How to Run a Volleyball Serve-a-Thon Fundraiser
The Step-by-Step Guide to Running a Volleyball Serve-A-Thon
Choose a Date & Theme
- Choose the date of your Volleyball Serve-A-Thon three months before the event. Serve-A-Thons usually take place on a single day, so choose one that doesn't conflict with other important events and plan for a time of year when people are unlikely to be away.
- Coordinate with the school to reserve the gym or outdoor space if weather allows.
- Consider a theme for your Serve-A-Thon — involving colors or costumes (see the “Theme Ideas” section for inspiration).
Use these templates to keep your Serve-A-Thon planning on track:
Call for Volunteers
- Put out a call for volunteers two months before the event. Use FutureFund’s messaging system to reach parents and volunteers most likely to help.
- Clearly state what project the Volleyball Serve-A-Thon supports.
- Run background checks for non-school volunteers if required.
- Event Coordinator: Oversees planning and execution, and acts as main contact with the school or venue.
- Registration Team: Handles sign-ups, check-ins, and information distribution.
- Volleyball Coaches / Instructors: Guide participants on serving techniques, rules, and safety.
- Scorekeepers and Statisticians: Track serves, scores, and stats throughout the event.
- Set-Up and Tear-Down Crew: Assemble courts and equipment before the event and pack up afterward.
- Referees: Ensure fair play and rule compliance.
- Snack and Hydration Volunteers: Manage water and snack tables.
- Photographers / Videographers: Capture moments for promotion and keepsakes.
- First Aid and Safety Team: Provide basic care and monitor safety.
Choose Student Incentives
- Incentives motivate students to register and collect pledges. Each student should have a goal of $200–$400.
- Reward the class or group that raises the most funds rather than individuals to encourage teamwork and cost-efficiency (e.g., a pizza party or ice-cream social).
Create Your Serve-A-Thon Campaign
Use FutureFund to create a Pledge-A-Thon campaign and enter your details. Make sure you include:
- A clear description and rules stating how funds will be used and what incentives exist.
- A leaderboard showing classes, teachers, and totals. Fully customizable in FutureFund.
- A pledge template students can share with friends and family for donations.
Here’s a Canva template with sample Serve-A-Thon rules. Click “Use template for new design” to create an editable version and customize details, fonts, and graphics.
Announce the Event & Sign-Up Students
- Announce your Volleyball Serve-A-Thon two weeks before the event and invite student sign-ups.
- Share news via school newsletter, morning announcements, and FutureFund messaging to explain its purpose and how to join.
- Send reminder emails every other day before the event to boost sign-ups.
- On event day morning, send a final announcement to energize participants and supporters.
Subject: Get Ready to Serve Big at [School Name]’s Volleyball Serve-A-Thon!
Hello Students,
Step onto the court and join our annual Volleyball Serve-A-Thon! It’s a chance to practice your serves, have fun with friends, and support our school’s fundraising goal.
Why join?
- Participate in a fun, active event and show off your skills.
- Help raise funds for [insert cause or project].
- Earn recognition and prizes for team spirit and fundraising achievements.
How to Sign Up:
It’s easy — just register through FutureFund [insert link], follow the steps, and start sharing your pledge page with friends and family!
Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, this event is for everyone. Let’s serve up some fun for a great cause!
You can also use this Canva template to keep a copy of your email script handy. Click "Use template for new design" to create an editable version, then add custom information for your event, change fonts and graphics, and more!
Subject: Thank You for Supporting [School Name]’s Volleyball Serve-A-Thon!
Dear [Donor’s Name],
On behalf of our entire school community, thank you for contributing to our Volleyball Serve-A-Thon! Your generosity keeps our students active, engaged, and empowered to reach their goals.
Here’s where we stand:
- [Number of students] have stepped up to serve!
- We’ve achieved [percentage]% of our fundraising goal so far.
There’s still time to help us reach the finish line — share our event link and invite others to support this spirited fundraiser through FutureFund at [insert link].
Every serve, every pledge, and every act of support brings us closer to success. Thank you for being part of it!
You can also use this Canva template to keep a copy of your email script handy. Click "Use template for new design" to create an editable version, then add custom information for your event, change fonts and graphics, and more!
Subject: One Week to Go — Help [School Name] Spike Our Goal!
Hello Families,
We’re entering the home stretch of our Volleyball Serve-A-Thon, and energy is high! Our students have been serving hard, raising funds, and showing tremendous school spirit.
Here’s how you can help us finish strong:
- Keep sharing your pledge link through FutureFund to reach last-minute supporters.
- Remind friends and family — every donation, big or small, makes a difference.
Thank you for helping make this Serve-A-Thon an exciting success. Let’s reach our goal and celebrate together on event day!
You can also use this Canva template to keep a copy of your email script handy. Click "Use template for new design" to create an editable version, then add custom information for your event, change fonts and graphics, and more!
Subject: Tomorrow’s the Big Day — [School Name] Volleyball Serve-A-Thon!
Hello [School Name] Students & Families,
The big day is almost here! Tomorrow we’ll come together for our Volleyball Serve-A-Thon, where every serve helps support our school.
Quick reminders:
- Be sure to wear comfortable athletic clothes and bring your school spirit!
- Encourage last-minute pledges via your FutureFund link.
- Join us at [location] at [time] to cheer, volunteer, or participate!
Thank you for all your support — together we’re serving for success!
You can also use this Canva template to keep a copy of your email script handy. Click "Use template for new design" to create an editable version, then add custom information for your event, change fonts and graphics, and more!
Use these Canva templates to promote your Serve-A-Thon on social media and around your community! Click “Use template for new design” to customize for your event.
- Canva Volleyball Serve-A-Thon Instagram Story Template
- Canva Volleyball Serve-A-Thon Instagram Post Template
- Canva Volleyball Serve-A-Thon Printable Poster Template
Example caption: Support [School Name]’s Volleyball Serve-A-Thon on [insert date]! Help us raise funds for [insert cause] and cheer on our students as they serve for success!
Find Sponsors
Ask local businesses to sponsor your Volleyball Serve-A-Thon. Sponsorships can help you meet your fundraising goals while giving businesses positive exposure.
Explain how sponsors will be recognized, for example:
- Hang a banner in the gym with sponsor logos during the event.
- Provide branded swag like water bottles or towels for participants.
- List sponsors on your FutureFund campaign page.
- Direct donations — toward the fundraising goal or to help cover supply costs.
- Corporate matching — where a business matches donations raised by the school.
- Advertising — sponsors featured on FutureFund campaign pages or event materials.
Host the Volleyball Serve-A-Thon
The big day has arrived! With your planning complete, here’s a sample schedule for a smooth, fun event:
- Welcome participants and volunteers, review rules, and start the day with school announcements and music.
- Conduct a group warm-up or stretching session.
- Begin serving rotations. Volunteers track serves and scores on each court.
- Provide snacks, water, and rest time for participants.
- Optional: hold a serving demonstration or technique contest.
- Continue serves and tally scores. Announce live updates to keep excitement high.
- Serve lunch and refreshments. Allow for photos and sponsor shoutouts.
- Participants complete final serves and totals are calculated.
- Announce raffle winners or mini-prizes.
- Celebrate total funds raised and number of serves completed.
- Recognize top fundraisers, teams, and spirit awards.
- Send thank-you messages through FutureFund.
- Share event highlights and total funds raised on social media.
- Invite volunteers to share feedback for next year’s event.
- Host a fun reward event, like a pizza or ice-cream party, for the class or team that raised the most funds.
- Post event photos and thank-you messages online to celebrate your community’s success.
Volleyball Serve-A-Thon 101
What is a Volleyball Serve-A-Thon?
A Volleyball Serve-A-Thon is a peer-to-peer fundraiser where students collect pledges for the number of serves they complete during the event. It combines fun, fitness, and fundraising — all while building teamwork and school spirit.
Volleyball Serve-A-Thon Goals & Rules
Use these ideas as a starting point and adapt them for your own event.
Allow 2–4 weeks for students to register and collect pledges before the big day. The Serve-A-Thon itself usually lasts a full day, with several serving rounds.
Teams compete to see who can complete the most accurate serves, or who raises the most in pledges. Tie the number of balls served to fundraising goals to keep motivation high.
Start promotion early so students can gather donations at least two weeks ahead of time.
FutureFund lets each participant share a unique donation link with friends and family for easy online pledging.
Volleyball is a team sport — set fair rules for group size, rotations, and playing time so everyone participates equally.
On the event day, review safety guidelines, scoring, and fundraising rules with all teams before play begins.
Frequently Asked Questions About Volleyball Serve-A-Thons
Players form teams and collect pledges for every successful serve. On event day, they compete in timed sessions or set numbers of serves, with scores tracked by volunteers.
A school gym is ideal for small-scale events. For larger tournaments, book a multi-court volleyball facility or community center.
Indoor Serve-A-Thons can happen any time of year. Fall or winter are popular since outdoor events are limited.
Keep teams fair by balancing experience and age. Example rules:
- 6–12 players per team
- At least two players under 12 years old (if mixed ages)
- Equal court time for all players
Serve-A-Thons are fun, low-cost, and great for promoting fitness. They encourage teamwork and healthy competition while raising significant funds.
FutureFund’s reporting tab lets you instantly see total pledges, payments received, and participation stats. Go to Store → Reports → Campaign Summary to generate reports.
Yes — add volunteer roles in your FutureFund portal so parents can sign up in a few clicks when they register their students.
What is a “Thon”?
Thons Are Fun & Effective Event-Based Fundraisers
An “A-Thon” is a peer-to-peer style fundraiser where participants commit to an activity and collect donations for completing it.
The activity can be almost anything — reading, running, serving, or dancing. Participants put in effort, and donors contribute in support.
These events work because they combine community involvement, motivation, and visible progress toward a goal.
What Do You Need to Run a Volleyball Serve-A-Thon?
Power It With FutureFund
FutureFund’s pledge campaign tools make running a Serve-A-Thon simple. Collect donations online, track totals automatically, and see real-time progress.
FutureFund simplifies every step of your Volleyball Serve-A-Thon — for PTAs, parents, students, and donors.
Ditch paper pledge forms and cash! With FutureFund, donors give instantly online by credit or debit card.
Monitor totals, donors, and participation stats with FutureFund’s live reporting dashboard.
Using a Volleyball Serve-A-Thon to Fundraise
Each student registers as a participant and collects pledges via FutureFund. Donations automatically contribute to their total and the overall goal.
Confirm ahead of time what information your PTA needs from donors. With FutureFund, student data carries over automatically for easy recordkeeping.
Campaigns that accept online donations perform far better than those that rely on cash or checks.
FutureFund provides each participant with a shareable donation link for card payments, while cash pledges can still be logged in the system.
Templates, Ideas, Tools & Resources
Download this ready-to-use PDF for an at-a-glance view of how to organize and run your Serve-A-Thon.
Volleyball Serve-A-Thon Theme Ideas
Each team represents a country and competes for gold, silver, or bronze. Decorate with flags and award medals to top teams.
Encourage teams to coordinate themed outfits — superheroes, movie characters, or matching color schemes.
Match your Serve-A-Thon to a holiday: Halloween monsters, Christmas elves, or Valentine’s “Love to Serve” themes.
Assign each team a color and let them go wild with neon, glitter, and creative accessories.
Teams can dress up based on their favorite shows — from The Avengers to classic cartoons.
Keep it simple with school colors, banners, and matching headbands. Award points for team pride and enthusiasm.
Start Your Volleyball Serve-A-Thon for Free
Ready to start your Volleyball Serve-A-Thon?
Launch your fundraiser in minutes with FutureFund — collect pledges online, track serves and donations automatically, and celebrate every success with your school community.
Get started today and make your next fundraiser a smashing success!