Historically, funds donated to the university on behalf of the rugby team have been restricted in how they can be spent, and twice over the past 20 years, un-earmarked funds were swept into a general JMU fund. That's the core reason the Madison Rugby Alumni Association, a non-profit, exists: it gives the program direct control over how donations are used.

Not automatically today. Brian has acknowledged this is "a clear hole in the relaunch" of the Alumni Association, recognizing that a small group of generous donors has supported the program for 20+ years before this relaunch.

Since 2021, the Alumni Association and the John Carr Fund have invested over $280,000 in the program, including $150,000+ toward the John Carr Field endowment. An annual budget, major capital projects, and an annual alumni impact report are all part of the relaunched Alumni Association's mandate going forward.

Scholarships are endowed: the principal is never spent, only a small percentage of it (currently roughly 4%) is awarded each year, in perpetuity. As of mid-2026 there was about $170,000 in combined scholarship principal across the Luis De Souza Pinto (~$100k) and Hank Mozingo (~$70k, growing) funds. That structure means the scholarships would keep paying out even if the Alumni Association itself ceased to exist.

The rest of what's raised funds the club's other needs directly: equipment, travel, the Veo camera, field investments like John Carr Field, and event programming.

The university handles the reporting and awarding, taking that administrative burden off the Alumni Association, and it allows donors to receive official JMU giving credit, which a gift to the Alumni Association (while still tax-deductible) does not carry. Scholarship fundraising is intentionally timed around JMU's annual Giving Day to maximize visibility with the university.

Membership dues fund events, capital investments in the program, and the Alumni Association's ability to grow Madison Rugby's standing. See the Membership page for current tiers and benefits.