In this episode of School Owner Talk, Duane Brumitt and Allie Alberigo deliver a highly practical and motivating conversation around one of the most underused growth strategies in martial arts school ownership: community engagement.

From partnering with local schools and daycares to maximizing field trips, fundraisers, birthday parties, and even Facebook groups — Duane and Allie share how school owners can create visibility, trust, and new student leads by becoming a community asset, not just a business.

They discuss:

Real-life examples of events that worked (and ones that didn’t)

Tools like Notion and Dropbox for event journaling

How to turn donation requests into marketing opportunities

Delegating outreach without spending a fortune

If you’re feeling like leads have slowed down or that your school is being overlooked — this episode is your blueprint for turning local relationships into a lead machine.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

1. Local visibility must be intentional.

Just because your school has been around for years doesn’t mean your community knows who you are. Visibility requires proactive effort and consistent outreach.

2. Events are opportunities — before, during, and after.

Every event can become a marketing asset. From how you promote it, to how you follow up, to how you document it for future use — don’t leave opportunities on the table.

3. Use an event journal.

Creating a repeatable system (physical or digital) helps you track what worked, what didn’t, and what to improve for the next time. This reduces stress and increases success.

4. Hire or delegate outreach.

You don’t need to do it all. Identify someone who enjoys talking to people and give them the responsibility of reaching out to local businesses, churches, and organizations.

5. Donation requests are lead generators.

Set up a donation request page on your website. Include a form with questions like, “Is this an annual event?” so you can follow up next year. Use the opportunity to get your name in front of more people.

Action Steps for School Owners

1. Identify five local organizations to contact.

Start with the obvious ones: schools, daycares, libraries, camps, or churches. Reach out with a genuine offer to serve or support.

2. Create a donation/fundraiser webpage.

Make it easy for people to request support from your school. Offer things like free trials, birthday parties, or self-defense classes as donations.

3. Build your event journal system.

Whether in a binder or inside Notion, start logging your events, what you did to prepare, how you followed up, and what could be improved.

4. Delegate the outreach.

Hire a part-time person, offer a commission, or ask a trusted parent volunteer to be your “community connection.” Give them a script and a goal.

5. Start small but start now.

Pick one local event happening in the next 30 days and commit to being part of it — even if it’s just donating a raffle prize or setting up a booth.

Final Thoughts

Community involvement is not just a nice idea — it’s a powerful, long-term marketing strategy. By becoming a trusted presence in your area, you not only attract students, but you also position your martial arts school as a pillar of leadership and service.

Whether you’re just starting out or getting back into community outreach after a break, the key is to take action, stay organized, and remain consistent. Your community is full of opportunities — you just have to step into them.