In Reply to: Looks like Ucla has shiit the bed on Football NIL posted by ClockBlocker on November 20, 2025 at 15:00:19
Earlier today, FOIAball posted an investigative story about Bruins for Life, the NIL Collective founded by James Washington to support UCLA football. I recommend reading the story in full as there are many interesting details
To clear a few things up:
1) Almost everyone raising money for NIL in college athletics is using 501(c)3 organizations now. To be clear: that's not to explain or absolve whatever specifically went on here with Washington's personal charity. In a broad sense, using 501(c)3 organizations is a major part of fundraising virtually everywhere for NIL. For big-money donors especially, this is the preferred way to contribute to NIL efforts, and, again, it is something that almost every NIL fundraising organization is doing.
2) Bruins for Life has been transitioning out of the NIL game for some time and truly will be becoming a sort of alumni network at some point, from what we’ve heard.
3) There is going to be a significant and positive change in leadership with football NIL that should be announced at some point in the coming weeks -- can't yet get into the specifics. This will be a very positive move for UCLA’s NIL efforts, and people will be able to expect excellent organization from the new leadership when it is in place.