How One Baseball Organization Built a Fundraising Machine With 67 Donors Across 13 Teams

It Started With One Team

When RISE Baseball first signed up for Droplet, they weren't trying to reinvent fundraising. They just wanted something easier than selling candy bars and collecting checks at practice. What happened next surprised everyone — including us.

Within months, RISE Baseball had grown to 13 teams on the platform, with 67 active donors contributing through spare-change round-ups. No bake sales. No order forms. No awkward ask-your-neighbors campaigns. Just families connecting their everyday spending to the teams they already support.

Their top-performing team, RISE Black 12U Elmore, leads the organization with 12 donors — meaning a dozen families are passively funding the team every time they swipe their debit card at the grocery store, gas station, or drive-through.

Why This Model Works (Especially in Fall)

Fall is a pivotal time for youth sports. Tournaments ramp up, travel costs spike, and families are already stretched thin from back-to-school spending. Traditional fundraisers — the ones that ask parents to sell things or write big checks — tend to hit a wall right about now.

Round-up fundraising flips that dynamic. Instead of asking families for more money during the most expensive time of year, you're capturing the spare change that's already disappearing into the void. A 73-cent round-up on a $4.27 coffee. A 12-cent round-up on a $49.88 tank of gas. It adds up — and it never asks anyone to reach deeper into their wallet.

That's why fall is actually the best time to launch a Droplet fundraiser. Families are spending more, which means round-ups are naturally higher. And because there's no selling involved, there's no fundraiser fatigue competing with the school PTA cookie dough drive or the band's wrapping paper campaign.

What Coaches Can Learn From RISE Baseball

RISE didn't get to 67 donors by accident. Here's what they did right — and what you can steal for your own team this fall.

1. They Made It an Organization-Wide Effort

Instead of treating fundraising as a team-by-team problem, RISE rolled Droplet out across the entire organization. When one team saw results, the next team signed up. Word spread through the dugout, not through a marketing campaign. If you're a coach at a multi-team organization, pitch Droplet to your director or president first. Getting organizational buy-in means every team benefits.

2. They Kept the Ask Simple

The message to parents wasn't a complicated pitch about financial technology. It was: "Link your card, and your spare change goes to the team. That's it." No minimums. No commitments. No guilt. The simpler your ask, the more families say yes.

3. They Let the Numbers Speak

Once a few families signed up and saw how painless it was — most people barely notice their round-ups — they told other parents. RISE didn't need to chase people down. The product did the convincing.

4. They Didn't Abandon Traditional Fundraising Overnight

Smart organizations layer Droplet on top of what they already do. Your fall tournament might still have a concession stand or 50/50 raffle. Droplet runs in the background, generating steady income between those big events. Think of it as your baseline — the fundraising that happens while you're focused on coaching.

A Playbook for Launching This Fall

Whether you coach baseball, softball, soccer, football, or cheer, here's a simple timeline to get your fall fundraiser rolling.

Week 1: Set Up

Create your team's Droplet fundraiser at givedroplet.com. It takes about five minutes. Add your roster so families get a direct invite.

Week 2: Announce at Practice

Mention it at your first fall practice or parent meeting. Keep it to 60 seconds: "We're using Droplet this season. It rounds up your everyday purchases to the nearest dollar and sends the change to the team. It's free to sign up, and you can pause or stop anytime."

Week 3: Follow Up

Send a quick text or email to families who haven't signed up. Something like: "Hey — just a reminder about Droplet. We already have 6 families signed up. Here's the link if you haven't had a chance." Social proof matters. Mention the number of families already on board.

Week 4+: Let It Run

This is where Droplet shines. Once families are connected, the fundraising happens automatically. No more collection envelopes. No more spreadsheets. Focus on coaching — the money takes care of itself.

Beyond the Diamond

RISE Baseball is the standout, but they're far from the only organization seeing results. Spring Run Athletic Association has 9 active supporters. Queensmill Community Playground — not even a sports team — has 5 donors funding community improvements through round-ups. Organizations like Ironbridge Softball, Swift Creek Cougars, and Connor's Heroes (a childhood cancer nonprofit) are all building their own donor bases.

The pattern is the same everywhere: one person signs up, sees how easy it is, and tells someone else. Fundraising stops being a chore and starts being something that just... happens.

For Donors: Why Fall Is the Perfect Time to Start

If you're a parent, grandparent, or community supporter reading this, here's the thing — you're already spending money this fall. Back-to-school supplies. Cleats. Gas to away games. Groceries for the post-game team dinner. Every one of those purchases can generate a round-up for a team or cause you care about.

The average Droplet donor barely notices the round-ups. They typically add up to $15-30 per month — less than a single fundraiser dinner plate, but spread across the entire season. And unlike a one-time donation, round-ups keep working month after month without you lifting a finger.

Ready to start? Visit app.givedroplet.com/signup and link your card in under two minutes.

The Bottom Line

RISE Baseball didn't crack some secret code. They just made fundraising as easy as buying coffee. Sixty-seven donors across 13 teams, all contributing on autopilot. No bake sales, no door-knocking, no fundraiser fatigue.

Fall is the perfect time to start because spending is high, traditional fundraisers are exhausting, and families are ready for something that doesn't add to their to-do list. Whether you're a coach looking for a better way to fund your season or a supporter who wants to help without the hassle, Droplet makes it simple.

Start your fundraiser today — and let your spare change do the heavy lifting this fall.