Transparency from the athletic department - finally!

[walshtrips]

Successful crowdfunding requires transparency, something that has eluded us from SHU athletics. You cannot expect folks to contribute hard earned money, unless you provide feedback regarding the results of the fundraising efforts. Pirate Blue emailed a detailed letter this morning, offering the exact amount that was raised on Giving Day(s). This is a step in the right direction and is much appreciated. Transparency is the first step in NIL fundraising success. Our NIL needs manpower to shake every tree and maximize our fundraising success. Step two - welcome alumni who have the experience and desire to raise more money, expertise that comes free of charge.

"The athletics department received 17.8 percent more donations and 36.1 percent more in donation dollars over 2024's Giving Day. In total with challenge matches included, 892 donors contributed $488,669 that will go towards supporting Seton Hall student-athletes. Both numbers are department records for the annual two-day campaign."

I'm guessing that approximately $400,000 of the total raised will go to men's basketball, a much needed boost in just 2 days.

GO PIRATES!!!

 

[mga pirate]

And the team will have 4 (questionable) Big East level players after this week. #winning

 

[General_Tso]

Zzzzzzzz…Transparency would be an apology and acknowledgment that they did everything wrong this past season.

 

[SOpirate]

Definitely a step in the right direction. But where has this been for the last 4 years? It took the situation getting this dire for a modicum of transparency?

 

[Seton75]

Anyone can go to Onward Setonia and see all the Guardian contributors that Mike Walsh helped get going. Counting them all will take about a minute. I just dont understand why no one sees this as a huge part of the problem.

And to be clear, I suggest the number of donors are the issue, not the transparency of the giving platform.

 

[MichiganStoleTitle]

Successful crowdfunding requires transparency, something that has eluded us from SHU athletics. You cannot expect folks to contribute hard earned money, unless you provide feedback regarding the results of the fundraising efforts. Pirate Blue emailed a detailed letter this morning, offering the exact amount that was raised on Giving Day(s). This is a step in the right direction and is much appreciated. Transparency is the first step in NIL fundraising success. Our NIL needs manpower to shake every tree and maximize our fundraising success. Step two - welcome alumni who have the experience and desire to raise more money, expertise that comes free of charge.

"The athletics department received 17.8 percent more donations and 36.1 percent more in donation dollars over 2024's Giving Day. In total with challenge matches included, 892 donors contributed $488,669 that will go towards supporting Seton Hall student-athletes. Both numbers are department records for the annual two-day campaign."

I'm guessing that approximately $400,000 of the total raised will go to men's basketball, a much needed boost in just 2 days.

GO PIRATES!!!

I know just one day of fundraising but that is a pretty shockingly low number of donors. (And I’m one of them despite not even having attended the school—so don’t look at me!)

 

[lloyde dobler]

Very low.

And I do think they break down those numbers the same way every year. The other 364 days is more of a mystery.

 

[SHUHitman]

Continued transparency, not just 1 day out of the year, would be very beneficial. I could very well be in the minority, but I feel much better parting with money when I know exactly what it's being used for. I fully recognize that wealthy donors, boosters, etc may look at it from a different lens....but I find it difficult to convince people to give $20, $100 etc when they just think it's going into some underfunded hole. At that point, it very much feels like the $100 is far more important to the individual than the organization it's being given to.

If people could actually see how few donors we have monthly, how little money is brought in compared to similar institutions...perhaps it would compel people to do a little extra. When you have no idea how much the University is working with and no insight on how the money is being used, it's easy to draw 1 of 2 conclusions:

1. I fully expect the University to misuse or bungle my donation, so what's the point.
2. I presume the University has enough; like most organizations they will ask 365 days a year regardless, so how do I know if they really need it.

 

[walshtrips]

Anyone can go to Onward Setonia and see all the Guardian contributors that Mike Walsh helped get going. Counting them all will take about a minute. I just dont understand why no one sees this as a huge part of the problem.

And to be clear, I suggest the number of donors are the issue, not the transparency of the giving platform.

Thanks!

We certainly have a small group of supporters who are willing/able to contribute, however our marketing efforts are lackluster at best and communication is subpar. I find the disclosure of these fundraising numbers refreshing and a step in the right direction.

I fear that SHU doesn't have the staff necessary to build momentum. I was involved in the creation of 3 nonprofit organizations and never had fewer than 6 people, and often 10 or more, in supporting roles. We had just 3 people running Onward Setonia and a handful of students to help out, far too few to build a solid foundation. I advocated for SHU to turn over operations of Onward Setonia to alumni, where a large group of volunteers would have greater success. Most of our peers have collectives that are run exclusively by alumni, including Villanova, UConn, St. John's, Georgetown, Rutgers and Providence, to name a few

 

[PJVegas]

Latest show stopper on the LV Strip - SH Transparency. 😳

 

[SHU Advisory]

An evening with Coach Holloway
Wednesday, April 23
5:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Bay Colony Golf Club
Naples, FL 34108

Please join Men's Basketball Head Coach Shaheen Holloway and Athletics Director Bryan Felt for a Pirate Blue fundraiser, hosted by Joseph '69 and Sherri Abruzzese, at the Bay Colony Golf Club.

Learn more about Coach Holloway’s perspective and goals for Seton Hall Men’s Basketball and how the Pirates will compete in the new collegiate athletics landscape.

--------
Anyone going this next Wednesday to advise what transparent perspectives Holloway and Felt have for SHMBB?

 

[hallgrad80]

Given the seasons miserable performance on the court, the scandal involving our newly appointed president and little positive news , other then the opening of the practice facility , why would anyone be surprised by the fundraising numbers .it will take time to rebuild trust between the school’s fan base and it begins with finding the right personnel to oversee the effort necessary to make SH a desirable place for athletes and the student body.

 

[SHUisNJsTeam]

Very low.

And I do think they break down those numbers the same way every year. The other 364 days is more of a mystery.

You are absolutely right! The Giving Day breakdown is always given.

Did anyone else check out the Giving Day site where it looks like every challenge was met? I’m thinking the ones that weren’t met were taken down because there were a number of them that were nowhere near their goals very late in the game. Hard to believe all of those goals were met when most people were sleeping.