Your Role: Program Ambassador & Community Connector
You are the heart of this fundraising campaign! Your participation directly helps your program succeed and reduces costs for all families, including your own.
Remember: The more students who participate, the more money our program raises. The more contacts you have, the more incentives you can earn!
Preparing for the Fundraiser Kickoff
📝 Contact Preparation (Most Important Step!)
Build Your Contact List (Goal: 25+ People)
Contact Method Strategy – Who to Call, Text, or Email:
Organizing your contacts is key to successful fundraising. The most effective method by far is personal phone calls, as direct voice communication significantly increases donation rates. For calls and texts, prioritize mobile numbers of close family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins) and close family friends/neighbors. These personal connections are typically the most successful.
For email outreach, collect addresses for parents’ coworkers, family friends who might not anticipate a call, distant relatives, business contacts, and past program supporters (alumni parents). While emails are convenient for broader reach, remember that phone calls consistently secure more donations.
After setting up your fundraising account, enter these contacts into the BackStage system, ensuring mobile numbers for calls/texts and email addresses for emails. This enables the automated reminder system to function properly for each contact type. For best results, always notify contacts beforehand about your fundraiser call or text, including the scheduled time.
Your network is bigger than you think! Include:
Family Connections:
- Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins
- Family friends your parents know well
- Neighbors (current and former)
- Parents’ coworkers and professional contacts
Your Personal Network:
- Friends’ parents who know you
- Former teachers, coaches, mentors
- Community connections (church, clubs, organizations)
- Local business owners you know personally
Extended Community:
- Your parents’ college friends
- Family members in other cities
- Anyone who has watched you perform
- People who have supported you in other activities
Use this template to create your contact list:
Set Up Your Fundraising Profile
- You will get a QR code to scan to create your account.
- Update your profile with a picture of yourself.
- Feel free to modify the story of why you are raising money to make it personal
- Enter contacts into your “BackStage” to simplify calling and sending text messages
- Entering contacts also allows the system to send two reminders during the campaign.
- Rest assured, your contact information will remain secure and will not be used for any other purpose.
Practice Your “Why”
- Don’t worry you will have a script that tells you exactly what to say and text!
- Take a look at the script and feel free to make it your own
- What your program means to you
- How fundraising helps improve the experience for everyone
- Why you’re personally asking for their support
- How their donation makes a real difference
Make sure you understand “The Monthly Club” option
- If you have someone choose to donate $25 a month for 12 months, you will get full credit for $300 for your incentives
Companies can help you!
- If you or your parents know a company that will donate, the entire amount can be applied to your incentives!
Company matches help dramatically!
- Have your parents help you discover which potential donors will have the company they work for “MATCH” the donation they make.
- You will get full credit for the match for your incentives
🤪Understand your rewards for participating
- Ensure your Director fully explains all the amazing incentives you can earn during this fundraiser.
- Incentives will be based on both the amount raised and the number of donations.
🚀 Campaign Launch
Kickoff Event
- Learn how to use the platform and ask questions
- Attend and be engaged during the entire kickoff event
- Utilize the script for precise donor engagement
- Strive to reach incentives and team competitions, and get excited!
- Connect with teammates and build campaign energy
Initial Outreach Strategy
- The most impactful way to get donations is for you to talk to a potential donor (There is a script you can use to know exactly what to say)
- Start with your most likely supporters (close family, family friends)
- Ensure your contacts are entered into your BackStage so the automated system can send reminders
High-Impact Strategies:
- Personal Calls Beat Everything: Phone calls get better responses than texts or emails
- Tell Your Story: Share why the program matters to you personally
- Company Matching: Always ask – can instantly double donations
- Monthly Club: Invite special people to ongoing support (much bigger impact)
- Thank Everyone: Personal thanks build relationships for future support
Contact Quality Tips:
- Focus on people who know you personally
- Prioritize contacts who have supported you before
- Don’t just ask family – expand to family friends and community
- Remember: people give to people they care about
Handling Challenges:
- If someone says no: Thank them
- If you’re nervous: Practice with parents or friends first
- If technology isn’t working: Call or text directly
- If you’re discouraged: Focus on effort, not just results
🏆 Incentives & Recognition (The Fun Part!)
Earn Incentives Through:
- Individual achievements and milestones
- Team competitions and collaborations
- Weekly progress and improvement
- Overall campaign success
Types of Rewards You Can Earn:
- Immediate: Raffle prizes, director punishments, team treats
- Weekly: Special privileges, VIP experiences, fun activities
- Grand Finale: Major prizes, exclusive items, unforgettable experiences
Remember:
- Multiple ways to win – it’s not just about raising the most money
- Participation and effort are rewarded too
- Team success benefits everyone
- The more contacts you have, the more chances to win!
📊 Track Your Progress
Daily Check:
- Look at your report in your backstage to see who donated recently (backstage only available after you have created your campaign)
- How many contacts have I reached out to today?
- Who do I need to follow up with?
- What incentives am I working toward?
- How is my team doing?
Weekly Review:
- What’s working well in my approach?
- Who should I try calling instead of texting?
- What company matching opportunities can I pursue?
- How can I help my teammates succeed?
🤝 Being a Great Teammate
Support Your Program:
- Celebrate when teammates reach milestones
- Share strategies that work for you
- Help create positive energy during campaign
- Remember you’re all working toward the same goal
Maintain Perspective:
- Focus on helping your program, not competing with friends
- Recognize that everyone’s network is different
- Appreciate all contributions, big and small
- Have fun with the process and enjoy team activities
🌟 The Bigger Picture
Why Your Participation Matters:
- Program Benefits: Better equipment, opportunities, and experiences for everyone
- Family Benefits: Lower costs for your family and others
- Community Building: Stronger support network for your program
- Personal Growth: Building communication skills and confidence
Long-Term Impact:
- Successful fundraising leads to program improvements you’ll experience
- Community connections can benefit you beyond high school
- Learning to ask for support is a valuable life skill
- You’re building traditions that help future students
When You Need Help
Platform/Technical Issues:
- Ask parents for help first
- Contact booster leaders for technical support
- Don’t let tech problems stop your outreach – call or text directly
Motivation Challenges:
- Talk to directors about your concerns
- Connect with teammates who are having success
- Remember that effort matters more than results
- Focus on the people who DO support you
Strategy Questions:
- Ask parents for advice on approaching specific contacts
- Learn from teammates who are having success
- Talk to directors about additional opportunities
🎉 Celebrating Success
Personal Achievements to Celebrate:
- Every contact you reach out to
- Every person who responds positively
- Each donation received
- Incentives earned and milestones reached
- Helping teammates and supporting the program
Remember:
- Success is measured in participation, not just dollars
- Every effort helps the program
- You’re building something bigger than just this campaign
- Your involvement makes a difference for everyone
You’ve got this! Your program is counting on you, and you have everything you need to succeed. Start with your contact list, make those calls, and watch how your efforts help create something amazing for everyone!