What Are Bellarmine Knights Athletics Association Priority Points?

Priority points provide a fair and transparent method for determining purchasing priority and guiding the distribution of KAA membership benefits. Points are awarded for alumni status, season ticket holder loyalty, and philanthropic commitment to Bellarmine Athletics by honoring and rewarding donors’ generous financial support. We appreciate you in your efforts to continue giving our Bellarmine student-athletes the best opportunities and experiences in competition and the classroom.

How Do Priority Points Work?

KAA uses priority points to rank active members when distributing tickets, parking, hospitality access, and other benefits. Rankings are determined first by KAA Legends membership level and then by total priority points for all active KAA members. KAA Members can view their priority points group by visiting (Link Coming Soon).

Please note: Priority point levels and group projections for ticket allocation do not guarantee the right to purchase tickets.

Key Highlights

  • Priority is used for regular season and postseason ticket allocation (including Conference and NCAA Tournament events).
  • Contributions to Bellarmine Athletics must be received before the Basketball Season Ticket Renewal Deadline to impact priority for the upcoming basketball season.
  • Married couples receive points for each spouse. For example, alumni spouses earn 40 combined points. (See FAQs below for more details)
  • Active membership includes current fiscal year (June 1-May 31) donors to Bellarmine Athletics. Model effective as of June 1, 2025.

How Are Priority Points Calculated?

KAA Priority Points

Key Dates & Actions

Payments must be received by deadline dates to lock in points and benefits

  • June 1 - Beginning of Knights Athletics Association Fiscal Year & Membership Renewal
  • July 1 - Men’s & Women’s Basketball Season Ticket Priority deadline
  • October 1 - Knights Athletics Association annual Knights Hall membership benefits deadline
  • December 31 - Donation deadline for Calendar Year Tax Deductibility
  • February 1 - Men’s & Women’s Basketball Post-season Priority deadline
  • May 31 - End of Knights Athletics Association Fiscal Year 

Postseason Ticket Opportunities

All Knights Athletics Association members are eligible to request postseason tickets for Bellarmine sports. For Men’s and Women’s Basketball postseason game tickets, priority levels as of December 31 will be used for allocation. Ticket allocation is based on Knights Athletics Association priority, event location, ticket supply, and demand.

Membership Benefits

In addition to the intrinsic benefits, Bellarmine Athletics has composed a schedule of tangible benefits afforded to those supporters giving at specified levels to the Knights Athletics Association (More Information).  While these benefits can be incentives for giving, supporters should not lose sight of the principal mission of the Knights Athletics Association – to provide opportunities through scholarship support for Bellarmine student-athletes. Certain benefits require annual Knights Athletics Association donations, whereas other benefits are available for outright and lifetime giving. The following table outlines the tangible benefits available to KAA supporters.

kaa membership benefits

*Donations of $250 or more made between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026 entitle you to a Knights Athletics Association membership for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

*Due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, your gift may not be tax deductible if it was associated with the right to purchase season tickets. Please consult your tax advisor as to the tax deductibility of your gift.

*Season ticket-based Knights Athletics Association contributions are directed to the KAA General Fund and primarily help in funding BU student-athlete scholarships, 23 Division I teams and the day-to-day operations of the Bellarmine University Department of Athletics.

FAQs

What is considered a qualifiable gift for priority points?
Any gift to the following qualifies for priority points: Knights Athletics Association, approved athletics capital projects, specific sport coach's excellence funds (i.e. - Knight Club), athletic endowments, specific sport scholarship funds, and/or athletics academic and support services. Gifts to Bellarmine University qualifies for priority points at the KAA Legend level (please see Legend section for Priority Points on chart).

Who calculates my Priority Points?
Your Priority Points are calculated by Bellarmine.

Why are contributions made to capital projects awarded more priority points than other contributions?
While all philanthropic donations made to Bellarmine Athletics are significant, our future success is predicated upon fully funding capital projects. Contributions made to capital projects enable our student-athletes to receive a world-class education while competing at the highest levels of collegiate athletics.

I am a B Club Member. Do I receive priority points?
Yes. As a student-athlete alumni, you receive a one-time credit of 20 points for being a former participant. Unfortunately, due to historical files, we may have missed your account. To update your information please contact KAA@bellarmine.edu

Can you provide an example of how my qualifying categories and donations impact the priority points I receive?

  • Ex. 1 --> Audrey is a former field hockey student-athlete and graduate of Bellarmine University. In 2024, she gave $1,000 to the Field Hockey Coaches Excellence fund. Audrey would qualify for 20 points for being a student-athlete alumni (B Club), 20 points for being an Alumni Association member (graduate of Bellarmine), and an additional 1 point for each $100 donated to Bellarmine Athletics annually. Her total points for 2024 would be 50 points.
  • Ex. 2 --> Mike was a President’s Society Member prior to 2023 ($2,000 donation annually to any Bellarmine University designation). To date, in the year 2024, he has been a season ticket holder every year since 2010. Since Mike was a President’s Society member prior to 2023, he would receive 20 points (one-time credit) and 14 points from each cumulative year of being a Bellarmine Athletics season ticket holder. Mike would have a total of 34 points.
  • Ex. 3 --> Sally graduated from Bellarmine University and gave a gift of $5,000 to Athletics Capital Projects (through the Knights Hall Renovation project) in 2024. For being an Alumni Association member, she will receive 20 points and for her giving to Athletics Capital Projects, she will receive 150 points. Sally’s total points will be 170 points.
  • Ex. 4 --> Steve and his wife support Bellarmine at the major gift level and have given an outright gift of $50,000 to the Knights Athletics Association fund. They would qualify as a KAA Legend and would get exclusive communication about their premium status.
  • Ex. 5 --> Molly and Tom are spouses, and both are Bellarmine graduates. However, only Molly is a student-athlete alumni, not Tom. When they give to Bellarmine Athletics, Tom will make the payments, and they give $2,500 each year to the Women’s Tennis scholarship fund. For both Molly and Tom being alumni, they will get a combined 40 points. Molly will receive 20 points for being a student-athlete alumni. For their giving to Women’s Tennis scholarship fund, they will get 25 points. Their total points would be 85 points.

If you have questions regarding your points, please reach out to KAA@bellarmine.edu 

How can I increase my point total and ranking?
Staying active as an Athletics donor and season ticket holder will increase your priority point total each year. Making contributions to Athletics capital projects, Knights Athletics Association fund, specific sport coach’s excellence funds, and annual funds or increasing your current annual giving will make the biggest immediate impact on your points and ranking.

Do points roll over from year to year?
SOME, not all points roll over from year to year. Season Ticket loyalty and alumni points (one-time credit) accrue/roll over, all other points are reset each fiscal year. All KAA LEGENDS major gifts are calculated cumulatively.

Part of my gift is a matching gift from my employer, does this count towards my points?
No, matching gifts are not a factor in your points. For example, if your total gift is $2,000 and $1,000 is given from you personally and $1,000 is matched from your employer, only your $1,000 will be factored in for your points. You would only receive points for the $1,000 personal gift.

Are priority points transferable to another existing or new account?
No. Priority points are not transferable to an existing or new account. Priority points are accumulated through the established named account.

I purchased season tickets through a friend. Will I receive priority points for those tickets?
No. Points are awarded for season tickets purchased in your name on your personal account through the Bellarmine Athletics Ticket Office. 

How are pledges considered in point totals?
Pledges are not counted in point totals. Points will accumulate as you pay your pledge, since points are awarded for gifts received. For example, if you make a pledge of $50,000 to be paid over five years, each annual installment of $10,000 paid will count toward your point total.

What is considered a philanthropic gift?
Philanthropic gifts are any contribution made by you or on your behalf, including contributions from a donor advised fund, foundation or employer contribution. Pursuant to tax law changes in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, ticket related payments made to the KAA or for premium seating are no longer considered charitable gifts. Due to IRS requirements, some philanthropic gifts may not qualify for priority point calculations. Please consult your tax advisor as to the tax deductibility of your gift. In addition, ticket costs are not considered a philanthropic gift and also do NOT qualify toward priority point calculations.

How will priority points be used?
Priority points and rankings will be used to determine eligibility for and priority for access to several donor benefits, including but not limited to:

  • Away game ticket requests
  • Postseason ticket requests (ASUN tournament, NCAA tournaments, etc.)
  • Exclusive donor events
  • Premium seating and hospitality

Do my historical priority points and loyalty matter?
All historical points have been maintained within each donor/season ticket holder’s account. Under the current priority points system, all KAA members are rewarded for their annual investments in Bellarmine Athletics. Please reference the priority points chart for details.

Your membership provides critical support for Bellarmine Student-Athletes.

To make a gift today or to increase your giving to Bellarmine Athletics, please visit bellarmine.edu/kaa.

Thank you for championing our Bellarmine Knights!