Razorback Foundation unveils ‘priority points program’

The Razorback Foundation announced Thursday (Aug. 8) an “interactive priority points program” it believes will result in foundation members being “rewarded for their generosity, loyalty and continued support in a fair, equitable and positive manner.”

Beginning with the 2014-15 athletic season, the points program will tie access to tickets, parking and other benefits to member support of the annual fund, capital funds, endowments and other donations. The program will also allocate points based on consecutive years of giving, “while also recognizing the contributions of all former Razorback student-athletes.”

Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long said the program was developed using feedback from Foundation members and points systems used by other university foundations.

“This comprehensive process has resulted in a customized plan specific to the University of Arkansas that will reward loyalty and provide donors with what they need to make informed decisions about their membership,” Long said in a statement. “Most importantly, it will provide a framework for the continued growth of the Razorback Foundation and the future success of our more than 460 student-athletes.”

This week, current Razorback Foundation members are being mailed a Razorback Priority Points brochure that outlines the program that will be utilized beginning in 2014 to allocate new season tickets, fulfill requests for additional tickets and rank priority for upgrades for football, men’s basketball and baseball. In addition, the packet will include a personalized statement detailing priority points accumulated by current Razorback Foundation members.

Beginning in January 2014, Razorback Foundation members will be able to access their points online and see their rank within their donor class. Benefits will continue to be distributed initially by annual fund membership class, but points will then be used to determine priority within each class.

“The Razorback Priority Points Program marks an important milestone in the history of the Razorback Foundation,” Razorback Foundation Executive Director Sean Rochelle said. “It is the centerpiece of our commitment to more effectively engage our members while enhancing their membership experience. As one of only three SEC programs not utilizing a priority points system, we have been limited in our ability to measure the full value of our members’ contributions.”