Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Brown University, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what Brown University, its conference, the state of Rhode Island and the NCAA have published, linked under Sources and read on October 23, 2026. "Not published" means the school has not published it.
The rules at Brown
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | Two Brown documents are posted. Brown's university policy library carries the Name, Image, and Likeness Policy, Policy 04.05.04 (issue date July 1, 2021; effective date June 30, 2026; owner, the Vice President for Athletics and Recreation; approved by the President). It allows NIL pay except agreements without a quid pro quo, pay contingent on enrollment at Brown, pay for athletic participation or achievement, and "Compensation from Brown University for the use of a student-athlete's NIL". The athletics site's NIL page still shows Brown's earlier Student-Athlete NIL Policy (effective and last updated July 1, 2021), and the 2026-27 handbook cites "Brown Policy 04.05.04" | Brown University Policies, Policy 04.05.04 (effective 2026-06-30); Brown Athletics, Name, Image and Likeness Resources (2021 policy); Brown Athletics, 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook |
| How deals are disclosed | NIL Go for third-party deals of $600 or more within five business days (NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2). Policy 04.05.04 adds Brown's own steps. Every NIL activity is disclosed within five business days of signing or agreeing to terms, and work may not begin until the deal is reviewed and approved. Deals of $599 or less are reviewed by the compliance office through Teamworks Influencer; deals of $600 to $1,999 by the compliance office and NIL Go, and the policy says "The Ivy League also requires deals between $600 and $1,999 to be submitted annually to its office"; deals of $2,000 or more by the compliance office, the athletic director, NIL Go and the Ivy League. "Any transaction where the Payer and NIL user differ requires prior Ivy League Approval." Incoming athletes disclose current NIL activity within 30 days of enrolling. The handbook's list reads "$599 and below, Disclose for Teamworks Influencer", "$600 and above, Disclose to NIL Go", "$2,000 and above, Disclose to NIL Go and Ivy League", with disclosure "before accepting their payments" | Brown University Policies, Policy 04.05.04, sections 3.1.4, 3.1.5; Brown Athletics, 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook; NCAA 2026-27 Division I Manual |
| Banned categories | Rhode Island has no statute listing NIL categories. Policy 04.05.04 lists no product categories; it bars NIL agreements that conflict with an agreement Brown has with an outside party. The 2021 policy still on the athletics NIL page lists tobacco and electronic smoking products; alcohol products; illicit drugs, including marijuana and CBD oil; performance enhancing drugs on the NCAA banned list; gambling of any sort (including fantasy leagues or fantasy sports websites, but excluding state-authorized lotteries); and pornography | Brown University Policies, Policy 04.05.04, section 3.1.3; Brown Athletics, Name, Image and Likeness Resources (2021 policy) |
| School marks and group licensing | Policy 04.05.04 prohibits using Brown intellectual property in NIL activities "without the University's express written permission"; its trademarks include the words BROWN, Brown University and Bruno the Bear, and "Iconic Images" of campus such as the Van Wickle Gates, University Hall, Carrie Tower and Brown's bear statues. Corporate partners of Brown may receive permission to use Brown marks with NIL, and athletes may then be permitted to use them under the Name Use, Trademark and Licensing Policy. The handbook says athletes "are not permitted to use Brown intellectual property (logos, trademarks, gear, facilities, etc.) during NIL activity." The 2021 policy allows the factual line "[sport] at Brown University" and requires Nike footwear and apparel while training or competing. Group licensing: Not published | Brown University Policies, Policy 04.05.04, sections 3.1.6, 4.0; Brown Athletics, 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook; Brown Athletics, Name, Image and Likeness Resources (2021 policy) |
| Revenue sharing | Brown does not share revenue. Its 2026-27 handbook says "Brown and the Ivy League have not opted into the House Settlement; therefore, the athletic department or university cannot receive NIL, also known as revenue sharing", and its 2025-26 Parent Guide says "all Ivy League institutions are not participating in revenue sharing". Brown is not on the College Sports Commission's 2026-27 participating-schools list (read 2026-10-23), which puts the cap for participating schools at approximately $21.58 million per school. No Ivy League statement on revenue sharing was found on ivyleague.com. The league describes need-based aid "without granting athletic scholarships" | Brown Athletics, 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook and 2025-26 Parent Guide; College Sports Commission, Participating Schools and Revenue Sharing; Ivy League, A League Is Born |
| Collective or NIL group | Not published. No Brown document names a collective. Brown's official marketplace is the BRUNO Exchange, announced 2024-04-24 with Teamworks Influencer, "a custom-designed student-athlete NIL business registry for businesses, collectives, donors, alumni, fans, and others"; the release says "Influencer and Brown will not be involved in any of the negotiations" and that neither takes revenue from transactions. Policy 04.05.04 defines an Associated Entity and says Brown "shall be responsible for disclosing all Associated Entities or Individuals associated with the institution to the NIL clearinghouse". Brown's 2025-26 Booster Compliance Guide lets a booster enter an NIL agreement if, among other conditions, the booster "has no authority over intercollegiate athletics" and "The compensation rate is commensurate with the fair market value of the goods, services, or money exchanged" | Brown Athletics, BRUNO Exchange release (2024-04-24); Brown University Policies, Policy 04.05.04; Brown Athletics, 2025-26 Booster Compliance Guide |
| Agents and representation | Policy 04.05.04 says athletes "are permitted to use agents and other Professional Service Providers for NIL Activities as permitted under NCAA rules." The handbook says athletes "may hire an agent to assist with and/or represent them for Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) opportunities" in accordance with Rhode Island law, and the Parent Guide says NIL representation "must only be for NIL opportunities and not for future professional contract negotiations". Rhode Island's agent act: agents register with the Secretary of State, an agency contract covers negotiating endorsement contracts, agents may initiate contact only with athletes who have finished college eligibility, and the athlete may cancel within 14 days (R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 5-74.1) | Brown University Policies, Policy 04.05.04, section 3.1.11; Brown Athletics, 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook and 2025-26 Parent Guide; /nil/college/rhode-island |
| Compliance contact | Brown Athletics Compliance Office, compliance@brown.edu, 401-440-0787 (the contact listed on Policy 04.05.04, the Associate Director of Athletics, Compliance) | Brown University Policies, Policy 04.05.04; Brown Athletics, Compliance |
| State law | No statute. Rhode Island has no college NIL statute (bills passed the House in 2021 and 2022 and stalled in the Senate); the Uniform Athlete Agents Act, R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 5-74.1, still governs agents | /nil/college/rhode-island |
What is specific to Brown
Brown's NIL policy now sits in its university policy library. Policy 04.05.04, effective June 30, 2026, sets five business days for disclosure where the 2021 policy set 30 days, and adds a rule the 2021 policy did not have: work on a deal may not begin until it has been reviewed and approved, at three levels depending on value, from the compliance office alone for $599 or less up to the compliance office, the athletic director, NIL Go and the Ivy League for $2,000 or more. Where a deal is not cleared, the policy lists three options: revise and resubmit, cancel, or "Appeal to neutral arbitration". It also covers two less common cases: "Any transaction where the Payer and NIL user differ requires prior Ivy League Approval", and an athlete-owned business that wants to sell to Brown has to become an approved Brown vendor first. The athletics site's NIL page still shows the 2021 policy, so both versions are public. Businesses reach Brown athletes through the BRUNO Exchange. How these rules compare across the eight schools is in the Ivy League guide at /be-your-own-agent/ivy-league.
How Leave fits
In Leave, every deal thread carries a rules summary for the athlete's state and level, and keeps the contract, its dates and the disclosure deadline that applies. It is a summary, not a ruling; the school and the law decide. Leave is software, not an agent, and takes 0% of any deal. You decide, you send.
Questions about NIL at Brown
Does Brown pay its athletes?
No. Brown's 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook says "Brown and the Ivy League have not opted into the House Settlement", and Brown is not on the College Sports Commission's 2026-27 list of revenue-sharing schools. Policy 04.05.04 also bars "Compensation from Brown University for the use of a student-athlete's NIL." The Ivy League describes need-based financial aid "without granting athletic scholarships". Brown athletes can be paid by outside businesses for real NIL work.
How do Brown athletes report NIL deals?
Policy 04.05.04 has every deal disclosed within five business days of signing or agreeing to terms. Deals of $599 or less go through Teamworks Influencer to the compliance office; deals of $600 or more also go to NIL Go (NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2 and 22.2.2.2); deals of $2,000 or more are also reviewed by the athletic director and the Ivy League. The handbook says disclosure comes "before accepting their payments".
Can a Brown athlete start an NIL job before Brown approves it?
Not under Policy 04.05.04, which says "Student-athletes may not begin work until their deal has been reviewed and approved" and "All disclosures and approvals must be obtained prior to the student-athlete beginning work for NIL activities." If a deal is not cleared, the policy lists revising and resubmitting, cancelling, or appealing to neutral arbitration.
What NIL collective works with Brown?
Brown has not named one. Its official NIL marketplace is the BRUNO Exchange, announced with Teamworks Influencer on 2024-04-24, which businesses, collectives, donors, alumni and fans can join to find and pay Brown athletes; the release says "Influencer and Brown will not be involved in any of the negotiations". Policy 04.05.04 says Brown discloses its associated entities and individuals to the NIL Go clearinghouse.
Can Brown athletes use Brown's name or logo in NIL deals?
Only with Brown's express written permission under Policy 04.05.04, which counts the word BROWN, Bruno the Bear and campus landmarks such as the Van Wickle Gates as Brown trademarks. The handbook says Brown logos, trademarks, gear and facilities are not used during NIL activity. The 2021 policy allowed a factual line such as "[sport] at Brown University".
Does Rhode Island have an NIL law for Brown athletes?
Not for college NIL. Rhode Island's athlete agent act (R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 5-74.1) still applies to anyone signing a Brown athlete to negotiate endorsements: state registration, limits on when an agent may start contact, and a 14-day right to cancel. The Rhode Island page has the details, and the Ivy League guide at /be-your-own-agent/ivy-league compares Brown with the other seven schools.
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