Miracle League of the Triangle Strategic Growth Plan & Debt Retirement Framework Board-ready Deliverables May 11, 2026 FEASIBILITY STUDY Cost-per-Player Analysis: Efficiency as a Donor Story Metric 2026 (600 players) 2031 (1,000 players) Insight Operating Budget $500,000 $700,000 Covers coaches, buddies, equipment, and facility operations Cost per Player $833 $700 16% unit cost reduction from scale Donor Translation “$833 funds one child today.” “$700 funds one child tomorrow.” Scaling spreads fixed costs (fields, admin) and enables modest staff growth while delivering a more compelling efficiency narrative. Donors purchase greater impact for the same gift. Assumption: Operating budget excludes capital servicing; per-player costs derive solely from program expenses. Debt Service Schedule: Accelerated Payoff vs. Standard Amortization Year Principal Paid Interest Paid Annual Debt Service Remaining Balance 2026 $524,800 $87,200 $612,000 $1,075,200 2027 $548,000 $69,200 $617,200 $527,200 2028 $527,200 $31,800 $559,000 $0 Total paid: $1.79M Interest paid: $188,200 Standard 15-year amortization (5.5%) would be ~$160K/year — accelerated path requires ~+$460K annually through 2027. Board action: Engage the lender in Q2 2026 to negotiate a 6–12 month interest-only bridge or a lower-rate (≤4%) short-term term loan. Refinancing reduces the $600K/year pressure and preserves the timeline. Assumption: No prepayment penalties; annual payments executed in January of each year once capital campaign cash flow is confirmed. Fundraising Gap Analysis: 2026–2031 Year Operating Need Debt Service Total Need Gala Sponsors Grants Fees Private/Major Gifts Total Raised 2026 $500K $600K $1.10M $300K $120K $100K $40K $540K $1.10M 2027 $575K $600K $1.175M $350K $150K $120K $45K $510K $1.175M 2028 $650K $578K $1.228M $400K $180K $140K $50K $458K $1.228M 2029 $700K $0 $700K $300K $150K $120K $60K $70K $700K 2030 $700K $0 $700K $300K $150K $120K $60K $70K $700K 2031 $700K $0 $700K $300K $150K $120K $60K $70K $700K Assumption: Debt service ~equal annual payments; gala, sponsorship, grants, fees, and private giving targets reflect channel expansion table below. Risk Assessment & Mitigations Risk Impact Mitigation 1. Gala Revenue Concentration (>50% current budget) High Cap gala dependency to ≤30% by 2028 via aggressive major gifts, corporate sponsorship growth, and digital campaigns. Establish multi-year underwriting before each gala. 2. Donor Fatigue from simultaneous operating + capital asks Medium-High Segment donor portfolios into operating (renewal) vs. capital (new leads). Use milestone communication (“Play Free” updates) and stewardship events recognizing progress. 3. Corporate Giving Headwinds Medium Shift asks to local Research Triangle firms, highlight employee engagement (volunteer days/matching), and emphasize grant dollars from mission-aligned foundations. Verdict: Conditional Yes Achievable IF: Capital campaign secures $1.8M+ in pledges by December 2027, delivering $600K/year cash flow through 2028. Board secures a $250K+ lead gift during quiet phase and maintains 100% participation. Refinancing negotiations result in a bridge or lower 3-year term rate (≤4%) to mitigate short-term pressure. Earned revenue and diversified giving produce $150K+ annually by 2028, reducing philanthropy reliance. At Risk IF: Campaign pledges <60% by April 2027. Gala revenue declines >20%. Sponsor growth stalls (remain near $45K/year). Assumption: Campaign payments spread evenly across 2026–2028; earned revenue growth aligns with roadmap below. CAPITAL CAMPAIGN & FUNDRAISING STRATEGY Channel Expansion Table Channel 2026 Baseline 2027 Target 2028 Target 2029–2031 Steady State Key Actions Gala/Events (Play Free gala centerpiece) $250K $350K $400K $300K Add VIP tables, corporate suites, livestream peer-to-peer fundraising; secure early-year gala underwriter. Major Gifts ($10K+) $122K $300K $350K $150K–$220K Hire/contract major gifts lead; host cultivation salons; deliver cost-per-player story; ensure 1:1 stewardship. Corporate Sponsorships $45K $150K $180K $150K Offer tiered naming rights, employee engagement + wellness packages; anchor sponsor for gala and fields. Foundations/Grants $50K $120K $140K $120K Hire grant writer; target large regional funders; align proposals with Education & Human Services sectors. Planned Giving/Endowment Seeds $0 $20K $50K $50K+ Launch Legacy Circle; host annual “Play Forever” donor dinners; integrate planned giving language in all communications. Player Family Network $42K $100K $80K $60K Build family ambassador program; enroll families in recurring “Team of 1,000” giving; enable peer-to-peer events. Digital/Annual Fund $33K $135K $78K $70K Launch monthly giving program (target 200 donors at $50/month = $120K/year); use cost-per-player narrative in storytelling. Note: Channel targets incorporate both operating needs and campaign contributions where relevant (e.g., gala admissions fund capital campaign portion and operating costs). “Play Free 2028” Capital Campaign Goal: $1.8MM (covers $1.6MM debt + $200K reserve). Structure: Quiet Phase (May 2026–Apr 2027): Secure $1.08M (60%) from 15 lead donors before public launch. Public Phase (May–Dec 2027): Engage gala attendees, community donors, digital campaigns, and corporate partners. Payment Plan: 3 annual payments (2026–2028) aligned with debt service. Challenge Grant: Secure a $500K transformational lead from a foundation (Triangle Community Foundation, Duke Endowment, etc.) with a 1:1 community match. Board Expectations: 100% participation, with each board member pledging a minimum of $10K or leveraging networks to secure gifts. Donor Pyramid (Capital Campaign + Annual Blend) Tier Gift Level # Needed Total Contribution Purpose Visionary $250K+ 1 $250K+ Anchor lead gift; unlocks naming rights (e.g., “The [Donor] Miracle Field”). Champion $100–$249K 3 $300K–$747K Debt retirement, gala underwriting, strategic influence. Partner $50–$99K 8 $400K–$792K Field support, scholarships, corporate legacy gifts. Collaborator $25–$49K 15 $375K–$735K Supports teams, equipment, buddy stipends. Supporter $10–$24K 40 $400K–$960K Sustains operating expansion, gala tables. Community $1–$9K 200 $200K–$1.8M Digital, family, and field-level donors sharing impact stories. Grassroots $500 500 $250K Player families, volunteers, peer-to-peer teams raising platelet-level gifts. Assumption: Conversion rates tier dependent (e.g., 40% for major prospects, 70% for grassroots). Grant Prospecting Targets Foundation Focus Target Ask Alignment Triangle Community Foundation Disability inclusion & community resilience $100K Local focus, adaptive sports-funded history Duke Endowment Child well-being, education, health $150K Strong NC tie and emphasis on youth programs Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC Foundation Health equity & physical activity $75K Leverage inclusive recreation as preventive care Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Healthy communities $50K National, but responsive to innovative health access models The Leon Levine Foundation Youth development & human services $100K Prefers high-performing regional nonprofits Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation Social justice & community building $50K Supports systemic inclusion initiatives NC GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Community health $75K Local focus, employee engagement possibilities Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust Health & financial stability $50K Supports durable models benefiting underserved populations Positioning: Align with Education ($262M sector) and Human Services ($139M sector); emphasize cost-per-player efficiency and debt retirement mission risk. Earned Revenue & Strategic Partnerships Strategy Target Revenue Timeline Description Field Rental & Adaptive Clinics $50K/year 2026 Q3 onwards Rent evenings/weekends to adaptive sports providers, schools, and corporate wellness programs; branding opportunities for renters. Adaptive Sports Consulting $75K/year 2027 Q1 onwards Consult with municipalities/schools launching inclusive programs (field design, buddy systems, training). Corporate “Play Days” & Volunteer Partnerships $30K/year 2026 Q4 onwards Offer team-building field days tied to sponsorship packages (matching gifts included). Branded Merchandise & Licensing $20K/year 2027 Q1 onwards Launch apparel/accessories line (Shopify + gala sales); stories highlight players for emotional connection. Legacy Naming Rights $100K+ (one-time) 2026 Q2 onwards Offer naming for dugouts, pavilion spaces, or programmatic initiatives with multi-year recognition. Assumption: Earned revenue reduces philanthropic reliance; strategy builds resilience and appeals to corporates seeking authentic inclusion engagement. GROWTH ROADMAP (Mermaid Gantt) Narrative Summary: Phase 1 (2026–2028) concentrates on “Play Free” capital campaign momentum, refinancing the $1.6MM, and capping enrollment at ~650 to protect quality while paying down debt. Phase 2 (2029) celebrates the debt-free milestone, establishes a healthy reserve, and scales staffing/volunteers to support modest player growth (750). Phase 3 (2030–2031) unlocks the full expansion to 1,000 players with dedicated investments in program quality and the launch of a long-term endowment/planned giving initiative. CASE FOR SUPPORT — “Play Free by 2028: Unlocking 1,000 Children on the Miracle League Field” When briefly shy eight-year-old Maya stepped onto the rubberized field in Durham, she didn’t know what to do with the thunder she felt in her chest. Her cerebral palsy made every movement a conversation. Her first Miracle League practice was equally unfamiliar and transformative: volunteers placed a weighted bat in her hands, a buddy guided her step-by-step, and her parents watched, astonished, as she rounded the bases in a way they hadn’t seen since she was a toddler. As she touched home plate, Maya grinned, not because she had “overcome” anything, but because she was finally part of a team. That moment—her first fist bump with her buddy, her first cheer from the crowd—changed how Maya saw herself and how her parents imagined her future. The Miracle League of the Triangle is the largest program of its kind in the world, serving 600 children with disabilities across three fully accessible, rubberized fields in the Research Triangle. Each Saturday, our trained buddies, adaptive equipment, sensory-aware coaches, and inclusive family community transform fear into confidence, isolation into belonging. We do not need more fields or flashy new facilities. We need financial freedom from the $1.6 million debt that today siphons $600,000 annually—resources that could train buddies, invest in sensory equipment, or extend the season. This debt is a mission risk. It ensures that 400 families remain on the waiting list. It strips away the breathing room the League needs to expand while maintaining the dignity of every child who already plays. Every dollar devoted to interest is a dollar not invested in Maya’s next season, Jonas’s new buddy pair, or Talia’s organized playoff day. Here is the transformation before us: By December 2028, retire the $1.6MM debt. By 2031, grow the program to 1,000 players without compromising the experience. By serving 1,000 players at a $700,000 operating budget, the cost per player drops from $833 to $700—a 16% efficiency gain that storylines a powerful donor argument: “Your gift literally goes further the bigger we dream.” Every $700 per player feeds a full Miracle League season: coach stipends, buddy training, sensory and adaptive equipment, uniforms, volunteer coordination, and the safety of a fully accessible environment. That unit cost is not an abstraction; it is Maya’s entire season of belonging. Impact asks: $25,000 underwrites one full team for a season—uniforms, equipment, and buddy training for 10 players. $50,000 sustains the annual scholarship fund that removes financial barriers for 60 families who couldn’t otherwise register. $100,000+ is a named leadership commitment that directly pays down principal, saves interest, and signals to other donors that debt retirement is achievable. The “Play Free by 2028” capital campaign embeds financial discipline in the Miracle League’s DNA. Under a 12-month quiet phase, we aim to secure $1.08M (60% of the goal) from lead gifts and the board. During the public phase (May–Dec 2027), the gala becomes a rallying point, the Research Triangle’s major employers step up with corporate sponsorships, and families and friends broaden the base. Every donation is framed not simply as generosity, but as a strategic investment: once the debt is gone, each subsequent dollar supports players, not banks. The urgency is real. The field capacity exists, the volunteers exist, and 400 children are asking “When can I play?” Meanwhile, interest continues to accrue. The time to act is now. Your leadership gift removes the final barrier between current players and the 400 on the waiting list. Let’s ensure Maya’s story isn’t unique. Let’s make inclusion a consistent reality—for every child in the Triangle who wants a bat, a buddy, and a shout of “You’re safe here.” Will you join the Miracle League of the Triangle in retiring debt, sustaining high-quality programming, and opening the gates for 1,000 players who deserve to hear, “Play free”?