Turning NIL Deals into MIL Deals
MENTORSHIP INFLUENCING LIVES
Rather than stale money-driven NIL Deals, MIL turns traditional brand sponsorships and pay-for-play alumni donations into more meaningful mentorship relationships and mini-curated internships that benefit the athlete and the brand in more meaningful ways.
What are the basics of MIL Deals?
DDAP works with Major Sports Leagues, Major University Donors, Major Brands, and Elite QB’s, PG’s and Olympic Sport Stars to turn their existing NIL deals into MIL Deals, where the players earn the money IN ADDITION to a program that provides…
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(1) Mentorship Events matching Athletes with Alumni/Company for life guidance and extended network purposes;
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(2) Curated (quasi) Internships with a company in their off-field area of interest (optional);
(3) A Business And Life Literacy Course (BALL), including NIL and social media training to go with business, networking and life fundamentals taught by content creation companies and guest speakers focusing on mental health if/when the lights go out.
(4) Charity Mentorship Events with Youth where the Athletes and Alumni/Companies give back the lessons learned so mentorship truly does influence lives (501(c)(3)-compliant programs).
When the Supreme Court allowed College Athletes to benefit from their “Name, Image, and Likeness” (NIL) in 2021, it did more than allow for social media posts and alumni pay-for-play deals to attend their school - it broke down the barrier between the athlete and the business elite of the community, allowing for paid internships and meaningful mentorship-based relationships.
It was with this “lifetime value-add” mindset that DD Advisory Partners created the first MIL Deal in 2022, bringing together Heisman Winner Caleb Williams and Real Estate Private Equity fund Hawkins Way Capital In what was described by Sports Illustrated and the LA Times as a “jaw-dropping NIL deal” and "the most unique in the star QB’s growing portfolio”, this mentorship-based deal has already resulted in, among other things, an equity piece in the sports-focused fund that owns Angel City FC, and the formation of Caleb's own investment fund 888 Midas, backed by Mentors Ross Walker and Lew Wolff.
How was the concept of MIL born?
What was the first MIL Program with a Prep School / University?
DD Advisory then applied these principles for the top prep basketball program on the west coast, Prolific Prep located in Napa - who has finished in National Top 5 and had a player ranked in the Top 5 of the class rankings each of the last 4 years (including AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Petterson, most recently).
DD Advisory curated and taught the initial Business and Life Literacy Course to the star high school players, with the final project hosted by Bank of America Private Bank in the executive conference room overlooking downtown San Francisco, and the use of a Cayenne provided by a local Porsche dealership in California.
Also included within the BALL course are mock and real NIL negotiations, social media content creation, alumni and brand correspondence, and the facilitation of mentorship up and down, for players such as current New Orleans Pelican center Yves Missi.
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Pro Sports Leagues looking to spearhead brand sponsorship deals by providing the turn-key MIL marketing approach and content bringing the young athletes money, education and lifelong networking benefits. mentorship. brand deals to the young players…
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DDAP works with/for the leagues to create an MIL marketplace for brands to find and enter into MIL deals with players, and DDAP then organizes and manages all MIL deals - with all content owned by the sports league
Traditional Brands in Sports Marketing (e.g., hospitals, energy drinks, fitness, apparel) looking to get more out of ordinary NIL sponsorship deals and scoreboard signage…
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DDAP matches Sponsors with Athletes to create MIL programs, with ready-made social media and other marketing content from the internships and mentorship.
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Alumni Donors from Specialized Prep Schools & Universities looking for their donation dollars to do something more long-lasting than a one-year cash grab….
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DDAP works with the institution to turn that donation into the MIL framework meant specifically for the highly-specialized Athletes, niche sports, and prep institutions
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Elite QB's, PG's, Drivers & Olympic Stars looking to capitalize on the unique time in their lives where alumni and company management want to help them learn and develop…
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DDAP utilizes its network, the Athlete's alumni network, and local brands to find partners interested in the enhanced values of MIL deals with the athletes.
What entities are turning NIL
into MIL now?
What charities and preferred charities work with MIL?
An absolutely integral part of an MIL Deal is the charitable component, where the Athlete (and mentor) gives back the lessons learned by mentoring the youth in their community.
DD Advisory Partners can work with ANY Youth-focused charity to facilitate special experiences for the kids together with the Athlete and the Alumni/Company Mentor, but it’s preferred youth organization to work with is the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (“ARC”).
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Founded by Scott Budnick, long-time colleague and friend of DD Advisory, and Producer of The Hangover and Old School, ARC is a mentorship network for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated juveniles, and has become a national leader in criminal justice reform using the power of celebrity and new media.
ARC serves over 6,000 young men and women still inside prisons, over 1,400 active formerly incarcerated members, and holds regular support network meetings and social outings - including frequent collaboration with NBA players and coaches to teach life through the game. Notable contributors and Board Members include Steve Ballmer, Wes Edens, Kim Kardashian, Common, and Jonah Hill.
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MIL Deals
Mentorship Influencing Lives
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Are you an Athlete looking for support with Mentorship, Networking, and Educational Opportunities?
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Are you a Company looking to enhance traditional brand deals with value-add components for all?
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Complete the form below, we would love to hear from you.