NIRSA Foundation

You Shape the Future of Campus Recreation

You create amazing opportunities for the NIRSA Family when you make a gift to the NIRSA Foundation.
You shape the future of the profession, ensure the growth of current NIRSA students and professionals, and pay it forward to the next generation of campus rec leaders.

Support today, ensure tomorrow.

General Fund

A gift to the general fund allows the NIRSA Foundation Board of Directors to respond quickly to emerging member needs and opportunities that provide meaningful professional growth and elevate the field of campus recreation. General fund gifts support the Covid-19 financial hardship membership waiver, research grants, campus rec benchmarking, EDI initiatives as well as health and wellbeing initiatives. Thank you for so generously providing resources that allow the NIRSA Foundation the financial agility to best support the NIRSA Family.

Your support for the NIRSA Foundation’s general fund provides meaningful professional growth opportunities to NIRSA members and advances the profession as a whole. Unrestricted gifts support NIRSA’s highest priorities by directing resources to advance the Association’s strategic initiatives and investing in emerging opportunities that elevate the field of campus recreation and support the NIRSA Family.

A gift to the general fund allows the Association’s philanthropic leaders to most judiciously fulfill the mission of the NIRSA Foundation. General funds have supported scholarships, research grants, campus rec benchmarking, and health and wellbeing initiatives. Whether you give once, monthly, or commit to the five-year General Fund Pledge Drive, you ensure the pursuit of innovative solutions to and opportunities arising from the evolving needs of NIRSA members and shifting trends in campus recreation.

Fields of Interest

NIRSA members recognize the incredible impact of the Association’s education, network, resources, and innovation. That’s why donors like you invest in the NIRSA Foundation: to create meaningful opportunities through scholarships, research, and personal and professional development.

Scholarships

You make NIRSA’s premier learning events accessible for NIRSA students and professionals through scholarships. You allow NIRSA members to take advantage of the Association’s premier educational opportunities by covering event registration fees. Members at all stages of their career benefit from learning, innovating, and networking at these events, and your gifts expand professional growth opportunities for the NIRSA Family.

In today’s difficult economic climate, financial assistance for professional development is more important than ever before. Whether you support scholarships through a gift to the general fund, the NIRSA Foundation Scholarship Endowment, or a variety of the endowments listed below, you pay it forward to the next generation of campus rec leaders.

Research

Research-related initiatives strengthen the value and relevance of campus recreation to external stakeholders, including those within higher education, college students, parents, and employees. NIRSA’s research and assessment are second-to-none. Your general fund gifts ensure the growth and dissemination of this knowledge communicating the value of and emerging trends within campus recreation.

Your unrestricted gifts fund original, scholarly research projects through the NIRSA Research Grant Program; these projects advance the knowledge base and practices of our profession. You support NIRSA’s powerful campus rec benchmarking tools, which give members access to standards in campus rec facilities, programs, services, and salaries. You also help publish resources and reports about the impact of campus rec within higher education and beyond. The NIRSA Foundation produces the Recreational Sports Journals, the Association’s scholarly publication for peer-reviewed literature of empirical, theoretical, and applied research in our field.

Student Officials Development

You support the skills and leadership development of student officials through training offered at the high-profile NIRSA National Championship Series tournaments when you donate to student officials development. These donor-restricted funds have provided essential logistics, such as lodging, meals, and on-site transportation, for student officials and their NIRSA volunteer evaluators at these tournaments.

Students who participate in these crucial trainings strengthen their leadership and conflict resolution skills and give back to their communities on and off the field. Your gift to the student officials development fund is also a grassroots solution to the shortage of young officials at all levels of competition.

Health & Wellbeing

When NIRSA asked the NIRSA Foundation for help pursuing exciting new initiatives within health & wellbeing, the NIRSA family stepped up to the task. Health & wellbeing is a rising priority on campuses and within the profession and one of NIRSA’s strategic values.

Your general fund gifts ensure the pursuit of these new initiatives. Unrestricted gifts support health & wellbeing resource development and learning opportunities.

Endowments

The NIRSA Foundation manages numerous endowments to provide ongoing support for the NIRSA Family. Endowments allow donors to direct their gifts toward recognition of a specific individual, group, program, service, or geographic area. Endowments are invested to earn interest, and the investment income earned is spent to fund the endowment’s goals. Learn more about the goals of the NIRSA Foundation’s donor-restricted endowments, many of which award scholarships to NIRSA members.

NIRSA Foundation Scholarship Endowment

This endowment supports numerous scholarship opportunities, including dedicated scholarships for individuals at small program schools, scholarships established from NIRSA Student Leadership Team fundraising efforts, and NIRSA Foundation General Scholarships. Heritage scholarships awarded from this endowment honor some legends of the profession, including Barbara Brimi, Tony Clements, Mark E. Fletcher, Jeff Vessely, Steve Young, and Juliette Moore.

Frederick R. Braden Endowment

Established by Laurie Braden in 2011 to honor her father, who dedicated his life to social justice and equality, the Frederick R. Braden Scholarship for Social Justice in Collegiate Recreation Endowment provides registration scholarships to the NIRSA Annual Conference for student and professional members who are LGBTQI and/or identify as allies. Recipients are selected because they actively work to provide an environment of inclusion and safety for LGBTQI community members in campus recreation.

Anthony (Tony) J. Chivetta Endowment

In 2005, Christopher Chivetta established the Anthony (Tony) J. Chivetta Endowment in honor of the works and passions of his father, Tony Chivetta. As a distinguished architect for over 45 years, he completed some of the nation’s most unique and creative recreation, fitness, and wellness centers on collegiate campuses. The Anthony (Tony) J. Chivetta Endowment provides registration scholarships to NIRSA professional members to attend the NIRSA Recreation Facilities Institute.

Jennifer R. de-Vries Endowment

The Jennifer R. de-Vries Endowment was endowed in 2013 to create an enduring legacy for a friend, NIRSA colleague, and mentor, who’s love of play and commitment to recreation was evident to all. Jen’s greatest gift was to create learning environments for NIRSA students and professionals to grow. This endowment provides registration scholarships for student members to attend the NIRSA Annual Conference and for professional members to attend the NIRSA School of Collegiate Recreation, and it allows the NIRSA Foundation to continue what Jen always did: help others reach their potential and bring their dreams to life.

J. Michael Dunn Endowment

Mike Dunn passionately believed in developing students, and he dedicated his life to helping students grow and learn both personally and professionally. J. Michael Dunn Endowment is a fitting tribute to Mike’s passion and was established in 2011. Its primary mission was to ensure students could learn and develop personally and professionally through their participation in the J. Michael Dunn Student Professional Development Workshop. Through generous donations made in Mike’s memory by those who loved and respected him, professional scholarships are now also awarded for pre-conference workshops at NIRSA Annual Conference.

Founders Endowment

NIRSA began in 1950 as the National Intramural Association when founder Dr. William Wasson convened a meeting of 20 men and women from 11 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) at Dillard University in New Orleans. NIRSA proudly recognizes its founders, whose shared vision of the importance and benefits of recreation for all has led to the Association we know today. The Founders Endowment, endowed in 2006, honors their legacy by providing professional and student scholarships for NIRSA members from HBCUs to attend NIRSA professional development events.

Sonia & Max Gartenberg Endowment

The Sonia and Max Gartenberg Endowment was developed in 2003 to create an enduring legacy for the parents of long-term NIRSA member Mitch Gartenberg. Mitch learned the value of hard work and commitment with a charitable spirit through the teachings of his parents, which inspired him to create this endowment in their honor. The endowment was established to give priority to supporting student members from HBCUs to attend the NIRSA Annual Conference. If no candidate is available from an HBCU, then the scholarship is made available to another deserving student.

Will Holsberry/Bill Thompson Endowment

The Will Holsberry Endowment was developed in 1997 in recognition of Will Holsberry’s 24 years of service to NIRSA. Will served as the third Executive Director of NIRSA, and the Association experienced tremendous growth under his direction. Will’s vision, dedication, persistence, and especially his commitment to NIRSA are the elements that made him such an outstanding advocate on educating professionals within collegiate recreation. The Will Holsberry Endowment provides registration scholarships to NIRSA professional members to attend NIRSA schools or institutes. The Bill Thompson Scholarship was established from this endowment in 2012 to advance the development of NIRSA professionals through registration scholarships to NIRSA schools or institutes.

Illinois (IIRSA) Endowment

The Illinois (IIRSA) Endowment was endowed in 2018 to provide educational opportunities for Illinois students and/or professionals to attend the NIRSA Annual Conference. Scholarships awarded from this endowment pay for the NIRSA Annual Conference registration fee. The first two scholarships awarded from this endowment are for two, full-time students at an Illinois school; when the endowment is able to sustain a third scholarship, it will go toward a professional at an Illinois school.

Philly City 6 Endowment

The Philly City Six Endowment, established in 2014, provides registration scholarships to NIRSA professional members from a Philly City 6 institution to attend the NIRSA Annual Conference. The Philly City 6 institutions are Drexel University, LaSalle University, University of Pennsylvania, St. Joseph’s University, Temple University, and Villanova University. When the endowment is able to support an additional scholarship, it will go toward a student member from one of the Philly City 6 institutions.

Presidents Endowment

The Presidents Endowment, established in 2005, is Board-restricted and provides specialized funding for creative or innovative initiatives through the NIRSA Foundation that would not normally be funded by operational funds. Currently, it provides the President’s Award for the Article of Distinction, which recognizes contributing authors to the Recreational Sports Journal, which is produced by the NIRSA Foundation, for their excellence in writing through important scholarly contributions in the field of collegiate recreation.

Texas/Salado Consortium Endowment

The NIRSA Foundation Salado Consortium Endowment was endowed in 2006 by directors from Texas universities to support student and professional development. Funds provide registration scholarships to the NIRSA Annual Conference for NIRSA student members attending and professional members employed at a Texas school of higher education. The professional scholarship from this endowment is named in honor of Steve Kintigh, former Campus Recreation Director at Texas Christian University and Region IV Award of Merit recipient.

William Wasson Endowment

Established in 2002 in honor of Dr. William Wasson, founder and first President of the National Intramural Association (now NIRSA) and Honor Award Recipient, the William Wasson Endowment provides registration scholarships to the NIRSA Annual Conference for the two students with the highest grade point averages in the cumulative scoring process by the scholarship selection committee.

Juliette Moore Endowment

Regional Endowments

Celebrate the culture of your region! The NIRSA Foundation provides avenues of scholarship based on established NIRSA Regions.

Region I Endowment

The Region I Endowment was developed by members of the region in 2012 to provide registration scholarships for undergraduate and graduate NIRSA student members from Region I to attend the NIRSA Annual Conference.

Fletcher/Leonida/Region II Endowment

The Fletcher/Leonida/Region II Endowment creates an enduring legacy for two of our NIRSA colleagues and friends, Mark E. Fletcher and Mark M. (Leo) Leonida. Endowed in 2011, it awards registration scholarships to the NIRSA Annual Conference to NIRSA student members who attend a Virginia college or university with a secondary priority to student members in NIRSA Region II.

Region II Excellence Endowment

The Region II Excellence Endowment was established in 2018 to provide registration scholarships for NIRSA student and/or professional members from Region II to attend the Region II Conference. This endowment ensures the long-term legacy of the Region II Conference and allows for fundraising at the Region II Conference to support the same event.

Region III Endowment

The Region III Endowment was developed in 2014 to provide registration scholarships for NIRSA members of Region III to attend the NIRSA Annual Conference. Currently, it covers scholarships for Region III student members.

Region IV Endowment

The Region IV Endowment was established in 2014 and provides registration scholarships for NIRSA student and professional members from Region IV to attend the NIRSA Annual Conference.

Region V Endowment

The Region V Endowment awarded its first scholarship in 2010. The endowment provides registration scholarships for NIRSA student and professional members from Region V to attend the NIRSA Annual Conference.

Region VI Endowment

The first NIRSA Foundation endowment, the Region VI SoCal Endowment was developed in 1997 and updated to the Region VI Endowment in 2013. The Region VI Endowment provides registration scholarships to NIRSA student members from Region VI to attend the NIRSA Annual Conference and for NIRSA professional members from Region VI to attend the NIRSA Annual Conference or one of NIRSA’s specialty institutes or schools.

NIRSA Foundation Legacy Society

Through thoughtful gift planning with your estate planner,
you can continue to make a difference for your cohorts, students and the campuses
their work impacts by joining our Legacy Society.

Didn’t find what you were looking for? Need more information? Contact us today.

Please contact NIRSA Director of Philanthropy, Becky Sowers

Giving Tuesday

Join your NIRSA family on December 3, 2019, for #GivingTuesday – a feel-good, global event that brings communities together to encourage and celebrate giving back! You can help us reach our goals:

10 new Cornerstone Society monthly donors!

$15,000 raised in support of the NIRSA family!

Support the NIRSA Foundation General Fund
Your gift will be directed to support our areas of greatest needs.

Donate to the NIRSA Foundation

Darci Doll’s Officials Challenge

Already wearing your stripes?
Join Darci Doll in supporting student officials by donating the equivalent amount of one game check from your highest officiating level to NIRSA’s Student Officials Development Campaign.

Zooom

NIRSA Foundation Officials Campaign 2018

Just like you, ZOOOM believes in the future and value of officiating.

ZOOOM has partnered with the NIRSA Foundation to support the Student Officials Development Campaign and you can too. Between January 3 and April 25, 2018, Zooom will match up to $2,000 in gifts made to the Student Officials Development Campaign.

Will it be Flag Football fans that make this Zooom Challenge a touchdown or the Basketball fans sinking the 3 pointers for Student Officials? All donations will support the general Student Officials Development Campaign.

Whether “Team” Flag Football or “Team” Basketball wins in this friendly competition—
student officials win by having additional funding for the Student Officials Development Campaign.

Donate to the NIRSA Foundation

Help support the NIRSA Foundation's
Areas of Greatest Need

SAVE THE DATE

Donate to the NIRSA Foundation

Join your NIRSA Family on November 27, 2018, for #GivingTuesday – a feel-good, global event that brings communities together to encourage and celebrate giving back! You can help us reach our goals:

105 members supporting their NIRSA Family!
5 new Cornerstone Society monthly donors!
$9,800 raised for a thriving campus rec future

NIRSA Foundation Thanks Hughes Group Architects
Thank you to our match gift partner, Hughes Group Architects! Help us meet their dollar-for-dollar match of $2,500!

Donate to the NIRSA Foundation

Thank You for Your Support!

Thanks to all our amazing supporters of the future of collegiate recreation, we've made significant strides to our annual goals. A special thank you to Hughes Group Architects for their generous matching campaign.

Did this year’s #GivingTuesday pass by too quickly? It's not too late to make your gift!

Please show your support to the profession.

Note: Selecting the #GivingTuesday option puts your gift into our annual fund.
You may give to specific funds by selecting from the list below.

Donate to the NIRSA Foundation

Darci Doll’s Officials Challenge

Donate to the NIRSA Foundation