In the latest episode of The Boosted Volunteer podcast, Robin Eissler sat down with Jennifer Martin, the booster club president for the New Braunfels Marching Unicorns. Martin has an extensive background in event organizing and has served on the New Braunfels Marching Unicorns’ booster club board for several years. She recently stepped into the role of president after thriving as the treasurer.
In this podcast recap, you’ll gain a glimpse into the conversation between Eissler and Martin. You can use these insights to improve your club’s fundraising capabilities and garner newfound support from your donors.
Challenges and Support Barriers
Martin cited a lack of parent support as one of the biggest challenges her club faced. She stated that the club experienced a huge decline in support following the pandemic, as many parents altered their social habits.
Another common hurdle the New Braunfels Marching Unicorns’ club faced was poor communication between parents, board members, and faculty members. There were numerous subgroups within the membership, each of which used their own communication channels. This trend led to compartmentalized information and left many introverted parents feeling left out.
The third major barrier Martin faced was the limited support network. As an activity-specific booster club, the organization specifically raised funds and staffed events for the school’s marching band, which included 250 members.
Unlike athletic booster clubs, Martin’s club had a limited support network. They couldn’t source volunteers or donations from multiple sports ecosystems but instead relied solely on entities that support the school’s band.
Two-Way Communication Tools: The Key to the Marching Unicorns’ Success
The major breakthrough for the New Braunfels Marching Unicorns’ booster club came when they adopted BoosterHub booster club software. BoosterHub provided the club with a centralized communication and activity management network that was accessible to board members, parents, donors, and other parties.
Martin and the club board use BoosterHub to disseminate messages to parents, engage with the membership, notify donors of upcoming events, track transactions, schedule volunteers, and more. However, they aren’t the only ones who benefit from the platform’s secure messaging tools.
Parents can network with one another and build bonds within BoosterHub. This trend creates a sense of unity and helps Martin garner additional support for the marching band. Martin says that parents frequently communicate on the app’s forum, sharing information about practice schedule changes, coordinating rides to and from events, and working together for the good of the organization.
Applying These Lessons to Your Club
Martin’s story demonstrates that a well-organized and ambitious booster club can thrive, regardless of location or challenges. Whether your club is facing a major shake-up or simply needs to revamp the way it gathers donor support, communication is key.
Establishing clear lines of transparency will promote collaboration between donors, parents, and board members. Moreover, giving everyone a platform to have their voices heard builds trust and contributes to a sense of transparency. When everyone is unified, your club can accomplish great things!
