is a 501(c)(3) organization that launched in March to help athletes use their platforms to promote charitable causes. It was among the first NIL collectives in the country to receive 501(c)(3) status. Hoosiers Connect launched in September with a focus on fan and corporate partnerships.

Tyler Harris serves as the executive director for both organizations. Calbert Chaney, Indiana men’s basketball’s all-time leading scorer, serves as the vice chair and vice president for Hoosiers For Good.

Former Indiana men’s basketball player Collin Hartman is the vice president of partnerships for Hoosiers Connect.

Indiana takes advantage of latest NIL guidance from NCAA

Indiana announced the anonymous donor’s pledge through social media and on its athletic department website. It’s another example of an athletic department capitalizing on the NCAA’s latest guidance regarding its interim NIL policy.

A difference-making pledge of up to $1 million for donations, sponsorships & memberships.

To donate visit → @Hoosiers4Good or @HoosiersConnect.

— Indiana Hoosiers (@IUHoosiers) November 14, 2022

The NCAA’s latest guidance explicitly allows for an athletic department to “request donor (sic) to provide funds to NIL entity (without directing funds be used for a specific sport or [student-athlete]).”

The official athletic department Twitter account, which has nearly 100,000 followers, shared, “To donate visit → @Hoosiers4Good or @HoosiersConnect.” The IndyStar’s Zach Osterman reported “sources expect football to benefit in form of seven-figure annual support.”

Indiana’s football team fell to 3-7 after a loss — its seventh consecutive — to Ohio State. Both the Hoosiers’ men’s and women’s basketball teams are ranked No. 12 in the respective AP Top 25 polls.