Tennessee Fund (VASF)

The VASF (Volunteer Athletics Scholarship Fund) was created in 1986 as the development arm of the men’s athletics department. The Faculty Senate strongly objected to the name, since it suggested that funds raised were for scholarships. The name was changed to Volunteer Athletics and Scholarship Fund in 2006, but the Faculty Senate continued to advocate a more generic name. The Tennessee Fund was the final replacement name. Funds received are used for student-athlete scholarship costs, facility upkeep, and general budgeting and operational needs.

The VASF was created in 1986, when the requirement was implemented that anyone not already purchasing football season tickets was required to make an annual gift to the Athletics Department in order to do so. Beginning with the 2006 season, grandfathered season ticket holders on the sidelines were given the option to begin making a donation at a reduced rate or to move their seats to the end zones and have those tickets remain grandfathered. The Athletics Department uses an elaborate point system to allocate donor benefits, such as seating and parking location. Donors receive points based on the consecutive number of years they have given, as well as on the total cumulative contributions the have made. In accord with IRS regulations, donations to the Tennessee Fund are tax deductible at 80 percent of the gift because donor benefits are an automatic response to the gift.

Citation Information

The following information is provided for citations.

  • Title Tennessee Fund (VASF)
  • Author
  • Keywords Tennessee Fund (VASF)
  • Website Name Volopedia
  • Publisher University of Tennessee Libraries
  • URL
  • Access Date July 22, 2025
  • Original Published Date
  • Date of Last Update October 18, 2018