Fundraising Ideas for Sports Clubs in Australia
Getting kids into playing a sport is a great idea. It’s a wonderful way for them to get out and about, do some exercise, learn teamwork and make some friends.
However, playing organised sport can be expensive. Not only are there registration fees (which can run into the hundreds) but you also have to pay for insurance, uniforms and equipment. Then there is the cost of playing in various destinations and some kids even tour interstate or overseas.
Rather than expecting parents to shoulder all the burden themselves, organising a sports club fundraiser is a great way to raise important funds. Not only do the kids have a new appreciation for raising money but they also work together as a team and involve the community in their project.
Here are some of the top fundraising ideas for sports teams.
Enter Australian sporting events
Use your team’s sporting prowess and enter some of the great sporting events we have here in Australia. There are so many sports events in Australia to choose from. From shorter fun runs to famous events like the City2Surf in Sydney to the longer marathons and epic tracks like the Byron Ultra.
Start training with your team and set yourselves up with a GoFundMe page. Ask friends and family to sponsor you in the sporting event with proceeds going to a specific team goal. Share lots of updates on your GoFundMe and don’t forget to tell everyone how you go on the day!
Get local sponsorship for your sports club
This is a great way to get local businesses involved in your community. You could ask a company to help out by providing money for your team or club in exchange for promotion. You could add their logo to your jersey, put up a banner at games or promote them through your social media or email channels.
If they don’t want to provide money, they could even donate something. For example, the local butcher could donate sausages and the baker could donate bread rolls. Then you could run a sausage sizzle at your game and use the proceeds for your fundraising efforts.
School holiday skills camp
You’ve got a team of kids with skills, right? Why not put them to work and help them teach their talents to others. Run a school holiday workshop for younger kids, where your more experienced players run through drills.
They can end the day with a small-sided game with the parents watching. Charge a fee for the day and let parents know that all money is going to your sports team fundraising goal.
Walkathon
This is an oldie but a goodie and is a great fundraising idea for your sporting club. Choose a course in your local area where large groups of people can walk without getting in the way of cars. It’s important to check accessibility so people with wheelchairs can also be included.
Check with your local council about the logistics or organising such an event and whether you need a permit and insurance. Invite as many people as possible to register and ask them to pay a participation fee. On the day have the course marked out clearly and ensure you have something special at the end such as drinks for sale and a sausage sizzle. You could even include pets and make it a paw-a-thon!
Silent auction
Ask local businesses or individuals to donate prizes to your silent auction. Some popular prizes are a voucher for a local restaurant, a night in a city hotel, an artwork from a local artist or a gift basket.
You could arrange for the silent auction to be part of a larger fundraising event such as a dinner or drinks and nibbles. On the event, set up the information about each auction item around the room. Then provide them with a way to bid. You could either set up mobile bidding software which allows people to bid on their phones. Or you can have a bid sheet next to each item so people can write their bids.
To add extra excitement, you could have a surprise auction ending time so people don’t know who will be the highest bidder.
Trivia night
Everyone loves a trivia night, don’t they?! Encourage parents to get their friends together to form quiz groups. You raise money by charging for entry and providing drinks and snacks to buy. Get someone to write some tricky questions with multiple rounds and bonus rounds. Then get your team together and battle it out for which group is the smartest. You could also ask for extra donations on the night to further grow your fundraising efforts.
Start a GoFundMe
One of the easiest ways to fundraise for sporting clubs is to start a GoFundme. You could connect it to an event, like a walkathon, or use crowdfunding on its own.
Simply share a story about your team and why you need to raise money. Maybe you need new jerseys for the team or perhaps you have a big tournament coming up in another state.
Ask your local community Facebook page and school to share it in their networks. The more people who hear about your story, the more money you raise.
Make a difference for your local sporting team
Crowdfunding has been a top fundraising idea for these Australian sporting clubs. Ardmona Football and Netball Club asked their community to help save their club from extinction.
Bells Park Sports Club have used GoFundMe to help raise money for their renovation dream.
The women of Gooniyandi Goornboo pledged not to drink soft drink for the entire month of August last year. They hoped to not only change habits and be healthier but also raise money for new uniforms and equipment for the team.
If you’re looking to raise money for your sporting team, get started on GoFundMe.
Donating is easy, meaning GoFundMe appeals to people who haven’t donated online before.
Setting up your GoFundMe campaign couldn’t be easier. There are heaps of expert fundraising tips on our blog to help you raise the most money possible for your cause.