Olivia Dunne pays it forward with NIL fund to boost other female athletes
Baton Rouge, Louisiana - Olivia Dunne is sharing her expertise as the highest-paid female college athlete with those hoping to follow in her footsteps.
On Thursday, the 20-year-old gymnast launched The Livvy Fund at LSU. In partnership with Bayou Traditions, the project will help female college athletes like Dunne connect with brands to score their own Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) endorsement deals.
"The collectives mostly go to the men's sports here at LSU, and I just want to fight for equal NIL opportunities," she said, per Sports Illustrated.
The Livvy Fund has received commitments for donations from On3 and Accelerator Active Energy, among other brands. Individual supporters can also contribute one-time or regular donations of any amount.
NIL deals are still a relatively new concept in the world of college sports, as the NCAA only began allowing such brand collaborations in June 2021.
Since then, athletes like Dunne have been able to earn millions of dollars in partnerships and endorsements as they capitalize on their NIL value.
The Sports Illustrated model, who is worth an estimated $3.5 million according to On3, has repeatedly taken steps to help other women follow her lead. She was a featured speaker at the On3 NIL Elite Series event back in May, where she shared her tricks of the trade with future college football stars.
With The Livvy Fund, Dunne hopes to continue to expand opportunities for her fellow female athletes.
Olivia Dunne hopes to expand opportunities for women in sports
"I'm so excited to build on the momentum of women in sports by utilizing the brand relationships I've built to help empower LSU female student-athletes with the knowledge and assistance to succeed in the NIL space," she told PEOPLE.
In a recent podcast appearance, Dunne opened up about her appreciation for long-term collaborations with brands while giving fans an idea of her most impressive deals so far.
Though she didn't give a concrete number, the LSU star said her biggest deal was worth over $500,000.
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