NLAC Fundraising Program

Welcome, NLAC families! This document outlines our new fundraising program designed to support our swimmers and club throughout the upcoming season. Your participation is vital to our continued success.

WHY WE FUNDRAISE

At NLAC, our primary goal is to provide an exceptional swimming experience for all our athletes. To achieve this, fundraising plays a crucial role. By actively participating in our fundraising initiatives, you directly contribute to:

  • Affordable Membership Dues: Your contributions help offset operational costs, facility rentals, coaching salaries, and equipment purchases, allowing us to maintain lower dues for all families.

  • Financial Durability: As you likely know, running NLAC is a very expensive endeavour (about $350,000 per year). While we are doing all we can to both predict and limit costs, surprises still happen. Fundraising acts as a buffer against unexpected costs and, generally, fortifies the financial strength of the organization.

  • Community & Leadership: Our fundraising events are also fantastic opportunities to connect with other NLAC families, foster a stronger, more connected club community, and offer our older athletes the chance to lead. 

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS: YOUR CHOICE, YOUR CONTRIBUTION

We understand that every family's circumstances are different. To ensure flexibility and encourage broad participation, we are offering two pathways to fulfill your family's fundraising commitment for the season:

1. Direct Financial Contribution:

  • A one-time donation of $300 per family directly to NLAC for year round swimmers;
  • $150 per family for seasonal swimmers.

This is the simplest way to meet your obligation and provides immediate financial support to the club. You can designate your gift to either NLAC operation or the NLAC Excellence Fund. ​​​

​2. Volunteer Time Commitment:

Contribute your time and effort by volunteering at various fundraising events throughout the season. To ensure fairness and track diverse contributions, we will implement a Fundraising Volunteer Point System, separate from the Meet Volunteer Point System:

  • Each hour of volunteer time will be assigned a specific point value, with more demanding or critical roles potentially earning higher points.
  • Families will be required to accumulate at least 300 Volunteer Points to fulfill their obligation.
  • Examples of fundraising events and volunteer opportunities may include:
    • Swim-a-Thon Support: Event setup, lap counting, prize distribution (100 Points).
    • Concession Stand Duty: Selling snacks and drinks at other sporting events like Penn State football games (300 Points).
    • Special Events: Assistance with car washes, restaurant fundraisers, or other community events (150 Points).
    • Other ideas - please let us know! We will be generating a list of ideas and commitments over the next few weeks. 

TRACKING CONTRIBUTIONS: TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

We are committed to transparent and efficient tracking of all family contributions.

  • For Direct Financial Contributions…

    • Donations can be made securely online through Paypal. All donations will be recorded immediately, and families will receive a confirmation email for their records. We will also send out letters verifying your donation well before tax season. 

  • For Fundraising Volunteer Time Contributions…

    • Online Sign-Up Sheets: We will utilize an online platform (e.g., Sign-Up Genius or a similar tool) for all volunteer opportunities. This will allow families to easily view available slots and sign up.
    • Designated Volunteer Coordinator: Chris Snavely will be responsible for tracking all fundraising volunteer hours and points earned by families after each event.

  • Regular Updates: Families will receive periodic email statements (e.g., monthly or bi-monthly) detailing their current volunteer points accumulated or donation status. This will help you monitor your progress towards fulfilling your commitment.

  • Season Deadline: All volunteer hours or financial contributions must be completed by a the end of the competitive season (End of March) to ensure all obligations are met. Your account will be charged on April 1st for any remaining balance. ($300 or 300 points or the difference)

  • You may earn your points through a combination of financial contribution and volunteer points. 

  • If you have already contributed financially to the NLAC excellence fund during the 24-25 season, this will count towards the 25-26 season. 

 

Please note, this family-based fundraising effort is not our only approach, and members of the club will also be active in reaching out to other entities, namely corporate sponsors, for support. If you are interested in helping with this endeavor, please let us know! Our club depends on contributions from every NLAC family to be successful and to provide the best possible experience for our swimmers. 

Thank you for your continued support!

Please address any and all questions to Chris Snavely at 814.441.5497 or [email protected]