A Better Way to Fundraise

http://www.riotsportsmarketing.com I grew up near Pittsburgh and competed in high school athletics- specifically wrestling and cross-country. I graduated and attended the University of Virginia where I had a successful wrestling career. Upon graduation, I began receving information from UVA- brochures and emails then eventually Facebook and Twitter updates. It seemed that they wanted me, Jim Harshaw, to be a fan. How nice! I was eduated and informed. I knew the names of not only the wrestlers but stand-out athletes in other sports too. Boy, there are some great things happening back at my alma mater! Then came the ask. They did not ask me to buy cookies or scratch-off tickets. They asked me to give them money. Turns out I was not in the market for cookies or scratch-off tickets anyway. I was interested, though, in supporting their cause. What I did get was recognition. My name is on a list of donors (its nice to have your name on a list with all of those important people!) So, here it is 17 years after I graduated from my high school and I have not gotten one request to give back. As a matter of fact, I do not even know who is on the wrestling or cross-country teams. Are they having a good season? Who are the stars? When is the next big event? What happened last week? When do we wrestle and race North Alleghany and Shaler (our rivals)? The point is, there is a model that works. And it is now accessible to all of us. You do not have to have pricey media guides or a professional staff writer. Give your fans what they want. Simply communicate with them. Educate and involve your fans and you will have a chance to get more than you give.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• high school
• amateur
• sports
• teams
• fundraising
• booster
• clubs
• social media
• sports marketing
• email newsletter
• Facebook
• college
• non-profit
• donations
• donor cultivation