Walk of Champions (nonprofit)

Walk of Champions was a non-profit organization and "NIL collective" incorporated on March 9, 2023 to distribute money to Alabama Crimson Tide athletes under the auspices of "name-image-likeness" (NIL) contracts for compensation, which had been allowed on an interim basis by the NCAA in July 2021.

Former Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson was the organization's president. Michael Mouron donated $100,000 and served on its board of directors. Other board members included Elliot Maisel and Annie Somerville.

The group described itself as the "official charitable partner" of the privately-owned Yea Alabama NIL collective, and distinguished itself by arranging personal appearances and other engagement by athletes on behalf of charitable causes, and collecting tax-exempt donations to pay them. Walk of Champions set of goal of raising $6 million and distributing $5.7 million in 2023, but fell short, reporting $1.5 million and only $10,000 in payments to athletes for that year.

The Internal Revenue Service issued guidance on June 9, 2023 concluding that "An organization that develops paid NIL opportunities for student-athletes will, in many cases, be operating for a substantial nonexempt purpose—serving the private interests of student-athletes—which is more than incidental to any exempt purpose furthered by the activity."

In light of that guidance, Walk of Champions announced in August 2024 that it would dissolve and donate unspent funds to other charities.

References

• Denham, Hannah (August 23, 2024) "Boosters started a nonprofit to pay Alabama athletes millions. Now, it’s shutting down." AL.com