The London Jr. Mustangs Purple team is an enthusiastic group of 10-year-olds from London, Ontario. They play A/AA hockey in the Alliance division, and they've built a reputation for camaraderie, sportsmanship, and dedication to their sport, backed up by tournament wins in Stratford and at the Collingwood Huronia tournament.
If there's one word to describe this team, it's strategic. Off the ice, they use FlipGive, a team fundraising app that lets members earn money on everyday purchases at popular retailers and restaurants. Team owner Megan Rigby quickly became a FlipGive expert and found every possible way to put it to work for her team, raising over $5,000 in just five months.
How they did it
Megan says the secret to their FlipGive success was bringing everyone on board gradually. It started with frustration; like many FlipGive teams, the Mustangs had tried it all: chocolate fundraisers, penny auctions, hockey pools—you name it.
But Megan grew tired of pressuring families and friends into buying things they didn't need. She even admitted to buying items herself, only to give themaway. That frustration sent her looking for a better option, and a Google search led her to FlipGive. She tried it out on her own first, quickly saw its potential, and brought it to a team meeting. Everyone agreed to give it a try.
They started small—just five parents regularly buying gift cards for meals and groceries. But once the rest of the team saw how easy it was, they were hooked, too.
The path to $5,000+
Megan's approach can be translated into a few simple habits any team can copy. Here's what worked for them.
1. Educate, educate, educate
"When the others saw how quickly we were earning money, there was a lot of interest! I made sure everyone knew how to join and use the app," says Megan.
It sounds obvious, but many teams don't harness FlipGive's full potential simply because members are unsure of how it works. Take the time to make sure everyone on your team understands what's possible.
2. Explore everything you can buy through FlipGive
You can use FlipGive for more purchases than you think. Gift cards for your favourite restaurants? Check. Your weekly grocery trip? Check. Gas? Check. Whatever your family already spends money on, chances are you can use FlipGive for it. So every time you dine out or make a purchase, check FlipGive's brands list first to see if you can earn!
3. Spread the word
Once Megan got the ball rolling, the next step was to recruit supporters. "I had extended family and friends who were happy to join, since they could use FlipGive for their purchases, too," Megan says. Word travelled fast about how much the Mustangs were raising, which opened the door to more referrals and higher earnings.
4. Lean into major shopping seasons
Finally, Megan points to major shopping seasons as a goldmine for fundraising. "I did my back-to-school shopping with FlipGive and put a big dent in my Christmas shopping, too," she says.
Remind your team to use FlipGive whenever they're already planning to spend. Back-to-school season, holidays, celebrations, travels, and everyay errands are all perfect opportunities to raise more without spending more.
New to FlipGive? Start a free fundraising program today!