How to Run a Volleyball Serve-a-Thon Fundraiser

Use these templates to keep your Serve-A-Thon planning on track:

Canva Serve-A-Thon Infographic

Canva Running a Serve-A-Thon Checklist

• Event Coordinator: Oversees the entire Volleyball-Serve-A-Thon, including planning, coordination, and post-event activities. Liaises with the school, sports clubs, and other stakeholders.
• Registration Team: Manages participant sign-ups, and distributes information and materials.
• Volleyball Coaches/Instructors: Experienced teachers or players who provide guidance on serving techniques, rules of the game, and safety practices.
• Scorekeepers and Statisticians: Keeps track of serves, scores, and other relevant statistics during the event.
• Set-Up and Tear-Down Crew: Responsible for setting up volleyball courts, nets, and equipment before the event and dismantling them afterward.
• Referees: Oversees the games, ensuring fair play and adherence to volleyball rules.
• Snack and Hydration Station Volunteers: Manages stations providing water, snacks, and possibly light meals to participants and volunteers.
• Photographers/Videographers: Captures moments from the event for future promotion and participant keepsakes.
• First Aid and Safety Officers: Provide basic first aid and ensure the safety of all participants.

Here’s a Canva template of sample Serve-A-Thon rules. Click “Use template for new design” to create an editable version, then add custom information for your event, change fonts and graphics, and more!

Canva Serve-A-Thon Rules Template

Subject: Spike, Serve, Score at the [School Name] Volleyball Serve-A-Thon!

Hello Students,

Get ready to hit the courts for our annual Volleyball Serve-A-Thon! This event is not just about showcasing your volleyball skills; it’s an opportunity to have fun, be active, and support our beloved school.

Why should you join?

• Participate in exciting volleyball serving challenges.

• Help raise funds for [insert cause or school project].

• Earn awesome rewards and recognition for your volleyball abilities.

How to Sign Up:

Signing up is easy! Just visit this link and follow the steps: [insert FutureFund link]. You’ll get your own link to share with friends and family to collect pledges for each serve you make.

Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to volleyball, this event is for everyone. Let’s rally together for sportsmanship and our school spirit.

Serve It Up,

[Your Name]

[School or Name of School Group]

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!

Canva Serve-A-Thon Student Sign-up Email Template

Subject: Your Support Boosts Our Spirits – [School Name] Volleyball Serve-A-Thon Update!

Dear [Donor’s Name],

As our Volleyball Serve-A-Thon progresses, we want to express our immense gratitude for your support. Your contribution is not just about funding an event; it’s about encouraging our students to stay active and engaged, and helping us achieve our goal of [insert specific goal or cause].

Here’s the latest scoop:

• [Number of students] have stepped up to participate!

• We’ve reached [percentage] of our fundraising target.

Remember, you can still support and promote our event through FutureFund at [insert link]. Your generosity is vital to our success and greatly appreciated by our school community.

With heartfelt thanks,

[Your Name]

[School or Name of School Group]

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!

Canva Serve-A-Thon Donor Email Template

Subject: Final Call for the [School Name] Volleyball Serve-A-Thon!

Hello [Name of School] Students & Families!

We’re entering the final week of our Volleyball Serve-A-Thon, and the excitement is through the roof! It’s been amazing to see our students practicing their serves and getting ready.

Here’s what you need to know:

Just one week left to gather your pledges! Don’t miss out on last-minute donations, warmly welcomed via FutureFund at [insert link].

Be sure to join us on [Date] at [Location] for the big day, and stay for our closing ceremony where we’ll celebrate our achievements and recognize our top servers!

Let’s make this final stretch a smashing success. Your support and enthusiasm are making a big difference in our school and for each of our students. Let’s end strong!

Ready to Serve,

[Your Name]

[School or Name of School Group]

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!

Canva Final Week Push Serve-A-Thon Email Template

Here are some Canva templates to help you spread awareness for your Serve-A-Thon on social media and in your community! Click “Use template for new design” to create an editable version, then add custom information for your event, change fonts and graphics, and more!

Canva Serve-A-Thon Template for Instagram Story

Canva Serve-A-Thon Template for Instagram Post

Canva Serve-A-Thon Template for Printable Poster

Example caption: Support [insert school name]’s Serve-A-Thon from [insert date range]. Help our school community raise money for [insert cause] by registering to hit as many volleyballs as possible in the gym!

• Direct donations—either towards your fundraising goal or to help cover the costs of supplies.
• Corporate matching is where a business makes a donation equal to all or a portion of the funds you raise from the community.
• Selling sponsorships on FutureFund via advertising on your campaign page.

A volleyball serve-a-thon is made up of 2 main parts: the pledge collection and the tournament. Give teams at least 2 to 4 weeks before the tournament to register and collect donations.

The tournament should be at least 1 day, usually a Saturday or Sunday. If you have a large amount of teams, it might need to be a 2-day event. A typical volleyball game is 60 to 90 minutes, so plan around 90 minutes per game.

Teams will compete by seeing which class or grade can hit the most serves—but you can tie this to fundraising by providing a specific number of balls based on the number of pledges raised by each group. This motivates students to fundraise while also encouraging a healthy competitive spirit during the event.

Start telling students about the Serve-A-Thon at least two weeks before it starts.

Students should be signed up in your fundraising system so they can gather donations for at least seven days before the fundraiser starts (although it’s still okay to take last-minute sign-ups).

Volleyball is a team sport, so you should create some ground rules to keep the teams as fair as possible. Think about how many children, female players, and playtime each team should have.

On the day the fundraiser starts, be sure to re-explain the rules and encourage students to continue fundraising.

Players register in teams, from 6 to 12 players. Teams spend two weeks collecting donations in the form of pledges from their peers before the event.

During the event, each team is awarded a number of balls to serve based on pledges raised. Once all balls have been hit, the final number of points is recorded and a winner is announced. Points are awarded for correctly serving a ball, and bonus points may be awarded for hitting special targets.

You’ll need a volleyball court to host your Serve-A-Thon. For a smaller tournament, you might be able to use your school gym.

For bigger teams, you should book a volleyball center or large gym for the event. Typically, you’ll want enough courts for all teams to be able to play at once, minus two teams, so everyone has the chance for a break.

Volleyball Serve-A-Thons are usually held indoors, so you can host them any time of the year. That said, you probably want to save the warmer months for outdoor activities, making fall or winter the ideal time for a Serve-A-Thon.

To make the tournament as fair as possible, you should create some general rules for teams. Some factors to consider include:

• Number of players
• Age
• Gender

For example, if the teams are open to all ages, you should make sure every team has a similar amount of children. So you can make a rule saying each team needs at least 2 players age 12 or under.

Serve-A-Thons promote physical fitness, are broadly accessible to most students, and require few startup expenses.

FutureFund gives you the ability to generate financial reports for fundraising campaigns in just a few clicks. To do this, navigate to Store and click the Reports tab near the top of your screen. Then choose Campaign Summary from the drop-down menu and click Generate Report.

Yes—FutureFund lets you create a list of the volunteer positions you’ll need to fill, then add a volunteer page to your registration portal so parents can sign up in just a few simple clicks. See the steps for signing up volunteers here.

FutureFund makes running a Serve-A-Thon easy for everyone. Easier for PTAs and PTOs to run, for students and parents to participate, and for donors to donate.

Instead of dealing with paper pledge forms and cash and cheques, FutureFund takes the process online. Donors can donate instantly online with their credit or debit cards.

FutureFund makes it easy to track how the fundraiser is going. Easily view how much money has been raised and more with detailed reporting.

Each student will sign up as a participant in the fundraiser. Then, they can collect pledges individually by credit or debit card. You can also accept cash pledges, but be mindful of properly storing and tracking cash you collect.

If you are using FutureFund, you can record these pledges and they will automatically count towards the student’s total and the grand total for the fundraiser.

Before launching your fundraiser, confirm what records you need to collect from donors.

If you are using FutureFund, it’s easy for students to sign up, especially if their information is already in the system. You can bulk sign up entire grades or classes. All donor payments are automatically entered into the system, so you can instantly see each student’s total and the grand total.

Fundraising campaigns that accept online donations perform much better than fundraisers that only accept cash or check.

If you are using FutureFund, you can accept payments online. Donors are given a donation link and can pay by credit or debit card. Any cash donations can also be noted in the system to be collected later.

Use these templates to keep your Serve-A-Thon planning on track:

Canva Serve-A-Thon Infographic

Canva Running a Serve-A-Thon Checklist

1. Participant Eligibility

• Open to all students, faculty, and staff of the school.
• Participants must have a signed waiver if under 18.

2. Team Formation

• Teams can be formed with a mix of students, teachers, and staff.
• Each team should have a designated captain responsible for communication and coordination.

3. Fundraising Rules

• Each class or grade is encouraged to raise a minimum amount in pledges (e.g., $200-$400)
• A class or grade will be awarded X number of balls for every $X raised to hit during the event.

4. Serve-A-Thon Format

• The event is time-bound (e.g., 2 hours).
• Participants take turns serving the volleyball from the service line.
• Each successful serve counts towards the total.

5. Scoring and Challenges

• A serve is counted if it lands in the opposing court without being touched.
• Special challenges or targets can be set up for bonus points (e.g., hitting a specific area).

6. Safety and Equipment

• Proper sportswear and shoes are required.
• Volleyballs and other equipment should be provided by the school.
• First aid kits should be available on-site.

7. Prizes and Recognition

• A prize will be awarded for the highest fundraising team, most serves, etc.
• Certificates or acknowledgments for all participants.

8. Spectators and Community Involvement

• Family and community members are encouraged to attend and support (if permitted by your school/district)

Or, here’s a Canva template of sample Serve-A-Thon rules. Click “Use template for new design” to create an editable version, then add custom information for your event, change fonts and graphics, and more!

Canva Serve-A-Thon Rules Template

Unsure of where to start? Use this sample student and parent messaging to get the ball rolling!

—

We’re serving up a new fundraiser! On [date], [school name] will be hosting a volleyball serve-a-thon to help fundraise for [cause]. You can help by registering a volleyball team and participating! Each team will be collecting pledges online through FutureFund: [link], so even if you can’t participate, you can still donate!

Let parents and supporters donate online with FutureFund’s online pledges. Try it out for free!

—

Make your donation easily and instantly! Click this [link] to make your donation through secure credit or debit card payment.

If you prefer to donate by cash or check, just donate directly to the student you’re supporting. Thank you for your support!

Use these Canva email script templates to call out for Serve-A-Thon participants, donations, and to keep your fundraiser top-of-mind. Click “Use template for new design” to create an editable version, then add custom information for your event, change fonts and graphics, and more!

Canva Serve-A-Thon Student Sign-up Email Template

Canva Serve-A-Thon Donor Email Template

Canva Final Week Push Serve-A-Thon Email Template

Use these Canva templates to help you spread awareness for your Serve-A-Thon on social media and in your community! Click “Use template for new design” to create an editable version, then add custom information for your event, change fonts and graphics, and more!

Canva Serve-A-Thon Template for Instagram Story

Canva Serve-A-Thon Template for Instagram Post

Canva Serve-A-Thon Template for Printable Poster

Example caption: Support [insert school name]’s Serve-A-Thon from [insert date range]. Help our school community raise money for [insert cause] by registering to hit as many volleyballs as possible in the gym!

Teams can get into the competitive spirit with an Olympic theme. Each team represents a country and competes for the gold medal.

Volleyball is a team sport, which means pretty much any team costume goes! Encourage each team to coordinate a costume like superheroes, flower patches, mimes, and more.

Celebrate the holidays and fundraise with a holiday-themed serve-a-thon. Plan a Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s, or even a St. Patrick’s Day tournament.

Color coordinating is a classic theme. Let each team choose a color and get creative, including neon, glitter, and patterns to make each team stand out.

A movie or TV-inspired theme gives teams tons of options to choose from. Teams can dress up as anything from The Avengers to Care Bears.