From Paper to Powerful: How Bryan ISD Education Foundation Tripled Their Fundraising Goal with OneCause

Background

Background

Bryan ISD Education Foundation

Bryan ISD Education Foundation, a passionate community dedicated to raising financial resources to elevate student achievement and support educators across the district.

With over $385,000 invested in 2024 alone for student and teacher initiatives, this 20-member board of community leaders is committed to expanding learning opportunities through the generous giving of local families and businesses.

Opportunity

Eager to scale their impact, the foundation set out to expand beyond its annual fundraiser, which had been a longstanding event traditionally hosting 175 attendees. Their vision was bold: to launch a large-scale live music fundraiser for up to 650 guests — all while continuing to uphold the success of their original event.

“As our events grew, we quickly realized our old methods just couldn’t keep up. Managing ticket sales, sponsorships, and donor engagement manually left us overwhelmed and without the tools to truly scale our efforts,” said Sarah Braden, Executive Director, Bryan ISD Education Foundation.

This ambitious expansion compelled their small development team to reinvent their entire approach to fundraising. Before partnering with OneCause, Bryan ISD Education Foundation relied on manual processes to manage their events.

  • Ticket Sales: Managed manually through phone or email, with payments processed by mailed checks, resulting in a disjointed process.
  • Auction Management: Tracked on paper, limiting efficiency and revenue potential.
  • Donor Data: Fragmented across various systems, hindering the team’s ability to uncover actionable insights and foster deeper engagement.

While these processes were sufficient for their smaller event, the complexity of their new 650-person live music fundraiser introduced fresh hurdles:

  • Increased Scale: Managing ticket sales, sponsorships, and donor data for a significantly larger audience.
  • Operational Inefficiency: Relying on manual processes that failed to support communication and logistical demands.
  • Data Limitations: Operating without tools to effectively capture, analyze, or leverage donor insights for strategic decision-making and future planning.

With just six months to prepare, Bryan ISD Education Foundation needed an intuitive, flexible fundraising software solution to help them streamline operations, engage donors, and set the stage for long-term growth.

Solution

Solution

Enter the OneCause Fundraising Platform, recommended by a board member familiar with the software and its powerful capabilities. With limited time and resources, the foundation was able to implement the platform swiftly, leaning on its user-friendly design to empower a volunteer board member to oversee onboarding and execution — all while juggling a busy schedule.

For their inaugural live music fundraiser, the foundation relied on OneCause for:

  • Ticket Sales & Table Management: Enabled guests to purchase tickets online, receive QR codes for quick check-ins, manage seating, and effortlessly access event details.
  • Sponsorship Management: Streamlined sponsor activities from online sponsorship sales to ticketing, communication, invoicing, and reporting.
  • Donor Data Collection: Gathered actionable insights for the first time to inform future campaigns.

Focusing on the core features of the platform, they kept the rollout straightforward, ensuring a smooth transition that maximized impact. The OneCause Fundraising Platform became the foundation for their fundraising transformation. 

Streamlined Ticketing and Table Sales 

Managing ticketing and table sales for two events — especially a brand-new 650-person live music fundraiser — was complex. With OneCause, the Foundation transitioned from manual methods to an efficient online system. Guests could purchase tickets or reserve tables through a user-friendly interface, receive digital QR codes for seamless check-in, and access event details with ease. 

“This system changed everything for us,” said Sarah.

“Not only did it save time, but it also elevated the experience for our attendees. The check-in process was so smooth that it set the tone for the rest of the evening.” 

Efficient Sponsorship Management  

Securing and managing sponsorships, which often involves complex ticketing, seating arrangements, and ongoing communication, had previously been a logistical challenge. With OneCause, sponsor tables and associated benefits were tracked and communicated effortlessly. This allowed the team to focus on building relationships with sponsors rather than struggling with administrative tasks. 

“OneCause helped us manage sponsor tickets in a way that was professional and stress-free. Our sponsors appreciated the clarity and ease, which made them more willing to come back year after year,” Sarah explained. 

Enhancing Donor Engagement with Real-Time Features

The platform’s live thermometer feature added an exciting layer of transparency and engagement to their second event. During a paddle raise, donors could see their contributions impacting the total in real time, inspiring greater participation and excitement in the room. 

“The energy in the room was electric,” Sarah recounted.

“We had set a goal of $25,000, and when we saw the thermometer climb to $72,000 in minutes, it was a moment of collective celebration.  

Comprehensive Donor Data Collection and Insights 

Before OneCause, donor data was scattered and inconsistent, leaving the team unable to analyze trends or craft tailored donor engagement strategies. The platform centralized donor information, enabling the foundation to capture insights during their events.  

“This was a game-changer for us,” shared Sarah.

“For the first time, we had real, actionable data about our donors. It wasn’t just about raising money that night — it was about building lasting relationships and planning smarter for the future.” 

An Intentional and Scalable Rollout 

The Foundation was intentional with how the OneCause Fundraising Platform was rolled out, knowing that it would help them scale their fundraising year over year. Initially, they prioritized core features like ticketing, sponsorships, and data collection, ensuring the team could build confidence and deliver results. This approach laid the groundwork for future enhancements, including silent auctions and additional donor engagement tools. 

“Starting simple allowed us to see immediate results and gave us the confidence to dream bigger for the following year,” said Sarah. 

By focusing on critical areas, streamlining operations, and empowering their team with a user-friendly platform, the Bryan ISD Education Foundation turned their ambitious vision into a groundbreaking success. 

Results

Results

The results were transformational:

  • Their inaugural live music fundraiser was a resounding success, selling out with 650 attendees.
  • In year two, they embraced innovation and harnessed OneCause tools to elevate their event even further. Using the real-time thermometer during the paddle raise, they inspired attendees to contribute an astounding $72,000 in just 10 minutes—nearly tripling their original $25,000 goal.
  • Seamless event check-in, ticketing, and donor communication not only enhanced the donor experience but also eased the workload for staff and volunteers, creating a smooth and stress-free event.

Motivated by their initial success, the foundation expanded its use of OneCause in their second year, building on the momentum to achieve an even greater impact across its initiatives:

  • New Silent Auction: Added to complement live auctions, boosting donor engagement and revenue.
  • Audience Expansion: Increased attendance to 900 guests, with tickets selling out a month in advance.
  • Record-Breaking Revenue: Nearly doubled fundraising efforts, generating close to $300,000 in net revenue.

The impact extended far beyond financial gains — it enhanced donor engagement, streamlined operations, and transformed their fundraising strategy into a modern, data-driven powerhouse, enabling them to achieve more, raise more, and amplify their mission’s impact.

Reflecting on the Transformation

For Bryan ISD Education Foundation, OneCause wasn’t just a tool; it was a catalyst for transformation. “We’re so thankful our board chose to invest in OneCause. Without that initial investment, we couldn’t have achieved—and exceeded—our fundraising goals,” shared Sarah.

From hosting a single, 175-person event using paper processes to managing two large-scale fundraisers powered by innovative technology, the foundation’s growth has been extraordinary.

“Without OneCause, pulling off events of this magnitude would have been impossible. From simplifying ticketing to fostering live donor engagement, the platform has revolutionized how we connect with our supporters,” said Sarah.

Looking ahead, Bryan ISD Education Foundation is eager to deepen its use of the Platform, proving that with the right technology, the sky’s the limit for mission-driven organizations.

Connect with a Cause

To learn more about Bryan ISD Education Foundation, please visit their website.

Wrapping Up!

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