Pass the Love Back – Online Fundraising
Technology has hit youth soccer in more ways then one. From interactive digital player cards to fundraising and even easy ‘free’ money for your team – the power of technology is making it easier and more fun to be a part of youth soccer than ever before.
What You Need To Know: Discover the uniquely named company — Pear — which has partnered with big name brands to offer a really great program called Pass the Love Back.
Youth soccer is expensive. Most soccer teams want to raise money and many are unsure of the best way to fundraise. From selling wrapping paper (that get’s trashed in the back of the car), Christmas trees (which you have to lug out of the back of a truck), chocolate (yep, it is fun to watch those fundraising profits melt away or get eaten), frozen food (do I need to continue?) — most fundraising tools for sports teams require you to spend money before you start and deal with the hassle of inventory or distribution. What about the power of social media combined with the hundreds of thousands of soccer parents? How valuable is a LIKE on Facebook?
Read SoccerToday’s interview with Stephanie Pratt from Pear on Pass the Love Back, a new fundraising platform for youth soccer and find out.
Diane Scavuzzo: How has social media changed fundraising?
Stephanie Pratt: Now, it’s less time consuming and easier to raise funds. Social media has democratized fundraising. Traditionally, fundraisers had only one community to go out, door-to-door, and rally supporters to participate. Social media has made it easier to get more people involved, in a more user friendly way!
Diane Scavuzzo: How does a LIKE on Facebook fit into all this? How can parents use their social media to help raise money for their kids’ soccer?
Stephanie Pratt: It is easy – parents can activate their community through social media to fundraise up to $1,000 by completing simple online tasks. Each online task is associated with a dollar value. The more supporters that complete these tasks, such as liking a Facebook page, the more money your team earns.
Diane Scavuzzo: What is the goal for the Pass the Love Back Program?
Stephanie Pratt: The idea is to Pass The Love down to local teams — via the sponsorship support of youth soccer. Pear makes fundraising and sponsorship easy for groups, teams, and organizations. The primary goal is to bring NABISCO‘s support of U.S. Soccer to the local level. The sponsorships make a difference in the lives of these soccer players and drives engagement with their parents, NABISCO’s target audience — the household shoppers.
Diane Scavuzzo: What do teams receive through the Pass the Love Back program?
Stephanie Pratt: We offer two different kinds of sponsorship programs through NABISCO Multipacks; direct donations and custom apparel. Non-profit teams are able to earn up to $1,000 in cash donations for their team and the donations can be used for anything from equipment, to travel or general league fees.
For the custom apparel program, groups and teams are able to customize more than just t-shirts. Teams choose their own design and can use their award towards jerseys, t-shirts, bags, water bottles, and more.
Diane Scavuzzo: What does it provide for the local soccer community?
Stephanie Pratt: Local teams don’t always have the same level of resources as others do, so this program helps to provide enhancements to their game via sponsorship dollars to use towards new uniforms or equipment/league fees.
Diane Scavuzzo: What is the benefit of working with Pear?
Stephanie Pratt: Pear makes reaching grassroots scalable, accountable, and cost efficient. Through Pear’s marketing platform, sponsors are able to win the hearts and minds of their most relevant consumers. Rather than casting a wide net, marketers using Pear can build meaningful relationships with consumers by supporting their passion. Consumers don’t want advertising; they want value. Pear is a win-win for everyone involved!
Diane Scavuzzo: What are some of the responses you have received from participating organizations?
Stephanie Pratt: Here are some quotes from user feedback:
“We are so grateful for our RitzBits donation. It was a very simple process and the funds went towards lowering our individual player costs for tournament registrations. Thank you!! We will look forward to partnering with Pear again!”
“Our 0304 Cyclone U1-12 Boys soccer team used the donation to pay for a tournament and ref fees. Thank you so much for contributing to our soccer team! Our boys love to play soccer, and wouldn’t be able to play in expensive tournaments if it weren’t for the generosity of companies and organizations like Ritz Bitz and Pear Up!!”
Diane Scavuzzo: Does it matter if you pick cash donations or custom apparel? Do you raise more one-way or the other?
Stephanie Pratt: Teams have to choose one or the other. Only nonprofit groups are able to participate in the cash donations program. Each program allows groups and teams to earn up to $1,000.
Diane Scavuzzo: Who has used Pear? What age soccer teams have signed up most? And in what part of the country?
Stephanie Pratt: Youth soccer players ages 6 to 18 years old. So far, a total of 509 teams have signed up and 70% wanted the cash donations and 30% chose apparel. Most of our soccer players are in the Southern California and Arizona areas as well as Southern Florida, but you can live anywhere to take advantage of Pass the Love Back.
Diane Scavuzzo: Exactly what is the Pass the Love Back program?
Stephanie Pratt: Pass The Love Back is a specific campaign funded by NABISCO Multipacks and is part of a broader NABISCO campaign supporting soccer which includes Pear and other outside events, including Alex Morgan appearances.
Mondelez as a whole has supported youth soccer over the last three years and will likely continue doing so. As for Pear, Pear has other brands actively sponsoring and interested in sponsoring youth sports, soccer being one of the most popular.
Diane Scavuzzo: Do you expect ‘Pass the Love Back’ to be a permanent ongoing program?
Stephanie Pratt: The campaign is expected to run through the end of May and is not an ongoing program. However, this is the third year in a row Mondelez has associated one of its brands with a specific sport, i.e. Ritz Bits and Multipacks with youth soccer. They will likely continue doing so in the future as we’ve seen a lot of other brands express interest in sponsoring youth sports.
RELATED ARTICLE: ALEX MORGAN KICKS-OFF ‘PASS THE LOVE’