Battle’s End using donor match program for NIL sustainability
Ingram Smith wanted to help Florida State be competitive in the NIL market when he helped launch the Battle’s End collective in December.
Now the NIL collective‘s president is making sure sustaining funding is not an issue. The organization has signed nearly the entire football team and has provided some unique experiences, such as sending athletes to the Super Bowl and John Lewis Gala.
Earlier this week, Battle’s End launched its first donor match program. Until Florida State’s spring game on April 15, all new memberships and donations will be matched up to $500,000. It’s a smart marketing tool, giving fans a deadline to put their dollars to work.
“This is new to us, and this is a new donor model to the Florida State landscape entirely,” Smith told On3 on Monday. “I don’t want to go into too many details. We’re really excited about this. This is something that is new to the landscape. And when I say that, it’s applicable to all parties. … There’s only so many benchmarks between now and the (season-opening) LSU game of which we can really try to use to support ourselves. So, I know the spring game is a little bit of a short window, but there’s no better time to try to hit something like this.”
Smith declined to go into details on the background of the anonymous donor but made clear it was a notable win for the collective. He also said he’s been in touch with a couple of other boosters who would be willing to host a donor match program in the future.
Smith also did not get into specifics as to how much the collective had in its bank account but was confident, saying Battle’s End is fully financed for this year and next. A bit more than three months into the endeavor, the collective has a website where it prominently displays backing from coach Mike Norvell.
Fans also have the opportunity to choose one of six subscription options, ranging from $19.93 to $1,000 monthly payments. Each level comes with a different set of perks. The collective also has donor representation in all 50 states.
“We’ve got to continue to broaden the funnel, so to say, continue to bring in new investment,” Smith said.
Where Battle’s End is choosing to invest
When Smith helped launch the collective, he made sure to make clear that Battle’s End did not have unlimited funds. But the organization also has made clear in its first few months it can play ball with the top collectives in the nation.
Along with signing a number of highly valued on-field players to deals, Battle’s End has announced deals with notable portal acquisitions Jaheim Bell and Fentrell Cypress. While funding may be in a good place right now, Smith also wants to make sure athletes are seeing the most from their partnerships.
“Our goal is also to sustain, so additional money that we can raise a lot is going to operating expenses, and some of it is going to bringing in – we’re going to hire a marketing team,” he said. “So we’re going to bring them in. We are looking at a number of options, but we are going to bring in financial planners for these kids. We’re evaluating exactly what to do in that space.
“Most of the money we’re raising from the public perspective, we are putting into what is more of an endowment model. That is our initial seed of sustainability and we hope to only grow it with this match.”
Battle’s End is technically competing in the NIL market with the Rising Spear collective. Both organizations have received endorsements from the Florida State athletic department. Sources told On3 the collectives have had ongoing conversations about a possible merger.