Download Tips for leveraging the

How to Leverage the RSMC Campaign
Thank you for partnering with MMP for the 2015 Red Sox Mentoring
Challenge! This challenge is an opportunity for you to try something new or to strengthen
recruitment efforts that already work. Below are some ideas and suggestions on how
you can use the campaign, free promotional materials, and seed money grant
as recruitment tools.
Use the following materials found on the MMP website for recruitment, outreach, and
marketing:
 Promotional materials and informational materials for events and recruitment fairs
 Social media ideas and materials
 Outreach materials to give to corporations, universities, baseball leagues, fraternal
associations, etc.
 Press releases that highlight a match that came through the RSMC for use with local media
outlets
 Online recruitment cards
Easy ways to promote RSMC:
 Include RSMC materials with your existing program materials when you attend recruitment
fairs or when tabling at events.
 Promote the Challenge as an incentive when posting volunteer recruitment ads online, in
your local paper or on your website.
 Place an advertisement in a local newspaper.
 Produce a PSA for a local newspaper or radio station.
 Design a banner for recruitment events.
 Engage your staff, board, and other stakeholders in the campaign by asking them to refer a
friend, pass out RSMC information at events, or by sending an online recruitment card.
 Encourage current mentors and mentees by sending them a detailed description of the
challenge and encourage them to use social media to promote.
 Leave RSMC bookmarks at your local library, and coffee shops.
How to Leverage the RSMC Campaign
 Create a press release that highlights a match that came through the
RSMC. Outreach to local media to get PR around the match.
 Write an opinion piece for your local newspaper about your program’s involvement in the
RSMC and why mentoring is important.
 Include a match highlight made from last year’s RSMC on your program’s website or blog.
Ideas for Creative RSMC Events/Activities:
 Collaborate with other mentoring programs and/or community organizations in your area to
help promote the campaign and volunteer opportunities with your program.
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For example, partner with other mentoring programs in your community to hold a Red
Sox Mentoring Challenge Rally.
Include food, drinks, prizes, special guest speakers and fun activities as part of the rally.
Invite community members, current matches, staff and partners to take part in the event
and to Step up to the Plate! for mentoring.
 Use the campaign as a “hook” for “wholesale” mentor recruitment, including outreach to
corporations, universities, baseball leagues, fraternal associations, etc.
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For example, contact a corporation and set up an info session where you give out the
mentoring challenge items so that every person that attends receives a free gift.
 Create a mini campaign as part of the RSMC.
Examples:
 Jacob’s mentors will recruit a mentor for every homerun Big Papi hits this season.
 Get all of your current mentors to recruit new volunteers for your program. The mentor
who recruits the most new volunteers will receive a Red Sox ticket. The mentor who
follows up with the potential new mentors to assure that they are matched will receive a
special prize.
 Every mentor who “likes” our Facebook page will be entered into a drawing to receive a
prize.
 Every mentor who mentions our program on Twitter or other social media site will be
entered into a raffle.
How to Leverage the RSMC Campaign
 Use big Red Sox games or events to gain momentum around campaign.
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Game nights are a powerful tool so use the opportunity to host
events on game nights at a local bar/restaurant where you can give away prizes.
 Hold a sports competition or tournament.
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For example, organize your own RSMC Step Up to the Plate! baseball game. Use the
event as an opportunity to encourage potential volunteers to step up to the plate and
become mentors.
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Partner with another community organization, business or professional network to
compete in a sports game against each other. Invite potential mentors to take part or
attend the game. Have a postgame event with free food/drinks and use that as a way to
promote your program, the campaign and recruit new mentors.
 Hold a networking event as part of your RSMC campaign.
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Invite current mentors and ask each one to bring a friend to the networking event.
Have potential mentors leave their business cards as a way to enter a raffle for a prize.
Use part of the networking event to promote the campaign and to recruit mentors.
 Find a visible place in your community and ask them to hang your program banner or a
RSMC banner that you created or pass out promotional material to help increase the
visibility of the campaign.
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Examples include: Banks (a banner in their window or lobby), Grocery stores (a
bookmark in every bag), or pizza restaurants (a bookmark attached to every box).
Please do not hesitate to contact Nate Baum to discuss ideas for recruitment, and creative
ways to use the resources and seed money for your organization. Contact Nate at
[email protected] or 617-695-2473.