Football fundraising: how it helps teams
Football fundraising is used to raise money to cover various team expenses such as travel, field upgrades, venue costs, equipment, scholarships, and other essential requirements that make the game more enjoyable and safer. Football fundraisers also have the benefit of increasing the teams’ networks and visibility outside their communities. In addition to this, fundraisers generally increase the community’s ties to the team because of the level of involvement required to sustain a team’s activities successfully and continuously. By creating an online fundraiser, even supporters and fans outside of the community can lend their support.
Why start a GoFundMe to help reach your football fundraising goals
Starting a GoFundMe for your football team or your player’s own personal expenses is a great way to offer people who want to support you an easy way to do so. Having an online fundraiser you can point people to during any fundraising event or general fundraising efforts has proven to help people collect even more donations than if they were to run an event alone.
This is because having a link to use for QR codes or in your social media posts gives people more opportunity to donate beyond just buying a ticket to an event or giving cash at a car wash, etc.
Fundraising ideas for football teams
There are many fundraising ideas football teams can choose from, but with the pandemic. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of 10 football fundraising ideas we think will be useful in this new normal and even beyond.
1. Car Wash and Barbecue Bash
Combine a traditional car wash with a barbecue event. Offer grilled food, music, and games while attendees wait for their cars to be washed. This can create a fun, family-friendly atmosphere and increase community involvement.
2. Bake Off with a Twist
Host a themed bake sale where each player bakes and decorates items based on a specific theme, such as footballs, team colors, or famous players. Invite the community to come and try all the treats for a small fee collected at the door or a suggested donation to the team’s GoFundMe fundraiser.
3. Mystery Silent Auction
Add an element of surprise to the classic silent auction by wrapping a few auction items in plain boxes and providing only vague descriptions. This can generate excitement and intrigue, encouraging more bids. You might consider prizes like a “gag gift” such as a T Shirt with the coach’s face, a chance to kick a field goal at half time, or a private dinner hosted on the football field.
4. 50/50 Raffle with a VIP Experience
Enhance the traditional 50/50 raffle by offering additional prizes such as VIP seating at a game, a signed football, or a meet-and-greet with the team. This can attract more participants and boost ticket sales. Try reaching out to professional sports teams to see if they would donate an experience or item to be raffled.
5. Restaurant Night with ‘Celebrity’ Servers
Partner with a local restaurant or turn the football field into an exclusive dining experience where team members and coaches act as servers for the evening. Patrons can tip their favorite servers, with all tips and a portion of the sales going to the team.
6. Team Merchandise Pop-Up Shop Fundraiser QR Code
Set up a pop-up shop at local events, fairs, or popular spots in town to sell team merchandise. Include tags or banners with a QR code to your team’s GoFundMe so buyers or recipients of the items can make an additional donation to support the team.
7. Coach for the day
Offer the opportunity for a younger player, community member, or alumni to be an honorary coach of the day. Hold a few practices or games where members can make a significant donation to the team in exchange for a chance to be recognized under the Friday Night Lights as an honorary coach of the game.
8. Rent-a-Player Day
Organize a community service day where team members offer their skills for hire, such as yard work, car washing, or running errands. Promote it as a way for community members to get help while supporting their local team.
9. Themed Fun Run or Walkathon
Host a fun run or walkathon with a unique theme, such as a superhero run where participants dress up as their favorite superheroes, or a color run where they get doused in colored powder. Offer prizes for best costumes and most enthusiastic participants.
10. Skills Clinic and Mini-Tournament
Combine a skills clinic with a mini-tournament for kids. After the clinic, divide participants into teams and have a friendly competition, with team members acting as coaches and referees. Charge a registration fee that includes a team t-shirt and a snack. Don’t forget to include a link to your fundraiser with registration or after the camp as a follow-up.
11. Football Trivia Night
Ask a local restaurant or space to host a football-themed trivia night. Allow participants to register a team of 4-6 people and charge a team registration fee. Collect football-related trivia facts and group them into themes for your host to share. Present a cash prize or gift to the winning team.
Don’t forget to include a QR code that links to your fundraiser on each table or score sheet.
12. Alumni Game with Halftime Show
Enhance your alumni game by including a halftime show featuring performances by local talent, youth, a marching band, or cheerleaders. Charge a suggested donation to the fundraiser to participate and sell refreshments to raise additional funds.
13. Community Yard Sale and Sports Swap
Host a community yard sale where people can sell items and donate a portion of the proceeds to the team. Include a sports swap section where community members can trade or buy used sports equipment.