A fundraising message from Steve Keener CEO of Little League JP <https://llws2017.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/emails/newbrand/brand-blue-email-header3-private.png> Dear District Administrator, I hope that the start of your February has been happy and healthy. As we inch closer to spring with the anticipation and hope of getting on the baseball and softball field, we wanted to take a few moments to connect with you all. As you know, one of our main focuses is helping your leagues and volunteers get back to normal and play ball this year. We know that one issue facing many leagues is the financial difficulties affecting our communities, our families, and those businesses that support Little League in your community. I’d encourage you to watch this video message <http://click.email.littleleague.org/?qs=2fb470564331e2a05b3c8cc4693bd1a9eef7a0b0494bee3f83954be8496b0e5d70ea46b3fd4c7e1bd71b07831610601fe9b1a64fc314641c> We are looking forward to launching a new online fundraising campaign called Lift Your League in the very near future. Essentially, leagues will be able to create an online profile to accept donations from their community supporters, alumni, and families. Leagues will have about a month to get signed up and organized, and then, on March 15, we’ll kickstart our two-week national campaign to support participating league’s efforts. Please keep your eye out in the near future for the information on league sign-ups and encourage your leagues to take advantage of this opportunity to provide some financial assistance for their operations. More information is also available below for how you, as D.A.s, can support their efforts. Be sure to check out LittleLeague.org/LiftYourLeagueSupport (coming soon) for the latest information. For families who may need financial assistance, please make sure you’re also sharing the information about the T-Mobile Little League Call Up Grant. This opportunity is for individual families to receive financial support to cover the cost of their registration fees. More information can be found on this great program at <http://click.email.littleleague.org/?qs=5961411093e425b7f595976d71008d45c5ac9a56727c400c0256ca167f1d4da485095210d9557eda3a62013eb2b3777003044b7a12255333> LittleLeague.org/CallUpGrant. All of us here at Little League International are committed to working with you, your leagues, and your families to remove all barriers of participation, and while none of us know what the next few months will hold for us, we do know that we can work together to provide opportunities for the children in our communities. Please also be sure to familiarize yourself with the additional flexible opportunities specifically for the 2021 season at <http://click.email.littleleague.org/?qs=5961411093e425b758d8d4fdd8b157872a9497b29e1845802e44b5039960c6f9d6698ba38e61d4948f07e7657c15f73c43d84005508695d8> LittleLeague.org/SeasonResources and that have been approved in the new rules and regulations at <http://click.email.littleleague.org/?qs=5961411093e425b7fb56972fdcad8663c22b56fbdcc5094a32ea8e9b1440b787175b81542f8c460a6d08a810ae5246741f0fe481ce847432> LittleLeague.org/Rules or in the <http://click.email.littleleague.org/?qs=5961411093e425b754948ffa89039bb638046644ee37e2e98d022240cb505bef19d8a14ff48a86b952659d7f02089fc9951878145b7f61d5> Rulebook App . Additional educational instruction on these flexible opportunities and new rules will be coming soon. Over the course of this month, we will also be preparing your district and league supplies with a sampling of print rulebooks and materials, and we will be continuing to plan and prepare for the Little League International Tournament later this summer. We hope you have a successful, safe February, and we will continue to share these important updates with you as our Little League season evolves. Thank you. Sincerely, <https://llws2017.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/emails/steve-sig.png> Stephen D. Keener Little League President and CEO <https://llws2017.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/emails/newbrand/ll-signature-logo-private.png> <https://llws2017.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/emails/newbrand/spacer3.png> Lift Your League Virtual Fundraising Campaign – A Guide for District Administrators What is the Lift Your League Virtual Fundraising Campaign? In order to help local Little League® programs with their fundraising efforts, Little League International is launching Lift Your League – a nationwide campaign, for eligible U.S. leagues, asking fans, followers, alumni, and community members to give back to their local leagues through its social media, email, website, app, and other communications platforms. Little League will also host a custom “League Finder” tool for the public, allowing potential donors to easily locate leagues to share donations with. How can my leagues participate? Prior to enrolling in the campaign, all leagues must meet several eligibility criteria. These include: * The league must be chartered with Little League for the 2021 season. If there are leagues in your district that aren’t yet chartered, encourage them to charter with estimated team numbers for the upcoming season. Team numbers can be modified through June 1, 2021. * The league must resolve any outstanding credit, insurance, noncompliance, and regional holds. Leagues on hold awaiting approval of split division format paperwork are eligible to participate. * The league must have 501(c)(3) status and be in good standing with the IRS. Many leagues have this status under Little League’s Group Exemption Number (GEN). Leagues can confirm their inclusion under Little League’s GEN by contacting LiftYourLeague@LittleLeague.org <mailto:LiftYourLeague@LittleLeague.org> Leagues not included under Little League’s GEN must submit a Letter of Determination from the IRS with their application. How do leagues apply? Leagues can apply to be a part of this campaign at LittleLeague.org/LiftYourLeagueSupport. This will launch in the mid-February and be announced via email. When will my leagues receive the funds they raised during the campaign? Leagues will receive funds at the conclusion of the campaign. Leagues should expect to see funds deposited no later than April 30, 2021. How can I help my leagues see results? To set your leagues up for success, there are several things you can do including: * Prepare leagues for the application process by assisting them in meeting the eligibility criteria. * Review your leagues’ campaign landing pages and provide feedback. * Share your leagues’ social media posts on your district platform. * Use district communication channels to encourage donations. * Encourage leagues to use marketing templates and resources available at LittleLeague.org/LiftYourLeagueSupport (available soon). * Share and encourage leagues to share social posts and promotions from Little League’s official social media channels. How do my leagues report the funds raised? Leagues must report the funds raised during this campaign on their year-end financial reports submitted to Little League International and on their Form 990 filed annually with the IRS. <http://click.email.littleleague.org/?qs=5961411093e425b7f9cb849b549cea4713116c62e2459552189d4929891ef7537912b488edfb02af8a8d86ab08c366469c22ce74e33afc4a> <http://click.email.littleleague.org/?qs=5961411093e425b7abd8f36fe129a446c3a1ab9828410b2a3cf3ba78b2bebc940b962fbcf05bb052284c03f0a633a9c27e3bb0f3f758818a> <http://click.email.littleleague.org/?qs=5961411093e425b7c6e1449c64b52f07b3f4536b89c8ad59381de40643790babfedcf764eb38d94a21ec6d12b68993d518a190a60023bc37> <http://click.email.littleleague.org/?qs=5961411093e425b72394aea4d79d5c2c3f5863ea913e746cfd2f8ea324255e0e41a734a21054a4de1f279359e200cb9ce90d98393bf62e21> <http://click.email.littleleague.org/?qs=5961411093e425b7f3706f7a288747e52765dad667724b4e9f06292eeeb4f7959be21c650d09799e058be75f3ea737d89ad78e7800a4a1d7> This email was sent by: Little League International 539 US Highway 15 S. 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