JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Lincoln University of Missouri Athletic Department announced on Friday (Dec. 3) that it is partnering with Opendorse to create Illuminate, a program that provides Blue Tiger student-athletes with education and resources to capitalize on their Names, Images and Likenesses (NIL).
 
The department also announced that, in conjunction with the Opendorse partnership, the Lincoln football program has signed a six-figure NIL deal with JP Capital Management to promote financial literacy education.
 
"This is an historic day for Lincoln University of Missouri and LU Athletics," said Kevin Wilson, LU Vice President for Advancement, Athletics, & Campus Recreation. "Being the first institution in our conference to grant new opportunities to our student-athletes aligns with who we are as a university. We are proud to be in the position to help our student-athletes navigate this new frontier and illuminate their personal brand."
 
Lincoln becomes the first member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and the first NCAA Division II Historically Black College or University to officially partner with Opendorse, and Blue Tiger football becomes the first HBCU football program to sign a team-wide NIL deal.
 
"The opportunity that NIL presents isn't limited to college superstars and Power 5 programs," said Opendorse CEO Blake Lawrence. "It's our mission to make meaningful success obtainable by college athletes at every level. Lincoln University's commitment will put athletes in position to earn NIL opportunities, but will also offer the financial literacy and brand-building education to offer a path to economic freedom and professional success."
 
"I join Lincoln University in today's celebration of their NIL announcement," said Mike Racy, Commissioner of the MIAA. "I have been confident from day one that alumni, community businesses and regional/national corporations will see the value of supporting the NIL rights of MIAA student-athletes. The MIAA's ranking among the top-15 of all NCAA conferences with Opendorse during the first five months of NIL activity has documented that this Association is a place where student-athletes have a lot of influence and success, and today's announcement by the Lincoln University football program confirms that the MIAA is a great place to invest your marketing and promotion dollars. Congratulations LU and thank you to MIAA partner Opendorse for your support and encouragement!"
 
Lincoln athletics will use the Opendorse NIL package – Opendorse Ready™, Monitor™, and Social™ – to support its mission of preparing student-athletes for success in the coming era of college sports by offering the market's best resources. Together, the products will empower Blue Tiger student-athletes to understand, build, and protect their brands with the industry's leading education, marketing, and compliance technology.
 
This package has already allowed the LU football program to sign its first NIL deal. JP Capital Management will use Opendorse Deals, the leading NIL marketplace, to deliver NIL deal opportunities to the entire Lincoln University football team. Using Opendorse, Blue Tiger student-athletes can review, accept and execute deals from pitch to payment, and even tax preparation, all with one easy-to-use app. The open nature of the marketplace will grant Lincoln student-athletes access to greater NIL opportunities than might otherwise be available.
 
"I grew up in one of the poorest parts of Ohio battling on the football field with people from diverse backgrounds," said Jamin Pastore, CEO of JP Capital Management. "I expanded my brotherhood while playing Division I football and attribute my success in the private equity space to my varied experiences. Seeing the value in diversity, family and education, as well as creating opportunities and making an impact, is what we're all about."
 
"Everyone, regardless of age, race, or socioeconomic status needs financial literacy," LU Football player TeAndre Skinner said. "Being the most diverse HBCU in the country, centrally located in Jefferson City which is the Capital of the Show Me State makes LU the perfect avenue to touch a diverse group." "My teammates and I are humbled to join JP Capital Management in their mission to promote financial literacy."
 
About Opendorse
Today more than 40,000 athletes around the world use Opendorse to understand, build, protect, and monetize their brands with support from partners including the PGA TOUR, NHL, NFLPA, MLBPA, WNBPA, LPGA, over 100 professional and collegiate sports teams, and hundreds of brands.

Opendorse Ready™
With Ready, Lincoln will provide student-athletes with custom brand value assessments, live consultation sessions with industry leaders, and on-demand access to the NIL Masterclass, an education series featuring experts on brand building, monetization, and financial literacy from leading brands including Instagram, Twitter, the Players' Tribune, and Overtime.
 
Opendorse Monitor™
Opendorse Monitor is the compliance product athletes use to protect their brand. With Monitor, athletes can disclose activities to simplify institutional and NCAA compliance. Institutions are able to evaluate transactions once disclosed by student-athletes.
   
Opendorse Social™
Opendorse Social is the marketing product athletes use to build their brands. Thousands of professional and college sports organizations use Social to maximize their media – equipping athletes with access to video and photo content through drag-and-drop media libraries, one-tap publishing technology, and real-time analytics.