Dear USF Alumni and Supporters,  
 
I want to take a moment to thank you for your support this year and welcoming me into this cherished, USF Athletics family. Witnessing the extent to which you support these truly remarkable Dons student-athletes has been truly inspiring.
 
As we navigate the paradigmatic shift of the collegiate landscape, it's important we remain ahead of new developments. Student-athletes are now able to earn money from their own name, image, and likeness (NIL), and engaging in these opportunities has become a critical component in recruiting and maintaining a successful athletic program – in particular, men's basketball.
 
Some wonderful initiatives are emerging. We have seen the growth of "collectives" that facilitate opportunities for student-athletes to monetize their NIL through event appearances, traditional sponsorships and endorsements. I am particularly pleased given USF's Jesuit mission that many of these appearance opportunities are in support of community service functions such as youth camps and hospitals. 
  
We are incredibly fortunate to have two local USF alumni that have made the commitment to create and manage The Hilltop Club – USF's NIL collective. The Hilltop Club is a standalone LLC, managed by a veteran sports marketing executive who works in lock-step with USF Athletics.
 
In addition to supporting the San Francisco Dons Fund and considering a gift at www.usfdons.com/give, we encourage you to learn more about The Hilltop Club and consider supporting their USF NIL efforts, as either an individual or business. By complimenting the completed and planned USF Athletic improvements and supporting the USF scholarship fund, operating resources, and special projects, a robust NIL program can also help build USF basketball to a level of national prominence and achievement.  
 
The USF Athletic Department is available to answer any questions you may have regarding NIL policies, The Hilltop Club, NCAA guidelines, etc. We encourage you to reach out to The Hilltop Club directly with any other NIL inquiries or interests. Additionally, we look forward to planning an NIL educational session for our fans in the very near future to learn more about this opportunity through an in-person presentation.
 
We are incredibly grateful for your continued support of USF Athletics and thank those of you who have already contributed to the San Francisco Dons Fund and USF NIL opportunities.
 
Go Dons!

Larry Williams
Director of Athletics
University of San Francisco