Beyond Sports: 10 Types of Booster Clubs

When you think of a high school Booster Club, you may think of the parents selling tickets or snacks at athletic events. But parents form many types of Booster Clubs beyond athletics. The main commonalities between all Booster Clubs include:

1. They are typically formed by parents.
2. They provide financial support for one or more student activities.
3. They operate under a set of bylaws and are managed by a Board.

What’s more, not all Boosters support a single activity. Some of them can generate funds for all types of student activities, from arts to academics.

1. Music – School budgets sometimes do not include funds for music education like chorus, marching band and symphony. Parents, neighbors and students will band together (pun intended) to bolster funds for everything from uniforms to competition travel expenses.

2. Theater – Costs to run the performing arts, dance, choreography, poetry and comedy clubs can range from minimal to all-out. Concerned parents can give their students the best possible experience by forming a booster club to cover costs from costumes to sound systems.

3. Arts – While the arts are a critical piece to a well-rounded student education, funds are not always plentiful. The cost of supplies for photography, sculpture, ceramics and woodworking add up quick, and Boosters are there to fill in the gaps.

4. STEM – Supplies, special events, scholarships and awards are just a few of the ways STEM Booster Clubs can help fund students’ experiential learning of science, technology, engineering and math.

5. Scholarships – Oftentimes, all types of Booster Clubs will have dollars earmarked for scholarship awards. But sometimes there is a dedicated club to raise scholarship funds to deserving students in a variety of categories.

6. Historical Societies – History Booster Clubs are typically driving a preservation effort of some sort. Adding a park bench or selling bricks to preserve a historical sidewalk are just a few of the ways historical societies can benefit from Boosters.

7. Competitive Teams – Debate, Robotics, Trivia and other teams that revolve around a “competition of the minds” can cost a pretty penny. Booster club fundraising for tournament registration and transportation, judging and coaching fees are a great way to ease the burden for these team members.

8. Cultural and Language – Whether reconnecting with a local culture’s roots or supporting language learning with a field trip or a trip abroad, Booster Clubs can help with cultural learning and preservation.

9. Youth Groups – Particularly common at private schools, student youth and religious groups can garner the support of a Booster Club as well, covering costs of community service efforts, field trips and educational programs.

10. Of Course, Sports – Alas, one of the most common uses of Booster Club time and funding is for sporting events. Everything from football and soccer to cheerleading and lacrosse are simply popular and cost a lot of money.

There you have it. If you have a student involved in an activity – not just sports – that needs a little funding “boost”, consider forming a Booster Club! Think outside the box and our students will come out well-rounded and ready for their next phase of life.

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