(03-25-2021 03:54 PM)Purplehazed Wrote:  

(03-25-2021 01:49 PM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  Does anyone actually feel that a move to Sunbelt will have a material donation impact on the university as a whole? It looks like JMU received $14M in donations in 2019, what does that jump to if JMU joined the Sunbelt?

Also, for any spikes in athletics donating due to a Sunbelt move, what is the corresponding offset to academic donations? I know there have been posts about donors supporting other areas of the university due to their unhappiness within Athletics, does that flip back when we announce Sunbelt, and thus, no net impact on the university?

Lastly, I don't believe someone who isn't giving to the university bc we are FCS, is suddenly going to open the checkbook when our schedule features two University of Louisiana schools. Sorry, I shouldn't speak in absolutes, some will certainly start donating, but their Paw/Duke Level giving isn't moving the needle for the university as a whole. Those not donating due to "small time sports" are looking for an excuse. Think about it, they went to JMU despite the "small time sports" so there was another reason they love JMU, which would be the reason for them to donate. Saying "I went to JMU because of a great teaching/nursing/business program, but I'm not donating bc they are FCS" is a crock of sh!t. I'm not going to insult JMU and say we give degrees to people that dumb.

The "why didn't you go to a 1a football university?" in response to not accepting JMU's fcs status is bull ****. I went to JMU because I was an 18 year old kid with no parental guidance and JMU was close and the only choice. I was lucky I could go to college anywhere... Yes, I live JMU...

How does that preclude me from pushing my alma mater to compete at the D1a level of football with peers? No correlation at all...

Reread my post, specifically the bolded. Your response is irrelevant to my point which is why you correctly note that there is no correlation. What I clearly state is that the people that use FCS football as an excuse for never donating to the school are not going to be impacted by going to the sunbelt. The point isn't even close to saying you should accept FCS just bc you went to JMU.

(03-25-2021 03:35 PM)Dukeman2 Wrote:  Athletic fundraising Skyrocketed at ODU following move up to FBS

Jan 01, 2021 · In August of 2017 ODU President, John Broderick, announced a fundraising initiative for Old Dominion University. As a part of the university wide initiative, the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation was tasked with raising $40,000,000 in support of ODU Athletics and our student-athletes. Thanks to our committed supporters, we have surpassed our goal!

ODU raised a record $16.1 million in 2018
By Harry Minium
The prospect of a renovated S.B. Ballard football stadium enticed Old Dominion University athletic boosters to donate money in record amounts in 2018.
The Old Dominion Athletic Foundation, ODU’s athletic fundraising organization, raised a record $16.1 million last year, said Jena Virga, senior associate athletic director.
That’s more than the $12.3 million ODAF raised in 2017 and far more than the $9.6 million raised in 2016, Virga said.
The 2018 total is impressive among mid-major schools.
For instance, James Madison University, which has a Football Championship Subdivision program
but is otherwise comparable to ODU, raised $4.5 million in 2017-2018 school year.


10/2/20 – Virginia Pilot

the athletic department has even managed to avoid layoffs and furloughs, thanks largely to the generosity of its donors and sponsors. The department recently received a $5 million gift from a benefactor Selig declined to name.

https://www.pilotonline.com/sports/vp-sp...story.html

That's great. I think there are some things working for them that we don't have - 4x? 5x? 10x? the population within 30 miles, no FBS schools for 100+(?) miles, a much more energetic high school football area, the hot new gf/program feelings, etc. No, none of that drives $12M of donations, but it does factor in.

The Carr Report estimated that donations would go from $2.XM to $4.XM. Either they are terrible at their job (as the only predicted a $2M/2x bump) or ODU did something special (to recognize a $12M/4x bump). I'm not sure which one it is.

(03-25-2021 02:35 PM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(03-25-2021 01:49 PM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  Does anyone actually feel that a move to Sunbelt will have a material donation impact on the university as a whole? It looks like JMU received $14M in donations in 2019, what does that jump to if JMU joined the Sunbelt?

Also, for any spikes in athletics donating due to a Sunbelt move, what is the corresponding offset to academic donations? I know there have been posts about donors supporting other areas of the university due to their unhappiness within Athletics, does that flip back when we announce Sunbelt, and thus, no net impact on the university?

Lastly, I don't believe someone who isn't giving to the university bc we are FCS, is suddenly going to open the checkbook when our schedule features two University of Louisiana schools. Sorry, I shouldn't speak in absolutes, some will certainly start donating, but their Paw/Duke Level giving isn't moving the needle for the university as a whole. Those not donating due to "small time sports" are looking for an excuse. Think about it, they went to JMU despite the "small time sports" so there was another reason they love JMU, which would be the reason for them to donate. Saying "I went to JMU because of a great teaching/nursing/business program, but I'm not donating bc they are FCS" is a crock of sh!t. I'm not going to insult JMU and say we give degrees to people that dumb.

Way to to choose the putliers in the SunBelt.......but lets talk more about Coastal Carolina, App State, Ga Southern...............also I care a lot more about a real all-sports conference not the hodgepodge that is the CAA. Speaking of CAA since you brought up 2 Louisiana schools - how about Maine/NH/Albany/Stony Brook for football and NE/Hofstra for all sports....who cares about any of them.

I am not saying FBS or bust, but I will say anywhere but the CAA.

I don't even need to cherrypick schools to have the question - What will the $14M go up to when you replace UR/W&M with Coastal/App and Albany/UNH with UL/ULM?

50% of actual college football fans cannot name 5 sunbelt teams in a row. 0.2% of JMU alums know there is a Georgia State and a Georgia Southern. The increase in donations is going to be bc of current donors having to donate/spend more to get the same benefits (tickets to 5 home games) - which is very valid and good. But, to my point, a JMU alum that have been silent for 3, 5, 10+ years bc of our "small town sports" are not going to start donating because they see App State on the schedule. I bet 50% of the students that were at JMU during the 2008 App State game don't even know that App State plays in the Sunbelt.

(03-25-2021 07:32 PM)jmufbs Wrote:  I have had business relationships and personal friendships with hundreds of JMU grads over many, many years . ( like many of you i am sure)

a good number of them own their own business and choose where to send their donations and sponsorship money. more often than NOT, it is not Jmu -as the perception of sponsoring "small time" football does not move the needle when they can sponsor other state schools with more brand recognition and media attention.

If you think that FBS would not increase our Giving and sponsorship levels exponentially, your head must be buried in the sand or you don't have much of a background in economics. This will be the quickest way to also grow our endowment.

Its long been time to make the move, and quite honestly the longer we wait the deeper the hole we will be in.

FBS WILL be a financial windfall for JMU and the Duke club in General. Our alums are ready to step up, i guarantee it. Give us a reason.

The "experts" that do this everyday said it would increase athletic donations $2M. Not sure where their heads are though. Your friends need to get their heads out of the sand though. I mean JMU is good enough for Carmax and Pepsi, surely your friend's businesses I have never heard of, could use some more exposure.

(03-26-2021 11:06 AM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  

(03-25-2021 02:35 PM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(03-25-2021 01:49 PM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  Does anyone actually feel that a move to Sunbelt will have a material donation impact on the university as a whole? It looks like JMU received $14M in donations in 2019, what does that jump to if JMU joined the Sunbelt?

Also, for any spikes in athletics donating due to a Sunbelt move, what is the corresponding offset to academic donations? I know there have been posts about donors supporting other areas of the university due to their unhappiness within Athletics, does that flip back when we announce Sunbelt, and thus, no net impact on the university?

Lastly, I don't believe someone who isn't giving to the university bc we are FCS, is suddenly going to open the checkbook when our schedule features two University of Louisiana schools. Sorry, I shouldn't speak in absolutes, some will certainly start donating, but their Paw/Duke Level giving isn't moving the needle for the university as a whole. Those not donating due to "small time sports" are looking for an excuse. Think about it, they went to JMU despite the "small time sports" so there was another reason they love JMU, which would be the reason for them to donate. Saying "I went to JMU because of a great teaching/nursing/business program, but I'm not donating bc they are FCS" is a crock of sh!t. I'm not going to insult JMU and say we give degrees to people that dumb.

Way to to choose the putliers in the SunBelt.......but lets talk more about Coastal Carolina, App State, Ga Southern...............also I care a lot more about a real all-sports conference not the hodgepodge that is the CAA. Speaking of CAA since you brought up 2 Louisiana schools - how about Maine/NH/Albany/Stony Brook for football and NE/Hofstra for all sports....who cares about any of them.

I am not saying FBS or bust, but I will say anywhere but the CAA.

I don't even need to cherrypick schools to have the question - What will the $14M go up to when you replace UR/W&M with Coastal/App and Albany/UNH with UL/ULM?

50% of actual college football fans cannot name 5 sunbelt teams in a row. 0.2% of JMU alums know there is a Georgia State and a Georgia Southern. The increase in donations is going to be bc of current donors having to donate/spend more to get the same benefits (tickets to 5 home games) - which is very valid and good. But, to my point, a JMU alum that have been silent for 3, 5, 10+ years bc of our "small town sports" are not going to start donating because they see App State on the schedule. I bet 50% of the students that were at JMU during the 2008 App State game don't even know that App State plays in the Sunbelt.

If they are college football fans they know that Coastal and AppState both were in the top 25 this season and Coastal had ESPN games on TV this past season and that these teams show up on their bowl schedule and pool sheets........what % of fans other than those on this board know anything about UNH/Albany/Stony Brook/Maine, absolutely no one......oh and the football schedule will never be anymore than it is today, which is fine for FCS......but DOES NOT move the needle one damn bit for 95% of college football fans. Take a look at who App State and Coastal, or and even ODU get as some intriguing out of conference games (even at home).......as sexy as you think Weber State is for a home-home......it does not move the needle for 95% of college football fans, and is not seen as something that is gonna generate excitement from 95% of your alumni, and is NOT gonna make 95% of alumni cut a donation or increase their donation.

(03-25-2021 04:56 AM)JMUDunk Wrote:  

(03-24-2021 06:55 AM)JMUrcc06 Wrote:  

(03-23-2021 11:22 PM)JMaddy Wrote:  

(03-23-2021 11:02 PM)Anders Wrote:  The grand total:

$823,506 (5053 gifts)

How does that compare to prior years? Anyone know?

Was wondering the same thing, dug up the stats from 2019:
2021 Giving Day:
$823,506 via 5053 gifts
2019 Giving Day:
$1,230,900.53 total dollars raised
5,329 total gifts
5,117 total donors (so not nearly as many repeat donors in the day as I might have guessed)
743 first time donors
4,818 gifts below $250
$2,927 donated by students (244 of them)
47 states and 9 countries represented on giving day

Let’s keep in mind the ‘19! environment and what many have gone through in the last 12 months. Many small businesses and people have been absolutely slaughtered by this.

The political and social environment of the past year or two has an impact as well. Some small businesses are choosing to distance themselves from organizations that are choosing sides.

(03-25-2021 02:30 PM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(03-25-2021 01:10 PM)Purplehazed Wrote:  I hear those of you saying, "now is the time to support". I get it, I get it and 99 percent agree but it's hard to open up the wallet and lead when the leaders won't communicate a vision, wants, goals...anything besides "being excellent."
If the reason is Bourne and King are nine toes out the door and dead pan does not even know if he is able to come back for a third term, that really is rudderless.

EXACTLY

So you we me to increase my donation? What are you going to do with it? If there was a clear vision with goals I think you would see an increase in donations. You can donate $1000 to get 4 seats to see the current level of competition. Want to see better competition in a FBS type conference, that going to cost more money.

When VCU left the CAA to move to the A10. I basically had to double my donation just to maintain my "status/perks"

(03-26-2021 12:14 PM)RamDawg Wrote:  

(03-25-2021 02:30 PM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(03-25-2021 01:10 PM)Purplehazed Wrote:  I hear those of you saying, "now is the time to support". I get it, I get it and 99 percent agree but it's hard to open up the wallet and lead when the leaders won't communicate a vision, wants, goals...anything besides "being excellent."
If the reason is Bourne and King are nine toes out the door and dead pan does not even know if he is able to come back for a third term, that really is rudderless.

EXACTLY

So you we me to increase my donation? What are you going to do with it? If there was a clear vision with goals I think you would see an increase in donations. You can donate $1000 to get 4 seats to see the current level of competition. Want to see better competition in a FBS type conference, that going to cost more money.

When VCU left the CAA to move to the A10. I basically had to double my donation just to maintain my "status/perks"

Exactly, I have no clue what the goal or plan is. Excuse me if I don't want to just open my wallet up wide on blind faith when I have been given no real reason to based on the last 10 years. I think folks would get that if you want to play in a bigger pond it is gonna require a greater investment.

You know, there is a school attached to this football team. And that school has students that could benefit from scholarships to keep them in school, especially if their family's situation has been brutally impacted by Covid, financial and otherwise.

(03-26-2021 01:13 PM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  You know, there is a school attached to this football team. And that school has students that could benefit from scholarships to keep them in school, especially if their family's situation has been brutally impacted by Covid, financial and otherwise.

Well this is sorta a Sports Message Board and Sports seems to generate a lion's share of the donations and financial support.

I mean I did not notice The Breeze to high on the giving list from Giving Day.....but the Proud and True Fund was tops I believe and the COB was pretty high as was education (so enough of this teachers college stuff as an excuse). Sorry for the other groups high on the list, I did not want to open it back up and look but those stuck in my mind from the other day.

I mean as a rule.......I think some of our past athletes should be donating far more.....what is the % of donations from former scholarship athletes. Arthur Moats is the example and yes I know few can donate at that level, but last time I saw the donation % from former scholarship athletes (not just football) is pretty low.

(03-26-2021 08:25 PM)jmufbs Wrote:  

(03-26-2021 11:11 AM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  

(03-25-2021 07:32 PM)jmufbs Wrote:  I have had business relationships and personal friendships with hundreds of JMU grads over many, many years . ( like many of you i am sure)

a good number of them own their own business and choose where to send their donations and sponsorship money. more often than NOT, it is not Jmu -as the perception of sponsoring "small time" football does not move the needle when they can sponsor other state schools with more brand recognition and media attention.

If you think that FBS would not increase our Giving and sponsorship levels exponentially, your head must be buried in the sand or you don't have much of a background in economics. This will be the quickest way to also grow our endowment.

Its long been time to make the move, and quite honestly the longer we wait the deeper the hole we will be in.

FBS WILL be a financial windfall for JMU and the Duke club in General. Our alums are ready to step up, i guarantee it. Give us a reason.

The "experts" that do this everyday said it would increase athletic donations $2M. Not sure where their heads are though. Your friends need to get their heads out of the sand though. I mean JMU is good enough for Carmax and Pepsi, surely your friend's businesses I have never heard of, could use some more exposure.

your rapid fire attack on alternative viewpoints ( non- FCS ) kind of exemplifies the small time mentality many of us and other business owners don't need or want to allocate resources toward. and if you think these business owners have their heads in the sand as well, i guess your entitled to your opinion.
dont' get me wrong, i appreciate the support of carmax and pepsi, as do the other 5,000 organizations they support.
the difference is gaining the local and regional partnerships we are missing that can make the real difference, just ask John Paul Jones, The Siegels, and many other familes out there not named Pepsi or Carmax.

Uh, I'm very much pro-FBS. You think I love FCS just because I say someone that has never donated to JMU isn't going to suddenly start donating because we go to the sunbelt?

I just went to JMUsports.com and saw that 4 of the 6 ads/sponsors were for regional businesses. Pepsi and Carmax the only non regionals joining Sentara, Atlantic Union, Papa Johns (locally owned franchises) and GloFiber. And actually, I'd even consider Carmax as pseudo regional given there east coast bias and Richmond HQ. So, what exactly do you mean we are missing local and regional partnerships? Have you actually made it through a game without noting that Steven Toyota sells cars or that James McHone has the best jewelry selection in the Valley? And sorry, did you just refer to an alum donating their personal wealth as an example of JMU needing to reach regional businesses? You realize his hedge fund isn't in Charlottesville right?