Why fundraise for your basketball team?
There is an important aspect to maintaining a fun, competitive, and financially viable basketball team: fundraising. Even with volunteer support, organizing a team still requires funding for jerseys, tournament fees, travel expenses, and more.
The good news is you don’t have to do it by yourself. Basketball is a community sport, and there are many people in the local community who would love to support your basketball league, school, or nonprofit. There are some creative and inexpensive team fundraising activities out there, and when done right, they can be a lot of fun and supercharge your team fundraising efforts.
What to know before you get started
Raising money doesn’t have to be tough. When you think about it, with a little organization, it can actually be a fun and fantastic way to bring people together. But if you dive in unprepared, it can quickly become, well, messy.
- Set clear goals. Know how much you need to raise, how much the entry fee is for your event, and what you would do with the money, such as new team merchandise, travel, or tournament fees.
- Track donations. Log every donation your team receives. Set a fundraising goal and track your progress. This will keep the fundraising mission in sight and let you know how far you have to go.
- Share your “why.” When talking to people about your basketball fundraiser, always be clear about a “why.” If you’re helping a high school team get new uniforms or supporting a youth basketball-themed camp, be clear about the mission behind the effort. Your basketball team is doing good for the community. Be prepared to let people know about it.
Don’t forget the power of social media. It’s one of the most effective tools for spreading the word and drawing support from your local community.
Using a crowdfunding platform like GoFundMe allows you to build a clear, professional fundraising page where donors can contribute, track progress, and share.
Basketball team fundraising ideas that work
1. Start a GoFundMe
Crowdfunding is one of the most effective fundraising tools available today. GoFundMe has helped people raise billions and makes it easy for teams to manage goals, thank donors, and increase visibility.
You can add your story, photos, and incentives like thank-you shoutouts, branded stickers, or promote a free registration fee to an upcoming event to encourage giving.
2. Host a competition
Competitions are a great fit for any sports team. You could host a three-point contest, a free throw challenge, or a full basketball tournament. These can be open to the community and make for engaging, entry-free, or donation-based events.
You could even organize a fun run, walk-a-thon, or halftime shootout during a home game to boost engagement and draw more people to your fundraising events.
3. Provide a service
Old-school ideas still work. Car washes, selling candy bars, yard sales, or merchandise sales at local events do wonders. You might also sell discount cards or coupons to local businesses.
Initiatives like these provide an opportunity for team members to collaborate and get involved in the community.
4. Concession stand setup
Game days are the perfect time to launch a concession stand. People love to snack while watching the game. Selling chips, drinks, and small refreshment items at home games can bring in steady support.
Let fans know that proceeds go directly to your basketball fundraising efforts. You can also include branded snacks or team spirit items like mini foam fingers or bracelets.
5. Ask for sponsorships
Really talk up how much visibility they could get by putting their logo on t-shirts, team banners, or event flyers. You could even put their name in the game day announcements.
When approaching sponsors, have your pitch ready. Let them know how their support helps the team and why it matters to the community. Adding their team’s logo to your gear is a small but impactful gesture. This can be a win-win for your team and a local business. They get valuable exposure while you get crucial financial support.
6. Basketball camp fundraiser
Charge a small entry fee and organize a skills clinic or basketball camp for younger players. Your athletes can be guest coaches for the day. Have your players run the drills and offer a mini-tournament, giveaways, or branded team merchandise, like t-shirts, to participants.
This not only makes money, but it helps younger players feel connected to your team.
7. Donation pages and digital tools
If you’re running multiple events or fundraising activities, each of them should have a specific donation page. GoFundMe makes it easy to segment your efforts while still tracking your full fundraising goal.
These pages also make it easy to share updates and progress through social media.
Include information on what donations would be used for, such as new uniforms, travel, or hosting a basketball tournament. Be transparent, and thank those who make online donations publicly to build momentum.
8. Slam dunk contest
What’s more fun at a basketball game than a slam dunk contest? Open it to the team, or even the community, and let people pay to enter or vote. Offer a prize sponsored by a local business.
It’s high-energy, on-theme fun, and it gets people talking about your games. Pair it with other fundraising ideas like a bake sale, a merchandise sale, or a concession stand to make it a full event.
Get started today
You don’t have to be a fundraising expert to support your sports team. All you need is a plan, a story, and the right tools. Regardless of which ideas you decide to use, GoFundMe can help your team provide a safe, organized, and convenient way to run a successful fundraiser. You can also learn more about GoFundMe and how it works by visiting the GoFundMe blog, where you can find a lot of helpful information. Start your GoFundMe online fundraising page today, and make it easy for community members near and far to chip in.
