The landscape of college sports has been undergoing significant changes, especially with the implementation of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights for college athletes. With these rights in place, athletes are now able to monetize their personal brand and image. However, just like with any fundraising or donation-driven venture, there’s a challenge that often arises: donor fatigue.
What is Donor Fatigue?
Donor fatigue refers to the weariness or diminished enthusiasm from potential donors, often due to an oversaturation of requests for financial support or the perception of incessant need. In the context of college NILs, alumni, fans, and supporters are frequently approached for donations or sponsorships. While many are happy to support at first, repeated requests can make them feel overwhelmed or overburdened.
Enter tree3: A Solution to Combat Donor Fatigue
Instead of relying solely on direct donations, college athletes can harness the power of eCommerce as an alternative revenue stream with platforms like tree3.
What is tree3?
tree3 is an online platform that allows individuals to create their own digital storefront. With this platform, users can sell a vast range of items, and instead of pocketing all the profit, they can set a portion of their commissions as donations.
How Can College Athletes Benefit?
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Diversified Revenue Stream: Athletes can sell merchandise, digital products, or even affiliate products, generating revenue beyond direct NIL deals or endorsements. This also offers supporters something tangible in return for their money.
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Tapping into Consumer Behavior: People love shopping online, and if fans know that a portion of their purchase goes towards supporting their favorite college athlete, they’re more likely to make a purchase.
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Building a Brand: By managing a storefront, athletes can further establish their personal brand, connect directly with their audience, and gather data on their most loyal supporters.
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Automated Donations: Through tree3, a predetermined percentage of sales can be automatically directed towards NILs or any other cause the athlete supports. This eliminates the need for direct appeals and constant fundraising campaigns.
Steps to Setting Up on tree3:
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Sign Up: Register on the tree3 platform and set up a profile.
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Choose Products: Select from millions of items to add to the storefront. These could be products that resonate with the athlete’s personal brand or interests.
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Set Commissions: Decide on the commission rate and how much of it will be donated to the NIL or any other preferred cause.
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Promote: Share the storefront on social media, in interviews, or through any other means to reach potential supporters.
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Automate & Earn: As sales come in, tree3 handles the transactions, and a portion of the earnings is automatically set aside as donations.
Conclusion
The introduction of NIL rights has opened up a plethora of opportunities for college athletes, but it also comes with challenges like donor fatigue. Leveraging eCommerce platforms such as tree3 can not only provide a sustainable revenue stream but also ensures that supporters and fans receive value for their contributions. It’s a win-win solution for athletes looking to make the most of their college years and their growing brand.