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The day Nico Iamaleava's NIL contract dispute broke, UCLA got $60,000 from donors. But the school didn't have them send the money to its collective, Bruins for Life. Instead, it had them give it to a local charity for at-risk youth. Which is run by the founder of Bruins for Life.

foiaball.comHow UCLA used a friendly charity to get tax-free NIL moneyThe school sent donors to a 501c3, but flagged the money for its football team.

20/11/25, 5:58 pm15 reposts51 likes

ALEF

@alexislef.bsky.social

Amazing work

Bruins for Life started as an NIL collective in December 2024. At the time, the IRS had ruled that NIL collectives could not operate as tax-exempt charities. In emails, Bruins for Life founder James Washington flagged his charity so donors could still take a deduction

David at FOIAball

@foiaball.com

20 Nov 2025

In emails, UCLA officials repeatedly steered donors toward his charity, Shelter 37, which works to help at-risk youth in Los Angeles. UCLA officials then emailed Washington to let him know money was on the way.

David at FOIAball

@foiaball.com

20 Nov 2025

Multiple tax experts who spoke with FOIAball called the effort outright tax fraud. When sent the documents, one simply wrote back, "Woof." There's a whole, whole, whole lot more in the story. Give it a read now at FOIAball. www.foiaball.com/p/ucla-nil-c...

foiaball.comHow UCLA used a friendly charity to get tax-free NIL moneyThe school sent donors to a 501c3, but flagged the money for its football team.