Easy Fundraiser Ideas for Your Child's Sports Team

Watching your child participate in team sports is exciting. However, with the economy in a slump, many schools and sports leagues are requiring teams to raise their own funds for uniforms and equipment. Here are some simple fundraiser ideas to help your child's team reach their financial goals.

Rent-a-Team

Rent-a-Team is a auction style fundraiser that allows family, friends, and fans to bid the team to help them with household chores for a day. This is a great way to raise money for your child's team because you are offering a service that anyone can use. Whether your auction "customers" need their garage cleaned or a moving crew for the day, you can expect to turn a decent profit.

Tip - To raise even more money, you can offer your team to the three highest bidders.

Bowl-a-Thon

A bowl-a-thon is a great way to raise money for your child's sports team. This can also be a great way for new and existing team members to interact and bond. It also gives the team parents the opportunity to meet and get to know one another and the coaching staff. Before the bowl-a-thon, the kids will ask their family and friends to sponsor them. The goal is to gather pledges on a per pin basis. For example, your child's sponsor might pledge $0.25 per pin. If the child bowls a 100, the sponsor will pay $25.

Dinner Co-Op

Forming a dinner co-op with a local restaurant owner can be a great way to raise money for the team and help promote local business. Ask the owner of the restaurant to donate a portion of the restaurants revenue on a predetermined date in exchange for the team promoting the business. Print out flyers promoting the event and have the players pass them out to their friends and family. When a customer gives the flyer to their waiter, a portion of the bill (say 10%) will be donated to the team. Why would a restaurant owner do this? Two reasons. The donated amount is tax deductible, and the business gets free advertising.

Tip - Don't limit yourself to just friends and family of the team. You can also have your team hand out the flyers at a local shopping center.

Business Sponsors

Local businesses can be a great help when trying to finance your child's sports team. You might be surprised how easy it can be to get a business to sponsor your team. Set a day for your team to hit the town, have the children split up (accompanied by a parent or adult of course) and go business to business asking for donations. If the whole team participates, you can easily hit a couple hundred businesses in a few hours.

Tip - Usually only business owners are authorized to make cash donations. If you are having trouble getting cash donations, ask the business manager to donate an item such as a gift certificate that the team can auction off.