'Double the Impact': The Iowa SWARM Collective reaches million-dollar goal

‘Double the Impact’: The Iowa SWARM Collective reaches million-dollar goal

With a 500,000 dollar donation from Elite Resort Casinos, the collective reached its objective 19 days before its deadline.

November 15, 2023

Grace Smith

Iowa Swarm Collective President and CEO Brad Heinrichs speaks during a press conference for the Iowa Swarm Collective, a name, image, and likeness group partnering with Hawkeye student-athletes, at the Heights Rooftop in Iowa City on Tuesday, July 19, 2022. Heinrichs sees this NIL as an opportunity for students to profit on their name, image, and likeness. “These kids are going to learn how to market themselves,” Heinrichs said. “That’s the education I didn’t get while I was in school.”

The Iowa SWARM Collective announced a donation-matching challenge via its social media accounts on Tuesday night. Until Dec. 31, all donations to the collective will be matched, dollar for dollar, for up to $1 million. The matching money will come from CEO Brad Heinrichs and Board of Directors member Bruce Rastetter.

𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭

Swarm Matching Challenge: till Dec 31, every donation matched $1 for $1, up to $1M by Bruce Rastetter & CEO Brad Heinrichs! 🎉

🔗 https://t.co/VWFpNbwmmO | Venmo: @SwarmCollective pic.twitter.com/xSOo1JHixC

— SWARM (@IowaSwarm) November 16, 2023

On Tuesday, Dec. 12, that goal was reached when Elite Resort Casinos donated 500,000 dollars, which when matched, brought in the million-dollar gaol the collective was hoping for.

🚨Breaking News🚨

Elite Resort Casinos just donated $500,000! Thank you for your impact! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/LtGNDzPLWE

— SWARM (@IowaSwarm) December 12, 2023

The SWARM Collective is in charge of administering NIL donations to Hawkeye student-athletes. In September of this year, Heinrichs announced that these donations now apply to athletes in all 22 sports at Iowa. Previously, donations were limited to football and men’s and women’s basketball.

Individuals who make a one-time gift of $1,000 or more, or commit to monthly gifts of $100 or more, can direct their NIL support to any of the Hawkeye sports.

The collective operates through donations from fans on five different levels of membership.

Those on each level receive different amounts of access to Iowa Athletics based on how much they donate on a monthly or yearly basis. Lower-level members receive things like decals, T-shirts, and access to pregame events, while those in the higher levels get the opportunity to know the athletes on a more personal level through Q&As and receive priority access to away games.

The SWARM Collective has worked with over 40 nonprofit organizations in its first year of existence and has totaled nearly 1,200 student-athlete service hours.

About the Contributors

Matt McGowan, Pregame Editor

he/him/his Matt McGowan is The Daily Iowan's Pregame Editor. He is a sophomore double majoring in journalism and mass communications and American studies with a minor in sport studies. This is his second year with the DI.

Grace Smith, Senior photojournalist and filmmaker

she/her/hers

Grace Smith is a fourth-year student at the University of Iowa double majoring in Journalism and Cinematic Arts. In her four years at The Daily Iowan, she has held the roles of photo editor, managing summer editor, and visual storyteller. Outside of The Daily Iowan, Grace has held an internship at The Denver Post and pursued freelance assignments for the Cedar Rapids Gazette and the Des Moines Register.