Dear TrueNU Family,

Thank you.

Thank you for believing in our mission of supporting local charities and community
partners with the Name, Image and Likeness of Northwestern University student-athletes.

When TrueNU was established in 2022, there was no blueprint for an NIL collective at
Northwestern, a school where athletic success will always share the spotlight with
academic prowess. NIL at Northwestern would have to be different.

We knew that we would have to do NIL the NU way.

Thank you for trusting us to lead Northwestern Athletics into the new and everchanging
world of intercollegiate athletics and NIL. With your help, TrueNU:

– Provided over 40 unique charity partners with 6,000+ hours of support
– Invested in more than 400 athletes representing all 21 varsity programs
– Helped Northwestern lead the Big Ten in roster retention
– Managed acquisitions of 25+ transfers including 20 in FB and MBB
– Gave our Head Coaches the creative support they needed to build and maintain
championship rosters

Your generosity has been a difference-maker in the lives of our community partners, our
student-athletes, and our varsity programs! Thank you!

Due to the recent July 1st implementation of the transformative House vs NCAA settlement,
which includes direct revenue sharing for athletes, TrueNU has made the difficult decision
to close its doors effective August 1st, 2025.

I am immensely proud of what TrueNU has built over the last 3 years and cannot thank
you enough for helping us compete. Our impact is real because of all of you! Your love for
NU helped us navigate unchartered waters during the most critical period in college
athletics history. Wildcat Nation is strong!

As we hand the NIL baton to Northwestern Athletics, please direct all future support to the
Wildcat Fund. Your support remains vital to the long-term success and sustainability of
Northwestern Athletics.

Go ‘Cats,

Jacob Schmidt
Executive Director | TrueNU