LOS ANGELES — UCLA’s latest NIL collective, Bruins for Life, has raised $1 million specifically for football.
“We already have seven figures,” head coach DeShaun Foster said. “We’re going to continue to raise money and that’s what it takes right now in college football for you to change your team. You’ve gotta have some money to be able to entice guys to come.”
UCLA Athletics announced an NIL collective restructure on Tuesday, revealing that there are now three separate funds under Champion of Westwood. Bruins for Life will focus on football, while Men of Westwood is for men’s basketball and Champions of Westwood will support women’s basketball and Olympic sports.
“As this organization continues to evolve, the goal is the same — to help UCLA Athletics remain competitive in the NIL era,” Champion of Westwood CEO Ken Graiwer said in a press release.
Bruins for Life is not working with the 1919 Players Fund, an athlete-led NIL studio founded by Bruins quarterback Chase Griffin, but Foster said he hopes to eventually bring the two together.
The 1919 Players Fund was launched in early September and brings together brands, businesses and donors to partner with UCLA athletes.
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Foster and UCLA football, which is currently 1-5, have made efforts to engage donors and give them an inside look at how the program operates. Donors have been invited to all of this season’s away games and are allowed to sit in on team meetings.
“I think that’s probably why most of the people have wanted to donate,” Foster said. “Just because they’re seeing that the players haven’t quit (this season) and they’re still fired up. I think our donors were fired up about that also.”