2018 Survey Results

1). Did you participate in the BILT Foundation tax credit or the state tax credit in 2018?

If NO, please explain why:

Forgot to
I had filed already
Didn’t know about BILT Foundation tax credit
Not sure what it is
We didn’t know enough about it. Will learn more this year and contribute accordingly
Not enough income for another tax donation.
I did not have the extra money. And, I don’t itemize, so I couldn’t write it off. I intend to donate this year
Not sure what it was
Didn’t know about it
Did other contributions last year. I will likely do it in this year
Found out too late
Assume can do again this year for 2018 taxes

2). Many hands make light work. What would encourage YOU to volunteer on a booster club committee?

Comments:

Already a volunteer and will Continue to do so
If I could see what exactly is needed
I enjoy helping!
It has to be something that works for me, something I know how to do and have the time to fulfill
Make it mandatory for every family to volunteer a minimum number or hours or events rather than the same few doing it all the time
I would hope that the success of the program would be encouragement enough
Because I want to support the program
I will help raise money. I will help paint the field. My wife and I will help with the concession stand on non-varsity games.
Excessive playing time for my son, and large monetary kickback under the table
If I knew what the needs are and how much participation would be expected of me
Keep meetings short but keep communication like this, text, etc. flowing, ask for suggestions and improvements from past programs

Comments Continued:

Knowing that my son would have more play time
I like volunteering. It’s just hard splitting the time between different kids activities
Providing opportunities that we could just jump in and help in shorter segments would be good
I always do!! Make every family volunteer X amount of hours for their son to be on the team
If I only had one task
Just letting me know what’s needed
Goals that are realistic to make
Have sign up responsibilities at the beginning of the season and tell everyone they need to sign up for a certain amount of things. Each of us should all serve and support the program but getting an email every week I tend to blow it off more and the same people do it over and over. It takes a little more organization at the beginning for different committees to be organized but it is so nice. We do that for my sons volleyball and it gets everyone involved not the same people
Difficult since both wife and I work

3). Do you prefer to fundraise through a program provided by the booster club or independently?

Please Explain:

We would prefer to fundraise through the community and others rather than asking families to just write checks
It depends on the fundraiser, I like the cards
Cards are a tough sell if your kids are not beating the streets early
We can get more money individually
I don’t want to get emails every week about a new fundraiser
I like to focus on large dollar fundraisers
I have kids in multiple sports, it gets old asking friends and family to buy cards and cookie dough
I would prefer to just give the money needed
I think if you put any effort into it, either way would work
Families were hesitant after the $2,500 was proposed last year
We don’t know where to start… we are a low income family
Get buy-in from parents before deciding to do a golf tournament, night out, poker night

2018 Fundraising Results

2018 Income Summary

$46k

$64k

$85k

Fundraising by Percentage of Players

10% (15 players) Raised $46k (48% funds)

25% (37 players) Raised $64k (67% funds)

50% (75 players) Raised $85k (89% funds)

4). What 3 things would you change about the booster club/program?

Budget:

Save money by reducing the Friday after game parties and Saturday morning breakfasts prior to film. The players can feed themselves at home prior to attending Saturday morning practice
Be more frugal with the money (i.e. no more senior jerseys, shadow boxes). If a family wants any of these, they should pay for it

Fundraising:

Making fundraising mandatory
Every family has to monetarily contribute the same amount to the program (like other sports at highland)
Fundraise earlier, seek out more sponsors, and make those families accountable for coming up with funds Make parents pay X amount for their boys to be on the team!
Don’t want to sell those cards – no one wants to buy them
Too much pressure to fundraise
Don’t force kids to do every fundraiser if they have already covered the cost of what they owe
I still think we should have a team fee
One or two big fundraisers, instead of a bunch of little ones
I would love to see a way that every parent of a playing team member contribute. Even if it is time and not monetary
$2500 was a ton to come up w/last year & was overwhelming.
More tangible options for all families income level… ex: no $100 per person black tie affair

Volunteer:

Somehow get increased participation from more people. I personally struggle with committees, but I volunteered for some game-day things
EVERY parent needs to be required to help at least once during the season with either meals or concessions/merchandise
Make parents volunteer X amount to have their son be on the team!
Name all the parents who actually volunteer!
Have all signs ups organized into committees with a chair and people sign up under them so it is organized for the season and everyone has to help and contribute for a certain amount of things so it is fair and everyone participates
Better organization, have a team of parents assigned to each program

Communication:

Better communication especially to incoming/new parents
Have everything organized and outlined about practices, cost, parent responsibilities at season start
More notice / reminders before meetings, last season several notices went out a day or two before meetings
Need to increase communication and involvement by all
Better communication, parents need schedules and calendars as early as possible
Have one website or Facebook page to update and share information
More information. Frequent notifications on how I can be of help.
Communication through one site
What I wouldn’t change is the email communication. That really helped last year.
I really appreciated the booster club helping some families in need with meals and what not. That was great!
Not sure I’d change anything at this point

Community/Booster Club:

Some way for us to get to know each other – who the other parents are
Making parents feel appreciated
I personally feel that there is constant requests for volunteers but when I have volunteered I felt not welcomed or as if it was not enough
Need to be more positive with coordinated efforts
I think the booster club is great
Booster club has done great things in the past but it has been the same 20 families doing all the work and raising all the money
We have to get more people involved and willing to give time and money
I think the Booster Club has done a phenomenal job. I know that there will always be some disgruntle customers, but I truly appreciate everything you’ve done for my son
Thank you for all you do
I wasn’t as involved last year so I don’t have any input regarding change
Don’t have anything to change – the booster club has been great Find out who the dissenters are from year to year and get them on board. It is ridiculous that there is a group of parents who are trying to do all they can to sabotage the same organization that is giving their sons all of these extracurricular opportunities and privileges.

5). How can the new booster club better serve you and the teams/players?

Budget:

One suggestion would be: Transparent budgeting

Volunteer:

I feel like only 10% of the families volunteer and the other 90% get off
Get more parents on board to lighten the load on those of us who do fundraise and volunteer

Community/Booster Club:

Serve diet Dr Pepper at the games 🙂 haha
Reasonable expectations for fundraising, active participation and interaction with booster club members so that we don’t feel like we are being force fed the club officers agenda
Keep doing what you’re doing and continue the legacy!
Please don’t yell at people and make them feel like they aren’t doing enough if they are 100% involved with boosters
I think the booster is doing a great job
Focus more on football
Require parents to participate. We have a lot of families who help with the booster club, but we have too many families that do not participate in any way.
All families should have to participate
Need to create a positive environment off the field. On the filed the teams were awesome. Booster club was a bit contentious last season with the high demand of per player fundraising goal
I think what the booster club does for the players is great. I don’t think more needs to be done]
I think it’s already looking up
You’re already doing it. Thank you again!
We appreciate you! Thanks for all you have done and will do to provide great opportunities for our football players and team!
I will speak with Board members directly
I love he football program and everything that it does for our kids. I appreciate the time everyone puts in to making it successful and look forward to another great year
You’ve done a good job every year
Continue to help promote/showoff the players as much as possible

Communication:

Use Facebook or one central social media platform page for communication regarding events and dates, practice times and other team related info
Boosters used only emails last year to communicate….it would be nice to have a central place to go when we have questions
Better communication about the team meals, where and when
Keep the emails and information coming-we love information of schedules and practices and such
Provide more time before events or more notice before events
I feel there is a gap in communication to the parents. Boys get the info at school but doesn’t make it home and then I feel out of the loop
You guys seem to already be super on the ball for this upcoming season! Way to go!!! Keep the communication lines open and let us know how we can support you
Better communication with last minute changes. Seemed like sometimes an email update wouldn’t match what the coach told players or different info would come through HUDL app
I just appreciate good communication so I know what’s going on. My teenage son is not good at keeping us informed
Communication Ask for help where needed. Via e mail, remind, sign up genius
Effective communication

Fundraising:

Advertise sponsors on the Hawks website & provide a link to their business website. This helps their Google linking for web searches so it is quite valuable to them
Last year there was absolutely no communication on VIP/stadium seats until very late
We would’ve bought multiple stadium seats as a family including our neighbors and friends had this been communicated earlier on to reserve blocks of seats together
Hoping that premium stadium seats can be sold separately, rather than package only, senior parents will have priority in reserving these seats
Any good programs to raise money should work. BILT very good program everyone should do. Explain better so people get friends to do it. Do now get money back on taxes in few months