HELP US GRADUATE CHAMPIONS
Your support fuels championship dreams and life-changing degrees for more than 400 Vaqueros student-athletes.
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The Vaqueros Athletic Fund
The Vaqueros Athletic Fund (VAF) exists to advance the mission of UTRGV Athletics by investing in the success and development of Vaqueros student-athletes.
Through the generosity of our supporters, the VAF helps provide the resources necessary for our student-athletes to compete for championships and earn degrees.
As college athletics continues to evolve, philanthropic support plays an increasingly important role in sustaining competitive excellence and creating transformational opportunities for more than 400 UTRGV student-athletes.
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Our Impact
UTRGV student-athletes excel in competition, in the classroom, and in our community. Your support makes it possible.
3.31
Department-high cumulative GPA
986 APR
Third straight year over 985
10th
In the nation in community service among NCAA D-I institutions
5,000+
Community service hours volunteered
7
Teams finished in the top 10 of their respective sport(s)
All figures and rankings are from the 2025-26 athletic year.
Help Us Graduate Champions
There are many ways you can support UTRGV Athletics:
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Ways to Give
Every gift to the Vaqueros Athletic Fund makes a direct impact on our student-athletes. Choose the path that fits you best.
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¡Vamos Vaqueros! Fund
The landmark House v. NCAA court ruling marked a significant shift in college athletics, allowing institutions to directly share revenue with student-athletes. UTRGV Athletics has opted into this new model, positioning us to sustainably invest in our student-athletes and adapt to the competitive environment ahead to continue winning conference championships.
The ¡Vamos Vaqueros! Fund is designed to support revenue sharing opportunities that give our coaches the tools they need to attract, develop, and retain top-level talent to build championship rosters.
A New Era of College Athletics
UTRGV Athletics is building a championship culture, and opting into this settlement gives us the ability to:
- Retain and recruit top-level talent by offering competitive opportunities that reflect the evolving compensation and benefit model to build championship caliber teams.
- Allocate resources strategically based on market demands, ensuring student-athletes receive the support where it will have the greatest impact.
- Enter an era of competitive excellence in an ever-changing college athletics landscape, strengthening our ability to compete for championships and provide a student-athlete experience that attracts and retains high-caliber student-athletes.
Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL)
What it is: Student-athletes can earn income through personal brand partnerships (endorsements, social-media campaigns, camps, or appearances) with third-party businesses or collectives.
How it works: NIL income comes from independently negotiated agreements between student-athletes and outside entities, and therefore does not impact the NCAA’s institutional revenue-sharing cap. These agreements are separate from the university but require UTRGV approval, and must meet fair-market-value standards, with reporting through the national NIL clearinghouse, the College Sports Commission (CSC).
The use of UTRGV logos, marks or uniforms by businesses in NIL activities is strictly prohibited unless the participating business is an official corporate partner or holds an approved licensing agreement.
Learn More
Revenue Sharing
What it is: Beginning in July 2025, universities may directly share a portion of athletic revenue with student-athletes.
How it works: Payments come from UTRGV Athletics revenues and are distributed across sports based on institutional strategy.
How to support:
- Gifts to the Vaqueros Athletic Fund and ¡Vamos Vaqueros! Fund help UTRGV fund and sustain its revenue sharing commitments.
- Contributions are charitable and tax-deductible through the UTRGV Foundation.
- Donors earn Vaqueros Loyalty Points for priority in seat relocation, premium seating, parking, tailgating, and postseason ticket requests.
Impact: Revenue sharing strengthens recruitment and retention, enhancing UTRGV’s ability to compete for championships, making it the most direct and sustainable way to elevate UTRGV Athletics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is revenue sharing and how does it work?
Revenue sharing is a new model in collegiate athletics that allows universities to directly allocate financial resources to support student-athletes as part of a rapidly evolving Division I athletics landscape. Beginning in this new era of college athletics, institutions that choose to participate may dedicate resources that help them remain competitive in recruiting and retaining student-athletes.
At UTRGV, contributions to the ¡Vamos Vaqueros! Fund help provide the financial flexibility necessary to strategically invest in the future success of our athletic programs and ensure the Vaqueros can compete at the highest level.
How is revenue sharing different than name, image, and likeness (NIL)?
While both are part of the evolving college athletics landscape, revenue sharing and NIL operate differently.
Revenue sharing refers to financial resources that may be directly allocated by a university to support student-athletes as part of an institution’s overall athletics strategy.
Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) refers to opportunities for student-athletes to earn compensation from third parties, such as businesses or organizations, in exchange for activities such as endorsements, appearances, sponsorships, or promotional partnerships.
Can I designate my gift to a specific student-athlete?
No. Contributions to the ¡Vamos Vaqueros! Fund cannot be directed toward a specific student-athlete. Instead, gifts provide UTRGV Athletics with flexible resources that support strategic roster management, allowing our coaches and athletics leadership to recruit, retain, and support championship-caliber student-athletes.
How does my investment in the ¡Vamos Vaqueros! Fund make a difference?
Your investment directly supports the future success of UTRGV Athletics by providing critical resources that help our programs remain competitive in the rapidly evolving landscape of collegiate athletics. Contributions to the ¡Vamos Vaqueros! Fund help strengthen our ability to recruit, retain, and support championship caliber student-athletes while positioning UTRGV Athletics for sustained success both on and off the field/court of competition.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes. Contributions made to the ¡Vamos Vaqueros! Fund are charitable gifts made in support of UTRGV Athletics. Donors may receive a tax deduction for the charitable portion of their contribution in accordance with applicable IRS regulations. Certain membership benefits may carry an associated fair market value that could reduce the deductible portion of your gift.
Does my donation earn Vaqueros Loyalty Points?
Yes. Contributions to the ¡Vamos Vaqueros! Fund earn Vaqueros Loyalty Points, which help determine donor priority and ranking for select benefits and opportunities associated with UTRGV Athletics. Loyalty Points are an important part of our overall donor recognition program and reward supporters who make an ongoing investment in the future of the Vaqueros.
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Join the 956 Club
Become a member of the 956 Club today for only $956 annually ($79.67/month) and help fuel the future of UTRGV Athletics! Your contribution supports the ¡Vamos Vaqueros! Fund and provides critical resources that may be used for revenue sharing opportunities and help our coaches recruit and retain championship caliber student-athletes in the Rio Grande Valley.
956 Club Benefits
- Tax Deduction
- Vaqueros Loyalty Points
- Welcome Package / Annual Renewal Package
- Pre-Season Newsletter
- Exclusive 956 Club Member Experiences and Events
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Annual Giving
The Vaqueros Athletic Fund (VAF) is the official fundraising arm of UTRGV Athletics. Supporters of the VAF may qualify for exclusive benefits based on their annual giving level, including parking privileges, priority seating opportunities, access to special events and experiences, donor recognition, and additional gameday benefits.
Annual benefit levels are determined by total philanthropic support made to UTRGV Athletics during the VAF fundraising year, which runs from July 1 through June 30 each year.
Benefits Chart
| All Benefits |
Gray
$100 |
Orange
$1,000 |
RGV
$2,500 |
Victory
$5,000 |
MVP
$10,000 |
Legend
$20,000 |
All-American
$50,000 |
| Tax Deduction | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vaqueros Loyalty Points | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Donor Parking at Baseball & Basketball (Must be Season Ticket Holder) | | | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Exclusive VAF Gift | | | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Invitation to Exclusive Practices | | | | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Invitation to Athletic Director’s Suite | | | | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Invitation to Champion’s Club Day Event | | | | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Invitation to Exclusive Donor Events | | | | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Donor Wall Recognition (5-year commitment) | | | | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Invitation to National Signing Day Event | | | | | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Exclusive Athletics Facility Tour | | | | | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Eligible for Exclusive UTRGV Athletics Experiences | | | | | | ✓ | ✓ |
Giving levels: Gray ($100), Orange ($1,000), RGV ($2,500), Victory ($5,000), MVP ($10,000), Legend ($20,000), All-American ($50,000).
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Vaqueros Loyalty Points
The Vaqueros Loyalty Points program is designed to honor and reward supporters of UTRGV Athletics for their loyalty, passion, and generous contributions over the years.
Giving to Athletics
- 1 point for every $100 lifetime giving to athletics
- 1 point for every $100 current year giving to athletics
- 1 point per year of giving to athletics
- Donate now at GoUTRGV.com/Donate
Season Tickets
- 5 points per sport, per year (i.e.: one basketball season ticket plus one baseball season ticket = 10 points).
- Purchase season tickets now at UTRGVTickets.com
Capital Gifts to UTRGV Athletics
- 100 points per $10,000 pledged (minimum requirement)
- Points assigned when gift is pledged and again when pledge payments are made.
- Pledge payments must be current at the moment of the deadline for the current year to receive points. Delinquent and/or unfulfilled pledges may result in loss of points and/or seats.
One-Time
- 10 points for any legacy graduate or UTRGV graduate (only awarded once, not per degree received)
- 20 points for former student-athletes who graduated from UTRGV
- 10 points for lifetime Varsity Club members
- 3 points for every $1,000 of sponsorship spend (dating back to 2017-18)
- 100 points for Silver Buckle Society* members
*Silver Buckle Society members are supporters who have generously gifted UTRGV $1 million or more.
What are Vaqueros Loyalty Points?
Vaqueros Loyalty Points determine priority when it comes to allocating seat relocation requests, new or additional season ticket requests, premium seating requests, parking, tailgating, neutral site and postseason ticket requests, and other UTRGV Athletics benefits.
The Vaqueros Loyalty Points program ensures that seat selection and priority access is fair, equitable, and transparent for all fans.
Your support is critical to our student-athletes’ success in competition and in the classroom. The Vaqueros Loyalty Points program enables us to recognize your support, develop student-athletes to their fullest potential, and share the success and growth of UTRGV Athletics as we continue our mission to #RallyTheValley.
How Do Vaqueros Loyalty Points Work?
Vaqueros Loyalty Points are earned based on donations to UTRGV Athletics and season ticket purchase history dating back to 2017-18. Each giving category is assigned a specific point value which is added to each member’s point total. Your point values from each category will be combined to create your point total, which will determine your rank. Rankings will be released quarterly and provided upon request.
Vaqueros Loyalty Points Policies
- Points continue to accumulate for lifetime – points do not reset nor diminish.
- The only time points will be deducted from an account’s point total is when a pledge goes unpaid and is voided.
- Points cannot be shared with another account.
- Must be a current year donor to have active points & point ranking.
One-Time Point Transfer / Account Name Change
- Donor accounts may request a one-time account name change.
- Ex: Donor John Doe transfers all his points into his grandson’s name/account.
- Grandson/family will no longer be able to transfer John Doe’s points in the future.
- In order to do a one-time point transfer, the donor’s current year level of giving must be at $5,000 or above.
- The new account holder must be a parent, brother, sister, son, daughter, grandson or granddaughter at a minimum age of 18 years old.
- Accounts do not switch from individual to company or vice versa.
- Transfer/name change may be requested through form.
Deceased Accounts
- If a family member desires to do a one-time account name change after the account holder is deceased, it must be finalized within 18 months of the death date of the account holder.
- Notarized letters must be submitted with the account name change form from any surviving family members down to and including the generation that becomes the new account holder.
- Account name change must be at $5,000 giving level or above.
Waiving Points
- Donors have the option to waive points.
- Those that decide to waive points should notify their account representative in writing either by email or pledge form.
- For IRA, foundation, or donor-advised fund checks, the donor must waive all points.
Access
- Post-season ticket access will be determined by giving level and loyalty points.
- All current donors will have access to purchase individual game, post-season, and special event tickets prior to availability to the general public.
Loss of Account / NCAA Violations
Any donor or account holder who is found to be in violation of NCAA, affiliated conference or UTRGV rules or regulations is potentially subject to loss, suspension, denial or non-renewal of priority points. Donors disassociated from UTRGV because of action taken and upheld by the NCAA or the affiliated conference are not eligible to receive priority points during the period of their disassociation.
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Join the Varsity Club
The Varsity Club is the official organization for all former student-athletes at UTRGV and its legacy institutions. The Varsity Club helps former student-athletes remain connected to UTRGV Athletics while creating networking, mentorship, and engagement opportunities across generations of Vaqueros.
First-year graduates are eligible for a special $12 rate to join the Varsity Club.
All other alumni of UTRGV Athletics can either pay an annual fee of $50 or a one-time lifetime pledge of $500.
All Varsity Club members receive special benefits including:
- Support current UTRGV student-athletes
- Tax deduction
- Discounted season ticket prices (excluding football)
- Invitation to Varsity Club/HOF Weekend
- Quarterly Newsletters
- Vaqueros Loyalty Points
- Exclusive Varsity Club Under Armour polo (Lifetime Members only)
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Leadership Giving
Leadership giving fuels the long-term vision and competitive future of UTRGV Athletics. Through transformational philanthropy, our supporters help create opportunities that elevate the student-athlete experience and strengthen the future of UTRGV Athletics.
Leadership support impacts scholarships, facilities, recruiting, student-athlete wellness, academic resources, and championship-level investment across all sports.
The Champions Club is the premier leadership giving society of UTRGV Athletics and recognizes donors who commit $25,000 or more over a five-year period ($5,000+ annually).
Champions Club members make a direct and lasting impact on more than 400 Vaqueros student-athletes through investments in competition, academics, nutrition, sports medicine, recruiting, and facility enhancements.
To learn more or become a member of the Champions Club, contact a member of the Vaqueros Athletic Fund staff.
Football Founders Society
The Football Founders Society is a select group of donors who have elected to invest in the foundational support that launched the UTRGV football program. This giving society is now closed.
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Capital Giving
Capital gifts support the continued growth and enhancement of UTRGV Athletics facilities and physical infrastructure. These transformational commitments help create premier environments for competition, training, recruiting, and fan engagement across all UTRGV Athletics programs.
Five-year commitments of $10,000 or more ($2,000 annually) may qualify for naming opportunities within UTRGV Athletics venues and spaces. Current opportunities exist within:
- Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium
- Vaqueros Performance Center
- UTRGV Baseball Stadium
- UTRGV Fieldhouse
- UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex
- Vaqueros Golf Center
- Orville Cox Tennis Center
To learn more about our recently completed projects, please visit our facilities page.
If you are interested in making a capital gift, please click the button below to get started or contact a member of the Vaqueros Athletic Fund staff.
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Premium Seating
UTRGV Athletics offers premium seating experiences across baseball, football, basketball, and volleyball. Premium seating and Vaqueros Loyalty Points priority go hand in hand—support the VAF to access the best seats in the house.
Baseball
- Corrals
- Home Plate Club
- Suites
Football
- North End Zone Club Seats
- North End Zone Loge Boxes
- Suites
For more information or to join the waitlist(s), please visit
GoUTRGV.com/PremiumSeating.
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Donor Parking
Donor parking benefits and availability vary by sport, venue, seating location, and annual contribution level to UTRGV Athletics. Through the Vaqueros Athletic Fund (VAF), donors receive priority access to convenient gameday parking.
Supporters are encouraged to renew or complete their annual giving commitments prior to the June 30 VAF deadline in order to maximize parking and benefits eligibility for the upcoming athletics season.
Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium
Premium seating benefits:
- All Suite holders receive four VIP parking passes.
- All North End Zone Loge Box holders receive one VAF Stadium parking pass.
Additional, complimentary parking benefits are available to football season ticket holders based on their annual giving level:
- Giving between $2,500 and $4,999 annually — One VAF Stadium parking pass
- Giving between $5,000 and $9,999 annually — One VIP parking pass
- Giving of $10,000 or more annually — Two VIP parking passes
- Baseball season ticket holders who donate $2,500 or more annually to UTRGV Athletics will receive one donor parking pass.
- Basketball season ticket holders who donate $2,500 or more annually to UTRGV Athletics will receive one donor parking pass.
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Important Dates & Deadlines
Mark your calendar. Key renewal, selection, and loyalty point deadlines for the 2026-27 athletics year are listed below.
- July 13Football and Volleyball premium seating seat selection begins
- July 31Baseball, Basketball, and Volleyball Premium Seating Renewal Deadline
- July 31Baseball Season Ticket Renewals end
- September 14Loyalty Point Deadline for Basketball premium seating
- October 1Loyalty Point Deadline for Baseball premium seating
- October 5Begin Basketball premium seating seat selection
- Early November – End of JanuaryFootball season ticket renewal period begins/ends
- November 30Begin Baseball premium seating seat selection
- End of JanuaryLoyalty Point Deadline for Football season ticket upgrades
- End of February – Late MayBasketball, Volleyball, and Multi-Sport Pass season ticket renewals begin/end
- Mid-March (two weeks)Football Upgrade Process
- April 1Loyalty Point Deadline for Football season ticket waitlist
- Late AprilBaseball season ticket renewals begin
- Late Spring (May)Football Season Ticket Waitlist Process
- May 31Football premium seating renewal deadline
- June 30End of VAF Giving Year
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Vaqueros Athletic Fund Staff
Our team is here to help you find the giving opportunity that’s right for you. Reach out anytime.
