Vanderbilt Athletics and Anchor Impact — Vanderbilt’s Name, Image and Likeness collective — announced on this afternoon that they are enhancing their partnership to reward NIL donors with increased benefits. Supporters who make direct contributions to Anchor Impact will receive exclusive benefits via the National Commodore Club, a membership group composed of Vanderbilt Athletics’ donors — no matter the size of the donation.
Athletic director Candice Story Lee released a statement regarding the changes.
“Collaboration is a core value at Vanderbilt, and enhancing our partnership with Anchor Impact helps us better serve our student-athletes and supporters,” Lee said. “Competitive NIL opportunities are consistent with our desire to set the standard for the student-athlete experience across our entire portfolio. Everybody has a role to play in leading the way in this new era of college athletics. Ensuring Anchor Impact supporters feel fully a part of Commodore Nation only makes us stronger.”
The enhancement consists of several levels. Any contributions made to Anchor Impact will grant donors membership to the National Commodore Club while earning them NCC priority points. For every $100 that a donor puts towards Anchor Impact, they will receive three priority points. These points will be updated bi-weekly. The larger the donation, the more points an NCC member receives and the more exclusive benefits they earn — including season ticket upgrades and postseason ticket access.
Supporters who contribute between $10,000 and $49,999 to NIL through Anchor Impact will earn recognition as members of the NIL Leadership Circle. These donors will receive enhanced benefits, including invitations to member-specific events and exclusive merchandise.
The next level of donors — those contributing $50,000 or more to NIL — will receive immediate full membership to the McGugin Society. The McGugin Society was created to honor Vanderbilt Athletics’ most generous donors. Members of the society gain access to exclusive gear, invitations to exclusive events, ticketing and seating benefits and access to hospitality spaces at Vanderbilt sporting events, among other perks.
Executive director of Anchor Impact Paul Grindstaff issued a statement on the enhancements.
“By rewarding our members and contributors with exclusive National Commodore Club benefits, we make clear that we are united across all fronts in our commitment to uplifting Vanderbilt student-athletes and helping Vanderbilt teams shine on the national stage by recruiting and retaining the best and brightest,” Grindstaff said. “NCC benefits will serve to complement Anchor Impact’s reimagined NIL donor benefit tiers, which are coming soon.”
Mark Carter, the executive director of the NCC, echoed those sentiments.
“I’m excited to further strengthen our partnership with Paul [Grindstaff] and Anchor Impact,” Carter said. “The National Commodore Club is a proven winner when it comes to recognizing, unifying and rewarding Vanderbilt’s most generous and loyal supporters. Helping passionate NIL donors access these same benefits and membership levels will supercharge Anchor Impact’s efforts to lead the way in this critical new space.”
