Players are now part of the solution.

How easy is it to secure a local sponsor?

In order to secure a local sponsor quickly, we will provide you with sponsor aquisition tools. These tools will includes self standing cards, lables and an announcement email template to send to your tennis players. This email will introduce them to this initiative and serve as a soft appeal for one local sponsor. We provide significant benefits for a local sponsor including the prominent display of a Thank You plaque and other benefits. More information regarding these tools is here. Information regarding sponsorship benefits is here. 

We will provide stand up cards that can be placed on two temporarily stacked bins in your lobby as a display  to bring attention to this program. These cards can also be placed on your front counter, as well as on single bins and walls. The copy on these cards is below.

How has this been funded?

This non-profit was initiated by the passion and generosity of a few who volunteered their time, talent and treasure. We started small and grew quickly by offering no-cost programs with a hope that these programs would be permanently funded by corporate donors and the generosity of the US tennis community whose habits we were changing. 

However, the funding to power this growth was simply not sustainable, especially since we were not subsidized by any grants, associations or government funding. This required a creative approach to funding our growth including:

• Leveraging of volunteer resources.
• Automating all communications and processes.
• Hiring part-time staffing.
• Selling balls as recyclable “no trash” dog balls.
• Fundraising through our existing partner network.
• Outreach to corporate sponsors.

In 2019 we signed a three-year partnership with Wilson Sporting Goods – our key sponsor and partner who has generously provided us with some funding and institutional guidance. 

Is this model sustainable?

After 3 years of growth and despite our best efforts to maintain no-cost programs, we outlived volunteer management resources and were no longer able to fund increasing full-time expenses. We had to make a change. 

In January 2020 we made a decision to require a fee-based donation/sponsor model for all of our programs. This new fee-based system will ensure our sustainability and growth including funding the necessary R&D to create high publicity value products from recycled tennis balls. With more awareness and a continuing outreach for more corporate partners and donors, we hope to revert back to no-cost programs in the near future. 

What about sales of the recycled material?

Currently, our recycling line, the PLAY IT GREEN machine, represents a net expense. Given increasing sustainability interest and our commitment to finding new partners and potential products, this is changing. The investment we have made in this new, first-of-its-kind, custom-built recycling line, holds the promise that with increased production and further product R&D, the GREEN GOLD produced may fund much of this initiative.

How are the balls shipped and tracked?

Full bins are brought to the front desk or anywhere UPS ships, where they will be automatically picked up by UPS without further notice. An automated system continuously ensures optimum inventory levels. Court-side bins typically fill up in 3-6 weeks.

Who assigns a value to the tennis balls as a tax deduction? 

The IRS requires the donor (you or the person you designate) to assign values to non-cash charitable donations.

What are used tennis balls worth as a tax deduction?

While we cannot legally recommend a value for donated balls. some are claiming .40 per tennis ball donated. If 10,000 balls are donated per year that is a $4,000 annual benefit. 

Who can claim this benefit?

This benefit can now be allocated to any designated donor, person, organization or sponsor even if they are not part of your organization.