The Boosted Volunteer shares the stories of volunteers from booster clubs, marching bands and school support organizations. From best practices on fundraising, to how to rally volunteers and order spirit wear, our guests provide useful insight on how to run a booster club like a champ!
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Think your school's insurance automatically protects your Booster Club? Think again. Many Booster Club volunteers assume they're covered if something goes wrong—but a single accident, theft, or lawsuit could leave the organization and even individual volunteers financially exposed. In this episode of the Boosted Volunteer Podcast, host Robin Eissler sits down with Elgin Allen Jr., Founder & CEO of Association Insurance Management (AIM), and Jamie Fagan, President of AIM, to explain the insurance every Booster Club should understand before hosting fundraisers, concession stands, banquets, or co
What if the secret to raising $14,000 in three weeks was already sitting in your pocket? Most booster clubs settle for the "standard" chocolate or much sales that require endless physical labor for a small fraction of the profit. This week on The Boosted Volunteer, host Robin Eissler welcomes Marsha Sray, a fundraising powerhouse and former band booster president who turned a dilapidated equipment trailer into a rallying cry for an entire community. Marsha shares the exact strategies she used to "restore the pride" and explains why peer-to-peer fundraising is the ultimate engine for modern boo
What does it really take for Booster Clubs to survive—and thrive—in 2026? As funding shifts, expectations rise, and responsibilities grow, many clubs are being pushed to operate more like full-scale nonprofits than volunteer groups. In this episode of The Boosted Volunteer, the roles are flipped as Evan Eissler interviews co-host Robin Eissler, CEO and founder of Booster Hub. Drawing from her experience working with thousands of Booster Clubs nationwide, Robin shares a candid look at the biggest challenges clubs face today—and the strategies that separate those that are thriving from those bar
As Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities continue to reshape athletics, their impact is no longer limited to college programs. In this insightful episode, former professional football player and NIL education advocate Dr. John DeWitt joins host Robin Eissler to explore what this evolving landscape means for high school athletes, families — and most importantly — Booster Clubs. A former 12-year professional football player turned chiropractor, author, and keynote speaker, Dr. DeWitt is the founder of JD Football Training, where he provides NIL and recruiting education to student-athlete
Ever wondered why marching band parents are some of the most intense, dedicated, and—dare we say—"cult-like" volunteers on the planet? This week on The Boosted Volunteer, host Robin Eissler sits down with the hilarious and insightful duo behind The Band Dads Podcast: Chris Flynn and Scott Lang. Scott, a former band director and leadership expert, and Chris, a data analyst and "super-volunteer," share their journey from confused bleacher parents to becoming the voice of band parents globally and talk about the unique world of band boosters, volunteer culture, fundraising, leadership, and why ma
If your booster club’s graphics look inconsistent, outdated, or thrown together at the last minute… sponsors notice. And so do parents, athletes, and recruiters. In this episode of the Boosted Volunteer, host Robin Eissler sits down with Becki Jacobs, founder of Team Mom Boutique, to share how booster clubs can create a professional, consistent, and sponsor-ready social media presence—without hiring a designer. Becki, a former corporate digital product designer turned youth sports entrepreneur, built Teen Mom Boutique after seeing teams struggle to create polished graphics from scratch each se
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
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
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,
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 spar
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, establish
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 mas
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
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 B
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
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,
Struggling to get enough hands to help out with your booster club? You’re not alone. In this solo episode, host Robin Eissler tackles one of the biggest challenges Booster Clubs face: volunteer recruitment. Discover a practical, tested system that goes beyond just sending sign-up emails—because getting people to help isn't just about asking; it's about connecting. Robin introduces the I-CHAT framework—a five-step volunteer recruitment strategy that’s already helping booster clubs around the country grow their volunteer base and strengthen their community. If you’re tired of doing it all alone,
Tired of asking your community for another donation? What if your Booster Club could raise money every time someone shops online—without spending anything extra? This week, Robin Eissler welcomes Eric Peck, founder of FanFundU, a platform that turns everyday shopping into a sustainable fundraising tool for Booster Clubs. With 15 years of experience in loyalty programs and affiliate marketing, Eric shares how he built a system that allows schools to earn real dollars by simply guiding families to start their online purchases through FanFundU. Eric explains how the model works, the kind of retai
What do you get when you combine military discipline, musical passion, and multigenerational spirit? You get the Troopers Legacy Corps—an all-age drum and bugle ensemble committed to legacy, community, and lasting impact. In this episode of The Boosted Volunteer, host Robin Eissler sits down with Mark Kincaid, fundraising chair and advisory board member of Troopers Legacy Corps, a proud extension of the historic Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps from Casper, Wyoming. Mark shares how a one-time reunion group transformed into a sustainable, mission-driven organization that brings together alumni, fami
What happens when a high school band program says yes to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—with just weeks to prepare? You get a story of passion, partnership, and pushing past expectations. In this week’s Boosted Volunteer Podcast, hosts Robin and Evan Eissler welcome James Rees, Director of Bands at Grapevine High School, and Diane Pintar, Vice President of the Grapevine Band Boosters. Together, they share the incredible behind-the-scenes story of how preparation, community, and a little serendipity landed their high school band the chance to perform for none other than Post Malone, a Grapevi
Is your Booster Club working with your coach or against them without even realizing it? In this solo episode, Robin dives into one of the most common—and confusing—topics Booster Club leaders face: defining the relationship with coaches, directors, and program heads. She explains how Booster Clubs, as independent nonprofits, can collaborate effectively while maintaining clear roles and boundaries. Robin offers practical strategies—from holding quarterly meetings and setting budget boundaries to navigating privacy concerns and involving coaches in board succession planning. Her advice helps Boo
Is Your Booster Club Ready for What's Coming? In this episode of The Boosted Volunteer Podcast, hosts Robin Eissler and Evan Eissler discuss the evolving role of booster clubs amid upcoming federal and state educational regulations. They highlight the increasing importance of booster clubs to bridge funding gaps caused by potential budget cuts in schools. The conversation covers the history of booster clubs, strategies to maintain fundraising during economic downturns, and tips to ensure legal compliance and efficient budgeting. They also suggest collaborative efforts among different booster c
Managing your booster club’s finances just got easier! In this episode of The Boosted Volunteer, host Robin Eissler talks with Kyle Ruschman, VP of Sales and Business Development at USIO, to explore how prepaid debit card solutions—like Akimbo cards—are transforming nonprofit financial management. Kyle shares his expertise on how these cards provide real-time control, reduce reimbursement hassles, and enhance financial security for booster clubs and other nonprofit organizations. With a quick online application process and approvals in as little as one to two days, clubs can start managing the
Running a successful Booster Club isn’t just about raising funds—it’s about avoiding costly mistakes! In this episode of Boosted Volunteer, hosts Evan and Robin Eisler dive into the Top 10 Booster Club Blunders that can hold your organization back. From failing to invest in the right tools to common fundraising missteps (like the T-shirt trap!), Evan and Robin share real-life examples and practical solutions that can help you streamline operations, maximize fundraising, and keep volunteers engaged. Learn why spending on admin costs can actually boost your bottom line, how to avoid inventory ni
Many fundraising platforms advertise themselves as "free," but are they truly cost-free? In this episode of Booster Volunteer Podcast, hosts Evan and Robin Eissler uncover the hidden costs behind these so-called free fundraising tools. They explore the structural differences between simple donation websites and peer-to-peer fundraising systems, highlighting common pitfalls such as high transaction fees, hidden tips, data-sharing concerns, and embedded advertisements. Evan and Robin provide a practical guide to evaluating and choosing between free, legacy, and modern low-cost fundraising tools.
