Bowl for Kids’ Sake - Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT HAPPENS IF CITY/COUNTY PROTOCOLS SAY WE CAN'T GATHER?  

Should we not be able to gather for a scheduled game session; game play will be rescheduled for a later date based on the best availablity for participating teams.  Funds raised will still support Big and Little relationships, all donations are still tax deductible and all earned prizes will still be provided to participants who achieved their goals.

HOW DO I REGISTER FOR BOWL FOR KIDS' SAKE ONLINE?

Go to the Register NOW button and complete the form. You will be guided through the registration process. Once your transaction is complete, you will receive a confirmation email receipt with a link to your fundraising webpage.

DO I NEED TO PERSONALIZE MY PAGE?

People who edit their website to talk about why they are raising money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona raise a lot more money. It only takes a few minutes to add a picture and a personal story.

I AM A TEAM CAPTAIN. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

1) Recruit 4 to 5 more people to join your team. It's an easy ask!
2) Sign up for a game and play session that works for you and your team.
3) Encourage team members to raise $160 or more to meet your team goal of $960. You can share information about the impact of Big Brothers Big Sisters on your community, keep your team informed about incentive prizes, and communicate their success ("Katie just got a $50 donation!" "Joel has already exceeded his personal goal of $160!" "Our team just surpassed the $1,000 mark!")
4) Have fun! Remember, it’s not about the game play, it’s celebrating the impact the money your team collected will have on your community!(Your $160 minimum per person must be met by your game session.)
5) Say THANK YOU! Thank your team members for their time and commitment to participate! Don’t forget to say thank you to the people who donated to you! Call or email them after the event to let them know how much money your team raised and thank them for supporting local children!

DO I HAVE TO JOIN A TEAM TO PARTICIPATE?

Not necessarily however we highly encourage it.  As a fundraiser who wants to play, if you do not register with a team you will need to schedule your preferred game session directly with Veronica.  At your assigned game session, you will be grouped with other single participants to create a team or attached to an existing team that has room (in consideration of participant comfort level and with social distancing in mind).  If you are a fundraiser who does not want to play (known as a virutal player), then no, you do not need to join a team.

WHAT IS A VIRTUAL PLAYER?

A virtual player is an individual who wants to support and fundraise for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona but is either unable or not interested in attending a play session.  This individual can participate as a fundraiser, receiving the same support and prize incentives as all other participants minus the actual play session.

I NEED SOME QUICK IDEAS ON HOW TO FUNDRAISE. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

Our most successful fundraisers choose to send personal emails and use social media to reach out to your networks. And don't forget about letters, phone calls, and even a bake sale (driveby count!). Get creative! Need more help? Give us a call, Veronica at 520-624-2447 ext. 2263! We're happy to brainstorm a few ideas with you!

HOW CAN I SEE WHO HAS DONATED TO ME AND WHO HAS JOINED MY TEAM?

Sign into your personal page (HQ) to view sponsors and teammates. 

CAN FRIENDS AND FAMILY MAKE A DONATION TO ME BY GOING THROUGH THE MAIN WEBSITE?

Yes. On the homepage of the website, friends and family can locate you by clicking on the Donate to a Team Member button. If they type in your name, they will be directed to your personalized pledge page.

CAN MY SPONSORS PAY BY CASH OR CHECK?

Sure! Use our BFKS Pledge Sheet to track your cash and check donations. You can mail (checks only) or drop off your pledge sheet and donations to our office (2552 N Alvernon Way Suite 110, Tucson, Arizona 85712) prior to your play session.  Once received, we will add your donations to your online webpage.  You can also wait and bring your pledge sheet and collected donations with you to your session, and we'll credit the money to your personal fundraising goal.

WHERE DOES THE MONEY RAISED FROM BOWL & PLAY FOR KIDS' SAKE GO?

100% of the money raised through Bowl for Kids' Sake stays here in our community. We depend on the money raised from Bowl for Kids' Sake to carry out the work of carefully matching children with caring adult mentors and providing ongoing support to the child, volunteer mentor and child's family. Check out the "About" section for more information on how Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona works.

ARE DONATIONS TO MY WEBPAGE AND PLEDGE SHEET TAX DEDUCTIBLE?

Yes.  All donations to support your participation in Bowl for Kids' Sake online and through paid pledges are tax deductible and do qualify for the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit. Donate up to $400 if you file single or up to $800 if you file jointly on your Arizona tax return, and receive a dollar-for-dollar credit for your tax obligation (consult with your tax professional for more information).  Donors receive an auto email, when they donate online, that can be used for their tax purposes.  Within 1-2 weeks of a received donation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona also mails out a letter of acknowledgement and thank you!

WHY IS THE "SPONSOR MEMBER" SEARCH NOT FINDING A PLAYER THAT I KNOW HAS REGISTERED?

You must type in the first name or last name of the team member exactly how they entered it when they registered. Try using just the first few letters of someone's name if you're not sure how it's spelled. If you have a problem locating a bowler that you are sure has registered, please contact us.

HOW CAN I SEE WHO HAS DONATED TO ME?

Sign into your HQ. You can then view your donor list and the amounts that have been donated.

ALL OF MY DONORS ARE NOT SHOWING UP ON THE SCROLL MECHANISM. WHY?

Some donors prefer to keep their gifts anonymous. When someone donates, they can choose if they would like to have their name, donation amount, and/or a message appear on your personal page.

IS MY INFORMATION SECURE?

Yes! Engaging Networks has made every effort to protect your information. We use industry-standard SSL encryption techniques to make sure that your credit card information, passwords, and personal information travel securely over the Internet. We have also installed an encryption engine on our database server so that your data is securely stored.

WHAT IS THE LONG WEBSITE ADDRESS IN MY CONFIRMATION RECEIPT?

This website address will take you to your personal donation page. This address link is automatically included in any emails that are sent through the email center in event headquarters after you have logged into the website. You can also copy and paste this link into any other form of email.

WHAT IF I DO NOT RAISE THE MINIMUM TO PLAY?

All fundraising team members have until the day of their selected play session to meet the minimum raised of $160 per person to play.  Fundraising participants have until July 31th, 2024 to meet additional fundraising levels to qualify for additional incentives which includes paid pledges.  If you are having difficulty reaching your goal, please contact Veronica Saiz at [email protected].  We appreciate your support and are here to help you be successful as a DEFENDER of Potential!