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Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL QUESTIONS

Any contribution of $100 or more to the Wildcat Fund or Seating-Athletics makes you a member of the Wildcat Fund.
Today! Make your gift now to help support our student-athletes. The deadline to give for football parking is May 31 and for football and men's basketball seating is Aug 31.
Your donation directly impacts the lives of Northwestern's more than 500 student-athletes. By making a contribution to the Wildcat Fund, you help support areas of need such as academic support, travel, equipment, sports performance, sports medicine and general department expenses. It all adds up to provide our student-athletes with a world-class experience.
The Otto Graham Society (OGS) is a multi-year leadership giving society for Northwestern Athletics. OGS members are invested in the continued enhancement of Wildcats Athletics and commit to annual donations of at least $25,000 over a five-year period.
Members of the Wildcat Fund are considered “Representatives of Athletics Interests.” For more information about what this means for you, please visit our Compliance page.
We expect to have more information on the 2024 season this spring.

BENEFITS & PURPLE POINTS

Please visit our website at www.nusports.com/tickets/ or call the Northwestern Ticket Office at 888-GO-PURPLE (467-8775).
All giving to Northwestern Athletics counts towards your Purple Points. In order to activate your Purple Points, an annual contribution of at least $100 needs to be made to the Wildcat Fund (or Seating-Athletics). Check out how you can accrue Purple Points here.
Lot assignments are allocated based on current year giving level and Purple Points. You must also be a season ticket holder to purchase season parking and the deadline to make your Wildcat Fund or Seating - Athletics contribution to count toward your parking assignment is May 31. Visit Season Tickets and Parking for more information.
Purple Points earned through ticket activity are transferable to immediate family members. However, Purple Points earned for donations are not transferable.

GIVING

Northwestern University is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. To maximize the tax deductible portion of your gift, you may decline to receive any benefits when you make your gift to Northwestern. If you choose to accept your benefits, we are required to inform you your charitable contribution will be reduced by the value of those benefits.

In 2018, the federal government signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Under the new tax law, donors are not able to take a deduction for contributions allocated to Seating-Athletics that are tied to a specific seat location.

Please consult your tax advisor for further clarification.
An annual contribution to Seating-Athletics is required for select football and men's basketball season ticket locations on a per-seat basis. Any gifts that are tied to seating locations must be allocated to the Seating-Athletics account.

Support to Seating-Athletics provides the same opportunities as a Wildcat Fund gift except for the tax-deduction. Currently, a donor's annual Seating-Athletics contribution may apply to both football and men's basketball season tickets. After the last season in current Ryan Field, a separate annual Seating-Athletics contribution will be required for football and men's basketball.
Check out the many Ways to Give to the Wildcat Fund.
Your contribution is due prior to the one-year anniversary of your last gift. Please note that a donation in the current fiscal year (September 1-August 31) is required to activate your Purple Points.
Yes! Our new recurring giving option makes it easy to make contributions on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis.

Only contributions to the Wildcat Fund or Seating-Athletics qualifies you as a member of the Wildcat Fund and all the corresponding benefits. Contributions to sport enhancement funds unlock a separate set of benefits.

Some companies are willing to match the amount of an employee gift to the Wildcat Fund. Check with your company's foundation or philanthropic unit to determine if gifts are matched and what process that requires.

All Northwestern University employees have the option to set up a payroll deduction. Please contact the Wildcat Fund Office at wildcatfund@northwestern.edu for more information or to request a copy of the payroll deduction form.