NAIA Communications
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and Opendorse today announced a first-of-its-kind partnership to prepare NAIA student-athletes for success in the name, image and likeness (NIL) era of college sports. As the first-ever association-wide deal in college athletics, the three-year partnership will provide all NAIA athletes with access to the market’s leading NIL solutions. Additionally, Opendorse will launch a NAIA-specific marketplace, empowering student-athletes to connect with supporters for compliant NIL deals.
As the exclusive NIL partner of the NAIA, Opendorse will continue its mission to help every athlete. The partnership further establishes the NAIA as an institutional NIL leader, becoming the first college athletics association to provide an all-in-one NIL solution for student-athletes to maximize and safely manage their NIL opportunities and value. The NAIA and its student-athletes will use Opendorse’s NIL marketing, education, and compliance platform, thereby streamlining deals, compliance disclosures, and secure payment.
Through the agreement, a curated NIL marketplace for all NAIA student-athletes will be created and supported by Opendorse, providing brands and fans with a single platform to browse and book deals with NAIA athletes. The marketplace enables student-athletes to automatically disclose activities, ensuring compliance with their institutional policies.
“With more than 77,000 student-athletes, the NAIA recognizes the need for a best-in-class solution that allows them to take advantage of name, image and likeness opportunities,” said NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr. “By partnering with Opendorse, we have found a platform that not only offers that marketplace for deals, but also provides our student-athletes with educational tools, compliance reporting, and unparalleled expertise in this space.”
As part of the partnership, Opendorse will provide each NAIA championship participant with a full NIL assessment detailing their NIL value, giving student-athletes a clear outlook of what they stand to gain from completing deals with brands and fans in their community.
The NAIA has been a trailblazer in college athletics for years, and this partnership further sets it apart as a leader of the NIL era,” said Opendorse CEO Blake Lawrence. “Their commitment to supporting its student-athletes and schools will set a path for associations throughout college sports. Student-athletes will be empowered to compliantly pursue their own financial freedom with education and support from their schools and the NAIA itself. I’m proud that Opendorse can assist the NAIA in its landmark support of over 77,000 student-athletes.”