Activating Student Athletes to Unlock New Donor Networks

Fundraising campaigns often focus on expanding mailing lists, increasing outreach, and finding new donor segments. But sometimes, the most powerful donor networks are already on campus.

When Saint Mary's University of Minnesota reimagined its athletics challenge campaign, the breakthrough came from empowering student athletes to become ambassadors. By adopting a mobile-first, peer-driven approach and creating momentum through mini competitions and matching gift challenges, the institution raised over $250,000 and achieved unprecedented donor participation.

Join the Saint Mary's team for a practical, conversational session on how student ambassadors can unlock new donor networks and transform campaign engagement.

Together, we'll explore:

• Why student athletes are uniquely positioned to reach new and younger donors
• How to build a mobile-first, peer-to-peer fundraising strategy
• Ways to create momentum through mini competitions and matching gift challenges
• How "micro-wins" can sustain energy and participation throughout a campaign
• Which participation metrics matter and how to use data to reinforce ownership and pride
• How student-powered campaigns can build stronger long-term donor pipelines

Expect practical ideas, honest conversation, real examples, and actionable takeaways you can start applying to your next campaign.