Boilermaker Alliance

What Boilermaker Alliance does

Boilermaker Alliance, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation organized in Indiana and headquartered between Indianapolis and Carmel, operating as the Exclusive Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Collective for Purdue University Athletics. The organization was founded in 2021–2022 by Purdue alumni and supporters to provide NIL compensation opportunities to student-athletes in Football, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, and Volleyball while channeling their popularity into charitable and community impact in Indiana. It is governed independently of Purdue University by its own Board and Advisory Board — chaired by Drew Brees and including figures such as Mark Carney (Chairman), Dave Neff (President and CEO, appointed December 12, 2023), Jeff McKean (Co-founder), and Scott Busch — and receives no funding from the university itself.

The core product is a tiered membership subscription program ranging from Boilermaker Basic at $25 per month through Varsity Club, Legacy Club, Championship Club, and Founders Club, with higher tiers unlocking live Chalk Talks, official-visit-style campus tours, game day events, and direct access to head coaches. The membership is augmented by a Premium Exclusive Content Package produced in partnership with GoldandBlack.com, featuring series such as 'Last Word with Ryan Walters,' 'Coordinator's Corner,' and '100-Yard Walks.' The organization does not operate a proprietary technology platform; its digital stack consists of a standard CMS website and the GoldandBlack-powered members message board, with no disclosed APIs, SDKs, or AI/ML capabilities.

Boilermaker Alliance monetizes through three primary streams: recurring membership subscriptions (not tax-deductible), tax-deductible charitable donations used to compensate athletes for charitable appearances, and business sponsorship/endorsement transactions. The go-to-market motion is community-led, targeting Purdue alumni, fans, businesses, and charities through the website, email, social media, and direct contact channels, with the stated objective of keeping operational costs below 15% of donations. Distribution and credibility are reinforced by endorsement from Purdue Athletic Director Mike Bobinski and the head coaches of the four sponsored programs, as well as a portfolio of nine charitable partnerships across Indiana.

Name

Boilermaker Alliance

Legal name

Boilermaker Alliance, Inc.

Website

https://boilermakeralliance.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Boilermaker Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating as the exclusive Name, Image, and Likeness collective for Purdue University Athletics, running a tiered membership subscription program (starting at $25/month) plus donations and business sponsorships to fund NIL opportunities for Purdue student-athletes in Football, Basketball, and Volleyball.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

College Athletics NIL Collective Services

NAICS

Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Athletics Fundraising, Sponsorships & NIL Support (EDALAIAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK)

Keywords

• NIL collective operations
• College athletics fundraising
• Athlete endorsement services
• Membership subscription programs
• Charitable sports partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Monthly subscription fees starting at $25 per month, providing members with access to exclusive content, events, and experiences with Purdue coaches and student-athletes across Football, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, and Volleyball programs.
2. Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations used to compensate Purdue student-athletes for charitable work and appearances for partnered charity organizations.
3. Business Sponsorships: Endorsement opportunities for businesses and brands interested in marketing partnerships with Purdue student-athletes for commercial purposes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Boilermaker Alliance is the exclusive Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) collective for Purdue University, operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds NIL opportunities for Purdue student-athletes in Football, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, and Volleyball. It offers tiered monthly membership subscriptions starting at $25/month with exclusive content, events, and access to coaches and athletes, accepts tax-deductible charitable donations to compensate athletes for charitable appearances, and facilitates business sponsorship and endorsement deals between brands and Purdue athletes.

Product overview

Boilermaker Alliance is a NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) collective for Purdue University that operates as a membership-based organization offering tiered subscription programs (Varsity Club, Legacy Club, Championship Club, and Founders Club) starting at $25/month. The core product provides Purdue student-athletes with NIL opportunities while offering members exclusive content packages powered by GoldandBlack.com, virtual chalk talk sessions, official visit experiences, and on-campus events with coaches from Football, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, and Volleyball. The organization also accepts donations and facilitates business sponsorships to compensate student-athletes for charitable appearances and marketing activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NIL Membership Program Tiered monthly membership subscription program (Boilermaker Basic, Varsity Club, Legacy Club, Championship Club, Founders Club) starting at $25/month that provides Purdue alumni and fans with exclusive content, live Chalk Talks and Q&A sessions with coaches and athletes, Purdue Official Visit campus and facilities tours, Game Day exclusive events, and direct on-campus access to head coaches from Football, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, and Volleyball. Subscriptions are not tax-deductible.
• Donation and Philanthropy Program Tax-deductible charitable contribution program under Boilermaker Alliance's 501(c)(3) public charity status (Internal Revenue Code Sections 509(a)(1) and 179(b)(1)(a)(vi)), used to compensate Purdue student-athletes for charitable work and appearances with partnered charity organizations, with a stated goal of keeping operational costs below 15% of donations. Accepts cash and non-cash contributions (appreciated stock, property, retirement account distributions).
• Business Sponsorship Program Endorsement and marketing partnership program through which businesses and brands can engage Purdue student-athletes (including Zach Edey, Braden Smith, Lance Jones, and Mason Gillis) for commercial activities such as social media promotions, special appearances, autograph signings, and other endorsement activations. Sponsorship terms are negotiated directly with Boilermaker Alliance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Positioned as one of the premier NIL initiatives in the Big Ten Conference

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Crew Life Basketball FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Purdue Boilermaker Rapheal Davis, this foundation uses basketball camps, skills clinics, and mentorship events to develop youth while instilling morals, values, and respect. Student-athletes participate in activities that give back to the community.
• Tyler Trent FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDedicated to continuing Tyler Trent's mission to support pediatric cancer research and honor his memory. Tyler Trent was a former Purdue student who inspired countless sports fans with his gratitude and grace during his battle with cancer.
• Gregory S. Fehribach CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmpowers Indiana college students with physical disabilities to find gainful, sustainable, and equitable employment through comprehensive internship opportunities that build skills, confidence, and work history.
• A Kid Again: Indiana ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes families raising kids living with life-threatening conditions by providing much-needed relief through fun destination events throughout the year at no cost to families.
• First Tee IndianaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth development organization enabling kids to build character strength through golf with a life skills curriculum that creates active learning experiences building inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience.
• St. Mary's Early Childhood CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNot-for-profit agency offering Preschool Program and Professional Development Program to positively impact the futures of young children in the community.
• Best Buddies in IndianaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides One-to-One Friendship, Integrated Employment, and Leadership Development programs for individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities in Indiana.
• Mental Health America – Wabash Valley RegionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate of National Mental Health America working to improve mental health through advocacy, education, research, and service for people with mental disorders.
• National Football Foundation – Joe Tiller Chapter of Northwest IndianaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the largest chapters in the National Football Foundation with over 800 members, ranking as the largest chapter in Indiana and third largest nationally, focused on supporting football programs.
• GoldandBlack.comcoreTechnology or IntegrationContent partnership powering the exclusive Boilermaker Alliance message board with professionally produced behind-the-scenes content including 'Last Word with Ryan Walters,' 'Coordinator's Corner,' and '100-Yard Walks' content series.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Varsity Collective (University of Michigan): An NIL collective serving University of Michigan student-athletes with corporate partnerships and donor-driven athlete compensation. Directly comparable as another Big Ten school-specific collective in the same competitive set.
• Hoosier Athletic Fund (Indiana University NIL Collective): An NIL collective for Indiana University, the in-state Big Ten counterpart to Boilermaker Alliance. Both are school-specific 501(c)(3) collectives running tiered memberships and corporate sponsorships to compensate athletes.
• Tiger Impact (Clemson University NIL Collective): An NIL collective for Clemson University that channels alumni and donor contributions to student-athlete compensation and charitable activities. Closely mirrors Boilermaker Alliance's school-specific, donation-and-membership-driven approach.
• The Foundation (University of Tennessee NIL Collective): An exclusive Name, Image, and Likeness collective for the University of Tennessee operating a tiered membership model and donor-driven athlete compensation fund. Directly comparable in structure and mission to Boilermaker Alliance.
• Champions Circle (University of Georgia NIL Collective): An NIL collective supporting University of Georgia student-athletes through memberships, donations, and corporate partnerships. Operates the same school-exclusive, member-supported model as Boilermaker Alliance.
• The Foundation for Ohio State Athletics (NIL arm): An NIL and donor program serving Ohio State student-athletes, one of the most prominent Big Ten programs and a structural peer to Boilermaker Alliance in scale and Big Ten positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Opendorse: An NIL technology and content platform used by collectives, schools, and athletes to manage endorsement opportunities. Adjacent enabling infrastructure for the collective model Boilermaker Alliance runs.
• INFLCR (Teamworks NIL): Now part of Teamworks, INFLCR powers NIL content delivery, compliance, and athlete-brand tools across college programs. Provides the enabling infrastructure that school-specific collectives like Boilermaker Alliance leverage.
• On3 NIL Collective Directory / NIL Network (On3): On3 operates a national NIL collective directory, valuation platform, and media coverage of collective activity. Comparable as the broad incumbent ecosystem/marketplace in which school-specific collectives like Boilermaker Alliance operate and are evaluated.

Others

• Learfield (Learfield IMG College / Endeavor): The leading collegiate athletic multimedia rights holder and sponsorship sales agency in the U.S. While not an NIL collective, Learfield sits adjacent as the upstream sponsorship and media-rights ecosystem that powers donor/alumni demand for collectives like Boilermaker Alliance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/boilermakeralliance

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Boilermaker Alliance