This article was contributed by our friends at Funds2Orgs.
Running a sports team isn’t always as simple as it may seem. Between paying for travel and equipment, the costs can quickly add up. Not to mention that your budget can be thrown completely off course by other miscellaneous expenses that appear along the way.
Without effective fundraisers on your side, expenses can quickly overshadow the fun of the sport. Avoid this by ensuring your team gets supported with all the funds it needs to succeed.
To help you get started, we’ll walk you through several effective sports team fundraising ideas you should try this year:
- Our Favorite Idea: Shoe Drive Fundraisers
- Best Fundraising Ideas for Sports Teams
- Easy Sports Team Fundraising Ideas
- Fundraising Ideas for College Sports Teams
- Fundraising Ideas for Youth Sports Teams
With the funds from these events, you can focus on what matters most: playing your sport and bonding with team members.
Our Favorite Idea: Shoe Drive Fundraisers
Running Shoe Drive Fundraiser
Cost: $
Effectiveness: ✓✓✓✓✓
When you live an active lifestyle, such as one where you are part of a sports team, you go through running or athletic shoes much quicker. This means you have to deal with more pairs of old shoes, and it can be challenging to figure out what to do with them.
With a shoe drive fundraiser, you won’t have to worry about that at all. You’ll partner with an organization that pays your team for every pair of shoes you collect, helping team members and supporters clear out their much-needed closet space while contributing to your goals.
When you partner with an organization like Funds2Orgs, the process is easy. Here’s how it works:
- Receive a welcome kit. When you partner with Funds2Orgs, they’ll send you collection and marketing materials to simplify fundraising.
- Set out shoe collection and marketing materials. Once you receive your materials, set out your collection boxes and bins and put up marketing materials to promote your fundraiser in the community.
- Collect gently worn, new and used shoes. Instruct your community to place the shoes they don’t want in your collection boxes and bins.
- Coordinate your shoe pick-up. Once your fundraiser has concluded, coordinate shoe pick-up with the Funds2Orgs logistics team.
- Receive your check from Funds2Orgs. You’ll receive a check from Funds2Orgs within two business days of receipt and shoe processing.
Watch this video to learn more about shoe drives and how Funds2Orgs can help with yours:
Best of all, this fundraiser is extremely flexible and can be combined with pretty much any fundraising event you host. Simply ask attendees to bring an extra pair of gently worn, used and new shoes to contribute to your shoe drive fundraiser.
Best Fundraising Ideas for Sports Teams
Walkathon
Cost: $
Effectiveness: ✓✓✓✓
A walk-a-thon is perfect for active supporters who want to show their passion for your team. While they take a bit of planning, they’re sure to get the whole community involved while encouraging everyone to stay active. Here’s how they work:
- Supporters register to participate in your walk-a-thon.
- They collect pledges from friends and family who will donate a certain amount per mile or lap walked.
- Participants complete the walk-a-thon, and your organization receives the pledged donations based on how much they walked.
Pick a time and location, and get to work! You’ll need plenty of volunteers to raise funds on your behalf, not to mention a few to run the event itself. To add unique twists to your walk-a-thon, check out this guide for fun ideas.
You can also maximize your walk-a-thon’s fundraising potential by coordinating a running shoe drive fundraiser to generate extra revenue. Encourage walk-a-thon participants to retire their gently worn, used and new running shoes after the event!
Concessions
Cost: $$$
Effectiveness: ✓✓✓
This classic fundraiser has been around for ages. All you need to do is purchase some snacks and recruit some volunteers, and you’ll be raising money in no time. Best of all, this fundraising idea works for any type of sports team.
Consider selling classic concessions, such as:
- Popcorn
- Soda and water
- Candy
Once you receive enough funding, you can expand to bigger food items that sell for more money, like hotdogs and hamburgers. Depending on the time of year, experiment with other concessions. Consider things like lemonade during the summer and hot chocolate during the fall and winter. Get spectators more into the game, and try out this classic fundraising idea for sports teams.
Rent-A-Team
Cost: $
Effectiveness: ✓✓✓✓
Here’s a unique fundraising idea for sports teams: rent-a-team! From yard work to household chores, advertise that your team will be spending a weekend completing whatever community members need to get done. Either set an affordable hourly fee or encourage donations.
Plus, your team members will acquire several useful qualities in the process:
- Teamwork
- Organization
- Time management
- Advertising and marketing
Before kicking off your efforts, ask your team and prospective customers the kinds of tasks they’re expecting. See if your team members’ families would be willing to loan out their cleaning supplies or other equipment to cut back on costs.
Pup-and-Car Wash
Cost: $$$
Effectiveness: ✓✓✓
As far as fundraising ideas for sports teams go, a car wash has always been a popular (and effective) choice. Take it a step further by bringing man’s best friend into the mix! A pup-and-car wash is a great two-in-one fundraiser. Choose a warm, sunny day, and encourage team members to advertise from the get-go. Take to social media, community bulletin boards, local radio stations, and so on.
Chances are, your supporters will have spare car wash and dog wash supplies. Maybe a local business will be willing to provide in-kind donations of equipment for your fundraiser. If this isn’t the case, you’ll need to purchase:
- Soap
- Towels
- Sponges
- Buckets
Set up separate stations, at least one for dogs and one for cars. Make sure to choose a visible location. That way, you’ll get a lot more business from bypassers who wouldn’t have heard about your fundraiser otherwise. Create a poster with a fundraising thermometer to encourage participation. If the fundraiser goes well, consider making it an annual event!
Community Yard Sale
Cost: $
Effectiveness: ✓✓✓
For this fundraising idea, you can ask athletes and their families to host yard sales on behalf of your team. This is a particularly great idea in the spring, as lots of families are cleaning their houses and looking to get rid of old items.
Promote the yard sale to your local community so that plenty of other individuals can visit the yard sales, peruse items, and make purchases. At the end of the sale, families will donate the money they made to your sports team. Plus, while they’re cleaning out their old items, you can ask them for any gently worn, used and new shoes they may not want for your shoe drive fundraiser!
Easy Sports Team Fundraising Ideas
If you’re limited on time or lack the manpower to host a large event, don’t worry! There are plenty of easy sports team fundraising ideas that will bring in a few extra bucks.
Restaurant Percentage Night
Cost: $
Effectiveness: ✓✓✓
This event may be one of the easiest fundraising ideas for sports teams. Team up with a local restaurant and get going. With these fundraisers, your team takes home a percentage of the restaurant’s profits for the evening. While you earn some additional revenue for your team, the restaurant will gain exposure (and more profit!). It’s a win-win situation!
As the percentage night nears, advertise more and more. Post eye-catching flyers around town and encourage team members to spread the word to their family and friends through social media. Percentage nights are relatively easy to set up, and your supporters will enjoy a new way to help out your team. After all, everyone loves a good meal!
Text-to-Give Campaign
Cost: $
Effectiveness: ✓✓✓✓
Sure, cash donations are great, but these days, people don’t always keep spare dollars and cents in their wallets. That’s why a text-to-give campaign may be the perfect fundraising idea for your sports team. Here’s how text-to-donate works:
- You choose a text-to-give software provider.
- The provider sends you a unique phone number.
- Donors text that number, using the keyword chosen by your nonprofit.
- They choose their preferred donation amount and press submit.
- Your organization receives your supporters’ generous donations!
Plus, you can coordinate it with other fundraising ideas for sports teams. At any of your fundraisers or even at games, post flyers with your text-to-donate number. Even if supporters don’t have access to cash, they’ll still be able to donate and maybe also enjoy a new method of giving.
Letter Writing Campaign
Cost: $
Effectiveness: ✓✓
Writing letters to supporters is a quick, straightforward project and probably one of the easiest fundraising ideas for sports teams. It’ll be a team effort, but it’s sure to stir up some donations. When you put in the time and effort to craft a personalized letter, people will take notice, making them more likely to donate.
Throughout your campaign, leverage the relationships team members have within the community. Consider writing to local businesses, asking them to sponsor your sports team. Then, hone in on individuals who have expressed support in the past. If you have any upcoming expenses, mention them, and explain how sponsorships can help.
Fundraising letters are a great way to acquire donations and sponsorships. They can help cover transportation and uniform costs, so be specific about what you need in your request. If you want a financial contribution, ask for it. If you need equipment, say that. You’ll never get what you don’t ask for!
50/50 Raffle
Cost: $
Effectiveness: ✓✓✓
At some point, you’ve likely encountered this popular fundraiser. Consider hosting it at one of your games or other events. Near your concession stand, set up a table where volunteers will sell raffle tickets. Throughout the game, remind spectators to visit the table and purchase one or several tickets for a chance to win the prize money. The more tickets sold, the higher the winnings become!
At the end of the game, draw a ticket number and announce the lucky winner. Half of the money goes to the ticket holder, and the other half goes to your organization. With easy setup and minimum startup fees, no wonder this is one of the most popular fundraising ideas for sports teams!
Discount Card Sale
Cost: $$$
Effectiveness: ✓✓✓✓
Some companies create discount cards with popular restaurants and retail chains, but you’ll have the best luck if you create them yourself. Team up with several local businesses, and once you have a substantial list, create your cards.
Depending on the number of restaurants and shops, sell each card for around $15 to $20. Then, ask your team members to sell them. Set a goal for every team member to reach. Even consider making it a competition where the top seller wins a prize!
Buyers will earn their money back in no time, and the businesses that agreed to participate will receive a lot more exposure as a result. Make sure to put an expiration date so that you can reuse this fundraiser over and over. Supporters will start to look forward to it every year, and over time, you’ll gain more support.
Fundraising Ideas for College Sports Teams
Fundraising can consume team members’ energy, leaving them with less time to focus on playing the game. College teams especially have difficulty finding the spare time to devote to campaign efforts, especially when team members also have classwork to worry about. To simplify the process, let’s explore some effective fundraising ideas for college sports teams.
Bowling Night
Cost: $$
Effectiveness: ✓✓
Instead of showing up at a local bowling alley with dozens of guests, coordinate this event with the owner. Settle on a flat fee for each of your attendees. It should at least cover shoe rental and the bowling itself. Then, charge an entry fee for each attendee.
The best part about this fundraiser is that it can be hosted year-round, rain or shine! Plus, the bowling alley will already have all the equipment you need. Maximize earnings by doing the following:
- Run a concession stand.
- Reach out to local businesses to sponsor the lanes.
- Coordinate a running shoe drive fundraiser.
Make sure to advertise each of these opportunities well beforehand. This way, participants can plan accordingly. For instance, they’ll know to bring extra dollars for snacks or bring a change of sneakers for your running shoe drive fundraiser.
Social Media Campaign
Cost: $$
Effectiveness: ✓✓✓✓
As social media gains more users, crowdfunding continues to grow in popularity. For these campaigns, set up a donation page with an effective crowdfunding platform. Then, team members should share the page with their social networks online, asking for donations. Social media campaigns are great for covering:
- Transportation expenses
- Equipment costs
- Tournament costs
Crowdfunding is most effective if you have a specific cost to cover. This way, you can set a concrete goal and leverage relevant stories to encourage donations.
Branded Merchandise
Cost: $$$
Effectiveness: ✓✓✓
Some fans are willing to shell out money for branded sports merchandise just to show off their favorite team. Choose a low-cost (but quality) vendor to design your merchandise. Feature your team logos, colors, and mascot on anything you create. However, don’t clutter it up. Instead, feature large fonts and simple designs. Then, when fans use your merchandise, it may spark a conversation with others. Consider selling:
- T-shirts
- Hats
- Car decals
- Team flags
The options are endless, but only if you get creative! Sell the merchandise at your games and feature it on your online store. That way, no one misses out on an opportunity to rep your team. Strengthen your bond with your fanbase, spread the word about your team, and earn some cash all at once!
Fitness Class
Cost: $
Effectiveness: ✓✓✓✓
Community members outside of your sports team can benefit from improved fitness, too. To raise money, consider hosting a group fitness class or individual lessons. Chances are there’s someone on your team who would be willing to run it.
Since your team will likely teach in their area of expertise, you won’t have to find a venue—you can just use your own field or court. If team members choose to host a general fitness class (like weightlifting or cardio), partner with your on-campus gym. Not only will it help others develop useful athletic skills, but it can also help your players improve their game.
Video Game Tournament
Cost: $$$
Effectiveness: ✓✓✓✓
A video game tournament is another great fundraising idea for college sports teams (and K-12 school teams!). Turn it into a competition or just play for fun. At the end of the night, whoever claims the top score per game wins. Offer cheap prizes (like a gift card to a local restaurant) for the top competitors. To save some money, ask local businesses to donate these prizes.
Even if none of your teammates own consoles or you can’t afford console rentals, this idea can still work! Simply turn it into a board/card game night. Rely on team members to bring their own games to make the night possible.
Whichever you choose, charge an entry fee to earn money. For a few extra dollars, sell refreshments or coordinate a 50/50 raffle. Don’t forget to set time limits, so everyone gets a chance to participate.
Fundraising Ideas for Youth Sports Teams
Youth fundraisers don’t have to be monotonous or boring. Here’s your chance to break the door-to-door sales mold and get creative. Raise some extra cash with these fundraising ideas for youth sports teams!
League Tournament
Cost: $$
Effectiveness: ✓✓✓✓
Children love a bit of friendly competition. If your team is part of a league, consider hosting a league tournament where you set up a bracket and invite other teams within the league to participate. When properly planned, these events are fun, can be a great recruitment tool, and have the power to raise a good chunk of money for your team.
Plus, this is a great way to bring the community together. Charge an entry fee or coordinate your running shoe drive fundraiser with it. Instead of having spectators purchase tickets, allow them to bring their gently worn, used and new running shoes as payment. You can also encourage players to donate their athletic shoes, too! Just make sure to advertise this ahead of time, so they know to bring a change of sneakers.
Pancake Breakfast
Cost: $$$
Effectiveness: ✓✓✓✓
Cover your team’s expenses with a pancake breakfast. It’s a great way to bring supporters together for a delicious meal while also raising money. With the help of parent volunteers, make and sell pancakes. You’ll need to book a venue, such as your school or community center. You may be able to book it at a discounted rate; just ask!
Consider turning this fundraising idea for sports teams into an annual event. That way, team members, family, and friends will look forward to it every year.
Field Day
Cost: $$
Effectiveness: ✓✓✓✓
Your team may excel in your court or field, but what about when it comes to other sports? Host a field day with an array of challenges. Then, charge a fee to participate in each challenge or the event as a whole. Save some money by using equipment you already have and by using your practice field or court.
Also, don’t limit it to team and league members. Extend the invitation to supporters (like friends and family), too! Don’t forget to set up your running shoe drive fundraiser boxes for some extra revenue. If all goes well, consider making it an annual back-to-school event! It’s one of many fundraising ideas for sports teams that’s sure to churn up extra support.
Business Partnership
Cost: $
Effectiveness: ✓✓✓
Most youth sports teams have a business partnership with a local sporting goods store, so why not use it to your advantage? Work with your sporting goods provider to set up a percentage day where you take home a portion of the profits.
Chances are, the owner will agree to participate, because it’s a great way to bring in some extra foot traffic. Encourage them to do it every so often (like every month or so). Don’t forget to advertise it to your friends and family!
Then, leverage your partnership by asking the business to host a running shoe drive fundraiser. Do the work (which isn’t much) for them. Pick a fundraising coordinator (like Funds2Orgs) and encourage store employees to set up bins. Make sure to promote it to the community.
Kids’ Camp
Cost: $$
Effectiveness: ✓✓✓✓
Consider this fundraising idea for youth sports teams: a kids’ camp! Raise funds and promote a healthy lifestyle for kids of all ages. Best of all, this is a great recruitment strategy! Charge an entry fee and post sign-up sheets around the community. Remember to use social media as a way to market the camp.
Your regular practice venue should be able to provide the space and equipment you need for the camp. That way, you won’t have to worry about any other expenses aside from water and snacks. If you’ve coordinated a running shoe drive fundraiser, don’t forget to encourage participants to bring sneakers.
Additional Fundraising Resources for Sports Teams
With these ideas, fundraising for your sports team will be easier than ever. Plus, you’ll benefit from increased community involvement when you host fresh and creative fundraising events. Sit down with the rest of your team, get them on board with whatever idea you pick, and start planning!
If you want to learn more about fundraising, check out these resources:
- Fundraising Event Planning: 10 Steps for Event Success. Not sure where to start with your upcoming fundraising event? Read our guide for a step-by-step walkthrough.
- 100+ Amazing and Unique Fundraising Ideas for Everyone. Looking for more fundraising ideas? Explore this list for unique ideas sure to delight your community.
- 13 of the Most Profitable Fundraisers for Your Organization. Maximize fundraising revenue with these low-cost events that are sure to turn a profit for your organization.
