Back the Bluff
Support the Pilots. Make a Difference.
Back the Bluff is a collection of donors and alumni that supports student-athletes at University of Portland. This collective is dedicated to creating name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities that positively contribute to the Portland community and uphold the commitment of UP to make a difference in the world.
Service is foundational to the University of Portland mission and has always been a key component of the Pilot student-athlete experience. That is why Back the Bluff is committed to partnering with local non-profit organizations – particularly schools and youth programs. Contributions to Back the Bluff will help create opportunities for Pilot student-athletes to positively impact these organizations, while also helping them to earn their value in the NIL era.
As the first and only donor- and alumni-led NIL collective working for University of Portland student-athletes, Back the Bluff invites the broad Pilot community – alumni, organizations, donors, fans, businesses and more – to join us in supporting Pilot student-athletes
FAQs
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In July 2021, the National Colligate Athletic Association (NCAA) gave permission to student-athletes to earn compensation for their name, image or likeness, also known as “NIL.”
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Back the Bluff is made possible by our passionate, purposeful supporters. Your donations are invested in Pilot student-athletes who are making a meaningful impact on athletic programs, the UP campus, and our Portland community.
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Back the Bluff is committed to partnering with local non-profit organizations – particularly schools and youth programs. Your donations will help create opportunities for Pilot student-athletes to positively impact these organizations. Examples might include speaking engagements, youth sports clinics, mentorship programs, etc.
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Nearly all of your donations will go directly to the Pilot student-athletes. Back the Bluff will never take a cut of any donations for personal profit, and most operating costs are paid out-of-pocket by our leadership team. A small percentage of donations will go to cover legal fees to help ensure Back the Bluff is fully compliant with NCAA regulations and Oregon state law.
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Back the Bluff is able to create NIL opportunities for any Pilot student-athlete in any sport. If there is a specific sport you are interested in supporting, you can let us know when making a contribution.
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No, we share no affiliation with University of Portland. But Back the Bluff is the preferred collective for the UP Athletic Department and will work with UP staff to ensure all NIL deals are compliant with the text and spirit of NCAA guidelines and, above all, ensure all parties are acting in the best interest of Pilot student-athletes.
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Supporters who are ready to give can click on the Donate Now button. There is no donation minimum or maximum. All donors will receive an exclusive Back the Bluff newsletter featuring the athletes you support. If you are a non-profit or business looking to become a Partner, please fill out information in the Partner with Us section below.
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No. While our focus is on working with community organizations, we can also help facilitate common NIL opportunities, including ad campaigns, appearances, social media posts, promoting merchandise, and various other endorsement or sponsorship deals.
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Not at this time. A recent 12-page memo from the Internal Revenue Service determined that, in many cases, NIL collectives do not qualify as tax-exempt non-profit organizations.
Partner with us.
Are you a non-profit or business and interested in partnering with Back the Bluff to help create opportunities for Pilot student-athletes? Fill out the form below and we will reach out to you as soon as possible. We’d love to connect with you!