"This is an opportunity to invest boldly in our student-athletes, to be competitive for championships on the national stage, and to set the standard of excellence that will define Rutgers Athletics," said Rutgers Director of Athletics Keli Zinn.

  Athletic Excellence Fund
The Athletic Excellence Fund will provide critical support for revenue-sharing with Rutgers student-athletes. The investments will enhance the Scarlet Knights' ability to recruit, retain, and develop top-tier talent across all sports. Gifts to this fund are tax deductible and supporters will receive Priority Points for contributions. The Athletic Excellence Fund will also generate the necessary resources to support the infrastructure of R NIL and to continue to build the Rutgers Athletics brand in the Big Ten and nationally.

R NIL
Alongside the Athletic Excellence Fund, Rutgers Athletics is going all in on R NIL, the Scarlet Knights' Name, Image and Likeness agency. Designed to secure high-impact partnerships and maximize opportunities for Scarlet Knight student-athletes through Scarlet Assets Management Company (SAMCO), the foundational NIL program will allow Rutgers to compete in the national race for talent and excellence.

"R NIL, together with the Athletic Excellence Fund, is the true game-changer that will set Rutgers apart," added Zinn. "We are creating significant opportunities for our student-athletes, redefining expectations for the Scarlet Knights, and building a program that grows the Rutgers Athletics brand, setting the standard for success."

Rutgers Athletics will elevate the R NIL brand through activations at all events over Homecoming Weekend (October 16-19). These efforts will build the R NIL brand and make it central, visible, and unmissable at Rutgers, strengthening awareness and positioning the Scarlet Knights to become a national leader in NIL.

Scholarships
Together with these new initiatives, scholarships remain a vital and foundational way for donors to support student-athletes, continuing to position them for academic success and financial stability. Increased scholarship support contributes to the competitive edge for coaches to recruit and retain elite talent from around the globe. Donors can contribute to the general R Scholarship Fund or via new sport-specific scholarship funds.

Student-Athlete Impact
Rutgers student-athletes recognize the life-changing support that donor generosity creates for them. Hear from Rutgers Football senior quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis on the impact of those opportunities:

"Competing at Rutgers is more than just playing the sport I love, it's a life-changing opportunity. With scholarship support, I'm able to pursue my education while representing a program that believes in me. And through NIL, I'm not just building my own brand, I'm elevating Rutgers' brand and helping shape the future for other student-athletes too. I'm proud to be a Scarlet Knight for life."

A Call to Rutgers Nation
Whether through the Athletic Excellence Fund, partnering with R NIL through SAMCO, or supporting scholarships, every gift strengthens the Scarlet Knights and helps build a program that will set the new standard.

"We are seizing this moment to elevate our athletics program and define the future of competitive excellence," continued Zinn. "If you are passionate about Rutgers Athletics, this is your time to turn opportunity into a statement – that our Scarlet Knights will not just compete but will lead and win at the highest level."

For more information or to make a gift, please visit ScarletKnights.com/give.