Whether it’s to purchase new team uniforms or to cover travel expenses or facilities fees, youth sports programs need to do a lot of fundraising. How do you keep it fresh and engaging while reaching as many potential donors as possible?
Peer-to-peer promotes a sense of community among team members and their families. It also helps your team create a community of supporters that can all contribute to the cause. Plus, it allows your team to reach a wide range of potential donors. Finally, peer-to-peer fundraising is convenient and easy to set up, so it’s perfect for busy coaches and parents.
In this article, we will discuss five creative peer-to-peer sports fundraising event ideas and best practices that can help you reach your goal.
The benefits of peer-to-peer for youth sports fundraising
Did you know that “55% of people who engage with nonprofits on social media end up taking some sort of action”? (Nonprofit Source) Peer-to-peer leverages the personal social media networks of participants, volunteers, donors, and sponsors to help organizers reach their fundraising goals. By using peer-to-peer, you’re exponentially widening your fundraiser’s reach and tapping into lots of people who will act. Incorporating it into your team’s fundraising strategy results in:
Increased awareness.
As more people become involved with your youth sports fundraiser, they spread the word within their own social media networks. In doing so, they expose your cause to a larger audience who may be willing to donate or support your team’s cause.
Increased donor engagement.
When supporters are actively participating in fundraisers, they’re more likely to stay engaged throughout the process. The reason for this is that they feel a personal connection to the cause. That vested interest can develop into a sense of loyalty, which could lead to future donations or even volunteering for your organization.
More money raised.
The wider net and increased engagement that peer-to-peer fundraising produces results in more donations.
Youth sports team peer-to-peer fundraiser best practices
Use the below peer-to-peer event best practices as a guide to make your fundraising campaign a success!
Create an engaging fundraising page. Your event site is where potential donors can learn more about your cause. There should be:
- Clear instructions on how to get involved
- Incentives for people who donate or participate in activities related to the fundraiser
- Multiple ways for people to donate (e.g., online donations via credit card or PayPal).
- Different levels of rewards based on donation size (e.g., t-shirts or posters)
- A fundraising thermometer so visitors can see the difference they’re making in real time!
Be realistic about how much money you hope to raise and how many people you expect to participate.
Track the progress of the fundraiser and share updates with participants on social media, via email, and on your fundraiser site.
Thank everyone who participates and show your appreciation for their support. After the fundraiser has ended, follow up with donors to thank them once again and share how you used their donations.
5 peer-to-peer fundraising ideas for youth sports teams
Clinic.
Ask older players or coaches from college or high school teams who come from similar backgrounds as yours to get involved. Younger players within the community will build their skills and gain valuable insight from experienced players. Younger and older players alike can set up their own fundraising pages and ask for pledges to support their participation.
Color Run.
A color run can be a fun and creative way to raise money for a youth sports team. Participants can ask friends and family to sponsor them for a certain amount per mile run or to donate a flat fee. During the run, participants get covered in vibrant colors, making for a fun and memorable experience. This peer-to-peer fundraiser is especially shareable on social media, which can enhance donations and participation.
Sports Camp.
Host a sports camp for young children, with the proceeds going towards your good cause. The youth sports team members can serve as coaches and create their own fundraising pages to ask friends and family to sponsor them. The bonus of this fundraiser is that it also introduces kids to the wonderful act of mentorship.
Walkathon.
A walkathon is a classic peer-to-peer fundraising idea that can be easily adapted for youth sports teams. Similar to the color run, participants can ask friends and family to sponsor them for a certain amount per mile walked or to donate a flat fee. When you create your walkathon as a hybrid event, team members can log their miles wherever they are!
Mow-a-lawn, shovel-a-walk, rake-leaves, or dog-walk fundraiser.
Set up a sale fundraiser. In exchange for a donation to your team, players perform whatever task you’ve determined. Introduce peer-to-peer by asking players to create their own fundraising pages and ask for pledges per lawn mowed or dog walked! Print posters with QR codes that direct to your fundraising page so that people all over the community can easily support your cause.
Bonus youth sports fundraising idea
Raffles are a proven, tried-and-true way for teams to generate revenue. They can be done in person, or online, or both (as in a hybrid raffle). Also, you can get really creative with the prizes or simply run a 50/50 (aka cash) raffle—just be sure to check raffle laws in your state before proceeding! Also, check out our free Raffle for Success e-book to get all the information you need to make the most out of your fundraising campaign.
Use technology to support your fundraising
Technology is a major time saver and a powerful tool for youth sports teams!
By utilizing a peer-to-peer platform, you’ll streamline many aspects of running a successful peer-to-peer fundraiser. Creating a donation page, seamlessly collecting online donations, sending thank you emails/letters after receiving funds, and tracking analytics are all at your fingertips. Plus, a platform such as Eventgroove provides tools such as customizable pages where participants can promote their individual fundraisers.
We hope the above ideas are helpful food for thought! For more about peer-to-peer fundraising, read our article Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: Everything You Need to Know. If you try any of the above sports team fundraising ideas or have a successful fundraiser you’d like to share, email us! We’d love to hear about it.
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