Zips Athletic Fund Drive

[zippy42]

I got this letter in the mail last week and thought it was a great idea. For some of us who don't have the money to donate this is a great way to contribute to the Athletics Progam. IF we want to contiune to be a wininng program this is very important.Thank you for your support of Zips Athletics! With the 2006-07 athletics season quickly approaching, we are initiating some changes to our fundraising program for Zips Athletics, as well as introducing a new tradition for our loyal supporters to impact the lives of our student-athletes. First, we are changing the name of the Zips Athletics Club to the Zips Athletics Scholarship Fund (ZASF). Currently, the greatest challenge facing Zips Athletics is the annual student-athlete scholarship commitment, which will surpass $5.6 million for the 2006-07 athletics season. We feel the name change will more effectively align our fundraising organization with our top priority.Second, on Tuesday, August 8th, the Zips Athletics Scholarship Fund will launch their First Annual Volunteer Team Fund Drive. The ZASF is seeking volunteers from this area to assist in contacting residents and alumni to enhance our student-athlete scholarship fund and ticket sales over the seven week campaign. For your commitment, you will receive great prizes, including the opportunity to earn SEASON TICKETS TO 2006 ZIPS FOOTBALL AND 2006-07 MEN'S BASKETBALL!There has never been a greater need for your assistance as a volunteer for Zips Athletics, which will allow us to maintain our momentum in building a nationally acclaimed athletics program at The University of Akron. This is a great opportunity for you to join forces with other Zips fans in a team competition format to support a dedicated group of young men and women representing our institution academically and athletically. You can make a difference by volunteering your time and effort!Call today for more information on how to join our team; contact Gary Bogue at the Zips Athletics Scholarship Fund at (330) 972-8641, or e-mail gbogue@uakron.edu. Thank you for your time and Go Zips!Cordially,Mack B. Rhoades, IVDirector of AthleticsThe University of Akron

[GP1]

That's the spirit zippy42! One of the diffculties UofA faced in the past was summer scholarship money for the student athletes (Frye even talked about this at the golf outing). I don't know if this is still a need or not, but don't think for a second that an inability to fund summer scholarships, or any other potential need, could not be used against Akron come recruiting time. Competition is tough out there and we need money to compete.You're exactly right! The Athletic Department runs on money and this is a great way to help raise it. Residential fundraising campaigns traditionally have done very well for charitable organizations. For years, The March of Dimes has had their number one fundraiser being the Mothers March, which is this type of campaign (assuming this is the same type of residential campaign). Some of you may have participated. It was so successful that many other non-profits successfully attempted these types of residential campaigns. I like the idea of changing the name. If people know exactly what they are giving to, they are more likely to give.Please participate if you can.Hats off to the Athletic Department for trying something new. I have a feeling this is going to work out.

[ziptrumpet87]

Anyone know if the UA license plate money goes to the sports scholarship program, or just to the general budget somewhere?

[Dr Z]

Anyone know if the UA license plate money goes to the sports scholarship program, or just to the general budget somewhere?

A portion of the cost is used to support scholarships for students

[mcperp]

Without admittedly having the data to support it, I think changing the name to the Zips Athletic Scholarship Fund is a poor idea to capture most potential donors. The decision to donate to an athletic program is primarily an emotional one. The donor has in his mind that his/her check will be going to pay for better recruiting, balls, bats, shoulder pads, field improvements, etc. It's a vicarious experience and enables the donor to have not only an emotional investment in Zips sports, but a tangible investment as well.The idea of buying Accounting books, or helping a recruit take 15 semester credits is far less appealing to most donors. Mack Rhoades is correct. by far the greatest expense to an athletic program is the cost of matriculation. I think a lot of folks believe that a scholarship is a "wash" for the university, that is, that the university doesn't want or need to charge tuition. In fact, the athletic department is billed for the cost of tuition, and usually room and board. So you can see that at $15,000 or more per year for 4 years of school, the price quickly adds up.People who donate to emotional causes like the Humane Society, do so to help save and protect pets because they love them. Part of their donation does directly go to programs to save pets, but it also goes to cages for dogs, utility bills, rent, etc. However, you won't see a Humane Society mailing that has an empty building with desks in it asking for rent money. They'll show a picture of a sad pet and/or a happy pet with their beaming owner. Is the Zip Athletic Office going to send a picture of books, and a student athlete earnestly pouring over his Psych 101 text to prospective donors, or maybe a game-winning catch by Domenik Hixon would be better?Seems like there are better marketing devices to increase scholarship donations rather than to make it the centerpiece of your fundraising effort. You don't buy a car to pay for the dealer's mortgage, you buy a car because oftentimes it's a reflection of you and your desires. The ZASF initiative wrongly misplaces the end as the means.

[GP1]

It depends on how you frame your marketing pitch. If it is framed in the purpose of buying books, you would be right in saying that it will not work. If it is somehow framed in the purpose of helping students graduate from UofA, then it has a shot of producing good results.