RaiseRight is the backbone of this competitive volleyball club’s fundraising—and it’s helping more young athletes stay in the game.
With nearly 400 players across multiple competitive travel teams, 540 Volleyball (pronounced "Five Four Zero"), a Virginia-based volleyball academy, has built a thriving community that welcomes athletes ages 10 to 18 at all skill levels. Players compete across various teams and travel as far as Florida and Pennsylvania for tournaments.
But behind the scenes, one of the club’s biggest wins doesn’t happen on the court—it’s in how they financially support families. Thanks to a strong booster club and a smart fundraising strategy, more players can stay in the game year after year.
Courtney H., a 540 Volleyball parent and Vice President of Fundraising, is no stranger to the high costs of youth sports.
"I’ve been running booster clubs since 2012. Sports are so expensive, and keeping kids in a sport for multiple years without financial assistance is not sustainable," she explained. "Having the opportunity to help parents fundraise so their kids can do what they love—that’s important to me."
Between tuition, travel, and equipment, families can expect to pay $2,700 to $4,500 per season—and that’s before adding in player and parent travel.
For some families, these high costs are a barrier. Without financial support, overdue balances can build up, and kids risk missing out on valuable opportunities.
Recognizing its long-term value and high earning potential, Courtney chose RaiseRight as the foundation for fundraising when she helped to launch the 540 Volleyball Booster Club in 2023.
RaiseRight wasn’t new to Courtney. She first used it in 2012, when her oldest daughter was in competitive cheer. So when her youngest daughter joined 540 Volleyball, she knew RaiseRight had to be part of the organization's fundraising strategy.
"There were few fundraising opportunities available before, and no booster club," Courtney recalls. "I knew RaiseRight could help change that."
She introduced the program by leading with experience—hosting Zoom tutorials, showing her personal earnings, and walking families through how everyday purchases could add up quickly.
"When I first started with RaiseRight, I used it for groceries, then restaurants, and built the habit from there," she shares. Now, she encourages other families to follow in her footsteps.
Courtney also leverages basic marketing strategies to get the word out. "I promote it heavily on our website and Facebook page, and bring it up at every general membership meeting. I'm also transparent with how much we've collectively earned with RaiseRight."
While volleyball season slows down during the summer, the expenses don’t. And that’s where RaiseRight really shines.
"RaiseRight is much more consistent than our other fundraisers. We're pretty inactive during the off-season, so we push RaiseRight then," Courtney notes. "You can build up your earnings off-season to get ahead for next season. RaiseRight is one of our highest-performing fundraisers because it’s year-round, reliable, and you don't have to sell a thing."
In just two short years, 540 Volleyball Booster Club has already raised over $20,000 with RaiseRight, directly helping families offset the high costs of competitive volleyball.
540 Volleyball also runs several other fundraisers, including a benefit concert, football squares, cookie and popcorn sales, and raffles. But unlike these one-time, seasonal fundraising ideas, RaiseRight allows families to earn when it works for them, through everyday spending on gas, groceries, travel, or dining. And with the mobile app and eGift cards, it’s more convenient than ever.
"We always say, if we’re eating out, it’s got to be on RaiseRight," Courtney laughed.
RaiseRight doesn’t just help families save on volleyball tuition. It helps them cover all the little expenses that add up over the season, like shoes, knee pads, grips, or private training.
"I had a family reach out to me recently," recalls Courtney. "The mom, sister, aunt, and grandmother are all using RaiseRight to support one player. It’s made a difference for them, especially for all the extras. They don’t have to sweat about the small stuff anymore."
Today, nearly 50% of the club’s families actively use RaiseRight, and more are joining in as word spreads. Courtney credits that success to being a consistent user herself.
"I think the biggest key is leading by example. Use it yourself. Show people what’s possible. When they see real results, they believe in it."
Even with several seasonal fundraisers still in rotation, RaiseRight has become the booster club's most dependable and accessible option, especially during downtime. By using RaiseRight, 540 Volleyball has created a fundraising model that helps more athletes stay in the game without added financial stress.
"Wherever I go, I’ll take RaiseRight with me," Courtney affirms. "It worked for cheer. It’s working for volleyball. And it’s helping more kids stay in sports."
If you manage fundraising for a sports team or athletic organization, you can start a free program by completing a short, online enrollment form.
Or, if you're looking for more information to share with others in your organization, check out The RaiseRight Fundraising Playbook to see how RaiseRight can benefit your group.