The Boosted Volunteer

Robin Eissler
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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!

  1. 12/09/2025

    Booster Club Fraud & Finance: Expert Guide to Governance and Compliance with Sandra Pfau Englund

    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

    47 min

  2. 11/21/2025

    Succession Planning & Recruiting: Leave Your Booster Club Better Than You Found It

    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

    19 min

  3. 10/22/2025

    The $10,000 Splash: How to Run a High-Engagement Booster Club Fundraiser with Chris Sharps

    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.

    37 min

  4. 09/30/2025

    Protecting Students from Heat Risks with HeatSense Founder Melissa Fortenberry

    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

    17 min

  5. 09/03/2025

    Building community at Lakeville South Band Boosters

    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/

    24 min

  6. 08/27/2025

    Building Nonprofit Infrastructure: Turning Volunteers Into a Reliable Force with Justin McKenzie

    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/

    26 min

  7. 08/12/2025

    Booster Club Leadership from the Ground Up: Middle School vs. High School with Jason Stover

    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

    40 min

  8. 07/25/2025

    How to Recruit More Volunteers (and Keep Them Coming Back!)

    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, this episode is for you! Key Takeaways 1:02 Why volunteer burnout is so common and how to set better expectations 2:52 The 5-part “I-CHAT” method to build a reliable volunteer base I – Introduction: How to raise awareness of your Booster Club (2:52) C – Contact: Why contact info is your most powerful tool (4:30) H – Hype: Create emotional buy-in beyond “we need help” (5:45) A – Ask: The 3-layered approach to making the right ask at the right time (7:08) T – Thank you: Turning volunteers into future leaders (10:57) 15:28 The danger of the “Debbie Do Everything” syndrome 14:20 How to avoid cliques and create a welcoming culture for new volunteers  17:14 Build a culture of 100% participation and track it publicly  13:04 Why transparency in roles and time commitment breaks down barriers 16:54 Letting things fall through the cracks—on purpose—to spark change

    21 min
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About

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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  • Creator
    Robin Eissler
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    The Boosted Volunteer