About the WEF

Mission Statement

Mission Statement

The Williams Educational Fund generates financial support for all student-athletes with a responsibility to facilitate, promote, and enhance academic and athletic experiences.

Student-Athlete Costs

* Direct scholarship costs.

Becoming A Member

A “current member” is defined as an individual who has made a pledge or payment during the current annual fund drive. The annual fund drive begins on July 1 and ends June 1.

Pledge System
Membership payments may be made in-full or by pledge to be paid during the current fund drive (June 1 deadline). Pledges entitle the donor to full membership benefits including activated priority points.

You must be at least 18 years of age to create a Williams Educational Fund account in your name. All pledges must be received in writing.

Gifts of Appreciated Property

Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real property, etc. are all accepted as gifts. If you wish to make gifts of stock, please contact KU Endowment at (785)-832-7400 and ask for the Finance Department.

Gifts-in-Kind

Gifts that are budget-relieving for Kansas Athletics are accepted on a limited basis. All gifts-in-kind must be pre-approved by the Athletics Director.

Matching Gifts

Many companies offer matching gift programs for their employees. Please contact your company’s personnel/human resources office as policies affecting such qualifying gifts vary from one company to another. Please be aware that employers reserve the right to modify matching gift guidelines or even discontinue the matching gift program; therefore, the gift policy of your company may change each year. Donors are responsible for the matching gift claim if their company discontinues or modifies its matching gift program. To be eligible, a matching gift form must accompany each payment to the Williams Educational Fund.

Deferred Giving

This represents an area of charitable giving that is important to the future of Kansas Athletics. It is necessary to acknowledge that deferred gifts provide no current income or benefits to Kansas Athletics and thus, priority points are not awarded for such gifts. For more information on deferred giving, please contact KU Endowment at: (785) 832-7415.

Contributions to the Williams Educational Fund are nonrefundable. Donors who do not fulfill their Williams Educational Fund pledge will not receive credit for a donation or be permitted to order tickets until the original pledge is satisfied. If the pledge remains uncollected, the donor will not be considered a “current member” and thus will not have priority for available season tickets. Additionally, the donor will not be allowed to donate to a future fund drive or order tickets until he/she fulfills his/her previous pledge. Once the payment is made, he/she may make a contribution to the current fund drive. This contribution may not be in the

Ways to Join

Ways to Give
Gifts to Kansas Athletics may be made in a variety of ways, including Checks, Money Orders, or Credit Cards. You may fill out an online pledge form or print off and mail in a form with your donation.

Membership Levels

Hall of Fame  $50,000+ (106 donors in 2011)

Funds one full Out-of-State and one In-State Scholarship

Champion  $25,000-$49,999 (132)

Funds one full In-State Scholarship for one student-athlete

All-American  $10,000-$24,999 (298)

Funds one full year of room and board for one student-athlete

Legend  $5,000-$9,999 (355)

Funds one full year of room and books for one student-athlete

MVP $2,500-$4,999 (360)

Funds one semester of room and books for one student-athlete

Rock Chalk $1,000-$2,499 (652)

Funds one full year of required campus fees for one student-athlete

Jayhawk $500-$999 (613)

Funds one full year of room and books for one student-athlete

Crimson & Blue  $300-$499 (375)

Funds one semester of books for one student-athlete

Outland  $100-$299 (1686)

Assists in funding required per credit course fees

Williams Fund U $25 (648)

As a valued Williams Educational Fund member, you will receive many benefits.

Wheel Club

The University of Kansas Wheel Club is a benefit given to members of Kansas Athletics Incorporated.  This program helps Kansas Athletics attract and retain some of the top coaches and administrators in the country.  The recipient of the car is taxed on the car’s manufacturer’s suggested retail value in accordance with IRS guidelines.

Dealer Benefits

Priority Points

• Each vehicle is assigned points according to a scale related to the value (MSRP/Retail) of the vehicle. These points are permanent points and are treated as “gift-in-kind.” (Tax issues related to this donation are the responsibility of the provider/dealer).
• 20 priority points will be awarded for each additional car (listed as $2,000 GIK).

•  Each dealer will receive scoreboard recognition at one KU football game as well as one KU men’s and women’s basketball game.
• A recognition plaque for participation in the KU Wheel Club.
• Invitation to attend the Jayhawk Village for the KU football home opener. Passes equal to the number of season tickets purchased–maximum of 6.
• Each dealer will receive a complimentary autographed men’s team basketball.

Williams Fund Information Request Form

Williams Fund U

The Williams Educational Fund optional campus fee of $25 is to enroll current KU students in the Williams Fund U. The goal is to encourage current students to participate in the Williams Fund and accumulate up to 80 points by graduation.

To be eligible for this program, students must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours at the University of Kansas. Students will be eligible for any four-year window, whether in undergraduate, graduate, law school or medical school.

The Williams Fund U gives students the opportunity to establish permanent points and be involved in the Williams Fund before they graduate. The points accumulated give Williams Fund U members a better location while selecting their basketball and football tickets when beginning their professional careers.

• For $25 annually students receive 10 points per year ($1,000 value). This enables the students to establish up to 40 points while in school.
• Students will receive an additional 20 points ($2,000 value) if they join the Williams Fund as an active donor ($100 minimum) within a year of graduation.
• Students involved in the Williams Fund U also receive priority in their ticket allocation for post-season play.
• Students in the Williams Fund U receive 5 points for the purchase of season tickets (combo-pack) per year.

Since its formation in 2009, the overall intention of the Williams Fund U program is to help students establish points and enable current students to become familiar with the mission and goals of the Williams Fund. Many young alumni are hesitant to join the Williams Fund because the points they wish to develop would take years to accumulate. Joining the Williams Fund U helps alleviate this transition.

A Williams Fund U membership does not entitle the student to full donor privileges. A minimum contribution of $100 is required to participate in Williams Educational Fund donor seating. This contribution is made above the Williams Fund U membership.

Students may join the Williams Fun U by visiting:

Optional Campus Fees in the student Enroll and Pay system or by completing the 2012 Williams Educational Fund Pledge Form.

Williams Fund Information Request Form

Lifetime Giving Society

Kansas Athletics Lifetime Society

Recognizing Lifetime Giving

Diamond Jayhawk ($5,000,000 or more)

• May select “same-as-last-year” or attend select-a-seat for a maximum of six (6) men’s basketball season tickets
• May order an additional six (6) men’s basketball tickets to be seated at their priority point total
• One pass to the Donor Atrium/Naismith Room per season ticket, maximum of six (6)
• Framed letter signed by head coaches
• Invitation to Kansas Athletics Lifetime Society reception
• Name recognition in Allen Fieldhouse*

Platinum Jayhawk ($1,500,000 – $4,999,999)

• May order an additional four (4) men’s basketball season tickets to be seated at their priority point total
• One pass to the Donor Atrium/Naismith Room per season ticket, maximum of six (6)
• Framed letter signed by head coaches
• Invitation to Kansas Athletics Lifetime Society reception
• Name recognition in Allen Fieldhouse*

Gold Jayhawk ($500,000 – $1,499,999)

• Framed letter signed by head coaches
• Invitation to Kansas Athletics Lifetime Society reception
• Name recognition in Allen Fieldhouse*
• Silver Jayhawk ($250,000 – $499,999)
• Invitation to Kansas Athletics Lifetime Society reception
• Name recognition in Allen Fieldhouse*

Bronze Jayhawk ($100,000 – $249,999)

• Name recognition in Allen Fieldhouse*

*Donors may choose to remain anonymous.

Williams Fund Information Request Form