Purdue collective Boilermaker Alliance signs Zach Edey to NIL deal, designed public charity

It’s been a big few days for Purdue-focused NIL collective Boilermaker Alliance.

On Sunday, the collective announced it’s been officially designated by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity. The move to become a public charity by Boilermaker Alliance is becoming more common across the country, even though some NIL and tax experts warn of potential complications with the IRS.

The public charity designation wasn’t the only big news for Boilermaker Alliance.

On Monday, the collective announced it has signed an NIL agreement with Zach Edey, one of the top returning college basketball players in the nation. Edey is a preseason All-Big Ten selection and potential first-round NBA draft pick. Edey – a 7-foot-3, 290-pound originally from Toronto – averaged 14.4 points in the 2021-2021 season. He helped the Boilermakers reach the Sweet 16 of the NCA Tournament.

The terms of the deal were not released.

A Canadian native on an F-1 Student Visa sponsored by Purdue, Edey is not authorized to perform labor or services in the United States for compensation. However, he is able to perform charitable services in his hometown of Toronto as part of the agreement. The ability to help in local communities and local charities is “one of the key tenets of the mission of Boilermaker Alliance.”

Boilermaker Alliance helps Zach Edey partner with charities

According to the Boilermaker Alliance, the collective was able to partner Edey with three charitable organizations in Canada:

• Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
• The Toronto Humane Society
• The Canadian Chinese Youth Athletic Association.

“Zach is perhaps the most internationally recognized athlete at Purdue University,” Boilermaker Alliance President Jeff McKean said. “We felt very strongly about the impact that Zach could have on charitable organizations in his home country. From the feedback we have received, those charities couldn’t be more thrilled with the work that Zach has done for them.”

Edey said he is excited about the opportunity to help local charities. He’s also excited to be a part of the Boilermaker Alliance.

“As someone who has only done volunteer work a few times before, I found myself really enjoying it and I may not have discovered that without the Alliance’s help,” he said.

“This is absolutely the right way to do Name, Image and Likeness. This way, it not only benefits our athletes but also various charities and organizations that we may be interested in helping support in our community or even globally.”

Zach Edey helps back home

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami – the national representational organization protecting and advancing the rights and interests of Inuit in Canada – is an organization that Edey was familiar with. He made a previous donation to the cause.

According to the Boilermaker Alliance, Edey filmed a promotional video with ITK President Natan Obed. In the video, they discussed both the mission of ITK and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Furthermore, Edey appeared at the Toronto Humane Society. His family had previously adopted a pet from there. He also filmed an “Adopt, Don’t Shop” promotional video. He then conducted an autograph session.

Additionally, Edey worked with CCYAA’s Jeremy Lin Basketball School. At the event, he participated in a youth basketball clinic and did a Q&A with the youth in attendance. He also conducted an autograph session. CCYAA is another organization that Edey had a connection to, having met Jeremy Lin at a previous CCYAA event.

About the Boilermaker Alliance

Launched in July 2022, the Boilermaker Alliance was founded by a group of individuals who have made a long-standing commitment to Purdue University and the athletic department.

“Our organization intends to provide a new vehicle to recognize the accomplishments of Purdue student-athletes while elevating the profile and effectiveness of charitable organizations,” the group’s website says.

“I’m excited and inspired by this,” McKean told the Star Press. “The more I look at it, the more possibilities exist. Purdue has significant resources. We’re a large university, we’ve got a large passionate alumni base and Purdue can do this really well.”

The group said it plans to have even more NIL deal announcements in the future.