Sports Team Fundraising can be a challenge.
If you’re part of a sports club, you know that a lot of love and time goes into making youth sports accessible for families. To make it possible, often sports clubs and associations run several fundraising campaigns throughout the season or even just one single event.
From bottle drives to raffles and beyond, countless hours are spent in board meetings planning, promoting, and executing any fundraiser.
You might have had this experience: You sign your kid up for a sport and pay the registration fee. Then, unexpected expenses come up. Maybe the team does really well and wants to go to a competition.
While clubs might look similar from the outside, they run very differently on the inside. However, they have this in common: Clubs are always looking for ways to keep members and increase funding without raising their fees.
So, how can you fundraise to give back to the team and raise the money you need?
Setting Fundraising Goals
A fundraiser with no direction is often one that fails. People love to donate and give to causes they care about.
>> Read our article on why fundraisers fail (and how you can avoid it!)
Having clarity in your fundraising goals motivates supporters:
- Are you aiming to raise funds for a specific tournament or competition?
- Do you have equipment or overhead needs?
- Do you have facility enhancements to make?
People feel good when they know where their money is going. Moreover, establishing goals will provide focus and direction for your fundraising committee.
Speaking of motivating supporters… it’s worth considering how you want to split your fundraising profits!
There are a few ways to go about this, so let’s break them down:
Three Ways Clubs Can Split Fundraiser Profits:
1. Your Club Keeps the Profits
The most obvious way to fundraise is to run a fundraiser with 100% of the profits going to the organization.
This is a great way to fundraise for goals that impact the overall group, such as new jerseys or competition fees.
At the end of the fundraiser, all of the money raised goes to your organization, where your board can decide where the funds are best spent.
2. Volunteer Bond Programs
Some organizations will set a “Volunteer Bond” for their members. Often, this bond will be tied to a monetary value and/or a minimum number of volunteer hours.
At the end of the season, if the volunteers have met the required hours of volunteer work, the bonds will be cashed back out to the participant.
This encourages club members to be active in supporting club activities. People often underestimate just how much work goes into running sports clubs!
In this case, fundraising dollars are often used to help offset registration costs or volunteer bond hours for those who participate in the fundraiser or make the most sales!
3. Club Fundraising Profit Share
Some clubs will run fundraisers and share profits. This is a great way to encourage fundraiser participation, as those participating will benefit directly!
>> Read how High River Swim Club does a 50/50 split with their swimmers when fundraising!
This might look like 50/50, 25/75, or 90/10 profit split, depending on the club.
It’s truly a win-win.
Are you interested in giving back to your players through a profit share fundraising program and not sure how to make it work? We can help!
This is also a great time to consider your budget and financial plan:
- How much is the club keeping?
- How much do you need for your goals?
- Are you going to split the profits with the players who participate?
- Does your fundraising idea cost any money to run?
Choosing a Fundraising Idea
One of the best fundraising ideas is online food fundraising!
It’s practical (everyone needs to eat) and repeatable, meaning you can return to it again and again.
With TeamFund’s online fundraising platform: it’s easier than ever!
Food Fundraising is a Year-Round Fundraising Idea with Reliable Profits!
Food fundraising offers a year-round appeal that can provide a reliable funds for your club.
Did you know? 80% of sports teams that try TeamFund return twice a year for a steady stream of revenue!
A sustainable idea can make the difference between raising the money you need and hoping the next idea works.
Food is a practical everyday necessity.
Accessible for Busy Families!
With just a few clicks, supporters can browse and order from your online fundraiser from a phone, tablet, or desktop.
Better yet, once parents take their first taste and their food starts to run out, they seek out those products again! (They’re seriously tasty).
By offering a food fundraiser twice a year allows parents to shop through your club and stock up on their favorites through our trusted platform.
A Tasty Variety to Suit Every Palate:
Food fundraising allows you to sell a wide range of delicious products that cater to different tastes and preferences.
Our Fill Your Freezer Fundraiser allows parents to purchase burgers, chicken, perogies, cheese, and other favourites.
We also offer other fun food fundraisers like our Bacon Fundraiser, Coco Brooks, Spolumbo’s Sausage, and more!
Picking a Fundraising Timeline for Better Results
What does timing have to do with fundraising? More than you know!
Long weekends are an ideal time to fundraise, because it’s a time for family get-togethers, BBQs, parties, camping, and visiting.
By planning your fundraiser around these dates, you can capitalize on these busier times of year.
Did you know? TeamFund has NO upfront costs and fees to get started!
⭐️ TESTIMONIAL
“The platform is very well organized and fits very well with our organization.
The online system and process makes it very easy to set up, communicate to those involved, monitor and manage. Since the process is online and electronic, we can reach a broader audience and increase the amounts that we are able to raise!”
– Nose Creek Swim Association Organizer
Promoting Your Fundraiser to Supporters
Once you’ve chosen your fundraising idea and made a plan based on your chosen fundraising method, it’s time to promote!
Craft a compelling message highlighting the fundraiser’s impacts and the benefits it will bring to your community and/or club members.
Initially, supporters will need to buy into your fundraising plan. Try to make it personal and emphasize this fundraiser’s connections to your potential supporters!
If a supporter you are approaching does not have children or members in the club, consider selling them on the product (delicious, practical, save money, etc.)
Utilize every marketing channel you can: social media, email newsletters, posters, and anything else you can think of.
Encourage players, parents, and committee members to spread the word within their networks!
Did you know? TeamFund provides posters and social graphics you can use during your fundraiser!
Have more questions about promoting your fundraiser? Here are some helpful resources:
Express Gratitude & Celebrate Success!
After the hard work and dedication put into planning and executing your school fundraiser, it’s important to express gratitude to everyone involved.
Share the impact of the fundraiser with your school community and show how their contributions made a difference.
Expressing gratitude will also make your supporters feel good about supporting you and increase the likelihood they will support you again in the future! Everyone loves a genuine “please” and “thank you”.
Food Fundraising is Easy with TeamFund
Sports fundraising doesn’t have to be so time-consuming and tiring!
With the power of online food fundraising and TeamFund’s tools by your side, your next fundraiser can be easier.
The practicality, profitability, and year-round appeal of food fundraising, combined with the convenience of online shopping and promotion, make it a recipe for success.
Our sign-up process is as easy as 1-2-3!
01 Download a Fundraising Package
Our free fundraising package is meant to be shared with your committee and includes important information, goal calculators, and more!
02 Find Fundraisers in Your Area
Find the perfect fundraiser for your group. We have fundraisers featuring local favourites in Alberta and Winnipeg!
03 Sign Up Your Fundraising Group
Ready to get going? All you need to do is sign up for a fundraiser and start planning! Our online fundraising platform takes care of everything except the selling!
Get your own online store to make sharing your fundraiser and collecting payments easy! You gather the supporters, we’ll take care of the boring spreadsheets and logistics.
Did you know? Even though we are an online fundraising platform, we are human! Throughout your fundraiser, we are here to answer any questions you have.
Fundraise for any season and any reason with TeamFund Fundraising!
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