HomeTown and Schoolfundr Partner to Revolutionize Fundraising for America’s Schools
COLUMBUS, Ohio & MINNEAPOLIS –(BUSINESS WIRE)– HomeTown, the leading K-12 event management and digital ticketing company which supports thousands of U.S. schools, announced at the 2023 National Athletic Directors Conference (NADC) its partnership with Schoolfundr, the only K-12 focused online fundraising platform that lets schools and teams keep 100% of what they raise, minus standard credit card processing fees. In addition to their best-in-class online fundraising platform, Schoolfundr provides each school with a dedicated fundraising coach to help schools raise more and keep more than ever before. Together, HomeTown and Schoolfundr are committed to empowering schools with the digital tools needed to better manage events, increase engagement, expand their social media presence, collect donations, and manage funds. Leveraging HomeTown and Schoolfundr frees up time and resources for Athletic Directors, coaches, and administrators, resulting in better funded schools, programs, and teams, while providing students the opportunity to reach their full academic and athletic potential. “I was furious to find out that many schools pay fees of 20%, or more, to use outdated and cumbersome fundraising software that offers very little support,” said HomeTown CEO, Nick Mirisis. “When I saw Schoolfundr’s product, pricing model, and the level of service they provide to the schools, I knew Schoolfundr was the future of K-12 fundraising and also the perfect partner for us. Our collective goal is to ensure every school in America uses Schoolfundr, which will put millions of additional dollars back into our schools and communities.” Schoolfundr is the nation’s fastest growing K-12 focused fundraising company, having added over 1,000 new schools to their platform since the fall, and has helped schools raise millions of dollars, fee-free. Schoolfundr’s core software provides coaches and group leaders with a campaign-based fundraising platform featuring customized student pages, 1-click social media sharing, and the ability to effortlessly run activity based “a-thon” fundraisers. Instead of charging predatory fees on every dollar raised, Schoolfundr relies solely on optional donor tips to cover their expenses. “Our goal is not to take funds from students and schools like our competitors. Schoolfundr’s mission is to empower students to keep the funds they raise, so they can reach their full potential,” added Dennis Levene, Founder and CEO of Schoolfundr. “The same donors that generously support students recognize the value in our mission and product, and overwhelmingly choose to support Schoolfundr by leaving an optional tip.” The positive impact of Schoolfundr is already being felt by many HomeTown customers, including Haley Stewart, Athletic Director of East Gaston High School, who said, “I’m very excited about the partnership between HomeTown and Schoolfundr. As an experienced HomeTown customer, I’m well aware of the impact that advanced digital tools can have on my program. Our District has already had a great experience running multiple campaigns using the Schoolfundr platform. The Schoolfundr team acted as a true partner to us and made sure our campaigns were successful and of course it was nice to keep all of what we raised.” To set up a demo to learn more about the partnership between HomeTown and Schoolfundr, visit bit.ly/YouKeepIt About HomeTown Based in Columbus, Ohio, HomeTown is the leading K-12 event management and digital ticketing provider which supports thousands of U.S. schools, districts, conferences, and associations. Our comprehensive platform helps athletic & activity directors, coaches and school leaders simplify the event & activity management process, enable seamless online sales, expand their social media marketing, collect donations, and utilize real-time reporting – which results in better funded schools, and student programs. With a focus on delivering exceptional customer support and service, HomeTown is a trusted partner for educational institutions and event organizers nationwide. Learn more about HomeTown at hometownticketing.com or follow HomeTown on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. About Schoolfundr Based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Schoolfundr is the premier online fundraising platform for school communities. It offers a free and simple way for coaches, teachers and parents to raise money and allows them to focus their time on students rather than fundraising. Schoolfundr is dedicated to helping raise more funds with less effort, keeping the funds raised so students can reach their full potential. Contacts For press inquiries about HomeTown, please contact Lacy Harvey, Vice President, Marketing at lacy.harvey@hometownticketing.com or 830-832-4842. For press inquiries about Schoolfundr, please contact Connor Thinnes, Chief Marketing Officer at connor@schoolfundr.org or 216-296-8272. BOOK A MEETING TODAY
Social Media Toolkit for K-12 Athletic Leaders: How to use HomeTown Social Media for game promotion
Social media presents both opportunities and challenges for Athletic Directors to create and post content. (As if you didn’t already have enough responsibilities as it is, right?) The problem is, the average amount of time a graphic is viewed on social media is less than four seconds, 3.4 seconds to be exact. To spend 5-10 minutes on a graphic that gets viewed for just a few seconds may not be the best use of your time and priorities. With HomeTown Social Media powered by Box Out we’ve streamlined this process to help you not only do this quickly, but to also generate ticket revenue. It’s almost like magic! What Are Campaigns by Box Out? Box Out offers Campaigns, which is a feature that automatically creates and schedules graphics to promote ticketed events to all social media outlets. Benefits of Box Out Campaigns We know that as an Athletic Director, you are managing a lot of moving parts. From operational planning, to budgeting, and event schedules. Promoting your events might be the last thing on your mind because it seems daunting or confusing. With the HomeTown social media integration with Box Out, you can create and post event promotions in seconds. It’s truly that easy. Box Out generates thousands of templates to use on demand, with no design experience required. Simply select the template you want, add your logo and copy – that’s it! And the best part, you can post to all of your social media sites in just one click directly from the HomeTown integration, no additional logins required. Save Time. Get the valuable time back that you need. Increase Ticket Sales. Create multiple graphics in seconds, saving you not only time in generating content, but helping you increase ticket revenue at the same time. Work Efficiently. All if the game information is imported directly from your schedule. From the time and date of the event, to the opponent colors and logo. Everything you need is automatically applied to the graphic! Promote Events. All campaign posts include the ticket url for fans and followers to easily purchase. How To Get Started With Campaigns? To begin, simply click on the Campaigns tab on the left-hand side of your Box Out page. Here you will see the simple steps necessary to begin: Step 1 Choose the ticketed event you are wanting to promote 1 Step 2 Select the style of graphics and the timeframe in which you want your content to be posted 2 Step 3 Choose your font and colors settings 3 Step 4 Review and activate 4 Hometown x Box Out Integration Overview In today’s world, simplicity is key! Meeting the fans where they’re at is critical for driving interest and awareness to your upcoming games. The HomeTown + Box Out integration does the promotional work for you by creating and posting multiple graphics promoting your events to fans; across all social channels. Followers can proactively purchase their tickets in advance while they’re scrolling on social media rather than waiting to buy tickets on game day when the lines could be backed up. This not only gives Athletic Directors insight into revenue projections, but also informs volunteers and administrators of expected attendance rates! Allowing your team the time needed to get the concessions stocked for the big game. Are you ready to get started? GET STARTED
The Role of Technology in K-12 Athletic Events
In recent years, the intersection of technology in education has revolutionized the way we think about teaching, learning, and how we manage extracurricular activities. Among these, K–12 athletic events have seen significant advancements, making them more accessible, manageable, and enjoyable for students, parents, and fans alike. Digital ticketing is a key innovation that has changed how schools manage and fans enjoy athletic events. The Game Changer: Digital Ticketing Gone are the days when attending a high school football game meant waiting in long lines, cash in hand, hoping to get a good seat. Digital ticketing systems like HomeTown have transformed this experience, offering a collection of benefits that extend well beyond convenience. Cost and Time Savings: For school administrators and athletic directors, digital ticketing systems offer a level of operational efficiency that paper tickets simply can’t match. These systems can handle the sale, distribution, and management of tickets electronically, reducing the need for physical ticket booths and the manpower to run them. This not only saves time and money, but also significantly reduces the potential for errors and fraud. Enhanced Fan Experience: With digital ticketing, purchasing tickets to school athletic events has never been easier. Parents, students, and fans can buy tickets online at any time, from anywhere, using their smartphones or computers in the HomeTown Fan Experience. This ease of access ensures that everyone who wants to support their team can do so without the barriers of traditional ticketing methods. Fans can download the HomeTown Fan App from the app store, iOS and Android. Improved Safety and Security: In a world increasingly concerned with safety and security, digital ticketing provides a secure way to manage event access. Electronic tickets reduce the risk of lost, stolen, or counterfeit tickets. Furthermore, digital systems allow for better crowd management, as entry can be controlled more precisely, and attendance can be tracked in real-time. Data Insights: Digital ticketing systems offer schools valuable data insights. Administrators can track attendance patterns, popular events, and revenue in real-time, enabling them to make informed decisions about future events. Looking Ahead As technology evolves, digital ticketing opens the door to new possibilities in K–12 athletics.This innovation is not just about simplifying ticket sales; it’s about enriching the school sports experience, making it more secure and accessible for the future. Digital ticketing stands as a testament to how technology is transforming school athletics, ensuring it remains a cherished tradition for generations to come. Ready to get started? GET STARTED WITH HOMETOWN
HomeTown Spotlight | February: Horry County Schools
HOMETOWN SPOTLIGHT I FEBRUARY 2024 School: Horry County Schools, SC District Athletic Director: Jason Cox This month HomeTown is excited to spotlight Horry County District Athletic Director, Jason Cox, in recognition of how he has been using HomeTown to support the needs of his schools and athletic programs. ABOUT JASON Jason Cox is the District Athletic Director at Horry County Schools and has been with the district since 2007. Jason has a wealth of experience managing athletic departments, including a valuable perspective about how schools can leverage the HomeTown digital ticketing platform to manage their event and activity needs. Prior to becoming the District Athletic Director, Jason used HomeTown as a school-based Athletic Director, and now supports all Horry County school ADs using HomeTown. Creating a cohesive experience for coaches, admin, students, and fans is a top priority for Athletic Directors who oversee the coordination of all activities at their district. And this is an area where Jason excels! HOW HORRY COUNTY USES HOMETOWN Horry County schools started using HomeTown for their digital ticketing needs in August, 2020. They chose to go digital with HomeTown to give their spectators a seamless gameday experience – from ticket purchase to gate entry, they want their supporters to get into the game as quickly and efficiently as possible. “Digital ticketing has allowed us to speed up the flow at our entrances. Spectators can purchase the tickets in advance at their convenience. Our staff can quickly scan their phone for entry. We have eliminated the use of a cash drawer and making a nightly deposit after the completion of an event.” – Jason Cox, District Athletic Director Selling tickets in advance comes with other benefits as well: Being proactive with ticket sales has enabled Horry County to accurately forecast the number of event staff and security that are needed based on actual tickets sold- not projections. Another HomeTown benefit for Jason and all of his ADs has been the ability to communicate with fans before, during, and after games. This has provided each school with a solution to manage game day expectations, utilize digital programs and rosters, highlight students, inform fans of other activities within the schools, thank fans for their support, and much more. Horry County has been successful in increasing attendance at all of their events due to this additional communication, made possible by HomeTown’s platform. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT HOMETOWN? The ease of use for faculty and spectators. Also, the wonderful customer service! “HomeTown Ticketing has been a tremendous asset to the athletic departments within Horry County Schools. We strive to provide our student athletes and spectators with an amazing experience. HomeTown Ticketing is one of the pieces that helps us attain that goal.” – Jason Cox, District Athletic Director BIGGEST TIME SAVER Horry County has a multifaceted approach for time-saving tactics. HomeTown makes it possible to have the ticket office open 24/7. By eliminating cash boxes, all Athletic Directors in the county get home to their families sooner each night. They no longer need to drive across town to the bank to deposit money each night. This also positively impacts the bookkeepers day as well, by reducing the daily tasks they are required to do. Taking it a step further, Horry county utilizes HomeTown to sell memberships, fundraising tickets, and sport passes – creating a centralized location for fans, making it easier for their community to support the school and student athletes. About Horry County Schools The countywide school district encompasses 54 schools in the nine attendance areas of Aynor, Carolina Forest, Conway, Green Sea Floyds, Loris, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Socastee, and St. James. Horry County Schools, with more than 45,000 students, is South Carolina’s third-largest school district. GET STARTED WITH HOMETOWN
A Day in the Life of an AD: Good Morning
A Day in the Life of an AD: Getting Ready for the Day Welcome to “A Day in the Life of an AD,“ our new blog series where we will explore an in-depth glimpse into high school athletics through the eyes of an Athletic Director. In this series we will highlight what ADs in the industry do behind the scenes, what their challenges are, and celebrate their victories. So whether you are an AD, a sports fan, interested in the inner workings of high school athletics, curious about the administrative side, or have a high school aged child playing sports, this series is designed specifically for you. Let’s kick off this dawn-to-dusk profession like a true AD — early in the morning! GOOD MORNING 6:30 AM: Other Duties as Assigned The morning comes early for an Athletic Director. Most ADs are going to be at their school by 6:30 AM — wasting no time as soon as they walk through the doors. It’s 7:00 AM and students are arriving and most ADs will start their day with one of their responsibilities that fall under the “other duties as assigned” category. ADs across the country are responsible for various duties through the day that do not always correlate to athletics. For example: did you know many ADs take on morning drop off duty or bus duty? This is when school-based administrators are strategically placed throughout campus, and at bus drop off locations, to ensure the safety of students. The reality for many busy Athletic Directors is they will spend the first 30-45 minutes of their day monitoring students. This is a great opportunity to meet students and learn more about them! This also allows an AD to interact with non student-athletes whom they don’t regularly get to engage with. 7:50 AM: Daily Tasks Once the AD heads back to their office, there is plenty of work to be done. Mornings can be the quieter (this term is relative for an AD) time of the day for an AD, so an excellent opportunity to complete daily tasks. Here a snapshot of a few common daily tasks: Schedule all transportation Schedule game Officials Confirm contract signatures from opposing teams Trainers are scheduled to be at upcoming games Schedule on-duty Administrator Confirm Tickets are on sale Post game day details and tickets on social media Confirm gate workers Concessions stocked and volunteers confirmed Review facility schedule 9:00 AM: Communications Once the daily checklist is complete, mornings are an excellent time to catch up on communication; return voicemails, email replies, or texts from the coaching staff. Many school administrators and staff rely on regular communication from the Athletic Director, so it’s important an AD dedicates time to stay on top of internal communications. On the heels of communication are administrative meetings. Mornings are a favorable time for school administration to come together to discuss updates, plans, budgeting, and more. One recurring challenge an AD often faces in the mornings following a game, is the reality of inaccurate funds collected from games the day prior. It’s often a discrepancy of a few dollars or the loss of some physical tickets. But no matter the discrepancy, every single dollar matters to the AD and the school. Even a rounding error will signal an investigation and documentation from the AD to ensure every dollar is accounted for. This is one the reasons digital ticketing has been a game changer for ADs. With HomeTown, an AD gets more than just a seamless gate entry experience for fans. They get access to real-time reporting that gives ADs an in-depth look into their event data with just a few clicks — this not only gives the AD visibility into critical data, but it saves them time! 10:00 AM: Facilities We’re not quite done. Last but certainly not least is a facilities check: Which facilities hosted a game the night prior Make sure everything is cleaned up properly Was there a storm or rain? Make sure there is no damage and fields are playable. Technical walkthroughs. Scoreboard working? Lights operating? PA system ready to go? Microphone checks Keeping a close eye on facilities is paramount for an AD. Catching something early and inputting work order to make sure the facilities stay in the best shape for all future games is critical. 10:30 AM: Almost time for Lunch The bell rings signaling the start of lunch and the morning is now over. It’s time for the AD to head to lunch duty. Interested in how HomeTown can make your morning easier? Reach out to a HomeTown representative to learn more. BOOK A MEETING Until our next post: Lunch Duty…
