In partnership with Playfly Sports Properties, Ascend’s ChangeIt platform will advance donor engagement for collectives benefitting student-athletes
Ascend Fundraising Solutions announced today its plans to bring NIL Collective partners a suite of fundraising solutions and services to further their efforts to raise funds benefiting student-athletes. The cornerstone of the partnership is Ascend’s ChangeIt platform, an exceptional social commerce solution that empowers the devoted supporters of college athletes to effortlessly contribute towards the ongoing success of their favorite school’s athletics.
Through an effortless and secure process of registration and credit card linkage, each ChangeIt transaction conducted with the registered card is rounded up to the nearest dollar, effectively converting everyday purchases into a recurring stream of funds for college athletes across all sports.
ChangeIt members get something back as well – supporters of the NIL collective who join ChangeIt’s membership programs will also gain access to a network of participating national and regional retailers that provide automatic cashback rewards and discounts, as well as once in a lifetime fan experiences and entry into exciting contests.
ChangeIt, a full-service solution managed by Ascend, will be a pillar of the collective’s membership program. Fans and merchants will have the exciting opportunity to sign-up for ChangeIt online and at sports facilities beginning this fall.
“We are beyond excited and honored to launch this initiative with great support from our collective partners. ChangeIt leverages our more than 15 years of fundraising and donor cultivation experience along with our passion for the collegiate sports market. We expect to play an integral role in efforts to build a sustained and robust revenue stream for the benefit of student-athletes.”
David Bertram, President of Ascend Fundraising Solutions Collegiate Athletics Division
The Official Collective of Auburn Athletics, On To Victory, was the first to launch the ChangeIt platform last Friday, September 22. LSU’s Bayou Traditions is next to launch in the coming weeks.
As part of the program rollout, Ascend’s agreement with Playfly Sports Properties, who separately represents university athletic departments as part of Playfly’s multi-media rights agreements, will allow for unique experiences and contests for members, along with digital marketing assets, media, and gameday activation for the participating collectives.
“This type of innovation is crucial to the rapidly advancing collegiate sports marketplace. We are thrilled to work side-by-side with Ascend’s team to drive value to all facets of the ecosystem and advance the goals of the collectives to support student-athletes.”
Christy Hedgpeth, President of Playfly Sports Properties.
For collectives wanting more information, brands wanting to support college athletes on the captivating ChangeIt platform, or for other media inquiries, please reach out to David Bertram at dbertram@ascendfs.com or (859) 221-3062.
About Ascend Fundraising Solutions
Ascend is fully committed to crafting the world’s foremost software-based fundraising solutions, as an integral aspect of our steadfast dedication to aiding charities and collectives in maximizing their fundraising endeavors. Through our products and services, we annually raise hundreds of millions of dollars for noteworthy causes. We engage with over 800 charities on a global scale, representing esteemed brands in both the sports and not-for-profit sectors. Our clientele spans across the NCAA, NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS, NLL, CFL, NASCAR and PGA tournaments. We provide software and services to some of the most renowned charitable organizations, including the Special Olympics, United Way Worldwide, hospitals, humane societies, hospices and more.
About Playfly Sports
Playfly Sports is a sports media, marketing and technology business centered around the team, league, brand, and network. Believing in ‘Fandom as a Service’ and focusing on a consultative, data driven approach to REACH, ENGAGE, MONETIZE AND MEASURE FANDOM gives the company’s partners and brands a competitive advantage. Playfly connects more than 2,000 brand partners with approximately 83% of all U.S. sports fans. Through the proprietary platform the business delivers scalable, data-oriented marketing, technology, and media solutions with capabilities including exclusive MMR management, sponsorship sales and activation, streaming, consulting, ticket/premium sales, all along with new revenue-driving platforms and technologies. Founded in September of 2020, Playfly Sports is now home to approximately 1,000 team members located across 43 U.S. states dedicated to maximizing the impact of highly passionate local sports fans. Follow Playfly Sports on social media @PlayflySports or visit www.playfly.com.
