Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcon Club Changes Direction for Donors
May 01, 2007 | General
May 1, 2007
By JACK CARLE, Sentinel Sports Editor - There is a new direction in the fund-raising opportunities for Bowling Green's athletics department.
In recent years all money raised by the Falcon Club, the booster organization at Bowling Green, has been used to off-set the cost of scholarships for student-athletes.
For the 2007-08 membership year, the organization is allowing donors to make their gift specific to an area within the athletics department.
"They can designate their gift towards scholarships still. They can designate it towards our academic support area. They can designate it towards any of our 18 sports and I think there are a couple of other buckets in there, too," said Greg Christopher, BG's athletics director. "The purpose behind it ... We want the Falcon Club to be the umbrella fund-raising organization for athletics."
Before the Falcon Club decided to focus on scholarships, donors were allowed to be sport-specific with the gifts.
"That's one thing that will really appeal to people again, is to be able to earmark their money to their area of interest," said Jane Myers, BG's assistant athletics director for the Falcon Club. "We've just given them more options."
Myers added the athletics department would be handling the funding for scholarships. She added many donors are still interested in supporting the educational cost of athletics.
"Giving scholarship money is a noble thing and certainly there will be people who really want to focus on that," Myers said.
To that end, the Falcon Club has started a Champions Circle distinguished level of giving.
The current figure for the Champions Circle is $9,135, which is the 2006-07 cost for tuition and fees. That amount will change each year as tuition and fees are adjusted.
"The donor is able to pick the sport of their choice and in turn we will match them with a student-athlete who they are supporting," Myers said. Steve and Rhonda Melchi from Bowling Green were the first to join the Champions Circle and they were paired with Lindsey Goldsberry from the women's basketball team.
Myers said two other donors have since been added to the top level. "We're very excited about it," Myers said. "It will personalize what someone is doing. They can develop a relationship within (NCAA) guidelines with that student-athlete."
In order to raise more money, Christopher has challenged the Falcon Club to double its membership in three years.
The Falcon Club currently has 1,500 members.
"We really need to be at 3,000 members," Christopher said. "If the other schools in the MAC (Mid-American Conference) can do it, there's no reason Bowling Green can't do it with nearly 150,000 alums."
Myers welcomes the challenge.
"That may sound very aggressive and it is," Myers said. "It's doable."
The Falcon Club is going back to a more traditional membership drive starting next month and continuing through the end of June. A total of 75 volunteers will be involved.
"It's a more orchestrated team event," Myers said.
Memberships start as low as $100 and there is also a recent graduate level of $50.
"There is a level of involvement for everyone," Myers said. "At each level, there are certain amenities and certain benefits.
"We certainly hope people can find a level they are comfortable with and become involved."
In other Falcon Club news:
• The Falcon Club will be involved in the barnstorming tour in June which will be taking members of the athletics department to eight different locations in the state;
• The Falcon Club is also planning candid small group discussions, involving Christopher and BG coaches;
• A hospitality area will be added at Anderson Arena for Falcon Club members;
• For women's basketball, there are going to be enhanced parking opportunities at Anderson Arena for Falcon Club members.
