At the start of every Sandcastle season, we look back on feedback from the previous year to see where we can improve. Below is a list of the the tweaks and updates we’re making this year to improve your experience on a Sandcastle team.
WHAT’S NEW IN 2021:
Base and Stretch Fundraising Goals:
The minimum fundraising contribution for 2021 teams is $4,250, and we encourage teams to set both a base fundraising goal and a stretch goal to help keep their efforts on track.
Consider setting a base goal that surpasses the fundraising minimum of $4,250. If your team was able to surpass your previous fundraising goals, that’s a good indication you’re ready to bump up your base goal this year! Set a stretch fundraising goal that you’ll try to rally your team’s energy and resources to meet. Consider setting a stretch goal of at least $12,000 in order for Leap to meet our overall event campaign goal.
New Role: Senior Advocates and Content Creators
Partner companies have the best experience in Sandcastle when participation takes place across the entire firm, and not just among a few isolated individuals. Looping in a senior leader at each partner company is a great way to strengthen the firm’s involvement on the team, and senior leaders aren’t required to have any specific responsibilities beyond advocating for their firm’s participation. Teams are asked to identify their team’s senior advocates in the registration form. Leap will follow up with these contacts with more information on how they can support their team this year.
Assign one member of your team as your social media guru! With our event becoming ever more share-able, having one team focus on photography, video, and copywriting will help your team reach its fundraising online campaign goals, and will also help you capture moments in classroom workshops, fundraising events and beach day!.We will ask each team to submit digital content at the end of each season, that we will compile into a digital portfolio to share with your supporters!
Updated Terms of Participation:
Teams must meet the minimum fundraising requirement of $4,250 in order to participate in the Sandcastle Classic. Teams who have not yet met the $4,250 minimum by the day of the event on October 24th, will not be eligible to win Best in Show Bronze, Silver or Gold. Teams that have not met the $4,250 minimum by November 30th, 2021 must pay the remaining difference to Leap. Teams will continue to pay a $500 registration fee which will count towards their fundraising efforts.
What’s new in 2019:
New Recommended Team Role: Web Manager
Select one person on your team to be responsible for managing all edits and changes to your team’s fundraising page, including adding custom images and text like a team photo and bio. Please note: Leap must be notified about any changes to your team name, your fundraising goal, or team make-up (i.e. adding or removing company or school partners) before the Web Manager makes any changes.
The Web Manager will work closely with members of the Fundraising Committee to add logos and company names of donors to your team’s fundraising page. Work with the Fundraising Committee to determine your process for collecting these logos and to ensure all donors are listed, and utilize the giving levels included at the bottom of your team’s fundraising page to determine logo placement. We suggest adding your team email to the bottom of your donation solicitations (get a template here) with instructions for donors detailing how to send in their logos and specs. Your team email will be set up for you by Leap once your team has registered.
Learn more about all recommended team roles and responsibilities.
Other Changes to Team Roles: Team Captains
This year, we suggest identifying 1-2 people at EACH partner company on your team, rather than have a single team captain manage your team as a whole. This will make managing each partner company on your team much more straightforward, and ensure and manageable amount of responsibility for each team captain. Learn more about the team captain role and all other recommended roles and responsibilities.
Logistics and Fundraising Tool
We got great feedback from teams after piloting the Logistics and Fundraising Tool during the 2018 Sandcastle season, so we’re going to continue to make it available for teams this year. Upon registering, each team will be emailed a custom google sheet designed to help map out their team roles and responsibilities, fundraising strategy, and keep track of upcoming key dates and deadlines. Keep an eye out for this helpful tool!
Team Captain 101 Webinar
We piloted this new webinar in 2018 as a way for new captains to receive additional training and support from Leap staff and Sandcastle Committee. We’ll be offering this webinar at least once again this summer and the date will be posted on the Key Dates page and publicized through the weekly Sandcastle e-blasts. If you or other team members don’t receive these weekly communications from Leap, email [email protected] and let us know you’d like to be added to our list.
Dedicated Peer Coaches from the Leap Sandcastle Committee
Each team will be paired up with one representative from the Leap Sandcastle Committee who you can lean on for support throughout the Sandcastle season. Committee members have years of experience heading up their own teams, and can help provide essential insights and recommendations for your team. Of course, the Leap staff are here anytime you need support, but now you’ll have another pair of eyes and ears to bounce ideas off of. Upon registering, the team captains will receive an e-intro with your Peer Coach.
Sandcastle Permission From Now Available In Spanish
Thanks to a helpful team member, we’re able to share a Spanish version of the Sandcastle Permission Form. Download this form and other key resources.