How NAIA LSU Alexandria Softball Raised $33,490

It was year two for LSU Alexandria Softball with Teamfi, and they came to us with some lofty goals. How can we use crowdfunding to keep our momentum going? We got on the phone and got to work. By the end of their fundraiser, 33 players had combined to raise $33,490, averaging over $1,000 per player.

We’re going to walk you through LSU Alexandria Softball’s fundraiser. Their strategies. Their thoughts on the process. How it can help you. That’s why you’re here after all.

An umbrella school of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LSU-Alexandria is a school of just over 3,000 students participating in the NAIA. A small NAIA school raising nearly $35,000 for their program is almost unheard of, but thanks to Teamfi’s fundraising platform they were able to make it happen and keep what they raised.

They nearly doubled their last fundraiser with us, when they had 26 players and raised $19,790.

So how did they do it? Let’s break down the three keys that fueled their success: incentivization, competition, and expectation.

Incentivization: Custom Softball Gloves

Head Coach Trent Partridge isn’t just leading the program in fundraising, but on the field as well. The Generals went 47-9 in 2025. Off the field he and his coaching staff set a bold standard. Each player must fundraise $500 minimum. More on that later, but any player who raised $1,000 or more would be rewarded with a custom glove from Wilson. 

At a $150 investment per glove, they picked a prize that players would push for. Incentivizes are often worth the investment.

The fundraiser was also clear about what they were fundraising for. “This fundraiser will help offset program expenses such as practice gear, balls and travel.” Simple and easy to understand.

Competition: Turning Fundraising Into a Contest

The gloves are a nice incentive, but to keep players from quitting after hitting the $1,000 mark, the coaching staff made the team a deal. 

LSU Alexandria is a satellite school of LSU in Baton Rouge, and LSUA Softball players help provide security at LSU Tigers football games to help fund the program.

This year, the top three fundraisers wouldn’t have to work those shifts. That perk alone brought in an additional $3,000 as four players battled for those top three spots. 436 donations, an average of $75 a donation.

The leaderboard functionality of Teamfi’s fundraising platform fueled everything. Players could see who was ahead, and no one wanted to fall behind.

• Top earner: $3,200
  
• Second place: $2,990
  
• Third place: $2,545
  
• Fourth place: $1,750
  

This is a key component of what separates Teamfi from other crowdfunding softwares is that ability to form groups, see how individuals are fundraising, and have a realtime dashboard.

With real prizes and bragging rights on the line, the competition stayed hot all the way through.

Expectation: Building a $500 Standard

As mentioned before, at an NAIA school, fundraising is important. It helps provide LSUA student-athletes the same amenities despite being a smaller school. At LSU Alexandria, the expectation is clear: $500 is the minimum fundraising amount per player. 

Why? It’s all for the players. LSUA Softball makes it a point that when on the road, players aren’t capped at $12 meal costs. The team can actually go out to nice restaurants, eat well, and be well fed ahead of gameday.

It’s upperclassmen who reinforce that culture year after year. Freshmen come in knowing exactly what’s expected.

The Results

• Total Raised: $33,490
  
• Players: 33
  
• Average per Player: $1,015
  

For just $150 each worth of incentive gloves, a maximum of just under $5,000, LSU Alexandria created buy-in that helped generate over $33,000.

By combining clear expectations, competitive incentives, and a culture of accountability, the Generals raised the standard for what a college softball program can do with Teamfi.