LSU Athletics reached impressive heights this past year, winning a division title in football and national championships in women’s basketball and baseball.
Behind the scenes, Matt Borman spearheads fundraising efforts to help make those achievements possible. Borman came on board two summers ago as the new president and CEO of the Tiger Athletic Foundation (TAF). He arrived in Baton Rouge with his wife and two children after a half decade serving as the deputy athletic director at Georgia. Despite overseeing historic fundraising for Bulldog athletics, he says he couldn’t pass up the opportunity when LSU came calling.
“LSU—the reputation and brand—is a step above any institution in the country, in my mind,” Borman says.
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Part of the allure of TAF is its long-standing track record of success. With no major changes needed within the organization, Borman’s been able to ensure his team is taking advantage of every opportunity to raise dollars for LSU Athletics, some of which help fund major construction projects, like improved athletic training space at the football operations building.
“That’s going to be a space that can really impact our football student athletes and all student athletes on a day-to-day basis in their performance,” Borman explains. “It’s going to have more space for medical treatment. It’s going to have some new technologies that help recovery. We’re really excited about that.”
Since Borman took the reins at TAF, the NCAA’s Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rule that allows student athletes to be compensated has become an important piece of college athletics.
“Even though we cannot participate in fundraising for NIL directly, it’s really important, short term, for us to try and connect (interested) donors with an avenue to give and support that space,” he says.
One challenge Borman is trying to dispel is the perception that contributing to TAF is only for wealthy individuals. Any Tiger fan can get involved, he says, with donations starting at $100 a year. Borman’s team prides itself on offering exemplary customer service to all donors, regardless of gift size.
“(We’re) trying to get through that barrier and trying to get the masses involved, all Tiger fans,” he explains.
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Apart from Phil’s Oyster Bar, being able to play golf in the winter and accessible beaches just a few hours away, Borman says the best part of his new role in Baton Rouge has been working with so many passionate LSU fans, who root for the Tigers through all the wins and losses.
“We definitely want to take advantage of the times when things are going really good,” he says. “But we appreciate the fans even more in the times where maybe they’re not.”
This article was originally published in the 2023 Tiger Pride issue of 225 magazine.