Ludwig P. Gaines, JD, is the co-founder and president of the Vincent Strategies NIL group specializing in empowering colleges and universities to navigate the complexities of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations while maximizing opportunities for their student-athletes and athletic programs. Gaines is a seasoned leader with a distinguished career spanning government, higher education, private sector, legal advocacy, and nonprofit leadership. With a deep commitment to equity and social justice, he has earned a reputation as a dynamic strategist and bridge-builder, adept at advancing organizational missions through strategic planning, partnership development, and transformational fundraising.
Currently serving as a member of the Board of Trustees at Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS), Gaines plays a key role on the financial management, advancement, and student experience committees. His efforts have supported innovative programs to improve the educational experience, promote student success, and foster a more equitable learning environment. They’ve also resulted in record fundraising giving and sustainability for HWS.
Gaines says the NIL work is both compelling and exciting because it represents a new frontier that has the power to transform both individual athletes lives and the institutions they represent. “This is especially true for small liberal arts colleges and HBCUs, which now have a unique opportunity to use NIL as a strategic advantage in recruitment, branding, and alumni engagement,” he explains.
“Leading a team of experts across multiple disciplines to provide holistic strategies spanning legal, financial, marketing, and compliance is incredibly exciting because it ensures that student-athletes and institutions alike can navigate this evolving landscape with confidence and success,” Gaines says.
Gaines is also leading Vincent Strategies philanthropic efforts on behalf of The Memorial Foundation, which promotes and supports the programming and community engagement efforts and upkeep of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. For Gaines, the work with the foundation is personal.
“This is deeply important to me because Dr. King’s legacy is one of service, justice, and transformative change, values that have shaped my own life and work. Philanthropy is not just about fundraising; it’s about mobilizing resources to uplift communities, advance equity, and create lasting impact,” Gaines says.
He adds, “Being part of an effort that honors Dr. King’s vision by securing critical funding and strategic partnerships is both a privilege and a responsibility I take to heart and approach with unrivaled passion.”
Vincent Strategies CEO Dr. Gregory Vincent says, “As an attorney and former elected official, Ludwig Gaines brings a strategic, legal, and policy-driven perspective to these opportunities, ensuring that NIL strategies and Memorial Foundation philanthropic efforts are both compliant and impactful. I know Lud will lead with insight, strategy, purpose and passion in the emerging NIL space and in advancing the mission of the Memorial Foundation.”
Gaines grew up in Queens, New York. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and his J.D. at Howard University. He’s completed leadership training at Harvard’s Kennedy School. For the past several years he has served as principal and owner of The Gaines Group Consulting. A former nonprofit CEO, Gaines also served as Vice President for Legal Affairs for a successful 8(a) minority-owned company. He was elected as a city council member for the City of Alexandria, Virginia, where he served for six years and worked on numerous local, state, and national boards, commissions and political campaigns. He was also an NAACP Political Action Chair.
Gaines was the first African American Alumni Association president of Hobart College. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., a former All-State sprinter and long jumper and the recipient of numerous public and community service awards.