USQ Update
USQ Kicks Off Fall Membership Drive
Registration for the 2020-21 season is now available on the USQ website. USQ has set a goal to raise $20,000 in memberships by the end of September.
USQ brings in the majority of our membership revenue in September and October. In the 2019-20 season, we took in approximately $170,000 during those two months. The board and staff are committed to doing everything possible to have USQ remain a financially healthy and stable organization over the next year, despite the effects of the pandemic. To do that, we want to raise $20,000 in memberships by the end of this month, to kick off the fall membership drive. This is part of our overall goal of raising $175,000 in non-events based revenue this season. Here’s how you can help.
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
By becoming a member now, individuals and teams are supporting USQ as we continue to engage with our community and work on programs that help the visibility and reach of the sport. As detailed below, USQ has set costs every month to keep the organization running. We currently make nearly all our online resources, support, and programs available to everyone, regardless of if someone is a member or not. To continue to do that, we need to raise more money on a regular basis through memberships.
$20,000 is approximately 250 player memberships and 10 team memberships. That amount would cover USQ’s monthly operating costs, along with processing the remaining refund invoices due to the cancellation of USQ Cup 13 last April.
We’ll be updating this tracker throughout the month.
We encourage teams, individual players, and non-playing referees who were registered last season to renew their membership. As a reminder, membership for coaches and playing referees is included in the cost of team membership and free to the individual.
If you aren’t going to be playing but would like to stay engaged in the sport, purchase a fan membership for $50. Fan members receive two free weekend passes to USQ Cup. They also get a quarterly newsletter that recaps the latest news in the sport and what’s been happening with the league and seasonal USQ merchandise discounts.
To register for memberships, login to your account on the USQ website here. If you don’t have an account, it takes just a few minutes to create one for free here. Once logged in, click on the Membership tab, or follow this link.
If you purchased a membership earlier in the spring, please check your email for instructions on how to upgrade your account. We are sending out emails with instructions on a rolling basis this week. If you haven’t received anything by Monday, September 14, please contact membership@usquidditch.org.
USQ’s Budget and Projects for This Season
USQ’s monthly operating costs are approximately $16,000, of which about $12,500 is payroll (employee salaries and wages, payroll taxes, and benefits). Additionally, we are still processing approximately $12,000 in refund invoices through the end of the calendar year.
By purchasing membership, you are supporting these major projects that USQ staff is working on this season:
- Event bidding for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons
- Planning for events this season, especially spring 2021 and USQ Cup 14, to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah in April
- Strategic plan goals for this year, the development of the next three year strategic plan cycle, and the launch of a revised mission statement, vision statement, and core values
- PE curriculum for youth quidditch
- Annual reports and forms 990 for the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons
- Spotlight series on social media, such as the “Impact” series for BIPOC in our community that ran during the months of July and August and will run through September
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
- The release of Rulebook 14
- A new training program for livestream commentators
- Return to play guidelines for COVID-19
- A new mentorship program for players, coaches, referees, and snitch runners
- The implementation of new engagement programs for volunteers on USQ staff
- Recruiting and onboarding new volunteers on USQ staff
- An overhaul of the snitch certification program
- The creation of new referee resources that address common challenges and key concepts in officiating
- Exclusive merchandise and social media features on milestones in our sport’s history, including quidditch’s 15th birthday on October 9 and the 10th anniversary of World Cup IV on November 13-14
OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT USQ
Donations
In addition to membership revenue, our goal is to raise $20,000 in individual donations this season to go towards operating expenses. To view our progress towards the goal and learn more about making a donation, click here. If you’re interested in becoming a donor, there is an option to set up a monthly donation to support the organization.
Merchandise
USQ has a variety of apparel and other merchandise through our online store.
Social Media
Follow us on social media. We’re releasing more content than ever before, including the spotlight series referenced above, plus an advice series for teams.
Questions
For questions about membership, email membership@usquidditch.org. For all else, contact info@usquidditch.org.
