Winning the Pledge Game: How Athletics Fundraising is Driving Results with Multi-Year Giving Strategies
- Lily Johnson
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
Athletic fundraising is evolving. While game-day wins fuel pride, long-term fundraising success depends on sustainable strategies that go beyond one-time gifts. Today, top athletics departments are embracing multi-year giving to create steady revenue streams, deepen donor engagement, and unlock transformational opportunities.
The Power of Multi-Year Giving in Athletics Fundraising
Multi-year pledges are one of the most effective tools for building sustainable support for athletics programs. From annual scholarships to capital campaigns, multi-year gifts provide predictable funding while strengthening long-term donor relationships.
Athletics departments that leverage pledge strategies not only boost donor retention—they also create a scalable framework for future growth.
Multi-Year Fundraising Opportunities in College Athletics
Parent Giving in Athletics Fundraising
Parents of student-athletes are among the most engaged supporters. They’re emotionally invested in their children’s experiences and often willing to make meaningful contributions that directly impact teams and facilities. Multi-year pledges from parents strengthen your donor pipeline and can spark giving momentum within the broader athletics community.
Engaging Young Alumni in Athletics Annual Giving
Young alumni represent a high-potential donor segment. With strong emotional ties to their athletic experience, recent graduates are more likely to respond to timely, personalized appeals. Early engagement through multi-year giving helps establish donor habits, boost participation rates, and lay the groundwork for future major gifts.
Using Events to Increase Athletics Donor Participation
Events provide powerful fundraising moments. Competitions, banquets, reunions, and training trips all offer opportunities to highlight impact, share athlete stories, and inspire generosity. Athletics departments that tie pledge campaigns to events often see increased visibility, new donor acquisition, and stronger major gift cultivation.
Multi-Year Pledges for Capital Campaigns in Athletics
From equipment drives to naming opportunities, capital campaigns in athletics are constant and competitive. Multi-year pledges allow donors to support transformational initiatives—such as new facilities or endowed coaching positions—in a way that aligns with their giving capacity.
Real Results from Athletics Fundraising with Givzey
Boise State: Rapid Multi-Year Pledge Growth
Boise State launched a $65 million athletics campaign and used Givzey to scale multi-year giving in record time. In just two weeks, five gift officers secured over 100 pledge agreements—many from new and lapsed donors. The ability to move quickly and efficiently helped Boise State build critical campaign momentum.
William & Mary: Converting One-Time Gifts into Long-Term Support
At William & Mary, Givzey helps gift officers solicit new donors, re-engage recurring donors, and convert one-time gifts into multi-year commitments.
The more I use Givzey, the more I'm setting myself up for success next year, while still bringing in revenue this year. - James Frey, Assistant Athletics Director for Advancement
How Givzey Supports Scalable Multi-Year Giving in Athletics
Givzey is the only Intelligent Gift Documentation Platform designed for fundraisers. With tools that simplify pledge management and automate follow-up, it empowers athletics departments to secure more multi-year gifts without adding administrative burden.
Key features include:
Smart Gift Agreements
Automated Pledge Reminders
Dynamic Workflows
Intelligent Invoicing
By removing friction from the pledge process, Givzey allows fundraisers to stay focused on what matters most—building relationships and raising more support.
Start Winning Your Pledge Game
Schedule a demo today to see how Givzey can help your athletics program secure more multi-year pledges and drive lasting impact.
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