Q: Where should I direct general questions about the Big C Society®?
A: Please email us with your questions to: info@bigcsociety.org. Alternatively, you can call us at +1 (51o) 333-5927.
Q: aM I eligible to join the Big C Society®?
A: Membership is limited to student-athletes who earned a varsity letter in intercollegiate competition for the University of California at Berkeley (since 1908) including Circle-C award winners. Information on the requirements to earn a varsity letter at Cal, by sport, along with other requirements, can found here.
Q: Can I Connect to the social networks of the Big C Society®?
A: All Cal student-athletes, past and present can connect the social networks (e.g. Linkedin, Instagram) of The Big C Society®. The same goes for all of its other online syndication platforms. Current Cal coaches are also welcome to connect. Family members, past coaches and fans are encouraged to ‘follow’ our social media pages without connecting, which will give you access to the same content.
Q: How can I contact the big c Society® if i experience difficulties using the website, or if I have a question for its support team?
A: Please email us with a description of the difficulty that you’re experiencing or the questions that you have to: support@bigcsociety.com. Most of the time, we’ll get back to within a few hours. Alternatively, you can call us at +1 (51o) 333-5927.
Q: WHERE CAN I find information about sports grants, bylaws, eligibility, and other subjects not shown in the header navigation At the top of the page?
A: Check the links in the FOOTER NAVIGATION (scroll to the bottom of the page). Links to our Calendar, Bylaws, Grants (for teams), Letterwinner Eligibility, Athletes in the Cal Hall of Fame and more, is listed below in the footer.
Q: where can I order, or, reorder my varsity awards?
A: Click here to learn how to order, or to re-order Letterwinners Jackets, Zebra Sweaters, Blankets, Rings, and replacement Big C patches. (1st-year Letterwinner plaques are not replaceable.)
Coaches, please submit your 1st-year Varsity Award plaque list to: awards@bigcsociety.org -AND- clifm@usamktg.com
Q: What are the varsity letter awards, by year?
A: The First Year Award is a letterman’s jacket, along with a plaque. The Second Year Award is a ‘Zebra sweater.’ The Third Year Award is a blanket. The Four Year Award is a ring. For more information, please visit our Varsity Letter Awards page.
Q: how do I update my credit card and other e-commerce information?
A: In the top right corner of the navigation bar, click on “SIGN IN”. Follow the prompts.
Q: Is the big C society® a REGISTERED 501(c)3 charity organization?
A: Yes. Our Tax ID number is 94-3079004.
Q: Is the BIG C SOCIETY® PART OF THE CaL ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT?
A: Technically no, (but for practical purposes, yes). The Big C Society® is a University of California Support Group, annually certified, and organized as a 501(c)3 non-profit entity. In kind, it contributes significant resources to, and works closely with, the Athletic Department of the University of California at Berkeley to support its student-athletes and alumni, as noted in its Bylaws and in compliance with the Administrative Guidelines for Support Groups.
Q: What does the Big C Society® Do?
A: The Letterwinner Society of Cal Athletics, The Big C Society® uses the capital it raises from its members to host, sponsor, organize or underwrite all of the following: (hence, the moniker: Athletes Supporting Athletes)
-First Year Varsity Awards for Letterwinners, including a framed plaque with a certificate of athletic letter and a team photo.
-Sports Equipment for Teams, including any durable equipment and electronic devices not covered by the Athletic Department’s budget, like hurdles, baseball bats, pommel horses, iPads, Computers, heart rate monitors, etc (but specifically not apparel, food, transportation, or other consumable elements the annual operating expenses of our teams.)
-The Big C Society® website platform and social media channels, designed to make it easy to find one another, and to network us together.
-Video profiles and podcasts of Cal student-athletes who have gone pro in post-sports careers, designed to both inspire our current student-athletes to consider a wide range of careers, and to illuminate that sensibilities shared by all Cal student-athletes that give them an edge over a lifetime.
-The Hall of Fame Induction Gala honoring Cal athletes whose extraordinarily achievements elevated their teams and the University of California.
-The Senior Recognition Banquet honoring all athletes in their senior year at Cal, whether or not they earned an athletic letter in their respective sports.
-The Student-Athlete Academic Honors Luncheon for all Academic All-Americans, all Pac-10 academic honorees, and those Cal athletes and teams who have demonstrated superior academic achievement.
-Welcome Back to Campus BBQ to welcome student athletes from all teams back to campus.
-Gala's and Events for alums of The Big C Society®.
Q: Are my dues, donations, events tickets or merchandise purchases tax deductible?
A: Yes and No. Your donations are tax deductible and you will receive a letter from The Big C Society® memorializing your charitable giving. Part of loyalty program dues, most events tickets and all merchandise purchased from The Big C Society® are not tax deductible. Federal tax rules prohibit deductions for gifts that actually benefit the donor or certain related parties.
Q: How is the Big C Society® different from OTHER GROUPS THAT RAISE MONEY FOR CAL ATHLETICS OR ITS TEAMs?
A: The Big C Society® is the alumni network of Cal Athletics, and the only cross-team alumni organization at Cal. It’s charter is to build a sense of community across our teams, through events and video narratives that highlight our shared sensibilities (read: superpowers) along with a vital post-sports professional network for the benefit of our talented tribe of student-athlete alumni.
Q: How does the big C Society® determine how much SUPPLEMENTAL support through grants THAT it provides AND WHO GETs it?
A: Each year The Big C Society® Board of Directors authorizes a budget for giving that is limited by the dues and donations that it has received. In kind, and at its sole discretion, the Board of Directors prioritizes the requests that it receives for supplemental funding, and metes out economic support in consideration of its established budget, acuteness of need and other factors.
Q: can I SCHEDULE ANNUAL GIVING?
A: If you'd like to schedule an annual gift to The Big C Society®, we recommend setting-up an annual check release with your banker, family office or donor advised fund. Or, you can also simply navigate to our Sports Fund donations page to make a gift each year. If you have any other questions, please send us a note to: giving@bigcsociety.org or call us at +1 (510) 333-5927
Q: How Do I Set-up PLANNED GIVING fROM MY ESTATE?
A: If you would like to include The Big C Society® in your estate plans, please send us a note to: giving@bigcsociety.org, or call us at +1 (510) 333-5927
Q: does the big c society® accept Matching gifts?
A: Many corporations will match the contributions their employees make to registered charitable organizations like ours. Matching gifts are a great way to increase your support of The Big C Society® and the varsity athletes at Cal, but do not count toward any benefits that you many have in connection with the Cal Athletic Department. Please be sure to let us know if your company has a matching gift program. If you have any questions, please send us a note to: giving@bigcsociety.org or call us at +1 (510) 333-5927
Q: can Foundations and Donor Advised Funds make contributions to the big c society®?
A: Gifts to The Big C Society® generally may be made from private foundations and donor advised funds. If you'd like to do so, please send us a note to: giving@bigcsociety.org or call us at +1 (510) 333-5927
Q: Can I make a gift of Securities?
A: No. As a UC Support Group The Big C Society® can not hold securities or other tangible or real property.
Q: Checks?
A: Yes, we accept checks (although online payments are greatly preferred). Please make checks payable to The Big C Society®.
Checks may be mailed to the following address: The Big C Society®, PO Box 7775 #35067, San Francisco, CA, 94120
Q: Credit cards?
A: Yes, we accept credit cards and PayPal.
Q: Electronic Fund Transfers?
A: Yes, The Big C Society is able to accept gifts via electronic fund transfer payments. Please send us a note to: giving@bigcsociety.org or call us at +1 (510) 333-5927. We'll send you wire transfer instructions.