Colorado State University Athletics



FAQs

How does the CSU Ram Club aid the mission of CSU Athletics?

The mission of Colorado State University Athletics is to EDUCATE, ENGAGE, AND EXCEL. The Ram Club supports that mission by serving Rams student-athletes, first and foremost, by giving nearly 400 student-athletes the resources that they need to excel, both academically and on the field of play. Ram Club donors provide the funds needed for athletics scholarships, facility improvements, endowed scholarships, and all of our programs' operational budgets.

How do I become a Ram Club member?

Anyone can join the Ram Club! By donating any amount to any Athletics fund, you are considered a Ram Club member. The Ram Club membership year runs from December 1 through November 30, annually. To join the Ram Club now, click here!

How many Ram Club members are there?

By becoming a Ram Club member, you can join the core support group of CSU Athletics. On average, nearly 5,000 donors support the Rams each year by donating to the Ram Club.

Do Ram Club donors receive any benefits for financially supporting CSU Athletics?

Yes! The Ram Club membership year runs from December 1 through November 30, annually. Any gifts made to Athletics during that time qualify donors for Ram Club benefits based on their overall giving to CSU Athletics. For a list of Ram Club levels and benefits, click here. Donors to sport-specific booster clubs and who qualify for certain university-wide giving societies may be eligible for additional benefits. To view a list our sport-specific booster clubs and their benefits, please click here.

Are donations to the Ram Club tax-deductible?

Yes! Donations to CSU Athletics are tax-deductible. Donations that do not result in tangible benefits for the donor, such as donations to the Athletics Scholarship Fund, are usually 100% tax-deductible. Donations that do result in tangible benefits for the donors, such as membership in a sport-specific booster club with donor gifts, are usually around 80% tax-deductible. As a result of federal tax legislation that went into effect in January of 2018, seat-related contributions are not considered tax-deductible by the IRS. The Ram Club and the CSU Foundation recommend consulting with your tax advisor regarding your donations to CSU Athletics and their tax-deductible value.

What is a seat-related contribution?

A seat-related contribution is any contribution tied to football priority or premium seating, football VIP areas access, or men's basketball priority seating.

How were seat-related contributions impacted by the federal tax legislation that went into effect on January 1, 2018?

Football priority or premium seat contributions, football VIP Area contributions, and men's basketball priority seat contributions are not tax deductible, as stated in the federal tax law that went into effect on January 1, 2018.

If seat-related contributions haven't been tax deductible since January 1, 2018, why hasn't Ram Athletics removed them ticket prices or reduced ticket prices?

Though seat-related contributions haven't been tax-deductible since January 1, 2018, they remain a key part of CSU Athletics' ability and commitment to provide a world-class experience for nearly 400 Rams student-athletes. Industry research suggests that college athletics as an institution is second only to the GI Bill in providing scholarships for students attending a college or university. Many student-athletes are first-generation students who would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend a higher education institution like Colorado State.

Can I still join the Ram Club if I do not want season tickets?

Yes! Season ticket contributions are just one of many ways to become a Ram Club member. Anyone can join the Ram Club by donating a gift of any amount to any CSU Athletics fund.

What are Ram Points?

Ram Points are a donor reward system developed to benefit those who support the Rams! Ram Points are earned through your financial support, loyalty, and affinity to CSU. The intent of our system is to reward loyalty and support, while enabling new donors to acquire appropriate benefits in recognition of their level of financial support to the Ram Club. Ram Points are used to determine priority when allocating seat assignments for away games, parking lot assignments for away games, hierarchy for seating upgrades, and other special athletic opportunities. To learn more about Ram Points, click here.

Can Ram Points be transferred between accounts?

No. Though season tickets may be transferred between accounts, Ram Points can only be awarded to the individual who made the gift associated with those points. For that reason, Ram Points are not transferrable from one account to another.

What are the ways that I can make a gift to the Ram Club to support CSU Athletics?

There are many ways that Ram Club donors support CSU Athletics and Rams student-athletes.
  • Annual Giving: Annual giving is the core of the Ram Club. By donating consistently on an annual basis to any fund within the Ram Club, whether it's to a scholarship fund or a sport-specific booster club, annual giving Ram Club members provide a reliable source of funding for Rams student-athletes and Rams Athletics.
  • Capital Giving: Donating to capital projects, such as Canvas Stadium or the Moby Arena Locker Room Renovation, ensure that Rams student-athletes have access to the best facilities possible. These facilities support our student-athletes not only in their athletics pursuits, but they help Rams Athletics attract the best and brightest prospective student-athletes to our programs. 
  • Endowments: Endowments guarantee a stable base of funding for CSU Athletics for decades to come. By investing endowments funds, CSU Athletics can grow the resources available to fund student-athlete scholarships and become an increasingly more self-sufficient operation. Ram Club members can start an endowment to support Athletics scholarships by donating a minimum of $50,000 over five years, or they can support a current endowment by donating to that endowment fund.
  • Ram Legacy of Champions: Ram Legacy of Champions is special group of donors who support the Athletics Scholarship Fund with a pledge of $50,000 over a five-year period. Legacy  Donors play a significant role in the lives of student-athletes as they form personal connections with the current CSU student-athletes who are the honorary recipients of their support.
  • Planned Giving: It's never too early for to start thinking about the legacy you want to leave at Colorado State University. A planned gift allows you to make an immense impact and ensure success for future Rams student-athletes. For more information regarding planned giving, please visit http://giving.colostate.edu/gift-planning/.
  • Matching Gifts: Many Ram Club donors take advantage of generous gift matching opportunities provided to them by their employer. Matching gifts allow you to maximize the impact of your personal giving. For more information regarding matching gifts, please visit http://www.matchinggifts.com/colostate/. 

Does the Ram Club offer a matching gift program?

Yes! Ram Club members can double or even triple the impact of their gifts by pursuing matching gifts from their employers. Many companies offer gifts on behalf of their employees who contribute to charitable, not-for-profit groups such as the Ram Club. To learn more about matching gifts and if your employer has a matching gift program, please click here.

Does donating to the Ram Club count for CSU 1870 Club membership?

Yes! Donations to any Colorado State University college or unit, including Athletics count toward your annual CSU 1870 Club membership. This includes priority, premium, and VIP contributions associated with football and men's basketball season tickets. To be eligible for CSU 1870 Club membership, your total donations to CSU must equal or exceed $1,870 within the current calendar year.
 
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