Frequently Asked Questions

History • Gold & Black Illustrated • Tax Benefits • Priority Points System • Life Memberships • Purchasing Tickets • Parking • General Membership

History back to top

How did the John Purdue Club get started?

In 1958, the Big Ten forever changed college athletics when it announced that member schools could raise money for athletic grants-in-aid. Athletic Director Guy "Red" Mackey, Purdue Alumni Association Executive Director Joe Rudolph, and Purdue Alumni Scholarship Foundation Director C. H. "Cordy" Hall established the John Purdue Club in that same year. Since then, the Club has become the model that dozens of Division I schools' athletics fund-raising programs emulate. Today, more than 9,000 John Purdue Club members contribute nearly $6 million annually to support 500 Boilermaker student-athletes in 18 varsity sports.

Gold & Black Illustrated back to top

What is Gold & Black Illustrated?

All John Purdue Club members receive a complimentary subscription to Gold & Black Illustrated, a Purdue sports magazine published by Boilers Inc. (a company not affiliated with the Purdue Athletic Department). The magazine has 26 issues per sports season (August to June).

Members receive their complimentary Gold & Black Illustrated subscription via third-class mail and can also access an online version of the publication. First-class mailing is available at an additional fee, paid directly to Gold & Black Illustrated.

How do I change my John Purdue Club and Gold & Black Illustrated mailing address?

You can contact the John Purdue Club office by phone, by email or in person.

Location: Sixth Level, Ross-Ade Pavilion
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone: 1-800-213-2239 or (765) 494-3248

Is my contribution tax deductible?

Yes. All gifts to the John Purdue Club are considered gifts to Purdue and are credited at full value in the donor's giving record to the University.

While gifts are tax deductible, the John Purdue Club will calculate the fair-market value of the benefits accompanying each level of giving. Each year, you will receive a description of your benefits and their value. Your tax deduction should be reduced by the value of these benefits.

According to the Internal Revenue Service, a contribution associated with the privilege of purchasing season tickets is deductible as a charitable contribution at 80 percent of the adjusted gift. The first $200 of your annual contribution places you in the John Purdue Club and gives you priority over the general public. Members also may choose to decline the benefits offered.

A special note for Indiana taxpayers: You are eligible for a 50 percent income tax credit for gifts up to $400 on joint returns or $200 on individual returns.

For those who lease premium seating or suites in Ross-Ade Stadium, 80 percent of annual payments (less the value received) is also tax deductible. Details on this deduction are sent to premium seat holders.

Please see your tax advisor for more information about the tax implications of your donation.

What is the priority points system?

The John Purdue Club has established this system to help with allocating tickets for football, men's and women's basketball, and postseason competitions. The system rewards members' loyalty to the Club and their financial support levels.

How does the priority points system work?

The priority points system takes many factors into consideration (for example, continuous years as a season ticket holder, continuous years as a John Purdue Club member, and President's Council and Alumni Association membership) to determine point totals. More information...

How is the points system used?

The priority points system is used only to determine priority in allocating new or improved seating, in assigning single game tickets, and in determining football bowl and basketball tournament ticket disbursement. The current-ticket policy rewards members for their loyalty to Purdue Athletics and their giving levels: Members who maintain their current giving levels may retain their current seats (barring any wide-scale re-seating).

Does the points system recognize deferred gifts?

Yes. Members who make deferred gifts earn John Purdue Club points immediately, with one point awarded for every $500 dedicated to Purdue Athletics. For example, a member who establishes a $50,000 trust and makes John Purdue Club the beneficiary earns 100 priority points immediately.

If the membership transfers to the surviving spouse, the spouse would receive additional points for cumulative contributions (one point per $100, less the number of points already awarded) once John Purdue Club receives the gift. In the above example, when John Purdue Club receives the $50,000 gift, the surviving spouse would receive 400 additional points.

How often are points added to my total?

Points for annual giving are accumulated whenever a member earns them and are updated monthly. Points for ticket purchases are not updated until the end of the ticket audit for that respective season. Typically, football points are updated in May and basketball points are updated in October (of the following year). Members can call the John Purdue Club at any time for a points update, or they can check their priority points online. They also receive an update on their current points total in the mail at least once a year.

What other membership options exist besides the six annual levels?

In addition to the First Team, Captain, MVP, All-American, Olympian, and Champion levels of membership, we also offer life memberships at the Captain ($14,000), MVP ($25,000), All-American ($60,000), Olympian ($175,000) and Champion (endowed scholarship, $350,000) levels. The funds generated from lifetime memberships are placed in a separate account, and the Club draws only on the interest as long as the membership remains active. All memberships, including life memberships, are transferable only to the surviving spouse.

What is an endowed scholarship?

Members wishing to leave a permanent mark on Purdue Athletics may fully endow an athletic scholarship. When a member makes a contribution of $350,000, the Athletic Department places the funds in an endowment account and uses a portion of the fund's annual interest to pay for an athletic scholarship. Members can make their contribution over a four-year period and select the team that the endowed scholarship will support.

Purchasing Tickets back to top

Where is the Athletic Ticket Office?

The Athletic Ticket Office is located on the first floor of the Intercollegiate Athletic Facility, just north of Mackey Arena. The Ticket Office is responsible for ticket sales for Purdue's 18 varsity sports, postseason competitions, and athletic banquets.

How do John Purdue Club members purchase tickets to Boilermaker athletic events?

Members should contact the Athletic Ticket Office to purchase tickets. The Ticket Office uses the John Purdue Club computer system, which automatically factors in ticket and parking priorities for the different membership levels. The Ticket Office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and at least one hour before the start of home football, basketball, and volleyball games.

How do I order season football and basketball tickets?

All John Purdue Club members receive season ticket applications for football, men's and women's basketball, and volleyball. For priority seating, applications must meet the deadline specified on the application. Applications received after the deadline will be assigned the best available seating.

How do I maintain my season ticket location from year to year?

The John Purdue Club will not move tickets locations for members who maintain their current levels of giving. If a membership lapses, it will be made inactive and tickets will be moved.

As a new John Purdue Club member who is purchasing season tickets for the first time, where will my seats be located?

Like all other John Purdue Club members, new members receive priority over the general public when they purchase season tickets.

In men's basketball, new members are seated in the top half of Mackey Arena's upper arena. Over time, seats gradually improve based on ticket renewal rates and availability.

The John Purdue Club sections in Ross-Ade Stadium have expanded greatly in recent years. On the stadium's west side, Club members stretch nearly from goal line to goal line. On the east side, the Club's section starts at the south goal line and reaches to the student section. New members can expect their tickets to be along the edges of the John Purdue Club section. As in basketball, gradual improvement comes with season ticket renewal and John Purdue Club membership.

Does the Club maintain a waiting list for sold-out football and basketball games?

If an event is sold out or there are a limited number of tickets available, members will have the opportunity to put their names on a waiting list. If tickets become available, they will be allocated according to the priority points system.

Because of the limited number of tickets available for selected football and men's basketball games, the John Purdue Club facilitates a ticket sharing program. Members are encouraged to call the office when they cannot attend a game. The office then gives wait-listed John Purdue Club members the opportunity to use the tickets. Tickets are distributed according to priority points totals and participation in the ticket sharing program.

Members who turn in their tickets will receive gift-in-kind credit. A receipt will be sent for the tickets, but no value amount will be specified.

What kind of parking is available for John Purdue Club members at football and basketball games?

Only John Purdue Club members receive parking passes for football and basketball games. Parking is prioritized based on membership level, not on the priority points system. Members who purchase season tickets receive first consideration for parking space.

What is the function of the John Purdue Club?

Each year, all 18 Boilermaker varsity sports programs benefit from the generosity of the John Purdue Club. The Club is responsible for raising all of the funds necessary to cover the tuition, room and board, books, and academic support costs of Purdue's 500 student-athletes.

How are John Purdue Club contributions used?

All of the gifts to the John Purdue Club support scholarships and academic support for Purdue's student-athletes and improvement to our athletic facilities. Donations are NOT used for administrative costs. Administrative costs are paid through a separate budget, based on ticket sales and radio and television revenue.

Why is the John Purdue Club important?

The Purdue Athletic Department receives NO funding from the University or the state of Indiana. The John Purdue Club is integral to maintaining the tradition of Purdue Athletics.

Who can join the John Purdue Club?

Anyone interested in the future of Boilermaker Athletics may join the John Purdue Club. Many of our donors attended Purdue, but you don't need to be a Purdue graduate or letterwinner to show your support. Approximately 25 percent of John Purdue Club members are not Purdue alumni. To apply for membership, download the application (PDF; Adobe Acrobat required) or call the John Purdue Club office at (800) 213-2239 or (765) 494-3248.

Can memberships or tickets be willed to a friend or family member?

The John Purdue Club's long-standing policy does not permit tickets or memberships to be transferred from one member to another. Membership and benefits can be transferred only to a surviving spouse.

Does the John Purdue Club accept matching gift contributions?

Many companies match gifts to Purdue Athletics. Call the John Purdue Club office, check with your company, or use the University Development Office Web search engine to find out if your company has a matching gifts program.

How do I renew my membership?

John Purdue Club memberships operate according to the anniversary date system, meaning your renewal date is 12 months from the date you join.

At the beginning of each month, the Club sends a letter to all members whose renewal date falls within that month. The letter provides an overview of the past athletic year and a reminder about the contribution given the year before.

Renewals can be made over the phone with a credit card or mailed to the John Purdue Club in the postage-paid envelope enclosed with the renewal letter.

Does my gift make a difference?

Every gift, no matter the amount, brings us closer to meeting the total scholarship costs for dedicated Boilermaker student-athletes. And the impact of your gift is felt not only on the playing field. For Purdue's student-athletes, an education at this world-class university — made possible only through John Purdue Club contributions — provides the opportunity to prosper beyond athletics.