A partner program for businesses and high school athletics
Businesses can save on a top monthly expense. High school athletics get recurring funding that isn't another fundraising ask.
Turning everyday spending into stronger athletic programs.
Choose your path
Why it makes sense
The same asks, over and over. There's a better option.
The current challenge
- Businesses face fundraising fatigue.
- The same asks come around again and again.
- Most support arrives as one-time gifts.
- Only a small share of businesses can afford regular donations or sponsorships.
A completely different approach
Payment processing is a top monthly expense that every business accepting card or ACH payments already has. Through a partner program, part of that existing expense goes to the program the business cares about.
- No extra costs to the business or their customers.
- An opportunity for businesses to save money.
- One-time setup that generates recurring funding for years and years.
- Gives businesses an option to keep their dollars local.
Illustrative, not to scale
- Businesses that can afford regular donations or sponsorships
- Businesses that could save on an expense they already have and be a good fit
- Businesses where this may not be a fit
This isn't for every business, but it gives many more businesses a way to support the program they care about.
It expands the number of businesses with a feasible option to financially support the high school program they care about, whether they are local or alumni across the state.
How it works
A simple flywheel that keeps funding coming back.
- 1A business saves on an existing expense
- 2A portion supports the athletic program
- 3The program spreads the word with light effort
- 4More businesses join
- 5Recurring funding grows
For the school: three steps, and it's not a big lift.
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Set up the partnership
A quick conversation with the UpField Partners team covers the basics.
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We prepare the materials
Our team prepares the marketing materials and everything needed to spread the word. Businesses in your community and alumni-owned businesses want to support your program, but not all of them can donate regularly or buy sponsorships. The connection already exists. Your school only needs to make them aware. No selling, and no time-consuming marketing.
Examples of light-effort ways to spread the word:
- Coaches and staff mentioning it at tailgates or around town
- Mentioning it to existing sponsors
- Email blasts
- Flyer drop-offs
- Call scripts for alumni and development office outreach
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We handle the conversations
Our team handles all conversations with businesses and keeps your school involved as needed, without adding work.
When a business joins, money comes in on a recurring basis. Not one time. Recurring funding for months and years.
For Businesses
Find out what you're paying. It takes about a minute.
No new ask on top of what you already do. You already pay for payment processing. This lets part of that expense support a team you already care about, on a recurring basis.
What is payment processing?
Each time a customer pays by card or ACH (a direct bank transfer), your business pays a fee, and a payment processor moves the money from your customer to your account. For many businesses, it is one of the top monthly expenses.
Payment processing through UpField Partners is backed by a leading full stack payment processor and merchant acquirer. Businesses that accept card or ACH payments rely on a processor to move the money.
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Start with a cost review
Take about a minute to share your current payment processing statements and a quick overview of how you accept payments.
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Get your analysis within 2 days
We send an in-depth breakdown of what you pay today for payment processing. It is a top monthly expense, and many businesses don't realize where they may be overpaying.
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See your options
We share a proposal for the same pricing program and walk through options beyond standard Interchange Plus or fixed pricing, such as Surcharging and Dual Pricing, so you understand what is available to you.
Interchange Plus means you pay the card network's base cost plus a set markup. Fixed pricing means one flat rate.
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Support the athletic program you care about
When you go live, a portion of that expense goes to the athletic program you choose, with no extra cost to you for the program itself.
Some pricing options, such as Surcharging and Dual Pricing, affect what your customers see at checkout. We explain this clearly during the proposal.
Our meet or beat promise
We will always meet or beat your current payment processing costs. If we can't, we'll make a one-time donation to the high school in your business's name.
[TBD: Final terms and conditions pending review.]
Low effort
About a minute to start. We do the analysis.
No new ask
It works with an expense you already have.
A team you care about
Local or your alma mater, you choose.
Recurring, not one time
Support continues month after month.
For Schools & Orgs
A new option for your revenue toolbelt. Not the same fundraising ask.
For high school athletic programs and other organizations, such as nonprofits. We prepare the materials and handle the conversations. Your program receives recurring funding.
How your program gets paid
Who gets paid: your choice
- Your booster club
- Your athletic foundation
- Your school or athletic department directly
How often: your choice
- Monthly direct bank deposit
- Semi-annual payment
- Annual payment
If other cost-reduction services are added later, timing may differ. Details are covered when we talk.
We'll walk through exactly how it works and what your program receives.
What could this look like for your program?
We'll put together an estimate based on your community and the businesses connected to your school.
Programs can generate $1k, $5k, $10k, or more every month. It all depends on the number and size of the businesses that join.
- Every business that joins adds to your monthly total.
- Funding is recurring, so it builds as more businesses join.
- We'll talk through this with you and put real numbers to your program.
Examples are illustrative. Actual amounts vary and are not guaranteed.
Questions schools ask
What's the risk?
No minimum obligations, and no cost to your school. The upside is a new recurring revenue stream.
What exactly do we have to do?
Help spread the word. Every school does it differently, through word of mouth or simple announcements, and we provide the materials and messaging. Our team handles the conversations with businesses.
Is this new?
Not to our industry. Many banks, CPAs, and consulting firms already use this partner model. We're bringing it to high school athletics.
What will businesses say, and are there benefits for them?
This isn't for every business, but many already review their payment processing regularly. It gives them the option to partner with a like-minded company that shares in the cost and directs a portion back to your program. In many cases we can also help reduce one of their top operating expenses.
Who's a good fit?
We support businesses of all sizes. It is especially strong for small to mid-sized businesses, locally and across the U.S. For example, auto body shops, veterinary clinics, law firms, coffee shops, HVAC companies, landscapers, and many other industries and business types.
More Ways to Partner
Card processing is where we start, not where it ends.
Businesses have other recurring expenses that could generate support for your program. Contact us to learn about other expenses you can leverage to generate revenue. It doesn't have to be payment processing.
About
Keeping dollars local and programs strong.
UpField Partners is a strategic partnership built to keep dollars local, help businesses save on a top monthly expense, and give high school athletic programs and other organizations a practical new option for their revenue toolbelt that isn't the same fundraising ask.
Many businesses care about their local high school or alma mater but can't afford regular donations or sponsorships. We give every business an option.
The team behind the program
This partner program is led by a team of former athletes at the high school, college, and professional levels, many of whom also have coaching experience. They know how hard it is to run a program, and how much of the work goes into fundraising just to cover equipment, travel, facilities, and other basic needs.
After years of seeing this partner model benefit organizations in their own communities, they're excited to bring it to high school athletics and other organizations. It's a practical, sustainable way to generate recurring funding, without another time-consuming one-time fundraiser.
It also gives businesses relief from the same fundraising and donation asks. They get an option that can actually help them save money, backed by a trusted leader in the payments space.
Learn More
Let's talk.
Tell us a little about you and what you'd like to explore. Our team will follow up.
Prefer to call? 773-245-6355