Case Study:
Nashville, TN – November 6, 2024
Kent State Men’s Basketball partnered with Insider Inbox and their Blue and Gold Collective to launch an innovative donor engagement strategy that drove immediate results. This case study explores how Kent State leveraged a zero upfront cost model and a strategic approach to transform their fundraising efforts.
The Challenge:
Kent State Men’s Basketball was seeking a more effective way to engage donors and raise funds, but like many mid-major programs, they needed a solution that wouldn’t require significant upfront investment. Their goal was to build stronger connections with existing supporters while expanding their donor base.
The Solution:
Through their partnership with Insider Inbox, Kent State was able to get started with zero upfront cost. The program benefitted from a flexible revenue share model that reduced financial risk, allowing them to succeed only if funds were raised. This setup made it easy for Kent State to adopt Insider Inbox’s platform without budgetary concerns.
Insider Inbox provided a comprehensive playbook that outlined a step-by-step strategy for engagement. This “do it with you” model ensured that Kent State followed proven methods, including the creation of a content calendar, regular outreach to the coach for video requests, and distribution of personalized messages to donors. The Insider Inbox team worked closely with Kent State to ensure each step was executed to maximize impact.
Revenue Share Model:
The revenue share structure was key to making this partnership work for Kent State. The team was able to launch their fundraising campaign without any upfront costs, as Insider Inbox only shares in the funds raised after specific goals are met. This low-risk approach aligned the incentives of both Insider Inbox and Kent State, ensuring the focus remained on raising funds and engaging supporters.
Playbook Execution and Immediate Results:
With the Insider Inbox playbook guiding their engagement, Kent State identified an initial donor base of about 250 individuals, including friends, family, and former contributors. Using personalized video messages from Coach Rob Senderoff, they launched an introductory text campaign that produced immediate results. Within just 38 minutes of sending the first message, the team had raised over $1,000, demonstrating the power of targeted, personalized outreach even while the overall strategy was still underway.
Closed-Loop Strategy with Stripe Integration:
One of the standout features of this partnership was the integration with Stripe, which allowed for seamless tracking of donations and gifts. The closed-loop system enabled transparent attribution of funds raised, making it easy for both Kent State and Insider Inbox to manage revenue sharing and track campaign success from content creation to gift reception.
Conclusion:
By partnering with Insider Inbox, Kent State Men’s Basketball was able to enhance donor engagement, boost fundraising efforts, and grow their supporter base—all with zero upfront cost. The flexibility of the revenue share model, combined with a proven playbook and transparent tracking through Stripe, provided Kent State with a low-risk, high-reward solution that delivered immediate results.
This partnership showcases how mid-major programs can leverage innovative tools and strategies to drive donor engagement and financial success without the need for significant initial investment.
