(Kansas City, Mo. and Lincoln, Neb. – May 2, 2025) – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has renewed its partnership with Opendorse, the leading NIL technology, data, and service company. This partnership will extend Opendorse as the Name, Image, and Likeness Trusted Service Provider of the NAIA through the end of 2027.
As the first national athletics association to deliver a full-scale NIL solution to its student-athletes, the NAIA remains a leader in empowering athletes at every level. Through the continued partnership, Opendorse will serve as the exclusive NIL platform for the NAIA, offering more than 83,000 student-athletes access to a custom marketplace, on-demand education, streamlined compliance, and deal facilitation.
“As the first athletics association to pass legislation allowing student-athletes to benefit from the use of their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), the NAIA remains dedicated to empowering student-athletes to reach their full potential,” said NAIA President & CEO Jim Carr. “The continuation of our partnership with Opendorse further exemplifies this commitment by offering student-athletes access to the market’s leading NIL solution.”
Opendorse will continue to power the official NAIA Marketplace, where brands, fans, and local sponsors can discover, book, and pay NAIA student-athletes for compliant NIL deals. Athletes are also supported with educational tools and resources through the Opendorse NIL Masterclass and Library, along with automatic disclosure and reporting tools to ensure institutional compliance.
“We’re proud to extend our partnership with the NAIA,” said Opendorse Co-Founder & President, Collegiate Operations Blake Lawrence. “Thanks to the vision and strategy of Jim, NAIA leadership, and members across the country, we’ve seen tremendous success in all areas. We’re looking forward to continued growth and opportunity for NAIA student-athletes as we move into the next phase of building our NIL program together.”
As the NIL Trusted Service Provider of the NAIA, Opendorse delivers the education, technology, and support needed to navigate the evolving NIL landscape. The NAIA encourages all student-athletes to disclose NIL activities through the Opendorse platform to ensure compliance with institutional and association policies.
With the renewal in place, the NAIA and Opendorse will continue to shape what’s possible for athletes at the association level—building on a foundation of accessibility, education, and athlete-first support.
About National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of small athletics programs that are dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics. Since 1937, the NAIA has administered programs dedicated to championships in balance with the overall college educational experience. Each year more than 83,000 NAIA student-athletes have the opportunity to play college sports, earn over $1.3 billion in financial aid, and compete for a chance to participate in 29 national championships.
About Opendorse
Opendorse is the technology, data, and service platform powering the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) industry for colleges, collectives, consumers, and commercial partners. More than 150,000 athlete influencers use Opendorse to build, promote, and monetize their personal brands through the largest athlete media network.
For media inquiries, contact Opendorse SVP, Collegiate Services & Marketing Julian Valentin at julian.valentin@opendorse.com.
