MISSION: NAVIGATING NIL FOR GOOD
Cohesion founders knew that there’s no handbook for colleges around the nation to navigate the NCAA policy that allows college athletes to get paid for their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), known as the Student-Athlete Endorsement Rights Act Legislation. With 36 teams and approximately 1,000 student-athletes, The Ohio State University wanted to raise the bar and do the right thing when it comes to supporting its athletes’ NIL opportunities.
Cohesion Foundation was established as a non-profit organization 501(c)(3) to unify corporate leaders, alumni, dedicated fans and charitable partners to navigate NIL for good and ensure current Ohio State student-athletes across all sports can use purpose-driven NIL commitments to positively impact the community.
COHESION MEANS TEAMWORK
Based upon the principle definition of COHESION, where everyone works together to achieve a common goal, Cohesion Foundation was created with support from essential community leaders and alumni, to serve as official sponsor of the Buckeyes.
The Cohesion Foundation mission is to be a trusted resource to educate, connect and foster opportunities for current student-athletes to support charities in an effort to build a stronger community. At the heart of Cohesion’s mission is the commitment to educating future leaders who will serve the community and various sectors of society.
TOGETHER, WE'VE GOT THIS!
Our vision is an Ohio State student-athlete community where purpose-driven NIL commitments are available to all 1,000 athletes, across all 36 varsity sports. With Cohesion at the foundation of a current Ohio State student-athlete’s NIL journey, the right building blocks to successfully navigate NIL efforts are provided.
WHAT IS #ALLinOSU?
- Buckeye Nation rallying in full support of OSU athletes, both physically and financially.
- Going beyond ‘watching’ OSU sports to becoming a financial supporter of our student-athletes.
- Helping coaches navigate NIL expectations and athlete retention by supporting this collective.
- Committing to help keep Ohio State leading the nation in purpose-driven NIL opportunities.
- Reaching out to connect charitable organizations and respective events with Team Cohesion.
- Doing your part however big or small in connecting and supporting athletes in our community.
FOR THE COMMUNITY
Whether it is by attending a charity event or reaching individual alumni and fans on social media, through Cohesion, athletes learn the importance of giving back to the community, both currently, and in the communities in which they will eventually live and work. With so many charitable organizations supporting the great state of Ohio, giving back to them through student-athlete engagement helps them continue to provide accessible programs and resources to those that make this state a special place to live.
FOR ALL STUDENT-ATHLETES
The assumption is that NIL support is for the elite athletes in the most visible sports only. We know that now more than ever, it impacts every athlete in all sports and that the new NIL legislative environment is becoming increasingly important within the prospective high school athlete’s college selection process. It is necessary to maintain recruiting at the highest level. In this increasingly competitive landscape in collegiate athletics, Cohesion Foundation’s support will allow Ohio State to remain competing at the National Championship levels.