/ Chapter leader program
Start a BallBack chapter in your city.
Real founder title. Real impact. Partner with your first tennis facility and complete your first shipment, and you unlock $60 in BallBack credit plus a public listing as a verified chapter. Open to middle school, high school, and college students anywhere in the world.
Applications reviewed within 5 days · $60 chapter credit once you complete your first shipment
38
Chapter leaders across 18 US states and 2 countries
225,000+
Balls recycled
110+
Partner facilities
1 to 2
Pickup trips a month
/ Who can lead
Middle school, high school, college, any country.
There is no grade requirement and no country requirement. If you are in middle school, high school, or college and your city does not have a chapter yet, you can apply. Outside the US? Email prem@ballback.org and we'll work out the shipping with you.
Not ready to run a city? You can join as a member instead and help with outreach, content, and fundraising from anywhere. Start in the Discord or pick a role at /positions.
/ The offer
What you actually get out of this.
A real title and a real org
Once you are a verified chapter leader you are listed on ballback.org with your photo, bio, and city. This isn't a club. It's a chapter of a student-run nonprofit fiscally sponsored by Hack Club, a 501(c)(3).
A complete playbook
We give you the full operating system: scripts, email templates, partner pitch deck, shipping process, tracking. You don't start from scratch.
Onboarding and support
A 30-min kickoff call, a private Discord server with other chapter leaders, and direct access to founder + COO over text and email when you hit a wall.
$60 in chapter credit
Once you have partnered with your first facility and completed your first shipment, you unlock $60 in BallBack credit for shipping labels, boxes, or anything else that grows your chapter. Keep your receipts and we reimburse you.
Verifiable impact
Every ball your chapter recycles is tracked, reported, and added to your personal impact dashboard. Real numbers for your applications.
Service hours + reference letter
Documented hours signed by our COO. NHS-eligible. Reference letters available after 6 months for active leaders.
Already sold? You can apply in under three minutes.
Skip to the form/ Community
Hang out with us before you apply.
Join the BallBack Discord to meet current chapter leaders, ask questions, and see what running a chapter actually looks like.
/ The work
What you actually do day-to-day.
Outreach
Front-loadedCold call or email tennis centers, schools, and clubs in your city. We give you the script. Most chapters get their first partner within two weeks.
Setup
1 hour per partner, one-timeVisit a new partner site, drop off a labeled bin, meet the staff. Most partners are within 30 minutes of you.
Logistics
1 to 2 trips/monthPick up full bins from partners, sort playable balls out, pack and label the rest, drop boxes at UPS. Each trip runs about 1 to 2 hours.
Repurpose
As it comes upPlayable balls do not need recycling. Route them to youth programs, schools, dog shelters, and senior centers near you.
Growth
OngoingRecruit 1 or 2 volunteers from your school to help with pickups. Optional but highly recommended once you hit four or more partners.
/ Realistic time commitment
1 to 2 pickup trips a month, 1 to 2 hours each, once your facilities are onboarded. The first few weeks are heavier while you do outreach and set up bins.
That's the whole job. Think it fits your schedule?
Apply now/ Why this matters for apps
Most ECs are clubs you joined. This is something you built.
Admissions officers see thousands of "I started a club" essays every year. They see far fewer "I built a measurable, multi-city operation in 6 months." If you complete six months as a chapter leader, you'll have:
This is the part admissions officers remember.
Start your application/ Step 1 before you apply
Join the BallBack Discord first.
Every chapter leader is expected to join our Discord before completing the application. It's where we announce openings, answer questions, and onboard new leaders. The link below takes you straight to the server.
/ Step 2
Complete the chapter leader application
Already joined the Discord above? Fill out the form below and we'll review within 5 days.
Form not loading? Email prem@ballback.org with your name, city, and school and we'll send the application directly.