The secret to booster club fundraising is not much of a secret – it is to raise more money faster so not as many fundraising activities are needed, or a surplus can be created in the budget. The dollar amount raised differs depending on the club type or organization the booster club fundraising supports, but the goal is always the same.
We want to take some of the challenge out of finding effective booster club fundraising ideas. Continue reading to find an easier pathway to reach your goals and unlock unprecedented fundraising success. We’ll outline the guidance, tools and ideas you’ve been looking for!
Table of Contents
The Importance of Fundraising for Booster Clubs
Why Fundraising Is Critical
Booster club fundraising creates extra funds for school activities and clubs through donations to schools. This allows schools to offer extracurricular activities while lessening the financial burdens on the school district. Schools have yearly budgets that they must maintain. Booster clubs can fundraise and offer support for activities and events to bolster the budget and take some pressure off the school district. That said, booster clubs do not have a say over what activities or clubs are offered or how they are conducted. Schools and booster clubs should define clear boundaries from the beginning to maintain and separate their roles while offering benefits to programs, schools and students.
Booster club fundraisers can generate donations that cover the cost of new equipment, travel or special events for students. These donations may keep programs afloat or even allow low-income students to attend events they could not otherwise afford. According to Cheddar Up (2022), in 2022, only 64% of parents and students felt that their schools were well-funded. This means that additional funds through donations are always helpful. Because most of a school’s typical budget should go toward academics, any extracurriculars may need financial support. This is where the booster club comes into play.
Trends in Fundraising
Cheddar Up (2022) shows that booster organizations help to support a variety of extracurricular activities, most often at the high school level, but they may also be present at lower grade levels:
- High school: 82%
- Middle school: 63%
- Elementary school: 35%
Booster club fundraisers focus on supporting extracurricular activities and help to create well-rounded students who get non-academic opportunities beyond the classroom. Cheddar Up (2002) notes that school booster clubs contribute to different areas at these rates:
- Athletics: 64.9%
- Fine arts: 60.4%
- Spirit: 51.2%
- Clubs: 42.0%
- Academic: 0.82%
Key Trends to Follow
Here are a few key trends successful booster clubs are leaning into:
- Social media: Social media has become one of the most influential ways to communicate and ask for charitable gifts. Using social media to promote your booster club fundraising or booster club fundraising ideas can help increase giving and community turnout overall.
- Personalized donor experience: Getting to know your longtime donors and their reasons for giving is important to maintain the level of giving. Most donors give because of a passion for a specific project or club, so get to know your donors instead of simply treating them as an ATM.
- Supportive environment: Booster clubs are voluntary and may or may not charge a membership fee, but regardless of how a booster club is set up, the environment needs to be supportive. Booster club members should feel useful and helpful, and welcome to make a difference.
- Diversity: Ensure booster clubs represent the area in terms of members and community support. Diversifying the overall club will also help diversify potential donors and supporters over time.
- Positive donor relationships: When a donor gives, it is important to form a positive relationship to increase the likelihood that the donor will give again. Extend this approach to those who may choose not to give the first time so you can approach them later.
- Agility: Even booster club fundraising ideas need agility. Sometimes, the same tired ideas will not work or need to be altered to meet the changing environment. This may mean online options, using social media, or completely new ideas. (GiveSmart, 2023)
15 Fundraising Ideas That We Really Like for Boosters + 157 More for Inspiration!
At Vanco, we help 1,300+ school districts with payments, events and fundraising. We’ve seen schools try countless ideas over two decades. In fact, after looking at our data, we made a complete list of 157 school fundraising ideas. For an exhaustive list, we suggest you check it out.
If you’re looking for a curated list of our favorite fundraising ideas for booster clubs, check out the 15 below. This list has the perfect balance of classic fundraisers plus a few unique and fresh ideas.
1. Create and Sell T-shirts
One of the simplest booster club ideas to pursue is creating custom merchandise like t-shirts to sell to students and their families. The merchandise can have the school name, the year the students are graduating, the school mascot or other relevant things on it to make it personal.
Students enjoy having items to wear for spirit days, sporting events and other outings. Parents also love having clothes to wear to represent their child's school and show their support.
Aside from t-shirts, you can create other school spirit items like:
- Pompoms
- Sweatshirts
- Jackets
- Baseball caps
- Stickers
- Water bottles
- Mugs
Dropping limited-edition merchandise at booster club fundraisers and making it clear where the proceeds will go makes things more likely to sell well. Be sure to make announcements ahead of time and get people excited! Taking advantage of the school’s or athletic team’s social media accounts to show off these items is a great way to get pre-orders.
You can use an online payment system to collect money for orders ahead of time.
2. Sell Coupon Books
Coupon books are one of the classic high school athletic booster fundraising ideas that people rely on.
A fundraiser like this takes more effort than other options might because you'll need to reach out to local businesses for support. Try starting by contacting popular restaurants, ice cream places, locally-owned shops and service providers like hairdressers and nail salons.
This fundraiser benefits the students as much as it helps the community! Students enjoy more opportunities as clubs and athletic departments receive more funding, and businesses see more customers as people take advantage of the coupons available to them.
Depending on the total value of the coupons available in the book, this fundraiser can lead to significant profits for selling such a small item. Try polling people before setting a price to see what people would be willing to pay so you can sell as many as possible!
3. Host a Fun Restaurant Night
Fundraising for booster clubs can get overwhelming if you make things too complicated. Hosting a restaurant night is a simple way to raise money without too much effort.
You'll need to find a local restaurant or food chain willing to work with you for this booster. Many fast food places have programs put in place already, which makes it incredibly easy to get this event set up.
Once you find a place and establish a day, the most work you need to do is getting the word out!
People will have one day (or weekend, week, etc.) to visit a local eatery and purchase items. A certain percentage of total purchases during this time will go right back to the students!
Again, this is another case where both a business and your booster club benefit from a fundraiser.
4. Have a Coin Drive
Most people have coins lying around they don't plan on doing anything specific with. Some kids even have piggy banks they might have forgotten about that are collecting dust.
A coin drive gives people an opportunity to donate and give back without too much hassle. All they need to do is deliver their coins to the designated area.
A coin drive is fun because you never know exactly how much was donated until you roll the coins or take them to a coin processing machine. It can be satisfying for booster clubs to see the money accumulating over time.
You can even run a contest where people who donate get a chance to guess what the total amount will be. The prize can be simple, but it's one more thing to incentivize people to bring their spare change!
5. Bingo Night
Hosting a bingo night is a great way to get the community excited about something. You can arrange to set up tables and chairs in the gym and have a beloved coach or teacher be the bingo officiator.
People can gain the right to play by making a donation, and you can collaborate with local businesses for prizes. Most companies will consider donating a gift basket, item or gift card for the publicity it will bring them.
If you want to have something other than bingo available for people, this might be a good time to host a silent auction. You'll likely have extra space to set it up in the gym, and it won't disturb the bingo.
6. A School Carnival Day
Of all booster club ideas, this one typically requires the most advanced planning.
Whether you choose to keep things simple or go all out, a school carnival is an entertaining event to host. Here are a few things you might want to include in your carnival:
- Popcorn booths
- Inflatables
- An ice cream stand
- A cotton candy stall
- Sack racing
- Games like balloon pop
- A haunted house (or hallway)
As long as you have food and games, people will show up for some fun. How exactly you choose to run this fundraiser is up to you. You can have a general entrance fee, have people purchase tickets to redeem at each stall or have each booth collect cash.
7. A Car Wash
A car wash is one of the more simple, yet timeless, booster club fundraisers. Students put in most of the work for this one by washing cars.
You could set a price like $5 and try to set it up in a popular area, so people drive by and see it even if they didn't hear about it ahead of time.
Aside from purchasing soap and rags and having a water source, all you need are willing volunteers and a few signs to direct people to wherever you set up.
8. Sell Cookie Dough or Candy
Countless companies work with schools specifically to develop fundraisers. Most of them revolve around popular food items like cookie dough, candy and other snacks.
Once you decide on a company, students go to family members and other people they know to sell to them. Then, a percentage of the purchase price goes back to the school.
A fundraiser like this works well if your goal is to have each student individually collect whatever their own profit is for a trip or special event, such as travel for an out-of-town championship game.
After the sale ends, you'll need some adult volunteers to sort through the orders when they arrive and ensure the students get them distributed to whoever purchased them.
9. Have a Raffle
A raffle is an excellent option because you can keep it as standard or as unique as you want. For example, you can raffle off a cash prize, donated prizes from local businesses, handmade items, etc.
It's best to have several options, so people have a better chance of winning something. Having a lower ticket price is also wise because more people can consider contributing, and people can always purchase more to better their chances.
Most raffles are $1 per ticket but adjusting the price for your specific area will help you sell as many as possible.
10. Host a Bake Sale
Bake sales are another tried and true school fundraising idea to take advantage of. Chances are many throughout the community, parents especially, are willing to make some delicious baked goods to help out their local school.
If you're looking for a unique spin to put on this event, you can have a bake sale where only students make the items. No matter how you choose to do it, you'll need to be somewhat involved to ensure there are enough participants and a variety of goods.
Having a sign-up sheet to monitor as you lead up to the sale is essential.
11. A Fun Run
If your booster is for an athletic club, having a fun run makes a lot of sense!
A fun run can be any length, but it's usually best to keep it short and sweet, so people don't feel too intimidated to participate. A 5k is a popular option, but it can even be as short as a mile.
Aside from the length, having a theme might make it more popular. For example, you can have themes centered around specific holidays, foods, decades, etc. Or you can add an interactive element by having a color run or an inflatable run.
The more unique you make it, the more likely people will want to participate, even if they don't have children in school.
12. Drive-In Movie Night
You might think drive-in movies are a thing of the past, but people still enjoy them. Plus, the nostalgia is enough to pique people's interest.
You can rent a projector and screen or purchase one to have on hand for future events. Using the school's parking lot often works, so you don't need to worry about too many logistics.
Aside from the movie, offering candy, snacks and drinks can help you raise even more money.
If an outdoor event isn't possible due to spacing issues or the time of year, you might be able to have an indoor movie night in an auditorium. People will show up if you choose a popular movie and have fun food available.
If you have limited space to work with for this event or any other, using a ticketing system to keep track of how many tickets you can still sell helps keep things orderly and prevent people from getting turned away.
13. An Art Sale
One thing most people have in common is a love for art. Even if they don't know much about it, most people want artwork to hang on their walls and decorate their homes.
That's why an art show is an excellent way to attract people and make some sales.
You might be able to have locally known artists donate a piece or two for sale. Alternatively, you can have the school's art teachers create a few pieces to showcase and sell.
Finally, you could have the students all create art for the event. It can double as a showcase for the students and a booster so people can purchase the art.
If you'd rather avoid selling the pieces themselves, having an entrance fee or food or other items available for purchase can help raise money. The students will have fun making the pieces, and it will be something they'll never forget.
14. A Dance Marathon
Hosting a dance marathon is a fantastic way to get people moving and having fun in a different way than usual. Most people love dancing but don't have an excuse to do it often enough and don't expect one of the many booster club fundraisers to be an option to do it.
An event like this gives people that opportunity. You can have prizes prepared for the people who dance the longest without stopping or have the best moves on the dance floor.
Having refreshments available and a DJ who can accept requests can take this event to the next level! You can also make it a themed night and have people dress up.
There are many different ways to make this event special. It's an excellent option for a yearly event because you can switch it up each time, so people keep coming every year.
15. A Book Sale
Many people have books lying around they either don't plan to read or have already read and won't end up reading again.
Putting out a call for books can lead you to more books than you might expect! The beauty of this sale is it gets books people no longer want out of their homes and allows them to look for books they want to read to replace them with.
Keeping the prices for the books low or offering bundle deals can help them sell quicker. In addition, any books you don't sell can get donated to the school library or community library, so people know their books won't be going to waste no matter what.
Planning a Successful Booster Club Fundraiser – 7 Key Steps
Planning and organizing a successful booster club fundraiser can feel overwhelming. No need to worry, though. All you need to do is follow these steps!
1. Choose a goal – a SMART goal is always best
Fundraisers should be carefully planned, budgeted, scheduled and marketed, and this begins with defining clear goals and objectives. Start with a clear goal with measurable results, such as 100 participants for two hours or raising $10,000 for new football equipment. These goals can vary dramatically based on the size and purpose of your booster club fundraiser and the need for the donation, but the goal must be clear and measurable. Using SMART goals means the goal is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound (Boogaard, 2023).
2. Consult with others – seek advice when needed
As you create your goals and objectives, consult with others who are helping and those who could benefit from such a fundraiser. If you are raising money for the football team to purchase new equipment, consult with the school and coach to see what specific equipment they need and the cost. This can help inform your overall goals and objectives. Also, consider the cost of any items needed for the actual fundraiser in case sponsors or donations do not cover such costs.
This is also a time to determine volunteer availability, discuss other projects or fundraisers and meet potential donors. If the fundraiser you are undertaking is new, consult with groups that have put on such events to get advice and know what to expect or watch for to ensure you are as successful as possible. Finalize your goals and budget as you learn about the needs, wants and availability of those involved.
3. Explore budgeting and resource allocation – time, money and resources are finite
After consulting with others, gather your team and make sure the goal is still achievable. The goal should create motivation for the actual fundraiser so you can share it with others. As you define the goal and motivation, start exploring a budget. When setting a budget, account for costs even if you expect they will be covered by donations. For example, a cookout to raise money for the baseball team may receive donated plates and silverware, but they should still be covered in the budget if the donations do not come ahead of time. If donations of products come in, any extra money in the budget can be used for extras or other events.
The budget should also include the cost of the item or items you are raising money for or the donation you are making as the goal of the fundraiser. For example, if you want to fund a new set of instruments for the local children’s orchestra, calculate the instruments' cost and fundraiser costs. Determine costs by calling local vendors to compare prices and get accurate estimates. Depending on the booster club fundraiser you are creating, you may also need to cover caterers, guest favors, entertainment, food, drinks, décor and a venue.
4. Know your audience – don’t plan for an audience you do not have
Knowing your audience goes beyond knowing where potential donations are going or why you are helping. Knowing your audience also means choosing fundraisers appropriate for your area. A high-end, fancy dinner in a rural area may not appeal to the masses. A fishing tournament in an area with hunters and fishermen may be more beneficial, even if the actual funds are not related to something involving hunting and fishing.
Knowing your audience can also help with sponsors. Certain sponsors are more likely to help support specific types of fundraisers in different ways. Additionally, a smaller community may be more likely to support a local high school sports team.
5. Find a venue – location, location, location
Choosing your location is more important than you might think. While some booster clubs may use school facilities for free, this is not always true and not appropriate for all events. Perhaps you want to have a charity basketball game to raise money for the basketball team’s uniforms. The school gymnasium may be a good venue and could probably be rented, or the space could be donated for a lower overall cost. However, if you are having a car wash somewhere more public, like at a chain store, the store may require a down payment and a reservation. This will require thought for the budget and can affect overall timing.
Additionally, choosing a venue appropriate for the event and time of year is imperative. This includes a contingency plan if the weather does not cooperate with the planned event. A car wash will be ineffective on a stormy day, and snow could limit the number of people who can attend dinner at night due to poor road conditions. The goal is to ensure participants, volunteers and sponsors are safe and have a good time while raising money.
6. Create a detailed timeline – before and after the event
The schedule for planning before the event and the day of the event and awarding the donation is important. When you are still in the planning phase, volunteers should set deadlines for certain goals within the overall plan. This can be scheduling the venue, gathering supplies and sending invitations. Beyond the initial planning, the day of the event should be scheduled based on when volunteers should arrive for setup, when participants are expected to arrive and the start and end times for each aspect of the event. Make sure to include time for any cleanup that may be needed. Finally, schedule a time for making the actual donation to the program or purchasing specific items.
7. Assign volunteer roles and responsibilities – stay on track
With everything scheduled and ready to start building the fundraiser, you can begin recruiting volunteers and assigning roles and responsibilities. The process is often more streamlined if everyone knows their job and deadlines. Ensure at least one person checks progress often to ensure others are on track.
Engaging Stakeholders and Community
The goal of any fundraiser is to engage the community and stakeholders to meet the goal. To maximize engagement in booster club fundraising, make sure you are engaging:
- Parents
- Students
- Coaches or teachers
- Community members
Parent and Student-Athlete Involvement
Though many different individuals may be involved in booster club fundraisers, some of the most common are parents and student-athletes. This is partly because booster clubs are often focused on raising funds for sporting events, equipment or programs so these types of extracurriculars can continue. When trying to get student-athletes and parents involved, there are some basic areas to keep your focus on:
- Choose family-friendly events.
- Share your “why.”
- Make joining easy.
- Use peer pressure to get others excited.
- Set clear goals.
- Say thank you often. (Boggess, n.d.
Roles and Responsibilities
Parent involvement in booster club fundraising is imperative to meeting goals. Parents can play a number of roles, both hands-on and hands-off in nature, including:
- Collaborator
- Donor
- Supplier
- Coordinator
- Media specialist
- Volunteer
- Booster club member
While parents are important for a number of reasons, another huge group that can help is student-athletes. Student-athletes often receive donated items or funds, making it important to get them involved in any fundraising. Not only do these groups often benefit, but they are often leaders in the school setting and can use positive peer pressure to encourage others to participate.
Incentives for Booster Club Participants
While parents and student-athletes can have well-defined roles, they may also need incentives to participate, especially when multiple fundraisers are necessary. Incentives do not have to be pricy but can increase participation, such as:
- Team jackets
- Event tickets
- Parties
- Food
- Awards
- Public acknowledgement
Include the incentive you choose in the overall budget and be sure it aligns with the type of fundraising event you are creating.
Roles of Coaches and Athletic Directors
The roles of coaches in booster club fundraisers cannot be overlooked. Coaches and athletic directors have access to players, supporters, parents and others who can benefit the booster club. Make sure you include your coaches and athletic directors to:
- Start promoting fundraisers to teams.
- Spread the word to other teams.
- Talk to parents.
- Collaborate on needs and ideas.
Collaborating with Community Members
Community members, even those without students in a school or organization, can be a great help when it comes to fundraising and helping the booster club. Look for community members who:
- Were helped by a booster club
- Played sports
- Own businesses
- Are involved in other community activities
- Attended the school you are helping
These individuals may want to help or give back to the community in some way, and the booster club is a great place to start.
Engaging Local Celebrities or Alumni
As part of community involvement, contact local celebrities or alumni to help promote the event. Some alumni may want to participate in the booster club itself, and local celebrities may be willing to make a free or cheap appearance at an event to help draw a crowd. Contact local DJs and radio hosts to see if they can share the event on air.
Community Service Tie-ins
As you gain more publicity in the community, tie your event to some form of service to help build goodwill with the community. Offer students free tickets to an event if they volunteer at a food kitchen or clean up a park, especially those students who will benefit from the fundraiser. This show of community service can spur people want to donate to acknowledge volunteers’ hard work.
How to Get Sponsors for a Booster Club
Booster clubs depend on sponsors to help raise money and to donate supplies for events. Clubs can also offer sponsors free advertising or trade sponsorship deals for booster club ad space in a school newsletter or at a sporting event. When looking for sponsors, there are a few places to go for help with booster club, but the best starting point is community business sponsorships from:
- Local businesses and corporations
- Local individuals
- Local and other celebrities (BoosterHub, n.d.)
Developing Attractive Sponsorship Packages
Sponsorship packages are a way to convince donors that your project is worthy of funding by offering them a convenient way to contribute. It does not matter how many options or what structure you choose as long as donors understand what they gain from becoming sponsors. Donors want a return on their investment, which could include:
- Publicity: Sponsor advertisements at physical events
- Profit: Booster clubs may be nonprofits, but the sponsors do not have to be if they become onsite vendors
- Tax benefits: Sponsor gifts or supplies used during an event can often be used as tax write-offs
Tiered Sponsorship Levels
One way to create sponsorship packages is through tiered levels. Tiered booster club sponsorship packages incentivize participation at progressively better levels. Many clubs choose easy-to-recognize tiers with titles like bronze, silver, gold and platinum, with the higher levels corresponding to larger donations and greater rewards. Tiers are a simple way to get more people involved, even if they cannot donate at the highest levels. Tiers also eliminate perceived favoritism by grouping backers based only on contributions. (Amorosi, 2024)
Fundraising Ideas Involving Local Business Partnerships
When working with local businesses, it can be helpful to use the businesses themselves to raise money for your booster club. There are various ways to accomplish this, but two of the most common are:
- Percentage-of-sales events with local businesses: Percentage-of-sales partnerships are simple to explain to businesses and can increase their income while also benefiting your booster club. During percentage-of-sales events, people who purchase from a store, restaurant or business and mention your booster club, show or flyer, or dine on a specific night are tracked. At the end of the event, the business gives your organization a percentage of the total sales minus the sales tax. This percentage is agreed on before the event. This can be especially useful for restaurants that have reliably slow nights. The businesses have more customers on that night, and the booster club earns money. (Kelwig, 2024)
- Roundups at local businesses: The roundup is another option to use to earn money in partnership with local businesses. A roundup is when customers of a given business can choose to round up their purchase prices to the nearest dollar and donate anything beyond the actual cost plus sales tax to the booster club. This can last a day, a week or even just a few hours in partnership with local businesses. This can help the business sell more items on a given day and benefit the booster club event.
Crafting Effective Booster Club Sponsorship Letters
Creating effective booster club sponsorship letters can help the club gain sponsors and donations over time. These letters must highlight the booster club, its mission statement and the benefits to potential sponsors.
Personalizing Outreach Efforts
When writing booster club sponsorship letters, personalize the letters by:
- Addressing the potential sponsor by name
- Tailoring the letter to the specific organization
- Including your contact information (email, phone number, web address) (JerseyWatch, n.d.)
Highlighting Benefits to Sponsors
When writing a booster club sponsorship letter, emphasize the benefits to the potential donor. Focus on the benefits of being associated with your club, such as having a logo on team uniforms, website mentions or social media posts (JerseyWatch, n.d.). Above all, keep the letter concise and follow up with a thank-you whether a recipient offers support or not.
Free Booster Club Sponsor Letter Templates
Event Sponsorship Letter Sample
[Date]
Dear [Contact Person],
I am writing to you as the manager of [Sports Team Name], a local sports team consisting of [number of players] talented athletes who are passionate about [sport name] and committed to representing our community with pride.
As we prepare for our upcoming [Event Name], we are seeking financial support to help us cover the costs associated with participating in the event. We believe that [Business Name] would be a great partner for us, as we share a commitment to promoting youth sports in our community.
By sponsoring our team, you will have the opportunity to showcase your support for youth sports and promote your business to a wide audience. We plan to promote your business through our team's uniforms, social media channels and promotional materials, but we are also open to discussing other ways to do business.
We believe this partnership would be mutually beneficial, and we are committed to working with you to ensure your investment in our team is worthwhile. In return for your support, we would happily provide regular updates on our progress and arrange a meet and greet with our team.
Thank you for considering our sponsorship request. We are excited about the opportunity to partner with [Business Name] and continue to promote youth sports in our community.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Role]
[Your Phone]
[Your email]
Sports Sponsorship Letter Sample
[Date]
Dear [First Name of Contact at Business],
Each year, we reach out to businesses in our community to support our team through sponsorship.
When considering potential partners, [Business Name] naturally came to mind because of [specific reason you want them as a sponsor]. We are seeking a mutually beneficial partnership that will allow us to achieve our goals and promote [Business Name]'s commitment to supporting youth sports in the community.
The [Your Team Name] has been supporting youth sports, including [types of sports you support], since [year]. We are a volunteer-run, nonprofit organization that operates year-round to help kids play sports locally.
Over the last [time period], we have achieved [add recent win achieved from sponsorships]! Continued support from businesses is critical to our organization's operation.
Sponsorships help us budget for many expenses throughout the year, including: [add specific details]
Purchasing equipment and uniforms
Maintaining fields and facilities
Helping to keep sports affordable for families and providing opportunities to low-income families
Paying our local referees and officials (typically high school students getting their first work opportunity)
Funding a $5,000 annual college scholarship for one graduating senior per year who played with during their childhood
This year, we are asking for [donation amount] in return for the following: [add specific details]
Field signage opportunities at Eastland Community Park
Recognition in our monthly email newsletter
Ad space in our football and baseball season programs
Logo and website link recognition on www.eastlandbobcats.com
Tax deductions
You can visit our website [website URL] to donate, learn more about our sponsorship packages, or send a check to our P.O. Box above. Please fill out the attached form with your business information and sponsorship amount.
We truly feel [Business Name] is a good fit. We see all the good you do for the community and hope for your support. You make [Your City] an amazing place to live.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me directly with questions or let me know if I can help with anything.
We appreciate your support. GO BOBCATS!
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Role]
[Your Phone]
[Your email]
Free Booster Club Request AI Writer
If you’re looking for a free booster club fundraiser writer, our team built a bot that generates copy for you. It is based on tested copywriting frameworks backed by data. We included a ChatGPT Premium version if your school has access to a paid account. If not, don’t worry. The Poe version works just as well. You can easily access it with a free account.
Donor Engagement and Retention Strategies
Donor retention can be challenging for booster clubs, but there are things you can do to keep your sponsors and donors involved with your booster club, such as:
- Always thank donors properly (by phone call, in person, or in the mail).
- Share impact stories in some form.
- Provide optional donor accounts.
- Offer a platform to speak at events.
- Re-engage donors with events.
- Create an online presence to stay on the donor’s radar.
- Provide impact reports.
Types of Thank-You Letters
The type of thank-you letter you send may vary depending on the type of donation or sponsorship given, including:
- E-mail: A quick thank-you for an online donation that does not require a tax receipt
- One-time gift: Send a physical thank-you letter for one-time gifts over a certain amount, including a tax receipt
- Recurring gift: If donors give monthly, send a nice message yearly to recap their giving and the impact it makes
- Matching gift: Send a physical letter to a supporter who offers a matching gift as soon as the matching gift request is made
- Pledge gift: Send a physical letter to those who pledge a certain amount over a set number of years, sending a new letter after each installment
- Fundraising: Send a physical letter with a personalized note about their impact
- Gift of securities: Send a physical thank-you letter
- In-kind gift: Send a thank-you letter
- Planned gift: Send a thank-you letter even before the gift is received
- Sponsorship gift: Send a special thank-you letter and possibly a small gift
- Event attendance: Send a thank-you letter to every attendee
- Major gift: For well-established donors who give a substantial amount, consider a handwritten thank-you letter
Thank-You Letter Template
[School Booster Club Letterhead]
[Date]
[Recipient’s Name]
[Recipient’s Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
Dear [Recipient’s Name],
On behalf of the [School Name] Booster Club, I want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your generous support and dedication to our school community. Thanks to individuals like you, we are able to enhance the educational experience for our students and provide them with opportunities that inspire growth, learning and achievement.
Your [mention specific contribution, e.g., donation, sponsorship, volunteer work] has made a significant impact on our [mention specific program, e.g., sports team, arts program, educational initiative]. With your help, we have been able to [mention specific outcome or benefit, e.g., purchase new equipment, fund travel expenses, provide scholarships], allowing our students to thrive and reach new heights.
We deeply appreciate your commitment and enthusiasm for the [School Name] community. Your support not only enhances our programs but also brings us closer together as a school family.
Thank you once again for your generosity and for standing with us. We look forward to celebrating future successes with you as an integral part of our Booster Club family.
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Position, e.g., President, Treasurer, Volunteer Coordinator]
[School Name] Booster Club
[Your Contact Information, e.g., phone number, email address]
Sample Thank-You Letter
Vanco Valley Booster Club
October 30, 2024
Dear Mr. Thompson,
I want to tell you a little story. Just last week, I walked into our Arts Program’s music room and saw a group of students, absolutely engrossed in their work, thanks to the new instruments and supplies your donation helped provide.
Your $5,000 contribution didn’t just buy “things.” It sparked curiosity, creativity and confidence. You’ve given these young artists tools to express themselves in ways they never could before.
We’re so grateful to you for being part of our Vanco Valley family. Because of you, these students can dream a little bigger. Thank you for believing in them.
Warmly,
Julie Carter
President, Vanco Valley Booster Club
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Technology and Promotion Strategies
How to Promote Your Fundraiser on Social Media
Choosing the best social media platforms is largely based on your intended audience, though sharable content can often be posted across multiple platforms to promote fundraisers to teams. For example:
- Instagram: For parents and students
- TikTok: For students
- Facebook: For parents and families
- Webpage: For all
- LinkedIn: For local businesses
Choosing the Right Platforms
Choosing the right platforms means you are more likely to reach the intended audience and possibly a wider audience overall. While the social media platforms shared above are not exclusive to the groups listed, they are open to all and can reach people of all ages. The goal is to create shareable content across multiple platforms to draw in the most potential donors. Additionally, your booster club can create a webpage to share success stories, impact statements and testimonials.
Creating Shareable Content
Creating shareable content for your booster club can take some time and effort, but the payoff can be immense. Creating shareable content will help to engage volunteers, supporters and potential donors. Create fun, focused content related to your organization. This can include things like:
- Behind-the-scenes videos
- Testimonials
- Event countdowns
- Online ticketing systems
These options can be used in written or video formats to reach the intended audience and increase engagement.
Using Hashtags and Challenges
Using hashtags and challenges is a wonderful way to boost donations and involvement in booster club activities. Choose targeted hashtags that highlight the booster club, the event or the overall goal. These need to be short, simple, and memorable, like #BoosterFundraiser, #SupportOurSchool or #SupportOurTeam.
Another option is to participate in viral challenges and include students, school staff or administration. Video the participants taking part in safe, viral challenges to raise money or have people give donations to gain access to the video or to take part in the actual challenge and be recorded to share on social media.
Using Technology to Streamline Fundraising Efforts
Technology makes everything easier, especially when accepting money and donations or selling tickets.
Online Ticketing Systems
Using an online ticketing platform like Vanco Events simplifies the logistics of fundraisers and makes it easier to track funds. Digital payment options are almost expected today, so why not make the process as seamless as possible?
Digital Payment Options
Many people no longer carry cash for events and are willing to donate if they can do it online. In fact, donors are often more likely to donate from the comfort of their homes. Using a simple digital payment method like RevTrak can encourage participation. Being able to donate online makes donating or attending an event easier for both donors and attendees.
Email Marketing and Newsletters
Email marketing and newsletters are an option for keeping donors and sponsors updated on upcoming events and donor opportunities, as well as testimonials and impact statements. Booster club donor engagement is key to having repeat donors and gaining sponsorship. Consider using email marketing platforms like Mailchimp or Constant Contact to keep your community engaged and informed.
If you choose to use this form of outreach, make sure to segment lists for a personalized touch. Segmenting means dividing and separating email subscribers into groups based on certain criteria, such as parents, businesses, donors or potential sponsors.
Measuring Success and Planning for the Future
Fundraising efforts take time, organization and planning, but the ultimate goal is success. For a booster club, it is important to measure the success of your fundraising efforts to set the stage for future campaigns. Do this by analyzing data and reporting the outcomes to stakeholders and the community.
Analyzing Fundraising Data for Continuous Improvement
Analyzing data does not need to be difficult, but it requires keeping records online or on paper. Using an online resource can make organization easier and make the documents shareable. Keep financial and participation records for future benchmarks.
Financial Metrics
Financial metrics are the way your organization keeps track of anything financial when it comes to events, donors and sponsors, such as:
- Gifts secured: The number of donations received during a specific period or event
- Average gift size: The average amount each donor gave
- Cost per dollar raised: The amount of donations minus the cost of the fundraiser
- Fundraising return on investment (ROI): The success of a given event or fundraiser based on the profit that was made (Indeed.com)
Participation Rates
Analyzing fundraising data also includes tracking participation rates to offer insight into engagement and set benchmarks for future fundraisers. Participation rates are simple to track through sign-up sheets or online volunteer forms. These analytics include:
- Conversion rate: Shows how successful a fundraising campaign is in getting individuals to attend or donate
- Donor lifetime value: Measures donor lifetime values, or how much can be anticipated from a single donor over a lifetime
- Donor retention rate: Examines how many donors a campaign keeps in relation to the amount that existed at the start
- Donor acquisition cost: Determines the amount of money spent to persuade potential donors to donate or sponsor (Indeed.com, n.d.)
Reporting Results to Stakeholders
Community and booster club stakeholders will be more willing to volunteer and donate if results are reported often and transparently.
Transparent Financial Reporting
Transparent financial reporting is necessary to build trust and credibility. Parents, sponsors and school officials are more likely to participate, volunteer and donate if they know how the money and time are being used to support causes. Transparent financial reporting can be shared through email, on webpages, or in newsletters. Share your yearly budget, budgets for events and financial metrics.
Sharing Success Stories
Another way to report results to stakeholders is to share success stories. These stories help stakeholders understand the impact of donations and create a reason to give in the future. Booster club sponsorship letters, webpages, and even social media posts are wonderful ways to share these stories and make an impact.
References
Amorosi, A. (2024). Best Sponsorship Package Ideas. Retrieved from https://memberclicks.com/blog/sponsorship-package-ideas/
Bodkin, K. (2024). Booster Club Fundraising Guide: How to Plan a Booster Club Fundraiser. Retrieved from https://w.paybee.io/post/how-to-plan-a-booster-club-fundraiser
Boggess, C. (2023). School Fundraising: Getting Parents Fully On Board. Retrieved from https://bigfundraisingideas.com/school-fundraising-gain-parents-support
Boggess, C. (2024). The Ultimate Guide to Organizing a Successful School Fundraiser. Retrieved from https://bigfundraisingideas.com/ultimate-guide-organizing-successful-school-fundraiser#:~:text=Engaging%20the%20Community,contribute%20in%20their%20preferred%20ways.
Boogaard, K. (2023). How to write SMART goals. Retrieved from https://www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/how-to-write-smart-goals#:~:text=The%20SMART%20in%20SMART%20goals,within%20a%20certain%20time%20frame.
BoosterHub (n.d.). Finding Donors for Your Booster Club. Retrieved from https://www.boosterhub.com/blog/finding-donors-for-your-booster-club#:~:text=Make%20a%20list%20of%20local,left%20to%20do%20is%20ask.
CheddarUp (n.d.). Sharp Insights: School Fundraising Report. Retrieved from https://www.cheddarup.com/school-fundraising-report/
Cummins, A. (n.d.). 7 Ways to Increase Nonprofit Donor Engagement & Retention. Retrieved from https://nonprofitmegaphone.com/7-ways-to-increase-nonprofit-donor-engagement-retention/#:~:text=We've%20compiled%20a%20list,the%20way%20for%20future%20communication.
GiveSmart (n.d.). Top 8 Fundraising Trends for 2023. Retrieved from https://www.givesmart.com/blog/top-8-fundraising-trends-for-2022/
Indeed.com (n.d.). 8 Fundraising Metrics to Measure (And Why They’re Important). Retrieved from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/fundraising-metrics
Indeed.com (2024). How To Plan a Fundraiser in 10 Steps for a Successful Event. Retrieved from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-plan-a-fundraiser
JerseyWatch (n.d.). 7 Sports Sponsorship Letter Examples (+ Templates). Retrieved from https://www.jerseywatch.com/blog/sponsorship-letter-examples
Kelwig, D. (2024). Percentage of sales method: What it is and how to calculate it. Retrieved from https://www.zendesk.com/blog/percentage-of-sales-method/
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