"As we navigate the opportunities and challenges the NCAA vs. House settlement provides for collegiate athletics, it was important to evolve and create the TOPS Fund through the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation," Athletic Director Todd Stewart said. "This unrestricted giving fund will enable our athletic department to support our student-athletes and all of our sport programs and provide our coaches the resources to recruit and retain the very best athletes. Together, with your support, we can maximize this new opportunity and continue to succeed and remain nationally relevant moving forward."
The TOPS Fund is a new fundraising initiative designed to support WKU student-athletes through NIL and revenue sharing opportunities. The official collective of WKU Athletics, the Red Towel Trust, will be absorbed by the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation.
Current donors and members of the Red Towel Trust will be receiving communication from a member of the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation later this week to discuss how to move their membership to the TOPS Fund through the HAF.
"We are very appreciative to the Red Towel Trust for everything it provided to our student-athletes over the last several years," Stewart said. "Thank you to Executive Director Nick Uhlenhopp, as well as the Wilcutts, Wilsons and the entire Board for their tireless volunteerism to support WKU Athletics through the Red Towel Trust."
Donors will receive Hilltopper Athletic Foundation membership status at $50 annually and above. Members will also earn HAF priority points through giving to the TOPS Fund. Five points will be awarded for every $100 in unrestricted giving. These points will be added to lifetime total in priority point ranking, which is used for postseason seating locations, seating upgrades, and more.
All gifts to the TOPS Fund are 100% tax deductible. To donate to the TOPS Fund and help WKU Athletics create an exciting future for our student-athletes, you can CLICK HERE.
The Hilltopper Athletic Foundation is the fundraising arm of WKU Athletics and plays a crucial role in supporting the athletic department through student-athlete scholarships, facility upgrades, overall operating budget, and sport-specific giving.
To learn more about HAF, please visit wkuhaf.com or call our office at (270) 745-5321.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the House vs. NCAA settlement and what does it mean for WKU?
- The House vs. NCAA settlement is a landmark agreement that resolves several antitrust lawsuits against the NCAA and its member conferences, allowing for direct payment to college athletes and establishing a new revenue-sharing model for student-athlete name, image and likeness. The settlement includes a $2.8 billion payout to former athletes and permits schools to share revenue with current athletes (currently up to $20.5 million annually. WKU is now permitted to directly compensate current athletes, and must do so to remain competitive and nationally relevant. WKU will also see a reduction of approximately $400,000 annually in payouts from the NCAA and CUSA due to the payout formula to former division I student-athletes who are part of the settlement.
- The Red Towel Trust will inherently be absorbed under the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation and these funds will be rolled into the TOPS Fund and utilized to support NIL and revenue sharing for WKU Athletics. If your gift to the Red Towel Trust was directed toward a specific sport, it will then be placed in that sport's enhancement fund for the coach to use toward these efforts at their discretion.
- The TOPS Fund will be an essential part of WKU Athletics ability to recruit and retain top talent moving forward. The Hilltopper Athletic Foundation will still be responsible for raising funds to support scholarships, facility enhancements, overall operating budget, and sport-specific giving. The TOPS Fund is just another way to support WKU student-athletes through HAF and philanthropic giving.
- No. Gifts to the TOPS Fund are 100% tax deductible, meaning they cannot be applied toward tickets or parking.
- Yes. Donors always have the ability to direct their giving if they so choose. The TOPS Fund gives the athletic department the most flexibility to support as many student-athletes as possible.
