South Carolina and Garnet Trust announce new member drive and plans for updated member benefits

On Tuesday, Garnet Trust, the official NIL partner of the University of South Carolina, announced a new membership drive in hopes of generating 1000 new members.

South Carolina Gamecocks fans who have always wanted to find a way to help their favorite USC Athletics can support NIL efforts through Garnet Trust.

Fans who want to take South Carolina Athletics to a new level can donate as low as $10 per month (Palmetto Membership) to support Gamecock student-athletes.

Mark Bonnoitt, Garnet Trust’s Director of Development, believes every member is critical to South Carolina’s competitive efforts across all sports.

“A key piece of feedback we have received is from fans who ask if their nominal membership fee – say $10 or $25 per month – will make a difference, and the answer is ‘absolutely,’” added Mark Bonnoitt, Garnet Trust’s Director of Development. “Our exceptional coaches across all sports here at USC are recruiting student-athletes who fit our culture and have a team-first mentality. But, to stay competitive, we must also fairly compensate them – and that’s where our members have the opportunity to make a difference.”

Becoming a member of Garnet Trust isn’t just about giving and supporting, however. New membership benefits, specifically ones in connection with the year-end initiative, will roll out shortly.

Other membership opportunities, such as the Gamecocks Plus Trust Bundle, remain active, as well.

Those interested in joining Garnet Trust in its efforts to support South Carolina student-athletes via NIL can join at this link: garnettrust.com/#join.

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From the Garnet Trust press release:

COLUMBIA, S.C., Dec. 3, 2024 – Garnet Trust, NIL partner of the University of South Carolina, announces its year-end initiative to generate 1,000 new members of its organization to support student-athletes in 2025. Garnet Trust is rolling out updated membership benefits in connection with the effort. The membership drive seeks to engage additional fans who wish to take USC’s athletics to the next level.

“NIL is evolving on an almost daily basis, and while we are excited about the possibilities in 2025 related to revenue sharing for our student-athletes, the reality is that it will only equal the playing field among SEC teams for key sports – and the University of South Carolina must separate itself by offering competitive market value for our players,” explained Jeremy Smith, Director of Operations, Garnet Trust. “Our members drive our mission to create NIL opportunities that empower student-athletes and position our program as a leader in the SEC and beyond.”

Across universities, NIL plays a crucial role in recruiting and retaining a roster. Garnet Trust
allocates a minimum of 90 cents on every dollar from its members to student-athletes, with the remaining 10 cents funding operations to ensure players are equipped with resources to be good stewards of their money.

“A key piece of feedback we have received is from fans who ask if their nominal membership fee – say $10 or $25 per month – will make a difference, and the answer is ‘absolutely,’” added Mark Bonnoitt, Garnet Trust’s Director of Development. “Our exceptional coaches across all sports here at USC are recruiting student-athletes who fit our culture and have a team-first mentality. But, to stay competitive, we must also fairly compensate them – and that’s where our members have the opportunity to make a difference.”

To join Garnet Trust and learn more about this effort, visit GarnetTrust.com or its social channels: @thegarnettrust on Instagram and @TheGarnetTRUST on X (formerly Twitter).

Garnet Trust is an NIL partner of the University of South Carolina, launched in 2021 to create
experiences between the university’s fan base, student-athletes, and businesses. Rooted in the desire to help student-athletes build sustainable financial futures while capitalizing on their name, image, and likeness, Garnet Trust facilitates opportunities through sponsored interviews, fan events, video content, social media, and promotional opportunities.

Learn more at garnettrust.com.

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