How to ask for support and get your first donations in one evening
In July 2026, US volunteer Richard Drake ran a volleyball tournament with Match Point and raised $1,500 for our schools. The tournament gave people a reason to show up. The personal asks gave them a reason to give.
Most people find the asking harder than the organising. The good news: the first donations are the easiest ones to get, and once they land, the rest follow. This guide gives you a plan for your first 48 hours, who to ask first, what to say, and messages you can copy today in English, Dutch and Italian.
Start with your closest people
Write down 20 names: family, teammates, your coach, parents from the club, old friends from school. These are the people most likely to say yes, and their donations make your page look alive for everyone after them.
Send to five or ten of them first. Once your page shows a handful of donations, share it with the wider group.
The 20 people method
Ask 20 people for $10 to $25 each. That is $200 to $500 from one evening of messages, enough for a full set of balls for one of our schools. Small asks get more yeses, and a page with 20 donors persuades the next person better than a page with two large ones.
Ask 20 people for $10 to $25. One evening of messages can fill a school's ball bag.
Kickstart: your first 48 hours
Hour one: make the first donation yourself, so nobody is first on an empty page.
The first evening: send a personal message to your ten closest people.
The next day: once five donations are in, share your page with the wider group and post your story.
Day two: ask one or two people who gave to share your page with their own friends.
Want a hand getting started? Email info@lktbf.org and our team will look at your page and your first message with you.
What a good ask contains
Their name. Every message is personal. Group messages get read and ignored.
Your reason. One sentence on why volleyball matters to you.
The goal. What the money builds, in words they can picture: "30 balls for a school in Mwanza".
Your own donation. "I've put in the first $20 myself."
A clear ask and a date. "Would you join me before Friday?"
The link.
Copy, change, send
English: Hey [name]! I'm raising money for [goal] with Let's Keep The Ball Flying, so kids in [place] can play the sport we love. I've put in the first [amount] myself. Would you join me before [date]? [link]
Nederlands: Hoi [naam]! Ik zamel geld in voor [doel] met Let's Keep The Ball Flying, zodat kinderen in [plaats] kunnen volleyballen. Ik heb zelf al [bedrag] gegeven. Doe je mee voor [datum]? [link]
Italiano: Ciao [nome]! Sto raccogliendo fondi per [obiettivo] con Let's Keep The Ball Flying, così i ragazzi di [luogo] possono giocare a pallavolo. Ho già donato [importo] io per primo. Ti unisci a me entro [data]? [link]
Email subject line: [Goal] for [place]: will you join me?
Instagram story: a photo of you on court, the goal in one line, the link sticker, and your progress after the first donations.
Following up
Send one friendly reminder to anyone who said "later", about a week before your deadline. Share your progress at the same time: "We're at 70%, two days to go." People like joining something that is about to succeed.
Say thank you, fast
Thank every donor personally within a day. A short message with their name and what their donation adds to the goal is enough. When the fundraiser closes, send one more thank-you with what it built.
Every message you send brings one more person into the team, and one more young player onto the court.
Read next: Volleyball fundraiser ideas: from one training night to a whole season. Give your supporters a moment to rally around.
