LINCOLN, Neb., Sept. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GolfStatus, the leading technology platform for charity golf tournament fundraisers, is pleased to announce a partnership with Chek, the fund disbursement platform transforming how social sector organizations send, spend, and manage their mission-critical funds. The partnership gives nonprofits and charities the tech tools to raise money through golf and then seamlessly allocate those donations directly to populations in need.

GolfStatus' golf event management and fundraising platform streamlines golf fundraisers and charity tournaments, saving organizers time and effort and helping raise more money. Chek will appear in GolfStatus' Marketplace, a one-stop shop of trusted vendors providing goods and services to golf tournament organizers. Chek's proprietary technology helps philanthropic organizations instantly and securely distribute funds to the populations they serve in the form of digital "Chek" cards, saving time and money. Through the use of customizable spending controls, Chek can also help ensure allocated funds are spent as intended, building donor trust and ultimately helping maximize impact.

"GolfStatus is all about helping nonprofits do more good," said Steve Mattern, Vice President of Operations at GolfStatus. "Chek shares that mission, and we're honored to work together to make organizations' workflows more efficient and their efforts more impactful."

"Chek and GolfStatus are two organizations that have an aligned mission to help nonprofits and those in need," said Nick Schedler, Co-Founder of Chek and the company's Chief Operating Officer and Chief Revenue Officer. "It's also no secret that golf raises more money for charity than any other sport out there. Forging the giving power of GolfStatus with Chek's revolutionary fund disbursement technology will no doubt drive unprecedented impact for the organizations we both serve."

Find out more about Chek and other GolfStatus Marketplace vendors by visiting https://golfstatus.com/marketplace/fund-disbursement-software-by-chek.

About GolfStatus
GolfStatus helps nonprofits leverage the giving power of golf to raise more dollars, engage supporters, and do more good. Its robust golf event management platform streamlines golf tournaments from start to finish to save time and enhance the overall event experience for golfers, sponsors, and golf facilities. GolfStatus combines powerful technology with practical golf fundraising resources and industry-leading support to make charity golf tournaments easy, approachable, and efficient for organizations of all types and sizes. Visit golfstatus.org.

About Chek
Chek is revolutionizing the way social sector organizations send, spend, and manage mission critical funds, transforming donors' giving experience in the process. Its proprietary, fund disbursement technology, with customizable spending controls, an easy-to-use app, digital wallet integrations, and the ability to securely and rapidly allocate funds, helps philanthropic organizations maximize their impact. By instantly distributing money via digital cards, ensuring donor dollars are spent as intended, and effortlessly recovering unused funds, Chek streamlines core processes, boosts efficiency, and cuts costs. And, with the platform's robust reporting and real-time visibility, Chek is integrating more trust and transparency into organizations' donor lifecycle, helping them grow and scale. Visit chekspend.com to learn more!

SOURCE PRNewswire

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LINCOLN, Neb., May 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GolfStatus, the leading technology platform for nonprofit and charity golf fundraisers, is teaming up with its giving partners at Dormie Network and Dormie Network Foundation for the Play It Forward campaign to give back to organizations that are using golf to drive impact.

Now in its third year, the campaign is a unique opportunity to "play" it forward. Individuals nominate a charity or nonprofit using golf to raise money to receive a $10,000 donation to its golf fundraiser, and get the chance to win a one-year honorary membership to Dormie Network, a national network of private golf clubs, plus a $10,000 credit toward onsite golf and lodging.

"Golf has deep ties to philanthropy and helps power nonprofits and charities addressing important causes in communities everywhere," said Brian Schenk, Chief Philanthropy Officer at Dormie Network Foundation. "Play It Forward celebrates these organizations using golf as a force for good."

Play It Forward began in 2021, awarding $10,000 to the Cameron Steinberg Foundation and its inaugural golf fundraiser. The annual golf event has raised $100,000 for research into congenital heart disease and to help families affected by these defects.

In 2022, two nonprofits were selected for $10,000 donations, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Philadelphia, Delaware, and Susquehanna Valley and Sisters Across America. Make-A-Wish's Pro-Am for Wishes raises money to grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Sisters Across America provides support and mentoring for young minority women pursuing professional golfing careers and teaching juniors to grow the game, raising money through two annual golf fundraisers.

The giveaway launches May 29 and nominations will be accepted through July 4. Winners will be announced via press release and on GolfStatus' and Dormie Network's social media channels in August.

Visit golfstatus.org/playitforward for official rules and to submit a nomination.

About GolfStatus
GolfStatus helps nonprofits leverage the giving power of golf to raise more dollars, engage supporters, and do more good. Its robust golf event management platform streamlines golf tournaments from start to finish to save time and enhance the overall event experience for golfers, sponsors, and golf facilities. GolfStatus combines powerful technology with practical golf fundraising resources and industry-leading support to make charity golf tournaments easy, approachable, and efficient for organizations of all types and sizes. Learn more at golfstatus.org.

About Dormie Network and Dormie Network Foundation
Dormie Network is a national network of private destination golf clubs that includes ArborLinks in Nebraska City, Nebraska; Ballyhack Golf Club in Roanoke, Virginia; Briggs Ranch Golf Club in San Antonio, Texas; Dormie Club in West End, North Carolina; Hidden Creek Golf Club in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey; Victoria National Golf Club in Newburgh, Indiana; and GrayBull Club in Maxwell, Nebraska, with a planned opening of 2024. Each offers a premier golf experience in a relaxing and accommodating environment ideal for business or leisure. The Dormie Network Foundation supports nonprofits through in-kind donations and direct cash grants, and seeks to build long-term relationships with its nonprofit partners to help them raise the bar on fundraising opportunities. Learn more at dormienetwork.com.

Media Contact:
Ashley Watson
[email protected]

SOURCE GolfStatus

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Source: PRNewswire

Golf tournaments have an undeserved reputation of being outdated and not worth the effort. To be honest, without the right tools in place, they have been.

But today’s technology makes planning and executing a lucrative golf tournament easier than ever. So in short, yes—a golf tournament is absolutely worth it, especially when you have the right tech in place. Here’s why:

1. You’ll raise money and awareness.

Golf’s fundraising power is massive—the sport raises nearly $4 billion for charity annually. Nonprofits of all types and sizes can use golf as an effective vehicle to raise mission-critical, unrestricted funds. Best of all, golf tournaments come with a ton of options to supercharge fundraising, from donations to premium sponsorships to add-ons and extras that not only raise more but add fun and excitement to the event. What’s more, golfers tap into their personal and professional networks to fill their team for your tournament, which raises more awareness about your mission and subsequently broadens your donor base.

How Technology Helps: The right management platform will have fundraising tools baked right in. Use your event website to seamlessly collect donations during checkout, right from live leaderboards, and through a mobile app, and show your progress toward a fundraising goal. Digital exposure is huge when it comes to the most lucrative sponsorships. Getting tons of eyes on their brand before, during, and after the tournament means a high return on investment for your sponsors and more funds raised for your mission. Your event website is the chance to tell your organization’s story and help people understand what the event is supporting. Choose a provider that allows you to upload photos, videos, and customize text.

2. The right tools automate time-consuming tasks.

Golf tournaments have a lot of moving parts and important details to keep track of. If you’re still processing registrations, payments, receipts, sponsorships, and hole assignments manually and tracking everything on spreadsheet after spreadsheet, there’s a better way!

How Technology Helps: It all starts with an event website where golfers can register their teams and submit payment—all without you needing to do a thing! Automating registration removes a ton of administrative burden from you and your planning team. Plus, with the right golf event management software, golfer information gets dropped into the platform’s backend where you can manage teams, hole assignments, and other details. This makes it easy to collaborate with the rest of your planning team and even the golf facility by sharing access to the software. What’s more, you should be able to set up notifications so you know when golfers register, someone makes a donation, or a sponsorship is purchased. This gives you a jump on thank yous and sponsor outreach instead of waiting to do it in bulk after the tournament.

3. Your organization connects with the golfer donor.

The golfer donor is a key segment that should be part of any organization’s donor outreach and engagement efforts. Consider the following demographics:

• The average golfer’s net worth is over $768,000

• The average household income among golfers is over $100,000

• 33% of golfers are top-level managers

Of course, not every golfer falls into this bracket, but in general, golfers represent an affluent, influential audience. A golf fundraiser is the first step in converting golfers into regular supporters. When you provide a memorable experience and create a tangible connection to your mission at the event, they’re more likely to return year after year. Sponsors also want to reach this particular audience of potential clients and customers, which you can leverage to sell sponsorships.

How Technology Helps: Collecting accurate donor data is a crucial part of engaging with the golfer donor. This is easier than you might think! The key is secure, online registration that’s part of a management platform that can handle the unique nuances of a golf event and ensures no information is lost or overlooked. The registration process should be intuitive enough to collect basic information without frustrating or overwhelming registrants (leading them to abandon their purchase) and be easily exported to seamlessly incorporate into your organization’s CRM. This data tells an important story about who supports your organization through golf, at what levels, and during which years.

4. You build and strengthen partnerships.

Golf tournaments are unique in that they include four focused hours over the course of 18 holes. Take full advantage of this time to make connections with new businesses and individuals and reinforce existing partnerships. Be strategic when making your hole assignments—maybe you’ll want to pair the chair of your organization’s board of directors with a potential corporate sponsor or put your development director with a major donor you’ve been courting. Whatever the case, strategic hole assignments give your representatives several hours to make a strong connection. Be sure to follow up after the event with a thank you!

How Technology Helps: Businesses often use golf tournaments as a means to entertain clients, network, and reward and engage employees. So when your event runs smoothly and professionally, is well-executed from the moment someone registers or purchases a sponsorship on the event website to when they submit their team’s score via a live scoring mobile app, and folks have a great experience, you’ve already laid the foundation for a partnership. A technology platform built just for golf ensures all the golf details are handled appropriately. It should be easy to see your tournament’s field and easily make hole assignments that benefit your organization.

5. Help is available!

Nonprofit event planners are often intimidated by the prospect of organizing a golf event simply because they’re not golfers and don’t know a ton about the sport. The good news is that this doesn’t need to be a roadblock to a successful golf fundraiser! Plenty of event organizers don’t golf but put on a golf tournament that raises five, six, or even seven figures. You don’t have to be an expert to hold an awesome event!

How Technology Helps: The key here is a platform that’s built just for golf and can handle the golf specifics without workarounds and adaptations. Choose a platform backed by an in-house support team that’s available to answer questions and walk you through the software step-by-step, provide ideas and feedback, and assist your golfers and sponsors with any issues with registration.

No-cost Golf Event Technology

GolfStatus’ event management and fundraising platform is built just for golf events, handling all the golf-specific details and freeing up organizers to connect with donors and sponsors. Through the Golf for Good program, qualifying nonprofits (and individuals, businesses, and others holding golf events that benefit them) can qualify for no-cost access to the GolfStatus platform—including an event website, online registration, live-scoring, and much more—through the Golf for Good program. Plus, GolfStatus’ in-house customer success team is there to answer questions and help you have your most successful event yet. Sign up for a demo to get on board with GolfStatus for your 2023 event or email us directly at [email protected].

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Source: nptechforgood.com

LINCOLN, Neb., Sep. 8, 2022 /Nonprofit Tech for Good/ — If your nonprofit is thinking about planning a golf fundraiser in 2023—whether it’s a brand new event or an established tournament—there are a few simple steps to take right now to make sure your outing is set up for success.

1. Start With Technology

The right technology tools are key to easy planning and successful execution of a golf fundraiser. Because golf events have unique components—like handicaps, flighting, hole assignments, scoring—having a platform that’s specifically designed for golf is crucial. Look for a provider with online registration that populates an intuitive backend to manage player and sponsor information in real-time and in one accessible place. Get your tech in place early so you can start promoting the tournament and collecting registrations as soon as possible.

2. Launch an Event Website

The earlier the better! An event website gives supporters a centralized place to find more information about the organization and event, purchase teams and sponsorships, and even make a donation. Direct all your promotion to the website so folks can take action to support your cause and event as soon as they hear about it.

 3. Send Save-the-Dates

Get your event on donors’ minds early and in front of sponsors amid annual budget planning. As soon as you have a date set with the golf facility, send a quick email to your contact database as well as individual emails to major donors and supporters to get it on their calendars and into their budgets. If you send postcards or any printed materials, include a QR code that links directly to your event website.

4. Plan on Live-Scoring

Live-scoring has a ton of advantages—you can sell a leaderboard sponsorship and individual digital hole sponsorships, share leaderboards online to engage more supporters and collect donations, keep golfers engaged throughout the round, and even finalize results quickly so you can keep the day moving forward. Make sure your live-scoring platform is reliable and simple to use.

5. Look for New Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorships are the bread and butter of a golf tournament’s fundraising. Organizers should think outside the box when it comes to sponsor exposure and even types of sponsorships to offer. Digital exposure provides a ton of ROI for sponsors wanting to get their business and brands in front of an audience of affluent members of the community, so look for an event management option that has robust sponsor exposure across multiple touchpoints. Elements that add fun and excitement to your event, like hole-in-one contests, are also a prime sponsorship opportunity (and cover the contest’s fixed costs). Consider selling other high-end sponsorships, like pin flags, technology, or leaderboard sponsorships.

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Ready to Start Planning?

GolfStatus’s golf event management and fundraising platform streamlines and simplifies golf fundraisers, offering solutions that save time and raise more money. Nonprofits and those holding events that benefit them can qualify for no-cost access to GolfStatus’s technology—including an event website, online registration, live-scoring, and much more—through the Golf for Good program. Plus, GolfStatus’s in-house customer success team is there to answer questions and help you have your most successful event yet. Ready to get started? Click here or email [email protected].

Source: Nonprofit Tech for Good

LINCOLN, Neb., Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dormie Network, a collection of private destination golf clubs, is pleased to announce two winners of the second annual Play It Forward giveaway: Make-A-Wish Foundation and Sisters Across America.

The giveaway, presented in partnership with leading golf event management and fundraising platform GolfStatus, celebrates those who are golfing for good. Entrants were asked to nominate a golf tournament fundraiser for a $10K donation, and were entered to win their own one-year private golf membership and $10K to spend onsite.

The Pro-Am for Wishes at Penn Oaks Golf Club, held on August 15, 2022, benefits Make-A-Wish, Philadelphia, Delaware, and Susquehanna Valley, in support of life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Since the chapter's founding in 1986, more than 7,500 wishes have been granted for children in the local community, helping them build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illness.

Sisters Across America provides support and mentoring for young minority women pursuing professional golfing careers, raising money through two annual golf fundraisers. Current mentee Lakareber Abe, a 26-year-old alum of the University of Alabama, recently qualified to play in her first LPGA event. Sisters Across America's support helps remove the mentees' concerns for financial viability and allows them to focus on improving their game. The group also teaches juniors, to further expand access to the game.

Cassandra Doty, co-founder and President of Sisters Across America, notes that the concept was developed on the golf course with a group of friends, who had all taken up the game later in life. "We wanted to support the next era of young players, and because tomorrow is a promise to no one, we decided to start right then," she said.

The Play It Forward giveaway is part of Dormie Network and the Dormie Network Foundation's commitment to supporting organizations in its four giving pillars of youth golf, environmental initiatives, military / first responder organizations, and healthcare / humanitarian efforts.

About Make-A-Wish

Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Make-A-Wish is the world's leading children's wish-granting organization, operating in every community in the United States and in nearly 50 countries worldwide. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 24,000 volunteers across the U.S., Make-A-Wish delivers hope and joy to children and their families when they need it most. Make-A-Wish aims to bring the power of wishing to every child with a critical illness because wish experiences can help improve emotional and physical health. Since 1980, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 520,000 wishes worldwide; more than 350,000 wishes in the U.S. and its territories alone. For more information about Make-A-Wish America, visit wish.org.

About Sisters Across America

Sisters Across America, Inc. consists of golfers and non-golfers who are bound by passion for the mission. Since its 2006 inception, the organization continues to embrace activities with respect, integrity, and teamwork. Sisters Across America, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit corporation of women from across America, committed to carrying out its mission, vision and goals. Learn more at sistersacrossamerica.com.

About GolfStatus

GolfStatus is golf's premier tournament management solution and golfer engagement platform. Its full-service event management software streamlines outings from start to finish, yielding professional, high-end events while also saving time and improving the event experience for golfers, sponsors, and golf facilities. Through GolfStatus, its powerful technology is accessible to nonprofits to streamline golf fundraisers and help event organizers use them to engage more supporters, raise more mission-critical funds, drive impact, and do more good. Visit golfstatus.com.

About Dormie Network

Dormie Network is a national network of private destination golf clubs that includes ArborLinks in Nebraska City, Nebraska; Ballyhack Golf Club in Roanoke, Virginia; Briggs Ranch Golf Club in San Antonio, Texas; Dormie Club in West End, North Carolina; Hidden Creek Golf Club in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey; Victoria National Golf Club in Newburgh, Indiana; and a seventh course built from the ground up in the Nebraska Sandhills, with a planned opening of 2024. Each offers a premier golf experience in a relaxing and accommodating environment ideal for business or leisure. Learn more at dormienetwork.com.

Source: PR Newswire

LINCOLN, Neb., June 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GolfStatus, the leading technology platform for charity golf tournament fundraisers, has launched a Marketplace to connect tournament organizers with third party vendors and enhance their event's experience.

GolfStatus's golf event management software streamlines golf fundraisers, saving organizers valuable time and effort, and ultimately, helping raise more money. Marketplace was created to complement the platform as a one-stop shop of trusted partners providing a wide variety of goods and services for golf fundraisers.

"In addition to our software, Marketplace is another solution GolfStatus provides for nonprofits and organizations hosting golf tournaments to raise money for their mission," said Ashley Watson, director of marketing at GolfStatus. "Organizers can leverage Marketplace vendors to offer additional sponsorships and add-ons that make the tournament more fun, more engaging, and more lucrative."

Current GolfStatus Marketplace vendors include:

• Custom Golf Products by Proforma

• Auction Software by Handbid

• Text Messaging by Rally Corp

• Custom Golf Balls by GolfBalls.com

• Professional Long Drivers by Charity Golf International

• Custom Event Flags by Prestige Flag

• Celebrity Appearance by The Celebrity Source

• Hole-in-One Contests by GolfStatus

• Video Messaging and Collection by KindKatch

Find out more by visiting golfstatus.com/marketplace.

About GolfStatus

GolfStatus is golf's premier tournament management solution and golfer engagement platform. Its full-service event management software streamlines outings from start to finish, yielding professional, high-end events while also saving time and improving the event experience for golfers, sponsors, and golf facilities. Through GolfStatus, its powerful technology is accessible to nonprofits to streamline golf fundraisers and help event organizers use them to engage more supporters, raise more mission-critical funds, drive impact, and do more good. Visit golfstatus.com.

Media Contact:
Ashley Watson
[email protected]

Source: PR Newswire

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Golf has grown in popularity during the pandemic and proved a valuable way of fundraising for many nonprofit organizations.

Source: Forbes, David Hessekiel Contributor -- The pandemic’s restriction of big group events have made the last two years very challenging for nonprofits so development executives are on the lookout for ways to enhance their fundraising efforts.

Interestingly, one growth area has been golf tournament fundraising which has been on the rise for several reasons:

• Since golf is played outdoors, tournaments can easily be arranged to enable social distancing.

• The sport saw record rounds played during 2020 and then continued to increase by 5% in 2021, according to the National Golf Foundation.

• After years of primarily being managed manually or using very unsophisticated systems, online technology has emerged that streamlines golf tournament fundraisers and handles golf-specific elements like hole assignments, team pairings, facility information, and sponsorships.

• Golf remains a generally upscale activity with golfers having a median household income of $125,000 and a high penetration of upper level executives.

The Cameron Steinberg Foundation is an example of a small nonprofit that has successfully leveraged these trends. The organization was founded by the parents of Cameron Steinberg who passed away at just two months old from hyproplastic left heart syndrome. The foundation raises funds to help other families dealing with congenital heart disease.

Nationwide Children's Hospital was one of the beneficiaries of the Cameron Steinberg Foundation's 2022 golf tournament.

The Ohio-based foundation raised $30,000 at its first golf event in 2021, and was selected as the winner of a $10,000 donation through the inaugural Play It Forward campaign. After using inefficient platforms and systems to plan and manage the tournament in 2021, the event converted to an online golf tournament management platform for the 2022 event, held May 23, 2022, and raised $64,000, more than double the amount raised in 2021.

A more sophisticated, technology-empowered approach to managing the event led to such positive outcomes as selling more and higher priced sponsorships, a 50% reduction in the administrative workload and better tools to promote the program and enable people to make direct donations, according to cofounder Sam Steinberg.

Back in 2021 the group used Venmo to collect credit card payments, had to process cash and checks and tracked everything in spreadsheets which were a “huge headache,” Sam explained.

A good way for nonprofits to determine whether golf tournament fundraising could work well for them would be to review this introductory guide.

Source: Forbes

Play It Forward seeks to reward those who are using golf for good.

LINCOLN, Neb., June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GolfStatus, the leading technology platform for nonprofit and charity golf fundraisers, is teaming up with its giving partners at Dormie Network and Dormie Network Foundation for the Play It Forward campaign to give back to organizations that are using golf to make an impact.

Now in its second year, the campaign is a unique opportunity to "play" it forward. Individuals nominate a golf fundraiser to receive a $10,000 donation and have the chance to win a one-year honorary membership to Dormie Network, a national network of private golf clubs, plus a $10,000 credit toward onsite golf and lodging.

"From small, local fundraisers to massive charity tournaments, golf is a great way to bring people together in support of a cause," said Brian Schenk, Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Dormie Network Foundation. "Play It Forward celebrates organizations golfing for good and doing incredible work in their communities and beyond."

The 2021 Play It Forward nonprofit winner was the Cameron Steinberg Foundation's inaugural golf fundraiser, which was nominated by Dr. Michael Gaies. The Foundation honors the life of Cameron Steinberg, who was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and tragically passed away at just two months old. Cami's parents, Mel and Sam, created the Foundation to help families affected by congenital heart disease. The $10,000 donation was made to the Foundation's second annual golf tournament, held May 23, 2022. The event's second year utilized GolfStatus's golf event management platform—which is available at no cost to qualifying nonprofit organizations through the Golf for Good program—and more than doubled the dollars raised from its first year.

The giveaway launched May 31 and nominations will be accepted through July 4. Winners will be announced via press release and on GolfStatus's and Dormie Network's social media channels in August.

Visit www.golfstatus.com/play-it-forward for official rules and to submit a nomination.

About GolfStatus

GolfStatus is golf's premier tournament management solution and golfer engagement platform. Its full-service tournament management software streamlines outings from start to finish, yielding professional, high-end events that add value for golfers, sponsors, and golf facilities. Through GolfStatus.org, we make our powerful technology accessible to nonprofits to streamline fundraisers and help charitable organizations engage more supporters, raise more mission-critical funds, drive impact, and do more good. Learn more at golfstatus.com.

About Dormie Network and Dormie Network Foundation

Dormie Network is a national network of private destination golf clubs that includes ArborLinks in Nebraska City, Nebraska; Ballyhack Golf Club in Roanoke, Virginia; Briggs Ranch Golf Club in San Antonio, Texas; Dormie Club in West End, North Carolina; Hidden Creek Golf Club in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey; Victoria National Golf Club in Newburgh, Indiana; and a seventh course built from the ground up in the Nebraska Sandhills, with a planned opening of 2024. Each offers a premier golf experience in a relaxing and accommodating environment ideal for business or leisure. The Dormie Network Foundation supports nonprofits through in-kind donations and direct cash grants, and seeks to build long-term relationships with its nonprofit partners to help them raise the bar on fundraising opportunities. Learn more at dormienetwork.com.

Media contact:
Ashley Watson
[email protected]

Source: PR Newswire

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LINCOLN, Neb., April 9, 2022 /Nonprofit Tech for Good/ --

Organization Snapshot

Habitat for Humanity partners with communities all over the globe to help build homes, with the vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Globally, Habitat for Humanity has worked in more than 70 countries and helped more than 39 million people with improved living conditions since 1976. On the local level, affiliate organizations work with trusted partners and residents to improve communities and build strong neighborhoods. In Chicago, Habitat’s commitment is to local families to achieve strength, stability, and self-reliance through housing and development projects. Four in 10 Chicagoans live in declining conditions, making Habitat’s work critical to helping the city thrive.

Chris Johnson, a Real Estate Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago, serves as the President of the chapter’s Associate Board, whose charge is to raise funds for the organization’s work. He’s worked in Chicago’s real estate market for nine years and is intimately familiar with the city’s need for denser, more affordable housing options. Chris says Habitat is helping address these issues, not only through physically building homes and neighborhoods, but by educating people and helping them navigate what can be an overwhelming and complicated process. “It’s not about giving away homes, it’s about creating generational change, a steady and safe environment for families, and building wealth in their home,” Chris says. “There are only so many homes that can be built, but when we’re able to help prepare people for homeownership through education, financial literacy, and sound advice, we can help even more.”

The Challenge

One of Habitat for Humanity of Chicago’s flagship programs is HomeBuyer University, a pilot effort that began in 2019 to break down barriers to becoming a homeowner by helping prospective homeowners understand the process and how to prepare for applying for a mortgage. Funds raised by the Associate Board help underwrite the costs of this program, which is a key part of fulfilling the local chapter’s mission.

After COVID-19 forced the cancellation of an annual yacht party fundraiser, Chris wanted to shift gears and establish a golf event as the board’s main fundraiser. “Folks were exhausted with virtual events and wanted a way to gather safely, and I’ve loved golf since I was a kid,” Chris says, so he dove headfirst into planning a golf event. He knew launching a brand new tournament was going to be challenging, but also knew that they needed to move forward. “I presented a golf tournament to the rest of the board as a feasible way to get a fundraising event done and established.”

Chris, with the help of Associate Board member Brian Doyle of BMO Harris in Chicago and the rest of the planning team, set a conservative goal to raise about $8,000 for the tournament’s first year. Several board members had played in charity tournaments in the past, but no one had experience planning an event.

The Solution

Chris knew there had to be an option for live scoring and easy registration for golf tournaments. A little online research led him straight to GolfStatus. “To take on an event like this in its first year without any experience was a little daunting, but having a tool like GolfStatus that took things off my plate and made the logistics easier to handle was so great,” Chris explains. He wanted one centralized place to keep things organized, take payments, manage sponsor assets, and print cart signs. “GolfStatus had all this and more,” he says.

The Results

The first-year tournament surpassed its fundraising goal, taking in $13,000. It attracted 19 teams for the four-person scramble. Teams live-scored via the free GolfStatus mobile app, which made confirming the final results much quicker and more efficient than relying on paper scorecards. Nine sponsorships were sold through the GolfStatus platform, including the premium technology sponsorship, which boasts premium visibility on the event website’s homepage, live leaderboards, and across the mobile app.

Massive Time Savings

Chris says the time savings the platform provided was invaluable. Every GolfStatus event website includes online registration with secure payment processing, allowing golfers and sponsors to purchase packages directly on the event website, eliminating the need to manually process paper registration forms, handle checks or take credit card information, or track information in multiple spreadsheets. Chris, Brian, or anyone on the planning team could log into GolfStatus and see who had registered or purchased a sponsorship with a few clicks. “Having everything in one place really made my life easier,” he says. “I could focus on the experience and day of things that needed to be handled.” Plus, sponsors can upload graphics and links directly through the event website, saving a ton of time. “Going back and forth with sponsors to get logos and such can really be a time suck,” Chris points out.

Connecting to the Cause

While many people are familiar with Habitat for Humanity, they often have misconceptions about what Habitat does. “People think we give away houses!” Chris says. In fact, families that are selected for a Habitat home are part of the building process and pay a 0% mortgage. “People think it’s a lottery, but it’s a long-term commitment to the neighborhood and community,” Chris says. At the start of the tournament, Chris made a point to speak about what Habitat for Humanity Chicago does and passed out educational materials as folks checked in for the tournament so they had a better understanding of what they were supporting.

Second-to-None Support & Resources

Chris and Brian worked closely with the GolfStatus team to build out the event website, which was provided at no cost as part of the Golf for Good program. Qualifying 501(c) organizations, like Habitat for Humanity, and those holding golf tournaments on their behalf, get access to the entire suite of GolfStatus’s tournament management and fundraising solution, in addition to an in-house support team. “The support team was great,” Chris says. “I had a question early on a Saturday morning and someone answered by chat almost immediately.”

Looking to the Future

Having one year of tournament planning experience under their belts has led to a number of things to improve on for next year’s event. First and foremost, Chris, Brian, and the rest of the team plan to get the event website up and running in the spring for the September event. “Chicago starts to thaw out in April and people are thinking about getting outside,” he says. They also plan to rethink the day of the week of the tournament, which was held on a Saturday in its inaugural year. “Saturday is a great day to play golf, but it was harder to get sponsors to commit to sending a team on a weekend or consider entertaining clients on a weekend,” Chris points out.

He hopes the annual golf tournament will become the board’s marquee fundraising event for Habitat for Humanity Chicago. “I love Habitat. I love being on a job site and watching homes come together,” Chris says. “It’s a lot like what they say about golf—a bad day golfing is better than a good day doing something else. Well, volunteering for Habitat is the same. You’ll work hard but the impact is worth it.”

Golf for Good

Through GolfStatus and the Golf for Good initiative, qualifying 501(c) organizations and those holding events that raise money for one can get access to GolfStatus’s full-featured golf event management and fundraising platform at no cost. Get started at golfstatus.com/demo or email [email protected].

Source: Nonprofit Tech for Good