Case Study: Ohio State Men’s Lacrosse Boosts Fundraising by Combining Live Events and Digital Engagement with Insider Inbox
Case Study: Ohio State Men’s Lacrosse Boosts Fundraising by Combining Live Events and Digital Engagement with Insider Inbox Nashville, TN – October 10, 2024 Overview: Ohio State Men’s Lacrosse faced the challenge of building a large and engaged donor base. By combining live events with a strategic digital engagement campaign through Insider Inbox, they effectively grew their donor list. Leveraging QR codes at live fundraising events and using social media to drive sign-ups, Ohio State not only expanded their supporter base but also laid the groundwork for converting lower-tier supporters into middle and top-tier financial contributors over time. Challenge: Like many college athletic programs, Ohio State Men’s Lacrosse initially struggled with not having a large, established donor base. They needed a strategy to expand their list of contributors and move beyond relying solely on top-tier donors. Growing the base of lower-tier supporters was especially critical to ensure long-term financial sustainability. Solution: Ohio State Men’s Lacrosse utilized Insider Inbox to grow their donor base by integrating QR codes at live events, such as their cocktail evening and golf outing. These codes encouraged attendees to sign up for exclusive video content delivered straight to their phones. This method helped not only capture new contacts from event participants but also keep existing supporters engaged with personalized content. Furthermore, Ohio State took advantage of their social media channels to promote the Insider Inbox sign-up form. While social media followers are often part of the bottom 80% of financial supporters, collecting their information and adding them to Insider Inbox enabled Ohio State to engage with this group on a deeper level. The strategy aimed to convert these lower-tier supporters into middle and top-tier financial contributors by maintaining continuous, personalized communication and fostering stronger connections over time. Key Strategies: Using QR Codes to Grow the Donor List: At live fundraising events, Ohio State placed QR codes on table tents, allowing attendees to easily sign up for exclusive video content through Insider Inbox. This strategy not only captured new leads but also helped grow their list of supporters, ensuring that attendees remained connected to the team long after the event ended. Driving Traffic from Social Media: Recognizing that social media followers typically belong to the bottom 80% of financial supporters, Ohio State used their platforms to encourage followers to sign up for Insider Inbox. By promoting exclusive behind-the-scenes content and personalized updates, the program engaged these followers, turning them into potential financial supporters. Adding these supporters to Insider Inbox enabled Ohio State to build relationships and create opportunities to eventually move them up to middle and top-tier donor levels. Converting Lower-Tier Supporters: By continuously engaging bottom-tier supporters through Insider Inbox, Ohio State aimed to cultivate these relationships over time. Personalized video content, regular updates, and consistent communication helped convert these casual followers into deeper supporters, with the potential to become middle and top-tier contributors as they developed a stronger emotional connection with the program. Continuous Engagement: Insider Inbox bridged the gap between major events and campaigns by keeping supporters engaged year-round, even when there were no games or active fundraising efforts. This consistent communication helped maintain interest and reduce donor fatigue, especially among lower-tier supporters who may otherwise lose touch with the program. Results: Significant Donor List Growth: By utilizing QR codes at events and promoting sign-ups via social media, Ohio State significantly grew their donor base. This strategy helped them capture information from supporters who may not have been part of the core donor pool initially. Higher Engagement from Bottom-Tier Supporters: Adding social media followers and event attendees to Insider Inbox allowed Ohio State to consistently engage with their bottom 80% of supporters. Through regular updates and personalized video content, the program began converting these lower-tier supporters into more engaged, higher-tier contributors. Stronger Donor Commitment: By keeping new supporters engaged with personalized, continuous communication, Ohio State deepened relationships with their bottom-tier donors. This engagement created pathways for these supporters to transition into middle and top-tier financial contributors, ensuring a more sustainable and diversified donor base over time. Conclusion: Ohio State Men’s Lacrosse successfully grew their donor base by combining live event engagement with digital tools like Insider Inbox. Using QR codes at events and driving sign-ups through social media, they captured information from a broad range of supporters. While many of these new sign-ups initially belonged to the bottom 80% of contributors, Ohio State’s strategy of continuous engagement allowed them to cultivate deeper relationships with these supporters. Through Insider Inbox, they turned casual followers into potential middle and top-tier financial supporters, creating a scalable and sustainable growth strategy for their donor base. About Insider Inbox: Insider Inbox is a communications software platform that helps coaches and NIL Collectives connect with their top 20% financial supporters through premium, behind-the-scenes video content. Designed to raise more money for special projects and NIL opportunities, Insider Inbox enables personalized, real-time engagement that strengthens relationships and drives financial support. For more information, follow Insider Inbox on social media and visit InsiderInbox.co.
Penn State Athletics and Insider Inbox Announce Multi-year Partnership
Penn State Athletics and Insider Inbox Announce Multi-year Department Wide Partnership Nashville, TN – September 25, 2024 With Insider Inbox, Penn State’s head coaches will engage with the top 20% of their financial supporters by delivering exclusive, behind-the-scenes video content. This direct line of communication is designed to deepen relationships, drive funding for special projects through the Nittany Lion Club, and bolster endorsement opportunities for student-athletes. The platform’s unique capabilities allow coaches to create a more intimate and personalized donor experience, ensuring supporters feel connected to the teams and student-athletes they passionately back. “I know Insider Inbox will really help Nittany Lion Club and Penn State Men’s Basketball as a way to organize outreach and communication with alumni, supporters and friends,” said Pat Flannery, Director of Basketball Initiatives.“ Penn State Athletics will provide each of its head coaches with access to Insider Inbox, allowing them to dive into the world of fundraising while adhering to the guardrails set by the University and the NCAA. This strategic move ensures all fundraising activities remain compliant, while still enabling coaches to harness the power of personalized communication to drive financial support for their programs. Alyssa Francona, Senior Associate AD for Advancement, emphasized the strategic importance of this partnership: “Insider Inbox will allow our head coaches to foster deeper connections with our top 20% donors to generate the funds necessary to support their program’s needs.” Kirk Diehl, Director of Varsity S Club, added, “Insider Inbox will help us keep our Penn State community and alumni athletes closely connected to the teams and student-athletes they care about, and it will play a crucial role in our fundraising efforts.” As part of this partnership, Insider Inbox will be implemented across all of Penn State’s athletics programs, providing real-time messaging from coaches, updates on team activities, and exclusive content that strengthens the connection between the athletics department and its most vital supporters. The platform is designed to scale, ensuring even as donor bases grow, the personalized touch that top supporters expect remains consistent. To kick off the partnership, the Insider Inbox team was on site at Penn State’s campus in August to conduct several in-person training sessions with coaches, athletics staff, and administrators. These sessions ensured the Penn State team was fully equipped to maximize the platform’s capabilities, providing an unparalleled experience for their donors. “From the beginning, it was clear that Penn State is strategically planning for the future of college athletics.” Added Ben Graves, CEO and Founder of Insider Inbox. “By providing this resource to their coaches, they are demonstrating a commitment to supporting them, especially as athletic departments face increasing challenges and changes in the funding landscape.” About Penn State Athletics: Penn State Athletics is one of the nation’s most comprehensive and successful athletic programs, featuring 31 varsity programs and 800 student-athletes. Under the leadership of Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Patrick Kraft, Penn State remains a leader in both academic and athletic excellence. To learn more about Penn State Athletics, visit GoPSUsports.com. About Insider Inbox: Insider Inbox is a communications software platform that helps coaches and NIL Collectives connect with their top 20% financial supporters through premium, behind-the-scenes video content. Designed to raise more money for special projects and NIL opportunities, Insider Inbox enables personalized, real-time engagement that strengthens relationships and drives financial support. For more information, follow Insider Inbox on social media and visit InsiderInbox.co. get Insider Inbox Engage your top 20% with Insider Access. Raise more donations revenue by distributing behind-the-scenes videos in real-time all season. Book a Demo Real-time video distribution AI-powered conversations Athletic events calendar
Insider Inbox adds UTEP Athletics
UTEP Athletics Launches Long-Term Deal with Insider Inbox to Deepen Donor Connections Nashville, TN – September 19, 2024 Insider Inbox is proud to announce a long-term partnership with UTEP Athletics to transform how the program engages with its top financial supporters. This collaboration will involve UTEP Football and other sports, using Insider Inbox’s innovative platform to build deeper, more meaningful connections with donors, alumni, and collective members. With personalized communication becoming increasingly vital, UTEP’s development team is at the forefront of utilizing Insider Inbox’s tools to deliver exclusive content, video messages, and timely updates. This strategic partnership paves the way for UTEP Athletics to sustain and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders for years to come. “Insider Inbox has been a game changer for our donor engagement efforts,” said Michael Levy, UTEP’s Deputy Athletic Director for Revenue Generation. “The tools they provide make it easy to create memorable and timely touch points with our supporters in a time when it’s more difficult than ever to reach people via email. I highly recommend Insider Inbox to any organization looking to improve external communication.” This long-term deal highlights UTEP Athletics’ commitment to enhancing its donor engagement strategy and building lasting relationships across all sports programs. Stay tuned as UTEP continues to lead the way in innovative donor outreach through Insider Inbox! For more information on how Insider Inbox can revolutionize your donor engagement strategy, visit InsiderInbox.co. get Insider Inbox Engage your top 20% with Insider Access. Raise more donations revenue by distributing behind-the-scenes videos in real-time all season. Book a Demo Real-time video distribution AI-powered conversations Athletic events calendar
Insider Inbox adds Northwestern Fencing
Northwestern Fencing Elevates Supporter Engagement with Insider Inbox Collaboration Nashville, TN – September 13, 2024 Insider Inbox is proud to announce an exciting new partnership with Northwestern University Fencing, led by Head Coach Zach Moss. The Wildcats are elevating their donor engagement by offering exclusive behind-the-scenes content and direct communication with their top financial supporters, alumni, and parents. As financial contributions and engagement are key to the program’s continued success, Coach Moss and his team are leveraging Insider Inbox to foster deeper connections with their community. By sharing unique video content and updates, Northwestern Fencing is ensuring that their most dedicated supporters remain closely connected to the team throughout the season. “We’re excited to enhance our communication with our supporters and engage with them in a meaningful, fun way,” said Zach Moss, Head Coach of Northwestern Fencing. Stay tuned for more updates as Northwestern Fencing continues to innovate in donor engagement and strengthen relationships with its key stakeholders! About Insider Inbox After successfully selling RecruitSuite to Teamworks in 2022, Ben Graves, CEO and Founder of Insider Inbox, recognized the growing need for personalized communication within college athletics. Insider Inbox is the breakthrough platform tailored for college athletics, enabling coaches to connect directly with donors and key stakeholders through personalized, selfie-style videos. This innovative approach not only deepens engagement but also drives fundraising efforts, helping non-revenue sports reach self-sufficiency. It’s a crucial tool for athletic departments looking to close the revenue gap and stay competitive in today’s evolving landscape. For more information on how Insider Inbox can revolutionize your donor engagement strategy, visit InsiderInbox.co. get Insider Inbox Engage your top 20% with Insider Access. Raise more donations revenue by distributing behind-the-scenes videos in real-time all season. Book a Demo Real-time video distribution AI-powered conversations Athletic events calendar
Create & Share Your Program Contact Card
https://youtu.be/LMAInNNZZ1I How to Use Contact Cards to Personalize Your Outreach and Boost Engagement In today’s digital age, building trust and establishing credibility from your very first message is critical. This is especially true for coaches and operations staff who frequently engage with donors, alumni, and parents. That’s where Contact Cards (vCards) come into play. These simple yet powerful tools can greatly enhance your outreach efforts and create stronger connections with your audience. Let’s dive into what Contact Cards are and how you can leverage them to improve your campaigns. What Are Contact Cards? A Contact Card (vCard) is essentially a digital business card. It can be shared via text messages, emails, or other digital platforms. When your recipients receive your Contact Card, they can save your information—like your name, phone number, and program affiliation—directly to their phone with just one tap. This not only helps you build trust but also makes it easier for recipients to recognize you in future communications. Why Should You Use Contact Cards? Here are the top reasons why Contact Cards can make a difference in your campaigns: Build Instant CredibilityWhen you send a Contact Card, you immediately show who you are and why you’re reaching out. This clarity helps recipients feel confident about your message’s legitimacy, making them more likely to engage with you. Improve Response RatesPeople are more likely to respond to someone they know or recognize. A Contact Card helps ensure recipients have your details saved, which increases the likelihood of them responding to your messages. Enhance Visual EngagementWhen you use a Contact Card, any Video Share you send will display a thumbnail, rather than just a simple link. This provides a preview of your content, making your message more visually appealing and increasing the chances of engagement. How to Create and Use a Contact Card Using a Contact Card is quick and easy. Here’s how you can get started: Create Your vCardVisit vCard Maker and fill out your information. You can add as much or as little detail as you like, but we recommend including a profile photo to represent your program. This adds a personal touch and helps recipients associate you with your program. Once you’ve finished, hit the “Generate” button, and save the vCard with your program’s name. Upload Your vCardYou can upload your Contact Card in two places within Insider Inbox: Media Library Message Create Screen Create a Message & Share It with Your ContactsOnce your Contact Card is uploaded, you’re ready to include it in your next message. If this isn’t your first time reaching out to the recipient, that’s okay! Just make sure to explain why you’re sending the Contact Card and how it will improve their experience. Here’s a sample text you can include in your message: “Hi [Recipient’s Name], I’ve included my contact info to make it easy for you to save my details. This way, when I send you updates or videos in the future, you’ll have a better experience, including preview thumbnails for the videos I share!” Why Contact Cards Improve Campaign Performance By using Contact Cards, you’ll notice several benefits in your campaigns: Higher Response Rates: People are more likely to respond when they know who’s contacting them. Increased Engagement with Video Shares: With the added visual impact of thumbnails, your messages will grab more attention. Improved Trust: Your recipients will feel more connected to you and your program, knowing exactly who’s behind the messages. Final Thoughts If you want to take your outreach to the next level and build stronger connections with your audience, start incorporating Contact Cards into your initial campaigns with donors, parents & alumni. They’re a simple yet effective way to personalize your messages, make them more engaging, and ultimately get better results. Ready to try it out? Create your vCard now using vCard Maker and see how it enhances your next campaign! get Insider Inbox Engage your top 20% with Insider Access. Raise more donations revenue by distributing behind-the-scenes videos in real-time all season. Book a Demo Real-time video distribution AI-powered conversations Athletic events calendar
Insider Inbox add Ohio State Men’s Lacrosse
New Partnership Brings Behind-the-Scenes Access to Ohio State Lacrosse’s Top Donors Nashville, TN – September 4, 2024 We are thrilled to announce a new partnership between Insider Inbox and Ohio State Men’s Lacrosse! Under the leadership of Head Coach Nick Myer, the team is taking their donor engagement to the next level by offering exclusive behind-the-scenes access and video content to their top financial contributors, board members, parents, and alumni. In an era where operating budgets, revenue share, and special project funding are more critical than ever, Insider Inbox provides a valuable resource for coaches to engage their top financial contributors in a way that makes them feel valued and emotionally connected to the program. By sharing unique content and fostering deeper connections, Coach Myer and his team are ensuring that the support for Ohio State Lacrosse remains strong throughout the entire year. Stay tuned for more exciting updates as we continue to enhance the way Ohio State Lacrosse engages with its key stakeholders! About Insider Inbox After successfully selling RecruitSuite to Teamworks in 2022, Ben Graves, CEO and Founder of Insider Inbox, recognized the growing need for personalized communication within college athletics. Insider Inbox is the breakthrough platform tailored for college athletics, enabling coaches to connect directly with donors and key stakeholders through personalized, selfie-style videos. This innovative approach not only deepens engagement but also drives fundraising efforts, helping non-revenue sports reach self-sufficiency. It’s a crucial tool for athletic departments looking to close the revenue gap and stay competitive in today’s evolving landscape. For more information on how Insider Inbox can revolutionize your donor engagement strategy, visit InsiderInbox.co. get Insider Inbox Engage your top 20% with Insider Access. Raise more donations revenue by distributing behind-the-scenes videos in real-time all season. Book a Demo Real-time video distribution AI-powered conversations Athletic events calendar
Press Release: Official Launch of Insider Inbox
The Problem: Navigating the Growing Revenue Gap in College Athletics Nashville, TN – The shift to a revenue share model between athletes and institutions has significantly widened the financial gap in college athletics. While this new model empowers athletes, it also places immense pressure on athletic departments to find new revenue streams. This growing financial strain threatens the sustainability of the status quo of college athletics. Adding to this challenge is the increasing donor fatigue and confusion, as revealed in our interviews with over 150 major donors, AD, coaches and more. These donors are overwhelmed by frequent requests yet still seek meaningful engagement. Insider Inbox is our solution, designed to address these challenges by offering the top 20% of donors what they value most: exclusive insider access. Insider Inbox enables athletic programs to deepen relationships with their most crucial supporters and secure the necessary funds to thrive in this new era. NCAA/Conference Distributions make up 28% of FBS revenue, with donor contributions at 22%. Engaging top donors is crucial to addressing the growing revenue gap. The Revenue Challenge: Breaking Down the Numbers As illustrated in the image, NCAA/Conference Distributions now account for 28% of FBS revenue, making it the largest single revenue stream. Close behind are donor contributions, which represent 22% of total revenues. Focusing on these top donors is essential to filling the revenue gap widened by NIL policies and growing financial demands. Donor Fatigue: A Growing Concern Donors are increasingly fatigued and confused by the constant demands placed on them. Our interviews with over 150 major donors revealed a clear trend: while they remain passionate about supporting their favorite programs, they are overwhelmed by the complexity and frequency of giving requests. The rise of the “mega donor” has only intensified this dynamic, with the top 20% of donors now contributing to 80% or more of total donations. In some programs, just 5% of supporters account for up to 95% of donations. Insider Inbox is specifically designed to alleviate this fatigue by providing meaningful, ongoing engagement that keeps donors connected without overwhelming them. By focusing on these key contributors, athletic programs can ensure continued support and bridge the widening revenue-expenditure gap. Impact on Non-Revenue and Olympic Sports The growing revenue gap disproportionately affects non-revenue and Olympic sports, which are often the first to feel the financial squeeze. As funding tightens, these programs risk being sidelined or cut altogether. Insider Inbox helps to protect these vital programs by enabling athletic departments to maximize donor contributions, ensuring that all sports—regardless of revenue generation—can thrive. Meeting the Demand for Insider Access Teams already provide insider access through locker room visits, team travel, banquets, and virtual calls. While effective, these methods are time-consuming. Insider Inbox streamlines this process, allowing coaches to deliver exclusive content and updates to top donors in just two minutes per week. You can think of us as “Cameo meets Teamworks but for donor engagement,” providing personalized, behind-the-scenes access that satisfies donor cravings while allowing coaches to maintain focus on leading their teams. Why This Team? After successfully selling RecruitSuite to Teamworks in 2022, Ben Graves, CEO and Founder of Insider Inbox, recognized the growing need for personalized communication within college athletics. His experience at RecruitSuite emphasized the critical role of tailored engagement in building strong supporter relationships. Grant Varner, Head of Sales at Insider Inbox, brings a wealth of experience from his time at Oracle Eloqua, where he met with hundreds of collegiate athletics departments to refine and enhance their marketing strategies. Together, Ben and Grant have crafted Insider Inbox to revolutionize donor engagement and support athletic departments in navigating this new financial landscape. Looking Ahead As we launch Insider Inbox, we’re excited to announce several strategic partnerships, including a landmark 3-year agreement with a Power Four athletics department. By focusing on the top 20% of donors, athletic departments can secure the funding and support necessary to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving landscape. For more information on how Insider Inbox can revolutionize your donor engagement strategy, visit InsiderInbox.co or follow us on LinkedIn for the latest updates. get Insider Inbox Engage your top 20% with Insider Access. Raise more donations revenue by distributing behind-the-scenes videos in real-time all season. Book a Demo Real-time video distribution AI-powered conversations Athletic events calendar
