I think this is important to the OP's question:
View attachment 6025
That's Clemson's direct spending on football, which isn't the same as the funds they've raised. But I think it's a reasonably safe assumption that there's a correlation between the two. They're going to spend as much on their A1 priority (Football) as they can. I know that IPTAY has existed a long time, but the big boost in spending and, I would surmise, fundraising happened over the past 5-6 years. Which also went hand-in-hand with Clemson winning big on the national stage. Clemson doesn't have a huge alumni base, relative to the big State Universities out there. Their numbers are similar to Tech.
So, I don't think we should be discouraged that we're 'too far behind'. There are large untapped GT Alum bank accounts just waiting to be plundered by CGC and TStan. I'm not a big money donor (not yet at least), but I've been asked for and given more in the last 18 months than the prior 8 (slight exaggeration, but there's a definite uptick in fundraising efforts under TStan). The Athletics Initiative alone has raised $72 million in 18 months.
Looking at some of the info on IPTAY, I don't think it's impossible for Tech to reach a somewhat similar level of ongoing fundraising in 5-6 years, with:
1. Continued effective messaging and marketing to a broad base of alumni actively soliciting support. (GTAA/AA lists combined, if true, are a boon for this)
2. Show improvement and progress towards excellence on the football field and basketball court.
3. Show an appreciation of value and commitment to athletics from the Institute as a whole.
4. Leverage opportunities to engage current students, the geographically dispersed alumni and "sidewalk fans".
5. Many other large and small things I'm not thinking of...
"Founded in 1934, the name was a testament to the simple vow that "I Pay Ten A Year" to support Clemson football. Today, the acronym remains to honor the organization's history, but all of its 17,000 members give much more than $10 per year... Half of the members donated at least $1,600 last year, according to the organization's annual review."
"In 2018, it raised $38.2 million in its annual fund, $15.1 million in major gifts, including cash, real estate and securities, $5.1 million in planned gifts and endowments and $6.6 million in premium seating and suites"
https://www.greenvilleonline.com/st...y-athletics-fundraising-arms-race/1445681001/