Dear Loyal Bobcat Supporters,

A strong annual fund is vital for an athletic department to generate revenue to help offset the increasing high cost of scholarships for student-athletes. By researching other universities with highly successful athletic fundraising programs, we found that many of them have achieved high dollar results from an annual fund devoted to athletic scholarships. These annual fund drives allow donors to give to athletics at a level they choose, receive benefits, while supporting the general athletic scholarship fund. Your contribution this year to the new Bobcat Club will directly impact the collegiate experience for Bobcat student-athletes. Specifically, Bobcat Club dollars this year, and for years to come, will provide student-athletes the opportunity to attend Texas State on athletic scholarships. This year, the Bobcat Club will focus strictly on providing athletic scholarships for the regular academic year, summer school, and or students who have exhausted their playing eligibility. We also will work to continue to support student-athletes unable to participate due to athletic injuries. Here are some key questions and answers to help you, our important donors, understand the new Bobcat Club.

What is the general athletic scholarship fund? This is a gift fund through which donations received through the Bobcat Club's annual fund drive will be placed to be used solely to offset the cost of the Athletic Department's scholarship bill for their student-athletes. Texas State's athletic scholarships cost more than $2.8 million per year, a bill that has been paid from University funds appropriated for athletics from student service fee revenue. The goal of the new general scholarship fund for student-athletes is to raise as much money as possible to offset athletic scholarship costs, thus freeing up funds that can be used to benefit the department as a whole.

How do you receive valuable benefits for giving to Texas State Athletics? You receive stated benefits simply by supporting the Bobcat Club's general athletic scholarship fund. A gift to the Bobcat Club benefits all student-athletes and also affords a donor wonderful benefits at the desired level. These outstanding benefits range from priority point seating, pre-game reception tickets or home games, parking passes, tickets, and so much more. The only way to become a member and receive Bobcat Club benefits, including priority point seating, is to give to the Bobcat Club.

How does the new Bobcat Club's restricted gift program work? Do I get benefits and priority point seating considerations? Donors are never discouraged from supporting a specific coach or program's enrichment account by making a restricted gift. The change with the new Bobcat Club is that these restricted gifts do not give you Bobcat Club membership or membership benefits since the Bobcat Club's mission is directed solely to raising athletic scholarship fund dollars. A restricted gift does, however, still count toward your Bobcat Stadium priority point seating totals.