Fundraising Ideas

Getting to camp can sometimes be more a matter of funds than desire and need. Listed here are a couple of ideas that might make the difference for your program. We hope you will find them helpful as well as imaginative. If you have a proven idea that we've overlooked feel free to write us so that we might pass it along.

Score Fundraising has a proven track record of success with over 2000 individual groups and 500 schools around the western United States. We have raised over $15,000,000 since 1999. Because we are an on-site fundraiser present during your sale, we save you time. Score Fundraising is a San Francisco Bay Area based company with representatives in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Arizona.

Car Wash

Here's a tried and true cash maker with a couple of twists. First, find a location for the car wash with good exposure and free water. Many local businesses will allow you to hold your car wash at their business and will provide the water hook up as a donation. The Longs Drugs in our home town has always made such a donation. Second, at least four weeks prior to the event, pre-sell it door-to-door, to neighbors, friends and family by providing a coupon. Charge one price for autos and an increased price for trucks, vans and SUV's. Third, hold your car wash on a Saturday from 8AM to 12PM or 9AM to 1PM. Most people will be willing to donate but will forget to show up on the day of the car wash or because it's a Saturday morning will sleep in. Limit the time of the car wash to four hours only and make sure it is printed on the coupon. Fourth, the coupons can be printed on a home computer saving you printing charges. This is usually a quick thousand dollars.

50/50 Raffle

In the off-season have football players attend basketball games and run a 50/50 raffle. The winning ticket holder keeps half of the funds generated and your program the other half. It is a good idea to clear this type of fund raising with your athletic director first but it can produce $50-100 per home game. Multiply that times the number of home basketball games and tournaments and there's another grand.

Tip a Player

Through the cooperation of a local restaurant your players take over as servers and get to keep the tips. First, you bill it as a fundraising night so the tips will be inflated. Second, advertise it to friends, family and student body of your school. Get the local newspaper to run a small article. The bottom line is you are going to bring in more than normal business and that is the benefit to the restaurant as they still charge regular prices. It's a win/win for everyone.

Lawn Mowing

Ah yes, the old lawnmower fundraiser. Get players to bring their own mowers, trimmer's rakes and brooms. Then, blitz several neighborhoods going door to door and explaining this is a fundraising enterprise. You'd be surprised at how many folks will let you cut their lawn, even when they may already have a service. As with all of these ideas, make sure players are wearing their jerseys.

Servant for a day

Advertise around the community that you will be a servant-for-a-day. For a donation to your camp fund (you set the amount) you will do household chores, run errands, cook, whatever! You can do half days or whole days. Do it at lunch time at your school and offer to wash their car or carry books, clean out their gym locker or be a chauffeur.

Gas Station Attendant

Approach a busy local gas station. Explain that you're raising money for camp and offer to pump gas, clean windshields, check tire air pressure or check the oil. Advertise in front of the station with a big sign "Football Fundraiser" and make sure everyone wears their jersey. Lots of people will tip for these services and many will just donate without asking for your services.

Jail Days

Ask your school to designate an area in the cafeteria or where students sit to eat, as a jailhouse. Explain that you and fellow players will sit in the jailhouse until "bailed" out. Set a price, say $25 or $50, and have jars with the incarcerated players names on them. When your jar reaches it's total you get out. Make it a race to see who can get out of jail first, who gets out last. Be sure to advertise weeks before. Invite the local newspaper to cover the event and get more exposure.

Date Auction

Hold a date auction where fellow students get to bid on your time for a two hour date. Create date scenarios like burgers and a movie, miniature golf, go-cart racing, or a local school event. Have coach be the emcee and be sure to advertise well in advance of the event. You get the donation of the highest bidder and they get two hours of your time. Small newspapers love to cover these types of events.