The Boosted Volunteer

When a “game” becomes a full-blown event, booster clubs and athletic directors feel the pressure—more volunteers, more fundraising, more compliance, and higher expectations from fans and families.  
In this Boosted Volunteer Podcast episode, Robin Eissler welcomes Scott Garvis, a Certified Master Athletic Administrator and Activities Director at Newton High School (Iowa), to break down what athletic directors need most from booster clubs today—and how booster leaders can build support systems that actually work.
Scott shares why “people power” is the biggest challenge schools face, how to create a student-focused fan experience, and why structure, transparency, and compliance protect both your club and your community.
Key Takeaways:
2:23 The Volunteer Gap: Scott discusses the 27% decline in volunteerism since COVID and why "people power" is the most valuable currency a Booster Club provides to an AD.
3:18 The Shift in Coaching: Discover why 70% of coaches now come from outside the teaching profession and how this changes the support they need from parents.
4:24 Making Moments, Not Just Games: Learn how ADs are shifting focus toward the "fan experience" and creating memories that stick with families long after graduation.
7:55 Student-Led Success: Why establishing a Student Athletic Advisory Council is the secret weapon for ensuring your fundraising and facilities actually meet the students' needs.
11:25 The "All-Sports" Umbrella Model: Scott explains why consolidating into a single 501(c)(3) saves time, ensures Title IX compliance, and prevents individual parents from facing unexpected tax burdens.
24:41 The Power of Local Loyalty: Why high school sports brand recognition outperforms NASCAR in customer loyalty—and how to use that to land sponsors.
34:10 Advice for New Volunteers: The single most "refreshing" question a new volunteer can ask their Athletic Director.
Resources:
Website: https://scottgarvisconsulting.com/
Beyond the Bench Podcast
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottgarvis

What if your Booster Club didn’t rely on the same five people every single week?
In this episode of the Boosted Volunteer Podcast, host Robin Eissler sits down with Sharon—better known online as "The Band Mom”—and her husband Jeremy, who ran concession stand operations for the Waxahachie High School band to unpack how they transformed concessions from a stressful scramble into a fun, well-run operation that volunteers actually wanted to be part of.
From doubling volunteer participation to running concession stands like a real business, Sharon and James share practical, field-tested strategies that any Booster Club can use—whether you’re managing Friday night football in Texas or juggling shared facilities across multiple programs.
This isn’t theory—it’s real-world Booster Club leadership from people who’ve done the work. Sharon and James show how treating concessions like a business and volunteers like valued teammates can change everything.
Key Takeaways
0:30 Why this episode is for the few volunteers doing most of the work and how that burnout shows up in Booster Clubs.
1:27 Sharon’s journey to becoming the “Band Mom” and how long-term band involvement shaped her leadership approach.
4:00 What wasn’t working in concessions when Sharon and James took over and the common challenges most booster programs face.
5:47 How managing shared concession stands requires strong relationships with school staff and facilities teams.
8:27 The relationship-based strategy that helped double the number of volunteers.
10:20 Why a positive, fun volunteer experience keeps people coming back and attracts new help.
14:00 How assigning clear roles helps volunteers feel confident and reduces stress during busy events.
16:14 Using point-of-sale systems, inventory tracking, and credit cards to run concessions like a real business.
20:21 How creative, limited-time menu items help build excitement and boost concession sales.
22:07 Why adding drink-only lines improved speed, sales, and the overall fan experience.
 
Resources:
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therealbandmom
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealbandmom/?hl=en
Website: https://therealbandmom.com/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebandmom
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealBandMom
 

What do athletic directors really need from booster clubs—and where do things most often go wrong? With more than 40 years in education and athletics, Jake von Scherrer pulls back the curtain on the behind-the-scenes realities athletic directors face and explains why strong, well-aligned booster clubs are essential to successful school programs.
 
Jake von Scherrer is a veteran educator, coach, and athletic director with over four decades of experience and is the author of the Athletic Director’s Toolbox series, former President of the Florida Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, and host of a podcast featuring 700+ interviews with athletic leaders worldwide. In this conversation, Jake shares the athletic director’s perspective on funding challenges, communication, boundaries, and how booster clubs can be powerful partners—not accidental obstacles.
From fundraising and staffing pressures to sponsorship overload and volunteer burnout, this episode is packed with real-world examples and practical guidance for booster leaders, athletic directors, and coaches alike.
 
Key Takeaways
01:55 The Modern AD’s Burden: Jake highlights the top three challenges facing athletic directors today: funding, resources, and staffing, and why an organized booster club is the primary solution to these gaps.
04:40 The Illusion of "Magic" Game Days: Why the seamless experience of a Friday night game is actually the result of weeks of AD-booster collaboration.
06:30 Symbiotic Leadership: How to manage two legally separate organizations (the school and the booster club) so they point toward the same goals.
13:25 Staying in Your Lane: A masterclass on boundaries—defining the roles of the coach, the director, and the "booster" to avoid conflict.
19:50 Avoiding the "Debbie-Do-Everything" Trap: Why centering a club around one person is a recipe for disaster and how to build a team that survives after your kids graduate.
25:30 The Power of Connection: Using school programs like the choir or band to enhance the athletic experience and broaden your support base.
33:15 Navigating the Funding Spectrum: Insights into how different school structures—from public to high-tuition private—handle the delicate balance of fees and fundraising.
Connect with Jake:
Website: https://www.victoryeducationalathletics.com/
Email Address: jakestouchdown@gmail.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-von-scherrer-cmaa-165b1292/
Podcast: The Educational AD Podcast 
Books: Available on Amazon (Note: Jake offers a free copy to first-year ADs who email him!)
 

What happens when a “simple” school volunteer role reveals a world of legal risk, tax responsibilities, and structural gaps that no one warned you about? For attorney, author, and nonprofit advocate Sandy Pfau Englund, that moment didn’t send her running—it launched a national organization that now supports 7,000+ Booster Clubs across the country.
In this week’s episode of The Boosted Volunteer, host Robin Eissler sits down with Sandy to unpack the surprising realities behind Booster Club compliance, the evolution of parent-led school groups, and how a PTO disaster in rural North Carolina sparked an entire movement toward better systems, safer practices, and empowered volunteers.
Don't miss this insightful conversation that sheds light on the crucial steps every Booster Club needs to take to protect its volunteers and its funds. From understanding 501(c)(3) status to preventing fraud, Sandy’s expertise is a must-listen for anyone involved in school fundraising.
Key Takeaways
0:30 — Meet Sandy Pfau Englund An attorney, author, and nonprofit expert with 30+ years of experience helping parent-led school groups operate legally and effectively.
2:01 — How Sandy Accidentally Entered the Booster World A writing assignment and a move to North Carolina unexpectedly launched her journey.
3:04 — The PTO “Disaster” That Changed Everything How seeing a poorly run PTO revealed the massive gap between volunteer intentions and legal responsibilities.
4:17 — The Need for an Easier Way Why Sandy built Parent Booster USA to remove fear, confusion, and liability for everyday volunteers.
5:01 — Starting Parent Booster USA Her big-picture approach, the leap of faith, and the early entrepreneurial realities.
5:51 — What Parent Booster USA Actually Does A clear breakdown of the paperwork, incorporation, tax-exempt setup, compliance support, and annual maintenance services.
7:02 — The IRS Group Exemption Model How Booster Clubs become nonprofits under PBUSA’s umbrella—without filing their own 1023.
8:25 — How Technology Keeps Booster Clubs Compliant Everything from EIN setup to state filings, charity registrations, and ongoing deadlines.
9:45 — Why Compliance Matters After Leadership Changes The critical role PBUSA plays in ensuring a Booster Club doesn’t lose its status when volunteers rotate out.
11:03 — Growing Pains & Lessons Learned Behind-the-scenes stories—including a near-crisis—that shaped today’s stronger systems.
12:42 — Building Better Tools for Volunteers How challenges led to automation, alerts, and streamlined processes for thousands of clubs.
 
Resources Mentioned:
 
Book: School Fundraising: So Much More Than Cookie Dough (available online)
https://sandrapfauenglund.com
https://parentbooster.org
 

Have you ever wondered how to transition out of a leadership role while ensuring your Booster Club not only survives but thrives? 
Leadership transitions don’t have to feel overwhelming. In this solo episode, Robin Eissler opens up for the first time about her own Booster Club journey—how she was unexpectedly recruited as a freshman parent, the challenges she faced stepping into leadership, and the systems she built to ensure her Booster Club would thrive long after she left.
Robin walks through the heart of succession planning: recruiting across multiple grade levels, defining roles, establishing culture, documenting your processes, and creating a smooth handoff for future leaders. 
Whether you’re a new volunteer or a seasoned officer, this episode will help you build a Booster Club that’s stronger, more organized, and ready for the next generation.
 
Key Takeaways:
3:13 Why recruiting across multiple grade levels prevents leadership gaps
4:47 The “mysterious binder” and the need for organized documentation
6:03 Meeting with program directors keeps leadership aligned
8:36 Building a pipeline of future officers through consistent involvement
9:11 Defining roles clearly to avoid volunteer burnout
12:31 Why a nominating committee strengthens succession planning
13:18 Simplifying tools and systems for smoother transitions
14:29 How consistent meetings and recognition build positive culture
16:02 Robin’s full recap of effective succession planning essentials

What if hitting your fundraising goal meant dumping a cooler of ice water on your band director? That's exactly the fun, high-stakes gamble the Polar Bear Band Boosters in West Virginia used to raise over $10,000 in a single week!
Join host Robin Eissler as she talks with this week's guest, Chris Sharps, the social media coordinator for the Fairmont Senior High School Polar Bear Band Boosters. Chris, whose background is in higher education recruitment, enrollment, and technology integration—including a forward-thinking approach to AI in knowledge management—shares the secret sauce to their massively successful social media fundraising campaign. Discover how cleaning up their online presence, using short-form video, and leveraging the power of alumni storytelling transformed a modest $2,000 campaign into a $10,000 capital replacement success! Plus, find out how accepting credit cards dramatically increased their concession sales.
This episode is packed with tactical, real-world advice to help your Booster Club stop struggling with traditional sales and start seeing major returns on their digital efforts.
Key Takeaways: 
7:20 -   Credit Card Sales: Switching to credit cards at concessions boosted sales by 30% to 50%.
11:17 -  $10,000 Social Fundraiser: How a "Polar Bear Plunge" challenge raised over $10,000 in one week for a new trailer.
19:15 -   Alumni Gold: Use storytelling to tap into alumni and alumni parents, who are often your largest donors.
21:43 -   Matching Funds Power: Securing matching funds upfront raised the average donation to about $75 and encouraged more first-time giving.
26:03 -   Magic Seven: The power of seven: Consistent daily posts for a week is the key to driving action and donations.
28:15 -   Streaming Tech: Invest in tech like external microphones and a gimbal—and watch out for your phone overheating during live streams.

How safe are your student athletes and band members in the heat?
 
In this episode of the Boosted Volunteer podcast, host Robin Eissler sits down with Melissa Fortenberry, founder and CEO of HeatSense, to talk about the critical issue of heat safety in youth athletics and marching bands. From her personal experience as a parent to developing cutting-edge wearable technology, Melissa shares how HeatSense empowers coaches, parents, and administrators with real-time data to prevent heat-related illness before it becomes dangerous.
 
HeatSense combines a lightweight wearable with a powerful app and a coach dashboard to monitor athletes' vitals in real time, helping prevent heat-related illness before it becomes an emergency.
 
Key Takeaways
2:00 – The inspiration behind HeatSense: Melissa’s personal experience in the Texas heat.
2:37 – Three problems with current heat regulations: waiting for symptoms is too late, WBGT’s limits, and challenges in measuring core body temperature.
4:37 – How HeatSense works: non-invasive wearables, apps, and dashboards that provide coachable insights in real time.
6:00 – Alerts and customization: notifications for coaches, parents, and leaders to respond before students overheat.
7:02 – Marching bands vs. athletes: the added challenges of uniforms, asphalt, and turf.
7:55 – Empowering parents without “helicoptering”: how data builds advocacy and peace of mind.
9:10 – Team vs. individual solutions: how coaches and schools can monitor dozens of students at once.
11:26 – Advocating for better heat safety at schools: asking about emergency action plans.
13:00 – The future of HeatSense: personalization, prediction, and performance improvements through data.
15:15 – Lessons from high school sports: how soccer shaped Melissa’s resilience and leadership.
 
Resources: 
Website: https://heatsense.com/
Facebook: Facebook
Twitter: Twitter/X
Instagram: Instagram
Linkedin: LinkedIn
 

What happens when a passion for music, family, and community blends with strong leadership and smart fundraising? This week’s episode of the Boosted Volunteer Podcast, hosted by Robin Eissler, shines a spotlight on Jessica Enneking, Co-President of the Lakeville South Band Boosters.
With over 20 years of nonprofit experience and a deep commitment to giving back, Jessica shares her journey from parent volunteer to co-leading one of the largest band booster programs in Minnesota. From building a “band family” of 600 students and parents to launching creative fundraisers like the Band Breakfast Bonanza and their first-ever craft fair, Jessica offers invaluable insight into what it takes to keep a thriving music program alive and growing.
You’ll also hear how Booster Hub transformed their communication and organization, making life easier for both directors and families.
Key Takeaways:
(2:45) How Jessica’s early involvement prepared her for Booster leadership.
(6:11) The growth of Lakeville South’s band program and opportunities it provides.
(8:53) Why Booster Hub has been “life-changing” for communication and efficiency.
(10:06) Fundraising strategies: Band Breakfast Bonanza, silent auctions, raffles, and craft fairs.
(15:14) Defining roles between directors and boosters to align vision and reduce conflict.
(17:19) Creating structured board positions to encourage accountability and engagement.
(20:14) Celebrating a decade of passion and pride in competitive marching band.
Whether you’re running a band, sports, or arts booster, Jessica’s story is full of inspiration and practical strategies you can apply to your own organization.
 
Resources:  
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-enneking-lmft-b6888410/

When disaster struck his community, Justin McKenzie and the Comfort Area Foundation quickly realized that running a relief effort takes more than just good intentions. Managing donations, ensuring compliance, and coordinating volunteers brought challenges they hadn’t expected.
In this episode of The Boosted Volunteer, Justin shares how Booster Hub helped his team fundraise responsibly, stay organized, and maintain donor trust during a crisis. He also reflects on the lifelong impact of booster clubs, from his Friday night football days to his journey as an Ironman athlete.
 
Key Takeaways:
06:15 Why online fundraising is more complex than it looks — and common mistakes to avoid
12:48 How the Comfort Area Foundation navigated compliance, receipts, and transparency when managing donations
20:37 The role Booster Hub played in turning volunteers into an organized, reliable team
28:54 Lessons from Justin’s high school sports and Ironman training that still influence his leadership today
35:12 Why booster clubs are vital for shaping kids’ experiences and strengthening communities
 
Resources: Justin McKenzie
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinmckenzie/

 
What does it take to build long-term infrastructure for a Booster Club that supports athletes, coaches, and parents?
 
This week, Robin Eissler sits down with Jason Stover, Vice President of the Eagle Touchdown Club in Prosper, Texas, and former officer of the Reynolds Athletics Booster Club. With experience leading clubs at both the middle school and high school levels, Jason brings a wealth of insight into what it really takes to build strong, lasting support for student-athletes.
Jason is a former military serviceman whose journey began in high school Junior ROTC, led to serving in the Army, and eventually transitioned into a career in IT. Throughout the episode, Jason shares how the sense of camaraderie he experienced in the military deeply influenced his approach to leadership and community engagement.
He also shares the key differences between managing general athletic booster clubs and sport-specific ones, how club needs shift between school levels, and why building long-term infrastructure is critical. Whether you're stepping into a volunteer role for the first time or leading a well-established board, this conversation is packed with strategies you can use right away.
Key Takeaways 
1:26 Jason’s start as a Watch D.O.G.S. dad.
2:51 Volunteering during COVID at Reynolds.
4:18 Booster clubs as a bridge for communication.
5:59 Challenges with scattered platforms.
8:22 Creating structure for parent engagement.
9:58 Switching to BoosterHub for consistency.
11:31 Building infrastructure that lasts.
13:47 Sport-specific support vs. general athletics
15:54 Fundraising: call-a-thons vs. sponsorships.
17:28 Differences between middle and high school clubs.
19:45 Jason’s advice to future volunteers.
25:13 Transition to Civilian Life: From Army to IT
27:27 Finding Community: The Importance of Connection
29:59 Gratitude and Acknowledgements
 
Resources: Jason Stover
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jasonstover
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stovieus