9 Simple Fundraising Ideas for Sports Clubs

Posted by Jordan Morris on 7 March 2025

Keeping a sports club running requires dedication, teamwork, and consistent financial support. Whether you need funds for new equipment, travel expenses, or facility improvements, a successful sports club fundraiser can make a significant impact. However, with limited time and resources, finding the right fundraising strategy can be challenging.

At Givergy, we’re here to help reduce the stress of that challenge and in this guide, we outline 10 simple and effective ways your sports club can raise funds while engaging your community and supporters.

1. Organize a Sponsored Fitness Challenge

Encourage members or supporters to participate in a sponsored fitness challenge such as a marathon, cycle race, or obstacle course. Participants can collect pledges based on their performance, making it a competitive and rewarding way to generate funds. With the rise of social media-driven content, fitness challenges have proven to be highly effective in engaging supporters. You don’t have to do something as extreme as running the length of Africa but physically exerting challenges do tend to engage wider audiences!

To maximize your fundraising success, set a clear challenge goal and promote it as often as possible through club newsletters and your social media networks. Offering small rewards to the best fundraiser or introducing leaderboards can further boost participation and add to the friendly competition – which is always helpful for raising more!

How Givergy Can Help: Givergy’s online fundraising pages allow participants to create personal donation pages, track progress, and share their efforts with potential sponsors, all in one platform!

2. Host an Online Auction

Silent auctions are a fantastic way to raise funds while engaging supporters. Unlike live auctions, silent auctions allow participants to place bids at their own pace, often via digital platforms. For an online auction to be most effective it’s vital your items appeal to your audience. Items such as signed memorabilia, exclusive experiences, and high-value merchandise tend to attract more interest and higher bids – but only if they’re relevant to your crowd.

How Givergy Can Help: Givergy’s online auction platform makes it easy to run live or silent auctions, allowing supporters to bid from anywhere at any time.

3. Launch a Crowdfunding Campaign

If your club requires funds for a specific project, like new training gear or facility upgrades, a crowdfunding campaign can generate widespread support from members, families, and the local community. Transparency and storytelling play a key role in crowdfunding success, you must explain why the funds are needed and how they will be used. Sharing consistent progress update will help keep your supporters in the loop.

Encourage supporters to share the campaign widely. Offering incentives, such as club-branded merchandise or experience-based rewards, can further motivate donations. A dedicated campaign page with real-time progress tracking helps keep momentum going.

4. Run a Raffle Event

Raffles remain one of the most effective and engaging fundraising methods for sports clubs. By securing high-value prizes from local businesses or sponsors, you can encourage more ticket sales. Digital raffles provide a seamless way to manage ticket distribution and sales while reaching a broader audience beyond in-person events. To increase participation, consider bundling tickets at discounted rates or offering multiple chances to win.

How Givergy Can Help: Our digital raffle feature allows clubs to manage online ticket sales efficiently while ensuring compliance with raffle regulations. With automated tracking and secure payment processing, clubs can maximize participation and revenue.

5. Organize a Virtual Quiz Night

A sports-themed quiz night is a fantastic way to engage fans and players while raising funds through entry fees. Adding friendly competition and prizes makes it even more exciting.

To make it a hit, create a mix of general knowledge and sports-related questions. Consider partnering with a local sports personality to host the event for added credibility and appeal. A well-organized ticketing system helps manage registrations and payments efficiently.

6. Sell Club Merchandise Online

Selling branded gear like t-shirts, water bottles, or hoodies strengthens club identity while generating revenue. Items with strong branding and practical use tend to sell well.

To optimize sales, use an online storefront with easy order processing and multiple payment options. Promoting merchandise through social media and at club events increases visibility.

7. Host a Community Fun Day

A community fun day is an excellent opportunity to bring people together while raising funds for your sports club. By incorporating activities such as friendly tournaments, skill challenges, food stalls, and live entertainment, you can create a festive atmosphere that attracts families and local businesses. Selling tickets in advance and offering sponsorship opportunities can further enhance your fundraising potential.

How Givergy Can Help: Our ticketing and payment processing solutions allow clubs to manage entry fees, register participants, and track attendance with ease. By integrating online ticket sales, clubs can streamline operations and boost pre-event revenue. Find out more about our event solutions here.

8. Offer Coaching Clinics or Training Sessions

Hosting training sessions or clinics with professional coaches can attract participants while raising funds for your club. Charging a participation fee provides a valuable skill-building opportunity for attendees while supporting club finances.

For better engagement, target different skill levels and age groups. Offering small-group or one-on-one coaching sessions at a premium can help maximize revenue.

9. Partner with Local Businesses for Sponsorships

Local businesses are often willing to sponsor sports clubs in exchange for advertising opportunities. Sponsorship packages can include branding on uniforms, event banners, or social media promotion, providing mutual benefits for both parties.

Approach potential sponsors with a clear proposal outlining the exposure they will receive. Offering tiered sponsorship levels can make the opportunity accessible to businesses of all sizes.

Why Choose Givergy for Your Sports Club Fundraiser?

Givergy provides award-winning fundraising technology designed to make fundraising easier and more impactful for sports clubs. Whether you’re hosting an event, selling merchandise, or running an online campaign, we offer tools that help you:

✔ Boost participation – With user-friendly online platforms for bidding, donations, and ticketing.

✔ Reach a wider audience – Expand fundraising beyond local supporters with digital solutions.

✔ Simplify management – Automate ticketing, payments, and donor tracking.

✔ Maximize revenue – Proven fundraising solutions that increase donations and engagement.

With over $1 billion raised globally, Givergy is a trusted partner for sports clubs seeking vital funding. Ready to take your fundraising to the next level? Contact us today and start planning your next successful sports club fundraiser!

Jordan Morris

Givergy

Jordan joined Givergy after studying Politics with International Relations at the University of York. He has over two years experience within the charity sector working as a face-to-face fundraiser and as a constituency campaigner. After experiencing the sector from within and knowing first-hand the impact digital solutions can make to fundraising strategies, Jordan is now dedicated to innovating the way charities fundraise to ensure they maximise returns from every fundraising campaign.