Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by James Madison University, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what James Madison University, its conference, the state of Virginia 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 James Madison
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | "JMU Athletics Name, Image, and Likeness Policy" (file dated 2025-09-16). It reprints Va. Code § 23.1-408.1 and adds JMU's rules for non-institutional NIL: representation "strictly limited to NIL activities"; staff and associated third parties may "educate, arrange, or facilitate" NIL for athletes in good standing; no NIL activity during academic, team or athletic department activities unless sponsored by JMU Athletics; and breaking the policy "can result in loss of access to JMU NIL resources". Earlier versions are dated 2021, August 2023, July 2024 and October 2024; the NIL web page still links the October 2024 file | JMU Athletics, NIL Policy (2025-09-16) and NIL page |
| How deals are disclosed | NCAA: third-party deals of $600 or more go to NIL Go within five business days (Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2). JMU's 2025 policy says "Disclosure must occur via NIL Go" and "Students are encouraged to disclose deals regardless of value to NIL Go prior to the execution of the agreement, but must disclose within 5 business days of execution." Its review section adds "Student-athletes should disclose all agreements prior to engaging in any NIL activities", and athletes who do not disclose may not use institutional NIL resources. Va. Code § 23.1-408.1(I), reprinted in the same document, says "Prior to executing an agreement concerning the use of his name, image, or likeness, a student-athlete shall disclose such agreement to the institution at which he is enrolled in a manner designated by the institution." | JMU Athletics, NIL Policy (2025-09-16); /nil/college/virginia |
| Banned categories | Virginia law bars NIL pay connected with alcohol, adult entertainment, cannabis (not hemp), controlled substances, performance-enhancing drugs, drug paraphernalia, tobacco and nicotine products, weapons including firearms, and casinos or gambling including sports betting (§ 23.1-408.1(F)). JMU's policy adds that a deal with "a direct competitor to an exclusive partner of the University" is a conflicting agreement, and the athlete may then not use JMU marks, property or "reference the institution in any way" | JMU Athletics, NIL Policy (2025-09-16); /nil/college/virginia |
| School marks and group licensing | JMU's policy says athletes "may use JMU intellectual property such as logos and trademarks for their personal brand development", but third parties need rights through JMU Sports Properties, and merchandise with JMU marks goes through a licensing application. JMU-owned gear and equipment "may not be used for a student's NIL activities", and JMU-owned media may be used for personal use but "may not be used in NIL promotions with third parties". JMU's 2024 Honors1 release names licensing programs with Influxer and Athletes Thread and sends co-licensing inquiries to the JMU Foundation, "which manages all licensing for James Madison University" | JMU Athletics, NIL Policy (2025-09-16) and Honors1 release (2024-10-29) |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission lists JMU as participating in 2026-27 and puts the cap at approximately $21.58 million per school. JMU said on 2025-06-10 that it "will opt in to the terms of the settlement" and named Cliff Wood General Manager "with a focus on overall revenue sharing strategy and negotiation". JMU's 2025-06-17 statement says offers "can contain traditional scholarship funds, academic awards or incentives, as well as institutional NIL agreements", and the Student-Athlete Enhancement Fund launched with the Duke Club on 2025-06-24 lets donors give to initiatives "including revenue sharing models and NIL support structures". No JMU total is published | College Sports Commission; JMU Athletics (2025-06-10, 2025-06-17, 2025-06-24) |
| Collective or NIL group | Montpelier Collective. JMU's 2024 Honors1 release says it "launched in May of 2023 and operates independent of JMU Athletics as a non-profit entity to provide NIL opportunities to JMU student-athletes in exchange for promoting charitable partners of the collective", and that gifts to it earn Duke Club priority points retroactive to 2024-07-01 when the donor also makes "a minimum $75 gift to the Duke Club Proud and True Fund". JMU has published no newer statement on the collective, so its status on 2026-10-23 was not confirmed by the school | JMU Athletics, Honors1 releases (2024-10-29, 2024-11-14) |
| Agents and representation | JMU's policy allows an attorney or agent for NIL, "strictly limited to NIL activities". State law: schools may not stop athletes from hiring a registered athlete agent or Virginia-licensed attorney for NIL; Virginia's athlete agent definition includes anyone who represents an athlete on NIL, with registration through the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and a 14-day right to cancel | JMU Athletics, NIL Policy (2025-09-16); /nil/college/virginia |
| Compliance contact | JMU Athletics Compliance Office, through the compliance page and its staff list. The NIL page tells businesses that want to reach an athlete about NIL that they can contact Stephen LaPorta in the athletics compliance office | JMU Athletics, Compliance and NIL page (read 2026-10-23) |
| State law | Va. Code § 23.1-408.1 protects athletes' NIL pay and representation, bans nine deal categories, requires disclosure to the school before signing, bars associations and conferences from stopping a Virginia school paying its athletes for NIL, and requires board-approved school NIL policies; since 2026-07-01, § 23.1-408.2 limits use of athletes' biometric data. In force | /nil/college/virginia |
What is specific to James Madison
JMU built its NIL program, Honors1, around a collective that pays for charity work. The Montpelier Collective, launched in 2023 as a non-profit independent of the department, pays athletes to promote its charitable partners; JMU's 2024 story describes softball and football players promoting American Red Cross blood drives. With Honors1 in October 2024, JMU tied the collective to its own donor system through Duke Club priority points, opened the JMU Dukes Exchange with Teamworks Influencer, and offered help with "professional representation services". After the House settlement it added the Student-Athlete Enhancement Fund and said offers to athletes can include institutional NIL agreements alongside scholarships. JMU is a Sun Belt member for 2026-27, but on 2026-10-12 JMU said it "will join as a full league member no later than July 1, 2028" after the American Conference's vote, and the Sun Belt's statement the same day refers to "James Madison's recent announcement of its planned departure".
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 James Madison
Does JMU pay its athletes?
JMU is on the College Sports Commission's revenue-sharing list for 2026-27, with a cap of about $21.58 million per school. JMU said in June 2025 that its offers can combine scholarship funds, academic awards and "institutional NIL agreements", and it launched a Student-Athlete Enhancement Fund for donors. JMU has not published a total. Virginia law bars the NCAA and conferences from stopping a Virginia school from paying its athletes for NIL.
How do JMU athletes report NIL deals?
JMU's 2025 policy says "Disclosure must occur via NIL Go" and that students "must disclose within 5 business days of execution", with disclosure "prior to the execution of the agreement" encouraged. Virginia law, reprinted in the same policy, says "Prior to executing an agreement concerning the use of his name, image, or likeness, a student-athlete shall disclose such agreement to the institution". The NCAA requires reporting of third-party deals of $600 or more to NIL Go within five business days.
What NIL collective works with JMU?
The Montpelier Collective, a non-profit that JMU's 2024 Honors1 release says provides NIL opportunities "in exchange for promoting charitable partners of the collective", with Duke Club priority points for donors. JMU has published nothing newer on it, so its current status was not confirmed by the school.
Is JMU leaving the Sun Belt?
JMU competes in the Sun Belt in 2026-27. The American Conference's board voted on 2026-10-12 to admit JMU, and JMU said it "will join as a full league member no later than July 1, 2028". JMU's FAQ says 17 of its 18 sports will compete in the American, with field hockey staying in the MAC. NIL Go reporting and Virginia law apply in either conference.
Can JMU athletes use JMU logos in NIL deals?
JMU's policy lets athletes use JMU logos and trademarks for personal brand development, but a business needs rights through JMU Sports Properties to use them, and merchandise with JMU marks goes through licensing approval. JMU-owned jerseys, helmets and other equipment may not be used for NIL activities, and JMU-owned media may not be used in NIL promotions with third parties.
Be your own agent. Leave.
