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Athletics reports Build Blue campaign progress; $22.1M committed toward $25M goal
Summary
Athletics development staff reported $22.1 million in pledges and $15.5 million in cash received for the Build Blue facilities campaign and summarized other fundraising and program updates including student-athlete academic performance.
MTSU athletic department staff updated trustees on fundraising and program metrics on May 20, reporting $22.1 million in pledges toward a $25 million Build Blue facilities campaign and approximately $15.5 million in cash received to date.
Deputy Athletic Director Lee De Leon, filling in for Athletics Director Chris Massaro, said Build Blue fundraising goals have been raised twice as the campaign exceeded prior targets and that the department is tracking a mix of pledges, cash, gifts-in-kind and gifts-of-service. "We have raised in cash and pledges over $3,200,000" he reported in one slide summary of multiple fundraising categories; on the Build Blue campaign specifically he stated, "we're at 22,121,000 of our $25,000,000 goal." De Leon said the athletic foundation and fundraising numbers differ slightly because some organizations count only cash receipts while athletics reports pledges as well.
De Leon described membership statistics for the Blue Raider Athletic Association (BRAA): 1,186 members in the most recent season with 358 brand-new members and 828 renewals, giving a renewal rate of about 79% compared with industry standards of 80–85%. He said leadership hopes to grow membership toward 2,000.
De Leon also reviewed other development metrics, the Champions Annual Fund performance, and project milestones for athletics facilities: a ribbon cutting for the Student Athlete Performance Center (SAPC) was scheduled for July 30, the Murphy Center had a new sound system, and the football field turf was being replaced. He noted recent athletic achievements, including the men's tennis program winning its sixth straight conference championship and a department Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 984 (out of 1,000), above NCAA thresholds.
Trustees asked about lost BRAA members and outreach; De Leon said staff have made calls and will pursue additional surveys. He also noted commitments in negotiation that could add to campaign totals and that certain funds such as NIL contributions flow through separate entities and are not reflected yet in the fundraising tallies presented.
The committee received the update as an informational item; trustees were invited to the SAPC ribbon-cutting event.
