FARGO, N.D. (Aug. 27, 2019) – The North Dakota State University Team Makers Club announced today the launch of its "Drive for Five" membership drive. Currently at approximately 4,200 members, Team Makers is seeking to increase membership in its annual fund to 5,000 members. The NDSU Team Makers Club is asking community members, alumni, and any Bison fans throughout the country to make an investment in excellence to accelerate the Drive for Five membership campaign and join the Team Makers Club today.
 
Currently operating on a $25 million budget, NDSU Athletics must annually generate 70 percent of an increasing budget each year. These funds are all raised internally through Team Makers, endowments, corporate sponsorships/advertising and ticket sales. In an effort to continually advance the student-athlete experience at NDSU, the Team Makers Club has historically played a big part in those fundraising efforts.
 
Team Makers, a 501C3 foundation, is committed to supporting NDSU student-athletes in their pursuit of academic and athletic excellence. The organization that started in 1950 as a small booster club raising funds for scholarships has played an integral part in NDSU's transition from Division II to Division I. Team Makers fundraising responsibilities have evolved over the years and expanded beyond funding just scholarships. Team Makers now supports funding for anything needed to improve the student-athlete experience for all 16 of its sports such as full cost of attendance, travel expenses and equipment.


 
There is no denying the positive impact the Team Makers Club has had on the NDSU athletic department and its student-athletes. In competition, NDSU has captured 27 team national championships, 61 individual national championships, 260 conference championships, and produced 906 All-Americans. NDSU student-athletes have also been achieving high results in the classroom generating 137 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans® and maintaining a department-wide GPA over 3.0 for the entire academic school year in 2018.
 
Costs of maintaining this level of success continue to rise, including tuition, fees and cost of attendance. Team Makers Club is launching the Drive for Five to encourage current members to continue their financial support and to invite more fans and alumni to help with the investment in student-athletes' future successes. For as little as $100 annually, anyone with an affinity for Bison Athletics can accelerate the Drive for Five and join the Team Makers Club today. In addition to a number of other benefits, members are given the opportunity to purchase NDSU football single-game tickets each season.
 
For more information or to join today visit NDSUAthleticFund.com or contact Team Makers Executive Director Derrick Lang at (701) 231-9555 or Derrick.Lang@ndsu.edu.