Team Fundraising Ideas
From the ATSC Coaches and Managers Manual, Appendix L
Travel soccer teams are expensive. While some parents are in a position to pay high seasonal fees, many are not. In addition, Arlington teams generally carry scholarship players who can pay some, but not all, of the team fees. To reduce the burden on the parents who pay, many teams sponsor fundraising activities, with the proceeds going to a variety of things, including the team’s scholarship fund, new bags or warm-ups, special trips, or general team fees. Following are some of the fundraising activities undertaken by Arlington teams in the past. The ATSC Executive Director can notify all teams about an individual team’s fundraising event if given sufficient advance notice.
Yard Sale: Can raise $700-$1,800, depending on location and items donated for sale. One idea to get more sale items is to prepare a flyer and have players go throughout their neighborhoods asking for donation of goods for the yard sale. Many people have items they want to discard to a good cause. Some teams sell sodas and/or baked items in conjunction with the yard sale. Have players on site, in uniform, to assist with sales. A large sign at the site, noting the sale proceeds are for xyz purpose for the youth soccer team, will sometimes encourage higher sale prices or donations.
Car Wash: Can raise $500-$1,000, depending on location and weather. Usually better for older teams whose players can actually do the work of washing the cars. Good sites must usually be reserved months in advance. Bring signs for players to get attention from cars driving by, hoses, buckets, towels, etc. A vacuum cleaner with an extension cord can bring in extra income.
Phone Book Delivery: Can raise $1,000-$1,400. Local phone company pays for deliveries of white and yellow pages to Arlington neighborhoods, by zip code. Usually takes two full days, a few adult drivers, and a number of kids doing the actual deliveries. Hard work but significant money.
Bake Sale: Can raise $300 to $500. Players can sell with adult supervision. Site location is important.
Sales of Merchandise: Can raise $200-?? A number of different fund-raising companies provide merchandise for teams to sell, keeping part of the proceeds. Merchandise items (usually frozen food) include pizza, cheesecake, and cookie dough. Parental supervision should be provided for any door-to-door selling.
Gift Wrapping: Can raise $200-500. Various stores allow non-profit groups, including sports teams, to provide holiday season gift-wrapping services in their store; payment is from tips from the customers.
Grocery Store Gift Certificates: Amount raised depends on participation. This is the program the school PTAs, church groups, etc., use and is available to any non-profit organization, including individual teams. The team buys a certain amount of gift certificates from the store at a discount and resells them to team parents and others at face value, keeping the difference. Rates range from 1%-5%, depending on the store and size of purchase. Some teams take advance orders and checks from parents, then order and distribute the certificates. Others, with sufficient funds in the bank, can buy the certificates first and then sell them to parents. This takes a person willing to organize it and do the appropriate record-keeping, but teams can make “free” money by buying their regular groceries. Giant and Shoppers Food Warehouse l have these programs. Contact the stores for more information.
Raffle: Team may solicit donations of items to be raffled. Certain county regulations apply.
ATSC Newsletter Ads: Newsletter ads are a good team fundraising activity -- teams that sell newsletter ads will receive half of each ad fee. The newsletter ad form can be downloaded - see "ATSC Newsletter" for more information.
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