Vanderbilt NIL collective Anchor Impact partners with Student-Athlete NIL

When the Vanderbilt-driven NIL collective Anchor Impact Fund launched this winter, D’Juan Epps told On3 the point was not to just raise funds.

The collective’s executive director was previously Vanderbilt’s associate director of athletic development. He viewed his new role as working with “350 brandable Vanderbilt athletes.”

After absorbing the Anchor Collective in March, the Anchor Impact Fund has taken another significant step toward serving every Vanderbilt athlete. The NIL entity has partnered with Student-Athlete NIL (SANIL). As part of the announcement, Anchor Impact Fund has rebranded as Anchor Impact.

One of the leading NIL agencies for collectives now powers 41 collectives across the country. Instead of fully absorbing Anchor Impact, SANIL will be working in partnership with the Vanderbilt-focused organization. Epps joined SANIL as a full-time employee and will continue his work as general manager of Anchor Impact.

“We are very excited about this collaboration between Studen-Athlete NIL and Anchor Impact, an organization that shares our vision of empowering student-athletes,” Vanderbilt athletic director Candice Lee said in a statement. “Supported by the resources within our Ingram Center for Student-Athlete Success, they will continue to provide Vanderbilt student-athletes the tools needed to capitalize on their NIL opportunities.

“Anchor Impact helps ensure we have a strong foundation to win championships today and holistically develop our student-athletes for the future.”

What does SANIL bring to Anchor Impact?

On top of the launch of a new website, SANIL will bring a variety of tools to Anchor Impact. The company will assist donors, businesses and athletes. With thousands of athletes under contract at SANIL-powered collectives, the provider has become a leader in fan experiences, brand partnerships and premium media content.

This past weekend its  Oklahoma-driven NIL collective Crimson & Cream launched a roundup program, which will allow fans to round up all of their daily purchases on their credit card, with the dollars going toward the collective and NIL deals. SANIL is also in conversations with multiple Power 5 collectives, with more announcements expected in the coming weeks.

Anchor Impact earned 501(c)(3) status this winter with the Internal Revenue Service. With the new partnership with SANIL, the NIL collective will start operating as a for-profit entity. It’s a smart move, making it easier to strike deals and avoiding any scrutiny from the IRS.

Membership packages now range from $10.99 to $249.99 a month with a variety of perks at the different levels.

“Our partnership with Anchor Impact signifies our united commitment to empowering student-athletes,” SANIL founder and CEO Jason Belzer said. “It demonstrates our shared vision to equip Vanderbilt student-athletes with the knowledge, tools and support essential for them to optimize their NIL opportunities and establish a robust foundation for a successful future.”

What does this means for Vanderbilt?

To compete in the SEC’s NIL collective landscape, Vanderbilt has to stockpile funds. Sources across the nation have indicated to On3 that top-tier NIL collectives will be operating with up to a $5 million annual budget in football. 

Anchor Impact has done that successfully, too. Back in March, Epps said the collective had raised $2.1 million. That number has continued to grow as more fans and donors have been educated on the importance of NIL. The entire Vanderbilt baseball team signed a deal with the collective in September.

Working with SANIL will only help those efforts, from dispersing dollars to creating new streams of revenue. The transfer portal opens on Dec. 4, giving Anchor Impact and SANIL plenty of time to formulate a strategy.

“The world of college athletics is experiencing a transformative shift in the landscape of name, image and likeness opportunities,” Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea said. “With the collaboration between Anchor Impact and Student-Athlete NIL, we are equipping our student-athletes with the knowledge and resources to not only excel on the field, but to navigate the intricacies of NIL opportunities with intelligence and purpose. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to their holistic development and their preparedness for life beyond sports.”