March 15, 2011

The Golden Gopher Fund, the official fundraising arm for Minnesota Athletics, announced Monday that it has launched a new website, www.GoldenGopherFund.com, in order to provide the best possible service to every current and future Golden Gopher Fund donor.

GoldenGopherFund.com is a full-service athletics development website that emphasizes the importance of donor support in maintaining a world-class academic and athletic environment for Gopher student-athletes. "Our mission in developing GoldenGopherFund.com is to allow donors to access information and understand why their gift is important while providing a connection to our organization," Associate Athletics Director David Crum said. "I believe we've raised the bar with GoldenGopherFund.com as we utilize this website as a communication and customer-service platform for all of our donors and inspire them to support the Gopher Athletics."

The Golden Gopher Fund provides opportunities for more than 750 student-athletes across 25 sports programs. As a key tool for increasing support, GoldenGopherFund.com provides visitors with comprehensive information regarding the various ways to support our student-athletes. The website is a destination for all current and potential members, and is designed to provide the most up-to-date, accurate and detailed information for any individual or entity interested in supporting Gopher Athletics.

GoldenGopherFund.com focuses on important details related to the annual fund, capital campaigns, preferred and premium seating, parking, endowments and various donor events as well as ways to get involved in supporting Gopher student-athletes.

Other special features include interactive benefits charts, in-depth stories covering Gopher Athletics' donors and the positive impact they have had on the lives of Minnesota's student-athletes, as well as photo and video galleries.

"We have told our personal Gopher story in the hopes that others will be inspired to support our fine student athletes, exciting initiatives and future dreams," said Nancy Lindahl, who along with her husband John, is currently featured on the website. "It has been rewarding and inspiring to be part of the Gopher team. We are very proud of the University of Minnesota's reputation in intercollegiate athletics. We have a great legacy and a bright future."

For more on the Golden Gopher Fund, please visit its new site www.GoldenGopherFund.com.

About David Crum:

David Crum joined the University of Minnesota Athletics Department in June of 2007. In his role as Associate Athletics Director/Director of Development, he oversees the Golden Gopher Fund, which is responsible for major gifts fundraising, capital campaign projects, scholarship funds, annual giving, endowments and gift planning.

Before coming to the University of Minnesota, David served as Assistant Athletics Director for Major Gifts at Iowa State University for three years. Prior to that position, he served as Assistant Athletics Director for Ticket Operations at ISU, during which time he oversaw extensive expansion of ticket operations for Cyclone fans.

Prior to Crum's appointment at Iowa State, he was the Director of Ticketing and Game Management at Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe, Louisiana. He also served as the Assistant Ticket Manager at Nebraska in 1994, and Vault Supervisor for the Central Ticket Office at UCLA from 1991 to 1994.

Crum, a native of Hettinger and Grand Forks, North Dakota, received his bachelor's degree in communications from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota in 1989, and his master's degree in athletics administration from Ohio State. David and his wife Linda have three daughters: Allison, Abigail and Adelade.