Priority Point System
Q: What is the “point system”?
A: The Tennessee Fund uses a priority point system to help fairly allocate donor benefits. Donors receive points based upon the consecutive number of years that they have given to the Tennessee Fund, as well as for the total cumulative contributions that they have made. This system seeks to reward both a donor’s longevity and gift amount when establishing priorities. With the point total, the Tennessee Fund can “rank” all donors regardless of giving category.
Q: How are points allocated?
A: Points are allocated as follows:
5pts. Awarded for each consecutive year of giving since 1986*
1 pt. Awarded for each $100 donated to the Tennessee Fund since 1986*
1 pt. Awarded for each $100 donated to Capital/Endowment funds since 1986
1 pt. Awarded for each $1,000 in new money raised by a Fund Drive Worker
50pts. Awarded for UT letterman (one time award)
50pts. Awarded for gifts given prior to 1986 (one time award)
50pts. Awarded for 20 consecutive years of giving (one time award)
*Donor point totals are ranked each year as of gifts received by 5:00 pm on March 1st. The donor with the most accumulated points is ranked number 1, the next highest point total is ranked number 2 and so on. Consecutive years of giving points are withdrawn from a donor account if membership is not renewed annually. Regardless of rank, a donor’s annual gift must be made in order to receive the opportunity to purchase priority tickets or parking.
Q: How is the point system used?
A: The point system is used by the Tennessee Fund in the following ways:
Season Football and Basketball Ticket Assignments and Improvements
Using this system, the Tennessee Fund starts with the top annual giving category (the Nathan Dougherty Society) and reviews all requests from those that purchase season tickets in this category in rank order. After all the requests in this category have been processed, the Tennessee Fund then reviews all requests from those that purchase season tickets in the next annual giving category in rank order. This process continues through all the giving categories until all of the available tickets have been assigned.
The point system is used to prioritize between donors who are in the same giving category when season ticket requests are reviewed. Thus, a $5,000 donor with an overall rank of 4000 would be reviewed before a $2,500 donor with a rank of 1000. However, the ticket request for the $2,500 donor with a rank of 1000 would be reviewed prior to all other donors in the same annual giving category who had a Tennessee rank of 1001 or higher.
Once a donor has established season ticket priority, this individual must then maintain the same giving level or higher on an annual basis to retain their season ticket location. If a ticket holder wishes to improve a seating location, the request must be sent to the Tennessee Fund office or ticket office in writing. A form to complete this request is available online at utsports.com. Credit card orders are charged when the order is placed. Any orders that cannot be filled will be refunded.
Football and Basketball Parking Pass Assignments
The Tennessee Fund uses donor rank, as determined by the point system, to assign football and men’s basketball parking passes for donors in the Mountaineer annual giving category ($2,500-$4,999) and below. Tennessee Fund donors at the Bronze Victor level ($5,000-$9,999) and higher are assigned football parking according to their donor rank, as determined by the point system, and in a predetermined zone if their rank does not qualify them for their choice of parking. Women’s basketball parking is assigned in rank order for lots near Thompson-Boling Arena. All football and men’s basketball parking locations are reassigned each year and donors must purchase season tickets to be eligible.
Away Football Games, SEC Postseason Games / Tournaments, and Bowl Game Ticket Assignments
The Tennessee Fund uses donor rank, as determined by the point system, in two ways when managing the assignment of away football games, SEC postseason games / tournaments, and bowl tickets. The primary factor in determining the quantity of tickets that a donor is eligible for is the donor’s annual giving category. However, the Tennessee Fund uses donor rank to differentiate eligible quantities between donors in the same annual giving category, and to reward long-time donors who may be in a lesser annual giving category. Once it has been determined who will receive tickets to these games, the actual ticket locations are assigned strictly in donor rank order, as established by the point system.
