Cal football major donor community kicks into high gear
The top contributors to California Golden Bears football are doing their best to amplify NIL efforts and contribute to the success of Cal football.
Given the rapidly changing environment of college athletics that Cal has had.to adapt to, major Cal donors are rallying to put the California Golden Bears back on the football map. The donor community has begun the process of unifying their efforts to ensure success for the program long-term.
Obviously, not all of us can contribute at this level. We just want to amplify the message that Cal donors are not sitting back during this tumultuous time, and are putting their best foot forward to get us back in the game.
However, if you do know any Cal Bears that can contribute at this level, please send this post this way! These large contributions from major donors are what makes the biggest difference between success and failure in the college football arms race. Getting more of our well-monied alum involved in the program’s future is not only important, it is necessary.
Below is the introduction from Steve Hart, one of the dedicated donors to Cal football, who also volunteers his spare time to help out the program.
Introducing the New Cal Football Major Donor Community
What/When/Where: Cal football has formed a new donor community tailored to us major contributors. This exclusive program offers a diverse array of events and activities, both in-season and offseason. Home-game week events include:
Lunches at the football stadium with players and coaches, every Wednesday before every home football game. 7 total.
Scheduled tours of the stadium and facilities.
Exclusive donor-only practices, followed by presentations from rotating position coaches, every Friday before every home football game. 7 total.
Periodic happy hour mixers with coaches and football staff at the Claremont Resort, the team's pre-game headquarters.
Additional offseason activities are in the pipeline and will be announced soon.
These events complement existing major donor benefits, such as traveling with the team to away games, sideline passes for home games, spring coaches' dinners, premium apparel, invitations to AD suite experiences, Napa coaches retreat, and more.
Why: College football is a battle of budgets. Demonstrated backing from our donor community is vital for Cal football's current success and future relevance. A robust donor network not only sustains the program but also attracts top coaching talent. By investing in our football program, we dispel the narrative that Cal and its alumni don't care about football. As potential conference realignment looms once again, it's imperative to fortify our resources to ensure the program's resilience, including operational budgets and NIL funding. These donor events aim to increase both contributions and contributors as we transition into the ACC conference next season while offering donors true insider access and enjoyable experiences with the coaches and players. Join us for lunch with Jaydn Ott as his Heisman campaign launches. Sip on a cocktail while talking to Coach Bloesch about his offensive philosophy. Discuss away game travel plans with fellow diehard fans. Hear the latest recruiting news directly from Coach Wilcox.
Who: Invitations are extended to all contributors to the Championship Caliber Fund (which starts at $10k per year). Additionally, Cal football major donors, including NIL contributors, contributing $10k or more annually, are welcome to attend and learn about the Championship Caliber Fund. As for myself, I'm Steve Hart, a passionate Cal football supporter, donor to both Caliber and NIL, and a dedicated volunteer for the football program. Alongside Kevin Kennedy (California Legends Collective Founder), Adam Brooks (Assistant Athletics Director, Leadership Giving), Anthonia Edgren (Senior Assistant Athletics Director, Development Engagement & Strategy) and Andrew Mcgraw (Chief of Staff, Football), I've been deeply involved in crafting this initiative, drawing inspiration and collaborating with successful donor societies like Notre Dame's.
How: To learn more about the Championship Caliber Fund, reach out to Adam Brooks at 559-389-1853 or email atbrooks@berkeley.edu. For information on the California Legends Collective (NIL), visit
Closing: Cal Athletics is reaffirming its dedication to our football program to ensure immediate success and establish ourselves as a premier program in anticipation of a future conference realignment. The emergence of this new donor community marks a significant stride forward. Within the program, I've witnessed barriers being removed and red tape being cut, paving the way for progress. With 135 distinct donors generously supporting both Caliber and our NIL collective (at $10k annually or above), I urge fellow Bears who have the means to contribute to seize this opportunity. The time for action is now. Let's show the world who we are.
Donate today, and you'll receive an exclusive invitation to join us for a dinner and a program update by the football coaches on March 6th.
This might be a better use of funds than, say, a statue of Joe Starkey with a video loop of the play, but what do I know.
Not me doing the math to see if I can swing this...