DEKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois University Athletics and the Huskie Athletic Fund (HAF) saw tremendous growth during the 2024-25 fiscal year as Huskie friends, fans and supporters continued to show their commitment to the future of NIU Athletics.

"I want to thank Huskie Nation for stepping up over the past year with their giving to support NIU. With the changing landscape of college athletics, your support is more important than ever and is a critical component to the success of Huskie Athletics. Our HAF staff, led by Senior Associate Athletic Director Chris Barker, as well as Senior Associate Athletic Director TJ Feuerbach, have done a tremendous job leading these efforts and I look forward to continued growth and success as we head into an exciting new era at NIU."

During the past year, HAF fundraising reached levels not seen in over a decade. In February, a newly restructured HAF membership model was launched and played a pivotal role in accelerating both donor engagement and overall giving. With revised benefits that include parking, enhanced hospitality, and all-inclusive gameday access, members now enjoy a more impactful experience while ensuring more direct support reaches NIU student-athletes.

This momentum comes at a critical time, as NIU Athletics prepares for its transition to the Mountain West Conference and Horizon League for the 2026-27 school year. Increased philanthropic support is essential to compete at the highest level in these new conferences, and this year's fundraising results highlight the collective belief in that future.

Among the year's major highlights:
•    Unrestricted giving rose by 38%
•    The number of donors giving unrestricted dollars grew by 285%
•    Overall donor participation increased by 64%
•    Total dollars raised across NIU Athletics increased by 18%
•    Huskies Invest surpassed the $1 million mark for the fourth consecutive year

In addition, the Huskie Athletic Fund secured a transformational $3.45 MILLION ESTATE GIFT that will provide long-term resources for NIU Athletics. This planned gift marks the largest gift in department history and underscores the lasting impact donors can have on future generations of Huskies. Sport-specific giving also reached an all-time high of $702,843. These numbers bring the total athletics funds raised in the fiscal year to more than $5.3 million, which is 48% higher than the previous high in 2012. Clearly, our momentum is growing!

The newly introduced Huskie Circle, a premier HAF membership tier recognizing those contributing $25,000 or more annually, is also gaining momentum. In its first year, the Huskie Circle proudly welcomed eight founding members, a powerful statement of leadership giving.

NIU Athletics remains deeply grateful for the generosity and passion of its supporters. The remarkable growth experienced this year reflects the collective investment in a bold vision for Huskie student-athletes, on and off the field. The NCAA House Settlement has redefined college athletics and the need to support department revenue share as well as name, image and likeness (NIL) is a must have. This means continuing to focus on revenue generation in support of our student-athlete quality of experience. 

For more information or to make a donation to the Huskie Athletic Fund, contact us at (815) 753-1923 or HuskieAthleticFund@niu.edu.