10 Easy Fundraising Ideas for Football Teams

Fall is here and football is in full swing. Whether your athletes are pee wees or playing under the Friday night lights, fundraising is a great way to pay for the sport we all love — one that isn’t cheap.

Football fundraisers can help pay for travel costs, uniforms, equipment, camps, tournaments and field rentals. Yet some fundraisers take up a lot of parents’ time — something we are all short on. Being the family’s taxi driver, working, volunteering, exercising and getting dinner on the table don’t leave much time for extra activities. So it’s crucial that you come up with some fundraising ideas that are easy to pull off.

We’ve focused this list on just that, and tried to keep it to things that can be planned and executed in little time. So pick one of these ideas and get after it before the season ends.

A Note About Collecting Money Online

Before we get into the ideas, take some time to assess your group’s payment processing platform(s), if any. Are you still collecting using cash or checks? These days, the ability to process credit cards on a mobile device is essential. First of all, people are used to this type of convenience. It limits the excuses (“I don’t have any cash on me”). It’s more secure, and it integrates more easily with your bank.

MoneyMinder’s Store feature is great for teams who aren’t looking to break the bank with their payment processor. The fees are simple to understand. The full-featured team edition of MoneyMinder Store comes at no cost to you unless a transaction is made. That means once your fundraiser is over, you aren’t paying anything and your store and settings can remain in place for next time. What’s more, you can opt to pass the fees (except for the platform fee) on to your payer, which many nonprofits do.

And if you think you’ve got this covered with a service like Paypal, Zelle or Venmo, read this article to compare MoneyMinder Store to those processors. The benefits may surprise you.

20 Easy Football Fundraisers

1. Split the Pot — One of the easiest ways to raise money for your football team is to give people the chance to win a little cash for themselves. Sell raffle tickets for $1, $5 or $10 a piece. Pool all the money together and choose a ticket to reveal the lucky winner that will get half of the cash.
2. QRs for QBs — Arm the team (not just the quarterbacks) with QR Codes that lead their family members to your team’s online store. There, you can sell logoed gear that amps up your funds and the spirit at your next big game.
3. No Bake Sale — Looking for something a little easier than the traditional bake sale that leaves your kitchen covered in dishes and flour? Try a no-bake sale! Either make no-bake cookies or buy some goodies at your local store and sell them for at least twice the cost. The store-bought option is especially beneficial for those with allergies.
4. Penny Drive — Who says loose change is useless? Put some jars branded with your football team’s colors, logo and mascot all around school or at local stores and watch as real people affect real “change” for your team.
5. Team Recipe Book — This one can be done by text, message or email so it’s pretty easy. Just send out a message asking for each player’s favorite recipes. Folks can submit multiple so you can be sure to cover every category: breakfast, lunch, dinner, salads, appetizers and desserts. Compile them together in a nice document and sell it to your community.
6. Football Babies — Have each player submit a photo of themselves as a baby (was it really that long ago?). Students, teachers and parents can each pay a dollar to vote on the cutest baby on the team.
7. Post-Game Movie Night — Once the stadium lights go out, set up a movie screen and projector for a movie night to remember. Sell tickets, popcorn and rent chairs through your online store to raise funds for the team.
8. Event Parking — Who says parking has to be free at your games or other special events in the area? Your team or other stakeholders can run parking at the event, or even just charge for premium spots.
9. Rent a Player — Most of us have at least 10 odd jobs we’d love to get done around the house but don’t have time for. Have a sign up sheet at your next football game and let your players spend their Saturdays helping folks rake leaves, weed gardens, mow lawns, paint or do other work to help out a member of the community while raising money at the same time. You can charge a flat fee or by the hour.
10. Field Goal Kick Contest — Contact a local business for a sponsorship opportunity where their name will be announced at halftime if they donate prize money of $250 or $500. Announce the contest to fans upon entry and hold it during halftime. Contestants can enter for $10 or $20 which goes directly to your fundraising efforts. The first contestant to make three field goals from the 25 yard line or longer wins the prize money.