UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI ATHLETICS TEAM SUPPORT

Transcription

1 UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI ATHLETICS TEAM SUPPORT

2 THE BIG PLAYS... THE EMOTION... THE MOMENTS... THE CHAMPIONSHIPS... EVERY STUDENT-ATHLETE... EVERY DEGREE... BEGINS WITH A SCHOLARSHIP... PROVIDED BY UCATS... ANNUAL FUND CAMPAIGN AND SEASON TICKET IMPORTANT DATES VISIT UCATS.NET TO DOWNLOAD THIS SCHEDULE TO YOUR OUTLOOK CALENDAR APRIL DEADLINE: UCATS pledge renewals DEADLINE: Football season ticket renewals DEADLINE: Football Seat Improvement Requests FOOTBALL SPRING GAME Bearcat Bowl IV Nippert Stadium 7pm MAY Letter distribution begins communicating football seat improvement appointment dates and times MAY Seat selection process begins for football seat improvement requests and new deposit holders JUNE Annual UCATS Riverboat Cruise JULY DEADLINE: UCATS football pledges must be paid in full in order to receive tickets DEADLINE: Men s basketball seat improvement requests SEPTEMBER Seat selection process begins for men s basketball seat improvement requests and new season ticket holders OCTOBER DEADLINE: UCATS men s basketball pledges must be paid in full in order to receive tickets TABLE OF CONTENTS A Message From the Director Of Athletics...1 UCATS Mission...2 UCATS At A Glance Ways You Can Help Bearcats Athletics...4 Each One Reach One Program...5 UCATS Membership...6 UCATS Priority Point System...7 Football Priority Season Tickets...8 Men s Basketball Priority Season Tickets...9 Leadership Support...10 Program-Specific Giving...11 Frequently Asked Questions...12 UCATS STAFF AND CONTACT INFORMATION Andy Hurley Jeff Smith Jenny Gardner Bryan Allen TJ Feuerbach Chris Pyles Katie Pavel Senior Associate Athletics Director for Assistant Athletic Director for Assistant Athletic Director for Assistant Director of Assistant Director of Assistant Director of Sports Program Associate UCATS University of Cincinnati 2751 O Varsity Way Suite 470 Richard E. Lindner Center P.O. Box Cincinnati Ohio Phone or UCATS Fax UCATS@uc.edu UC ATHLETICS TICKET OFFICE MARKETING & FAN DEVELOPMENT Meagan Kantor Lindsey Delscamp Leslie Wenert Greg Harrell Brad Wurthman Emily Begley Melissa Kopriva Manager Customer Service & Ticket Operations Assistant Manager Customer Service & Ticket Operations Director Promotions & Special Events Director Marketing & New Business Director Marketing & Game Operations Director Group Sales & Fan Manager Marketing & Group Sales Athletics Ticket Office University of Cincinnati 2751 O Varsity Way Suite 480 Richard E. Lindner Center P.O. Box Cincinnati Ohio Phone or CATS-TIX A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Dear Bearcats Fans I would like to thank you for being an integral part of Bearcat Nation and playing a supporting role in the realization of our CATAPULT goals at the University of Cincinnati. Our CATAPULT ideals are founded on winning Championships on the field of play meeting the Bearcats student-athlete standard of excellence in Academics and realizing all of our goals Together as a Bearcat Family with the Greater Cincinnati Community. Behind every success of UC Athletics is a family of loyal and dedicated UCATS members. UCATS provides the financial support needed to fund student-athlete scholarships and other resources necessary for Bearcats Athletics to compete at the highest level in the BIG EAST Conference. In 2009 UCATS set a new record for UCATS membership with over 4500 members! That represents over a 30% increase from 2008 which is unprecedented during challenging economic times and is a testament to the passion and generosity of our base of support. Whether you are a long-time UCATS member or a prospective first-time donor I want you to know how tremendously important your support is to our long-term success. On behalf of UCATS and the entire Cincinnati Bearcats family I want to thank you for your continued backing of our intercollegiate athletics program and for supporting the Red and Black. Go Bearcats! With Bearcat Pride Mike Thomas Director of Athletics 1

3 UCATS MISSION MISSION STATEMENT To provide financial support to fund student-athlete scholarships and special needs of the athletics department while fostering camaraderie sportsmanship and school spirit among students faculty & staff alumni and friends of the University of Cincinnati Athletics. WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP UC Faces Revenue Generation Challenges Relative to BIG EAST Conference Peers In the BIG EAST Conference UC has the lowest amount of revenue generation by football and ranks in the bottom half in men s basketball. Our reduced capacity as well as the limited number of lower bowl and premium seating options in the University s competitive venues places UC at a competitive disadvantage relative to our peers. Furthermore football and men s basketball season tickets and related revenues are not enough to adequately support the total intercollegiate athletics program. The private support from a family of loyal and dedicated UCATS members is critical to the long-term success of Bearcats Athletics. Rising Costs of Academic Support With over 530 student-athletes representing 18 varsity sports the annual scholarship budget is over $6 million. UCATS must raise these funds through private support on an annual basis. Athletics is Often Viewed as the Front Porch of the University of Cincinnati Athletic success is important to the University of Cincinnati. Financial stability in athletics ultimately breeds success and success breeds pride among our many alumni and friends. This success can be a tremendous recruiting tool for the general student population and potential student-athletes as evidenced by UC s record applications and enrollment following recent athletics success. METHODS OF GIVING Most common methods of giving include: CASH CHECK AND CREDIT CARDS Making an annual contribution to UCATS can be as easy as writing a check (made payable to the UC Foundation) or using Visa MasterCard American Express or Discover credit card. Convenient installment plans may be coordinated. For additional information please contact a UCATS staff representative at UCATS. GIFTS-IN-KIND Gifts of goods or services can be of great financial assistance to UC Athletics while offering the donor credit for the fair market value of the gift. PAYROLL DEDUCTION As the Greater Cincinnati Community s largest employer the University of Cincinnati offers payroll deduction for UCATS contributions. UC Faculty/Staff members are encouraged to contact UCATS if you are interested in the convenience of payroll deduction. STOCK TRANSFER UCATS will accept contributions in the form of securities. The value of the gift is determined by the average of the high and low prices of the security on the day the security is received in the UC Foundation s brokerage account. MATCHING GIFTS Numerous companies match donor gifts to UCATS. A list of the companies with UCATS matching gift programs can be found on our website at The top 5 companies matching to UCATS include Macy s Foundation General Electric Duke Energy Hershey Foods Corporation and Fifth Third Bank. For more information donors should directly contact their company s human resources department. For a complete list of giving methods please contact the UCATS office or visit UCATS AT A GLANCE GROWING UCATS NUMBER OF MEMBERS 2179 ANNUAL FUND DRIVE RAISING THE BAR NUMBER OF MEMBERS 3496 ANNUAL FUND DRIVE MEETING THE NEED: ANNUAL ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP EXPENSES Value of a Full Scholarship to the University of Cincinnati NUMBER OF MEMBERS 4539 ANNUAL FUND DRIVE When joining the BIG EAST Conference UC ranked a distant last in the number of donors to athletics (1962 in 2006) relative to other BIG EAST football participant schools. While UCATS has grown over 100% in the last three years and significantly bridged this gap there is still much work to be done. At the heart of the UCATS mission is an essential need to continue to grow the base of support for Bearcats Athletics. This growth is imperative for the University of Cincinnati to compete at the highest level in the BIG EAST Conference and on the national stage. BIG EAST FOOTBALL PARTICIPANTS TOTAL DONORS TO ATHLETICS FOR LOUISVILLE WEST VIRGINIA 8000 RUTGERS 5929 PITTSBURGH 5657 CONNECTICUT 5127 SYRACUSE 4800 CINCINNATI 4539 SOUTH FLORIDA Academic Year Tuition & Fees Books Room & Board Total IN-STATE $9399 $1275 $9510 $20184 OUT-OF-STATE $23922 $1275 $9510 $ Total Scholarship Expense $ * * Figures represent both full and partial scholarships throughout the course of the academic year 146 Out-of-State Scholarships 194 In-State Scholarships 2 3

4 5 WAYS YOU CAN HELP BEARCATS ATHLETICS 1 SUPPORT THE UCATS ANNUAL FUND The UCATS Annual Fund is used to meet the annual scholarship expense for Bearcats student-athletes. With over 530 student-athletes representing 18 varsity sports over $6 million must be raised annually from private donors to make our dream of excellence in sports and academics a reality. All gifts required for priority season tickets are directed to the UCATS Annual Fund. 2 MAKE A GIFT TOWARD A SPECIAL PROJECT OR SPORTS-SPECIFIC PROGRAM We encourage all members to give to the UCATS Annual Fund first but there are other ways that you can support and become involved with Bearcats Athletics. Remember any gift (undesignated annual fund gifts or designated gifts) of $50 or more makes you a UCATS member! There are many critical needs for the athletics department including capital initiatives such as the Jefferson Avenue Sports complex (football practice fields competitive lacrosse venue and indoor facility) and sport-specific development funds for the individual needs of each varsity sport. See page 11 for additional information. 3 ASK IF YOUR COMPANY PARTICIPATES IN A MATCHING GIFTS PROGRAM Some companies will match your charitable contribution to UC Athletics. Please consult the benefits office at your place of employment to see if you are eligible for their matching gifts program. Log-on to UCATS.net for a complete list of known companies that currently match gifts to the University of Cincinnati. 4 REFER A FRIEND TO JOIN UCATS THROUGH THE EACH ONE REACH ONE PROGRAM The Each One Reach One program encourages all UCATS members to recruit and refer one new member to join UCATS. With over 4500 members can you imagine the impact that it would have for Bearcats Athletics if Each One were to truly Reach One! Participation in the program not only helps UC Athletics grow but you also earn UCATS priority points bonuses and become eligible for other great rewards. Please visit UCATS.net for complete program details. See page 5 for additional information. 5 REMEMBER UC ATHLETICS IN YOUR ESTATE PLANNING UCATS members can help ensure that the excellence of UC Athletics continues in perpetuity by making a planned gift. Our staff working with the UC Foundation can help you determine the gift plan that best meets your financial and philanthropic goals. Please contact a UCATS representative at UCATS to discuss your specific interest. EACH ONE REACH ONE PROGRAM It is necessary for UCATS to grow for UC Athletics to compete at the highest level and the Each One Reach One program provides an incentive for current members to help us grow by leading us to new members. The personal testimony of current UCATS members is the most powerful recruiting tool when talking to prospective members. When talking to family friends colleagues neighbors and fellow Bearcats supporters we encourage members to share the many reasons to join UCATS. With over 4500 UCATS members serving as walking billboards for the UCATS mission imagine the impact if each member were to refer just one new member to join UCATS. Participation in the program not only helps UC Athletics grow but you also earn significant UCATS Priority Point bonuses (see page 7 for additional information) and become eligible for other great rewards. Please visit UCATS.net for complete program details and additional information regarding the Priority Point System! HOW TO REFER A NEW MEMBER ONLINE Direct your prospective UCATS member to join UCATS online by visiting UCATS.net and utilizing the DonorNet feature found on the home page. When creating their account they will be prompted to provide the name of the donor(s) that referred them to join UCATS. /PHONE You may directly notify the UCATS staff of a referral by contacting the UCATS office at UCATS or via at ucats@uc.edu. PLEDGE CARD The New Membership form includes a Referred By field that should be completed by the prospective member. If you need a new membership form please visit the Each One Reach One page located on UCATS.net where you can download and print a form from the program s resource center. 4 5

5 6 UCATS MEMBERSHIP UCATS consists of members from the community students alumni faculty/ staff and corporations. A $50 minimum gift is required to receive benefits through active membership. Many members purchase football or men s basketball priority season tickets or both however many UCATS members (without priority seating) give philanthropically in support of Bearcats student-athletes. There are many benefits associated with UCATS membership and all Bearcats Athletics supporters are encouraged to join in support of UC student-athletes. Complete priority seating information for football and men s basketball is available on page 8 & 9. MEMBERSHIP LEVELS AND BENEFITS SUGGESTED MEMBERSHIP LEVEL AMOUNTS NOTE: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE PRIORITY SEATING FOR FOOTBALL OR BASKETBALL TO BECOME A UCATS MEMBER. ALL UCATS MEMBERS ARE ENTITLED TO STANDARD MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS. Football and Men s Basketball gift requirements represent independent gifts. If you purchase priority seating for both football and men s basketball your total gift requirement is based on the lesser of; the sum of the two tiers (FB + MBB) or a 10% increase on the higher of the two tiers (FB or MBB + 10%). MEN S BASKETBALL DIRECTOR S SOCIETY $50000 GEORGE D. SMITH SOCIETY $13000 TIER 1 $4200 TIER 2 $3000 TIER 3 $2000 TIER 4 $1800 TIER 5 $600 FOOTBALL DIRECTOR S SOCIETY $50000 GEORGE D. SMITH SOCIETY $13000 TIER 1 $3000 TIER 2 $1500 TIER 3 $750 TIER 4 $250 TIER 5 $100 FAMILY PLAN $100 BEARCAT LAIR/CAVE $100 MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS TAX DEDUCTION SEASON TICKET PRIORITY SEATING AWAY NEUTRAL AND POST SEASON TICKET PRIORITY SEASON TICKET PREFERRED PARKING OPPORTUNITIES ADVANCED SINGLE-GAME TICKET PURCHASE FIFTH THIRD ARENA UCATS CLUB ACCESS INVITATIONS TO SPECIAL EVENTS AND ANNUAL UCATS RIVERBOAT DINNER CRUISE SUBSCRIPTION TO enewsletter ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP/ YOUNG PROFESSIONALS New UCATS members under the age of 40 have a special opportunity to get involved and help broaden the Bearcats Athletics base of support. For the first two years of UCATS membership pay only half of the minimum requirement for a particular membership level and enjoy the full benefits of that respective tier. Please note members must minimally participate at the $100 level ($50 gift requirement first two years) or above for this opportunity (excludes partnerships). UCATS PRIORITY POINT SYSTEM The UCATS Priority Points System is utilized to reward both donor loyalty and generosity. Each donor s Priority Points total is taken into consideration when distributing benefits and assigning or allocating the following: New season tickets Season Ticket Seat Improvement Requests Priority Parking for athletics events Away-game tickets Neutral site tickets Football Bowl tickets Men s Basketball BIG EAST Tournament & post-season UCATS Annual Riverboat Dinner Cruise All other priority-based benefits PRIORITY POINT CALCULATION CRITERIA GIVING/LOYALTY Current year/undesignated or designated gift to UCATS 5 points for every $100 Consecutive years of UCATS membership 2 points per year Irrevocable planned gift/pledge to athletics 1 point for every $100 (max 1000 points) Cumulative lifetime giving to athletics 1 point for every $100 Giving to a UC program outside of athletics 1 point for every $100 (as recognized by the UC Foundation in current fiscal year) AFFINITY POINT OPPORTUNITIES (One per membership) UC degree holder 20 points per membership Former UC student-athlete 20 points per membership UC Faculty/Staff (both current and retired) 10 points per membership AMBASSADORS/VOLUNTEERS Each One Reach One Referrals Cumulative Graduated Scale (10 points 1st new member 15 additional for second new member etc) 2009 MEMBER RANKING After calculating priority all donors are ranked according to their number of points with Director s Society and George D. Smith society members receiving first priority. Donors making a ticket or parking request will have their request evaluated in priority point order. MEMBER RANK PRIORITY POINTS MEMBER RANK Rankings as of December 2009 PRIORITY POINTS UCATS Board of Directors reserves the right to award priority points as deemed appropriate. 7

6 FOOTBALL PRIORITY SEASON TICKETS NIPPERT STADIUM - SEASON TICKET PRICING _ UCATS Reserved (Tiers 1-5) 1 $320 _ UCATS UC Faculty/Staff 2 $255 UCATS C-Club 3 $255 _ Bearcat Cave 4 $225 Bearcat Lair 4 $185 _ Family Plan 5 $180 Adult/$110 Youth _ Youth 6 $165 Please note 2010 pricing reflects the same per-game price as 2009 season tickets pricing was calculated based on the addition of a 7th home game. All season tickets (excluding non-family plan youth tickets) include a $50 bowl credit that can be applied towards the purchase of bowl tickets. 1 UCATS donation requirement applies based on tier. Includes cushioned chair-back seat. 2 Must be current or retired UC Faculty/Staff to be eligible; UCATS donation requirement applies based on tier. 3 Must be an active C-Club member; UCATS donation requirement applies based on tier; limit 4 seats at reduced ticket rate. 4 $100 UCATS membership required. 5 Customize your family plan based on your family. Age 12 & under are eligible for the youth rate. $100 UCATS membership required. 6 Age 12 & under applicable in non-family plan areas; excludes bowl credit. PRIORITY SEATING MAP & UCATS TIER REQUIREMENTS DONOR SEATING UCATS members receive priority seating for football and men s basketball season tickets. The seating charts of Nippert Stadium and Fifth Third Arena reflect the minimum tier giving amounts that are required to sit in the priority seating locations of each venue. Football and men s basketball tier requirements are independent gifts. The gift requirement for UCATS members that purchase both football and men s basketball season tickets will be determined based on the lesser of: 1. The sum of the two tier requirements or 2. A 10% increase on the higher of the two tiers (FB/MBB) Example A Joe Bearcat has both football and men s basketball season tickets. His football seats are located in Tier 3 ($750) and his basketball seats are located in tier 2 ($3000). Using the above criteria his gift requirement is determined as follows: Lesser of: 1) Sum of the tier requirements - $3750 in this case 2) A 10% increase on the higher of the two tiers in this case this represents a 10% increase on $3000 (MBB) or $3300. Joe s total gift requirement would be $3300 for football and men s basketball. Example B Jane Bearcat has both football and men s basketball season tickets. Her football seats are located in Tier 5 ($100) and her basketball seats are located in Tier 3 ($2000). Using the above criteria her gift requirement is determined as follows: Lesser of: 1) Sum of the tier requirements - $2100 in this case 2) A 10% increase on the higher of the two tiers in this case this represents a 10% increase on $2000 (MBB) or $2200. Jane s total gift requirement would be $2100 for football and men s basketball. All UCATS season ticket holders will have the opportunity to keep their existing seats as long as minimum donation requirements and deadlines are met. New UCATS season ticket holders will select seating locations based upon the priority point system at the conclusion of the renewal and seat improvement processes MEN S BASKETBALL PRIORITY SEASON TICKETS PLEDGE INTENTIONS To allow for review of the most attractive seating locations in Nippert Stadium and Fifth Third Arena all UCATS members may pledge to a desired tier location without a financial obligation at the time of pledge. This will present the opportunity for UCATS members to participate in the seat improvement process evaluate seating locations in a desired tier location and make the decision to lock in their pledge at the time of seat selections. UCATS members are provided the opportunity to consider higher priority tier locations while reserving the options to retain their current seats. SEAT IMPROVEMENTS AND ADDITIONAL TICKET REQUESTS All requests for additional season tickets and/or changes to seating locations can be submitted online at UCATS.net. All UCATS members requesting changes to their seating locations must submit their pledge intention by April Football Seat Improvement Request Deadline: April Men s Basketball Seat Improvement Request Deadline: July UCATS SEASON TICKET HOLDER PRIORITY PARKING Season parking passes for the football and men s basketball season are assigned to designated garages on campus. UCATS season ticket holders are provided the opportunity to request desired parking locations. Passes will be allocated based on the UCATS Priority Points System. A reduced price will be offered for a season pass versus game day parking. For additional information on parking please contact the UC Athletics Ticket Office at CATS-TIX. FIFTH THIRD ARENA - SEASON TICKET PRICING _ UCATS Reserved Lower Level $485 _ UCATS Reserved Upper Level $435 _ Bearcats Lair $150 _ Young Professionals $310 Pricing based on the season and subject to change depending on number of home games TICKET LIMIT INFORMATION DONOR LEVEL TICKET PER SEAT GIFT LIMIT ABOVE LIMIT George D. Smith $ $2000 George D. Smith $ $2000 _ Tier 1 $ $1050 _ Tier 2 $ $750 _ Tier 3 $ $500 _ Tier 4 $ $450 _ Tier 5 $600 4 $150 _ PRIORITY SEATING MAP & UCATS TIER REQUIREMENTS UCATS tier requirement based on a maximum of 8 seats. Subject to change More than 8 seats requires an additional per seat donation based on the tier giving level. 8 9

7 LEADERSHIP SUPPORT Director s Society Any George D. Smith Society member who donates annually at the $50000 level or above is a member of our elite Directors Society. Director s Society members receive the ultimate in benefits including courtside seating opportunities for men s basketball first priority in all other seating opportunities VIP press box tickets for football deluxe merchandise packages special travel opportunities with the teams and top priority for all other benefits associated with UCATS. George D. Smith Society George D. Smith Society members demonstrate their commitment to UC Athletics by contributing at or above the $13000 level on an annual basis. George D. Smith Society members enjoy superior benefits associated with leadership support second only to the Director s Society. This includes first priority for season ticket and parking allocations post-season and away game ticket allocations along with seat improvement opportunities. George D. Smith society members also enjoy invitations to exclusive special events and other select benefits such as media guides special merchandise items and an annual feature gift from UCATS and UC Athletics. DIRECTOR S SOCIETY AND GEORGE D. SMITH SOCIETY MEMBERS REPRESENT ONLY 3% OF THE UCATS MEMBERSHIP YET THEY ACCOUNT FOR NEARLY 45% OF THE DOLLARS RAISED. Director's Society George D. Smith Society UCATS Membership (Based on Priority Points) Non-UCATS (General Public) UC Athletics Benefit Distribution PROGRAM SPECIFIC GIVING MISSION: To support the University of Cincinnati athletics programs by generating funds necessary to promote a greater interest in each UC sport through their enhancement and development. Sports-specific giving allows UCATS members and former athletes alike to make a designated donation to a particular program(s) of their choosing. Designated giving ensures 100% of your donation is used directly by the sport of choice to cover identified needs specific to their program. All programs have specific identified needs and they need your support! Targeted contributions accelerate each sport s pursuit of the CATAPULT ideals of winning a championship as well as earning distinction in the classroom. Through sports-specific giving donors can honor the true intention of their contribution by directly supporting the Bearcats sport(s) of their choice. Any contribution above $50 to a particular sport also makes you a member of UCATS! Over the past couple years we have made some tremendous strides thanks to the generosity of local golf enthusiasts and alums alike. We feel as though we have been excellent stewards with regards to getting done what we have set out to accomplish. The most visible came in the form of a new indoor golf facility which gives our players an advantage when the weather conditions are not ideal for playing outdoors. Also hosting the inaugural Red & Black Invitational provided an avenue for local clubs and their members to help support UC golf in addition to playing in a terrific event. We look forward to your support as we move forward with other exciting improvements for UC golf. Coach Janet Carl C-CLUB We are excited about the inception of our newly formed 1200 Club. This group will truly be the inner-circle of the UC Football Family. Your support and enthusiasm for our program will be critical to our success so I urge you to become a Charter member of the 1200 Club today! You are our 12th man for Bearcats Football Represent the C. Coach Butch Jones We have been fortunate this past year to have received some significant gifts which have made an enormous impact on our program. I would strongly encourage all alumni and even those with an interest in soccer to participate. I truly believe support here at home goes a long way as the growth of soccer at UC makes opportunities available to the countless young players in the community as well. All monies generated through your thoughtful contributions go directly to our program. Coach Hylton Dayes ALL former varsity athletics participants are strongly encouraged to reconnect or stay connected to the University and the Athletics Department through their involvement with C-Club. The goal for C-Club is to become one of the strongest former athlete organizations in the country and to make that a reality we need your help! Membership is only $50 and you will receive a personal membership card and keycard for the year which makes you eligible for discounted football tickets (up to four) women s basketball tickets and FREE admission to Olympic sports which include: men s soccer women s soccer volleyball and baseball. Plus there will be a variety of events gatherings and electronic communication throughout the year. New and renewing members of the C-Club should submit payment prior to August to receive your new personalized membership card and keycard prior to the start of the fall competition season

8 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Who can join UCATS? All Bearcats fans and supporters are encouraged to join UCATS. You do not have to be an alumnus or former student-athlete of the University of Cincinnati to join UCATS. How do I become a UCATS member? Membership requires a minimum contribution of $50. To join you may contact the UCATS office at UCATS or you may join online using DonorNet at UCATS.net. Does any gift regardless of designation make me a UCATS member? Yes as long as you meet the minimum gift requirement you become an active UCATS member. This includes gifts to the UCATS annual fund for scholarship support designated program-specific giving and any gifts designated to capital projects such as the Jefferson Avenue Sports Complex. How does my support of UCATS make a difference? UCATS contributions are used to offset the annual athletics scholarship needs of Bearcats student-athletes in 18 varsity sports. Or if you choose to give to a particular program those funds go entirely to the program of your choice and are used to meet their sport-specific needs. Once I join UCATS how long is my membership valid? UCATS memberships are valid for one year in conjunction with UC Athletics fiscal calendar (July 1 June 30). UCATS memberships are renewable on an annual basis. Each year (approx. March) you will receive a renewal packet to maintain your active status for the next calendar year. Is my UCATS contribution tax deductible? Per IRS rules (Publication 526): if you make a payment to or for the benefit of a college or university and as a result you receive the rights to buy tickets to an athletic event in the athletic stadium of a college or university you may deduct 80% of the payment as a charitable contribution. If you have questions regarding the deductibility of your gift to UCATS you should contact your personal tax advisor. How is UCATS membership associated with football and men s basketball season tickets? UCATS members receive priority seating for football and men s basketball season tickets. The seating charts of Nippert Stadium and Fifth Third Arena (pg. 8 & 9) reflect the minimum tier giving amounts that are required to sit in the priority seating locations of each venue. If I purchase season tickets for football and men s basketball as a UCATS member will I be given the right to keep my same seats at Fifth Third Arena and Nippert Stadium in future years? Yes as a UCATS member you will be given the right to retain your existing seats if you meet the minimum donation requirements associated with those seats. Do I have the opportunity to improve my football and men s basketball season tickets? Yes all UCATS members have the opportunity to participate in an annual seat improvement process. Seat improvement request forms must be submitted online at UCATS.net. Do I need to make a separate gift if I want both football and basketball season tickets? Beginning this year giving requirements are separate for football and men s basketball. However for individuals that have both football and men s basketball season tickets your gift requirement is the lesser of: the sum of the two tier requirements or a 10% increase on the top of the higher of the two tiers. Case in point if you have Tier 1 football seats your gift requirement is $3000. If you have Tier 1 men s basketball seats the gift requirement is $4200. If you have BOTH football and men s basketball in this case your total gift would be $4620 (highest tier + 10%) to satisfy the total requirement for both sports. What are UCATS Priority Points? Priority points are awarded to reward the loyalty and generosity of UCATS members (see page 7 for complete information) and to provide an equitable system for providing member benefits. Why are Priority Points Important? Priority points are the basis for allocating or assigning season ticket requests seat improvement requests parking requests away-game neutral-site game and postseason game ticket requests in addition to all other benefits. What is the best way to increase my Priority Point standing? Increasing your annual gift amount and participating in the Each One Reach One Referral program are great ways to increase your priority point standing. The online interactive home for UCATS members! Manage your UCATS account 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year - Join/Renew your membership - Track your UCATS Priority Points total - Update your contact information Get the latest news and event information for UCATS and Bearcats Athletics Submit seat improvement requests Learn how to boost your priority using the Priority Point Calculator Access the Each One Reach One Member Resource Center 12 13

9 University of Cincinnati 2751 O Varsity Way Suite 470 Richard E. Lindner Center P.O. Box Cincinnati OH UCATS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jim Amann President Jerry Atkins Nancy Blum Ross Bushman Maria Cholak John Courter Gary Johns Shenan Murphy Tim Murphy Fritz Russ Ph.D. Jeff Schaeper Will Schwartz Greg Wolf Mike Ziegler FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CALL A UCATS REPRESENTATIVE AT UCATS OR VISIT UCATS.NET Online contributions at UCATS.net click on DonorNet