Crucial to any school’s athletic success is private giving, and the University of Alabama is certainly no exception.

Prior to 2002, the University of Alabama Athletic Department funded its operating budget mostly through revenues generated from ticket sales, TIDE PRIDE donations, post-season payouts, media licensing agreements, merchandise royalties, and a small number of private donations.

In March 2002, to ensure that several much-needed renovation and construction facilities projects could commence, the Athletic Department announced its first-ever major gifts capital campaign, the Crimson Tradition Fund. Five years later, at A-Day 2007, the campaign was declared an overwhelming success, announcing a final total of $70 million, far surpassing the original goal of $50 million. Major gifts donated by individuals and corporations during this campaign ensured its success.

Today, the major gifts staff at the Athletic Department continues to solicit and stands ready to assist those who wish to support Crimson Tide athletics through large gifts. Through these continued gifts to the Crimson Tide Foundation, our major gift donors are making loyal commitments to support the Foundation in its effort to endow scholarships for all our 338 student-athletes. On occasion and as the need arises, the Crimson Tide Foundation will also solicit major gifts for various facility construction projects.

If you would like to support Crimson Tide athletics through a major gift to the Crimson Tide Foundation, please contact Ronny Robertson, Associate A.D. for Development, 205-348-9018, rrobertson@ia.ua.edu; or Jon Gilbert, Major Gifts Director, 205-348-5379, jgilbert@ia.ua.edu.