The best fundraising ideas for sports teams

Sports can be expensive, not just for the organizations paying out multi-million dollar salaries to pro athletes. Playing sports is pricey for athletes and teams too.

Athletes need uniforms, equipment, spaces to play in, transportation, accommodations – the list goes on. And everything on that long list comes at a cost. If that makes you feel stressed as an athlete, you needn’t be. Enter the mighty fundraiser.

Fundraisers allow communities to pitch in to help athletes and teams that need a hand. Athletes have a lot of loyal fans in the stands which would be willing to ensure the game plays on. Plus, fundraisers can be fun, so much so that the people who participate may forget they’re there to donate to a good cause. Read on to learn how to earn money and have a good time doing it with our fundraising ideas for sports teams and tips for boosting your success.

5 ways to raise funds for your sports team

Picture this: your team’s made it to the championships, but the event is halfway across the country. Now you have to find a way to cover travel expenses plus those crisp new uniforms that will have you looking your best. These ideas for sports fundraising will have you well on your way:

1. Sell merch

Fans love repping the teams they support. Make it easier for them by selling team merch. They’ll feel proud putting on that branded basketball jersey or sipping their morning coffee from a mug decorated with your team’s logo. You can put a portion of the profits toward your team’s expenses – just make sure to price the items so you’ll make a margin. You can also offer these items at a suggested price and let buyers pay more as a donation.

2. Host a fundraising night

Team up with a local restaurant or bar to host a fundraising night. Your fans will enjoy dinner or drinks while hobnobbing with local sports celebs (hey, that’s you!), and your team gets to keep a cut of the profits from the event. Work out the terms with the restaurant beforehand and explain your cause.

3. Host a community sporting event

Plan a walkathon, 5K, amateur softball game, or field day, letting sports fans in the local community engage in a little friendly competition. Charge entry fees and set aside part of the earnings for your team. Sporting events like these are perfect fundraising ideas for youth sports teams since family members of all ages can join in. Simple events are also easy to set up and require little overhead.

4. Run a raffle

Raffle off tickets, merch, or a meet-and-greet with players. This is a high-yield, low-effort way to make some cash for your team. The cost you’ll pay for the items you’re raffling off is little to none, so you can keep most of the earnings from entries.

5. Crowdfunding (online donations)

Like most activities in the 21st century, fundraising campaigns have gone virtual. If you’re looking for an easy sports fundraising idea, use a crowdfunding site to make a donation page that explains your team’s needs and financial goals. Offer perks for different contribution levels, like a baseball cap with a donation of more than $50 or season tickets for a more substantial amount.

How to run a winning fundraiser

Getting pumped about your upcoming fundraiser? We don’t blame you. You can’t spell “fundraiser” without “fun,” after all. Now that you have a great idea, the challenge is to pull it off – and well. Here are a few tips for running a successful fundraising event:

• Set a clear fundraising goal: Make sure everyone on the team understands why you’re running the fundraiser, how much you need to raise, and what you plan to purchase with the funds and be transparent with your fan base. Let them know just how much their contribution means to your team.
• Set a date: If you’re running a crowdfunding campaign or selling merch, set a start and end date for your drive. This will motivate participants to give before it’s too late and help you plan out when to send out announcements and reminders.
• Make a budget: Sometimes you have to spend money to make money. Just be sure you don’t spend more than you earn. If you’re thinking about hosting a 5K, find out how much it will cost before deciding it’s the best route for earning money. If you’re selling T-shirts or other items, make sure to price them right so you meet your fundraising margins.
• Promote your event: Whether running a local or national fundraising drive, you’ve got to get on social media. Use your teams’ accounts to announce the fundraiser and let fans and community members know how they can get involved. Dedicate a section of your website to describing the drive or registering for the event, and put a link in your bio to redirect social media followers to that site. Don’t worry: you don’t have to remove the link already in your bio to post about your fundraiser. With a Linktree URL, you can redirect users to several other places on the web.
• Get organized: Divide responsibilities between team members or delegate tasks to your administrative staff. Even the least time-intensive online fundraising ideas for sports teams, such as crowdfunding, require some work. Someone needs to set up the crowdfunding page and post it on social media. For more extensive fundraisers, like a local 5K, you’ll need to get permits, recruit volunteers, advertise, take registrations and run the event. It’s a lot to orchestrate, so you may need outside help.
• Partner with local businesses: Boost your efforts by partnering with local companies, such as boutiques, food trucks, car washes, or spas. They may wish to sponsor your event or donate an item or gift card you can raffle off. They can also help you spread the word about your event by showing support on their social media accounts.