Tulane Athletics Launches New NIL Fund With Transformative Gift

Tulane Green Wave received a massive NIL gift from longtime donors as they expand name, image, and likeness opportunities for college athletes.

Credit: Tulane Athletics / Football

Tulane Green Wave athletics received a massive donation towards their NIL funds for their college sports programs.

Longtime Tulane supporters Dona and Lora Peters are donating a transformative gift of $3.5 million to continue upgrading facilities and to launch the Green Wave Talent Fund, which will benefit their revenue-generating teams, including college football, men's and women's basketball, and baseball.

As college sports enter a new era where name, image, and likeness opportunities are at the forefront of the future, the Green Wave will benefit incredibly from this gift.

Should the school want to retain top talent and coaches, this gift is essential for those efforts. It also points to an investment in facilities that has grown in the last couple of years under head football coach Jon Sumrall.

The program is currently building an indoor practice bubble that will eliminate transportation and missed practices due to inclement weather.

David Harris, the athletic director, expressed his belief in the press release that this funding is a significant breakthrough.

"This fund is a game-changer for Tulane Athletics, courtesy of two of our most generous supporters," Harris said. "Don and Lora Peters have stepped up time and time again over the years, and their leadership sends a strong message: Tulane is committed to empowering its student-athletes to thrive both on and off the field. Their generosity will help us attract and retain top talent while maintaining our tradition of integrity and excellence."

Don Peters is an alumnus and member of the Board of Tulane and the Tulane Intercollegiate Athletics Committee, and he and his wife are heavily involved in several leadership roles, including serving on the National Campaign Council for Greater D.C. as part of a fundraising campaign.

"NIL has reshaped college sports, and Tulane must remain competitive in this new landscape," Peters said. "This initiative ensures Tulane stays ahead in the evolving landscape. It's about empowering student-athletes to succeed in their sports, their academics, and their future careers."

To quantify the gift amount, the $3.5 million is close to the reported amount former quarterback Darian Mensah received in an NIL deal to transfer to the Duke Blue Devils.

The NIL funds for Tulane are not public, as it's a private university, but they've consistently competed at the top of the Group of Five.

As the name of the game becomes more and more about who can pay to recruit and retain, the funding and focus on NIL is an unparalleled investment by the university in their college sports programs.