BoosterHub

Why Don’t Parents Participate More in the Booster Club?

Booster clubs depend on the participation of club members. Running the club can be a lot of work, between concessions, fundraisers, and other events. While some events are well attended and volunteers are easy to come by, it can be difficult to get regular engagement throughout the year.

If you are having trouble with booster club participation, consider the following ideas to try to improve your engagement.

Try New Forms of Communication

One of the biggest reasons booster club parents don’t participate is a breakdown in communication. Parents who don’t know about events or volunteer opportunities can’t help. Make sure to regularly test your messaging method to ensure that your communications are reaching parents.

You may also have to get creative to break through all of the other messages parents get on a daily basis. Sending out weekly or monthly communications with a calendar may not be enough to reach parents and get them to volunteer.

Try different forms of communication, such as text reminders or even a phone tree. Managing regular communication can be a part-time job in itself. Booster club software can help you organize your communications and streamline contact with parents.

Plan for Busy Schedules

If parent participation in your club is low, it might not be because parents don’t want to help. Between kids, work, and other responsibilities, many parents may be unable to carve out time to dedicate to the booster club.

Make sure to offer opportunities to volunteer at different times, including during the week and on weekends. In addition, you can meet parents halfway by creating opportunities for them to volunteer from home or on their own schedule.

There are plenty of things parents can do to support the club on their own time, such as:

Making merchandise
Shipping or delivering merchandise
Sending emails or letters
Creating newsletters
Soliciting donations

If you present convenient opportunities for parents to get engaged, you can maximize parent participation.

Make It Fun

Parents don’t often have a lot of extra time on their hands, and when they do have a moment, they understandably want to spend it doing something they enjoy. You may need to get a little creative to compete for parents’ precious time.

Bring snacks or drinks to planning meetings and volunteering events, or get the kids involved. Plan fundraising events that are new and exciting so that parents will look forward to coming.

Be Organized

When parents take time out of their schedules to support the booster club, they want to know that their time is well spent. You may have to put in a little extra work to ensure that you are making the most of everyone’s time.

Plan ahead and clearly communicate so that parents know what is expected of them and what they are working toward.

Getting regular parent participation in your booster club isn’t always easy. But with a little extra effort and some creative ideas, you can improve your engagement and make your club a success.

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Ways to Fundraise for a Booster Club

Fundraising is perhaps one of the most important functions of your booster club. However, it can be tough to build momentum, especially if you are new to fundraising as a whole. You can also get stuck in a rut and feel like you are running the same two or three events on repeat. That’s when it’s important to mix things up to keep club members and donors engaged, ensuring a steady stream of support for your student-athletes. With that in mind, here are a few ways to raise more money for the student-athletes you support:

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Non-Profit Donation Receipt

Whenever someone donates to your club, you must ensure that you send them a clear receipt so they can take advantage of their tax deduction. These receipts are your club’s way of saying, “Thanks for being on the team,” and they’re essential for keeping records organized. Providing a timely and well-documented receipt also makes your club appear professional and organized. In turn, you’ll be able to more easily build trust with donors and encourage them to give again in the future. After all, donors need to be confident that you’re acknowledging and managing their contributions properly. On that note, here are a few tips to help you create compliant receipts:

Booster Club Best Practices

Booster Club Rules

You certainly wouldn’t sign up for a sports league without knowing the rules of the game, so why would you attempt to run a booster club without a clear set of guidelines? In a booster club, the rules take the form of bylaws, which are policies and procedures that are vital in keeping everyone on the same page, helping to avoid misunderstandings, and ensuring that each member understands their part in supporting the club’s mission. In some cases, these bylaws will spell out who can and can’t be members, as well as who is eligible to serve on the board. Some states even have standardized playbooks that you need to follow. The University Interscholastic League (UIL) in Texas, for instance, has a playbook of its own, covering specific bylaws for booster clubs that support school programs. In any case, here are some tips for ensuring everyone in your booster club plays by the rules so you can have a productive year: