Teams
Teams play a key role in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout and are a simple way to increase your impact by bringing colleagues, peers or networks together to fundraise.
As a vital part of the event, teams help grow participation, strengthen networks, and drive better fundraising outcomes. Our consistent national approach ensures that forming or joining a team is simple, fair to participate in, and effective across all states and territories.
Why create a team?
To create or join a team, you’ll first need to complete the event registration.
What is a Team Captain?
Each team is led by a nominated Captain who serves as the central point of coordination and motivation. The Captain is responsible for driving recruitment efforts, maintaining high levels of engagement among members, and ensuring the team adheres to participation criteria, such as industry alignment and the "Peers & Friends" ratio.
The Team Captain helps coordinate the group which includes inviting others to join, keeping the team engaged and supporting fundraising activity.
By providing this leadership, Captains play a vital role in maximizing the team’s collective contribution to Vinnies' frontline services.
Building a Team
The Women Building Change Team began with an idea from Jo Whitfield, CEO of the ACT Training Fund Authority, and Danielle Cleary of Danielle Cleary Events (DCE).
What started as a conversation over coffee, quickly grew into a wave of support from women across the property, construction and government sectors. They didn’t just want to help raise the minimum amount of money, they wanted to be hands-on, help drive the message and take part in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout themselves.
Their reach was broad, receiving large donations from local businesses and interstate companies. The team’s message resonated strongly with women, reflecting a shared commitment to building shelter, safety and security for people experiencing homelessness.
The Women Building Change Team quickly expanded to a team of 28 who took part in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout and collectively raised more than $280,000 - far beyond what they had first imagined.
Tips to reach the Team fundraising goal:
- Pledge a donation via your own business or network.
Use social media, industry events and forums to spread the message. - Hold an online fundraising auction, with goods and services donated by suppliers and customers - use an auction site such as: Allbids
- Organise a fundraising event such as a comedy night, with support from sponsors and local partners. This year they are also doing a movie night which has already sold out.
- Host a workplace or Bunnings barbecue
Benefits for Team Members
The Vinnies CEO Sleepout is more than one night - it is the foundation of a committed community of leaders dedicated to making a tangible difference for those at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Participating as a team brings a sense of shared purpose to the night.
To deepen this connection and make your commitment even more meaningful, your team can choose to:
• Connect before the night.
• Stay together on the night where possible, to share the experience.
• Continue engagement after the event.
FAQs
How do I create a team?
You must first complete your individual registration and be approved for the event. Once approved, you will receive a confirmation email with details to log into your dashboard.
From your dashboard, select ‘My Team’ to manage your team and to invite others to register and join your team.
Each team member must meet the eligibility criteria for the state they are participating in.
What are the different types of Teams?
Teams can be formed in several ways, including
o Workplace teams (same organisation)
o Industry teams (same sector)
o Regional teams (same location)
o Mixed or social teams (personal or professional networks)
o National Teams (same organisation across multiple states)
How do members join an existing team?
Once a team page has been created, others can join in one of two ways:
Via the Team Page: Navigate to the specific team's event page and click the ‘Join Us’ button.
Via the Dashboard: Log in to your personal dashboard, click the ‘My Team’ tab, and select ‘Join a Team
When do teams need to be finalised?
Teams must be finalised by the national cut-off date June 12.
Can I change teams after registering?
After the cut-off date, participants will remain in their selected team to ensure fairness.
Can I join a team in another state?
Yes. Once registered and approved, you can join a team in another state.
Donations made to an individual stay with their registered state or territory, while donations made directly to a team are allocated to the state or territory where the team was created.
