Fundraiser Ideas????

[Masmak]

We have done Ball Boy auction for a Local High School game(s), we have done Team garage sales, we have done football pools, golf tournaments (lots of coordination needed)

[Jaybo31]

Bake sale. Our 12u softball All Star team set up in front of Brookshire Brothers a few weeks back. Each girls brought an item and we had 2 shifts. Half from 12-130 and the other half from 130-3. We had anything from cake pops, to cupcakes, to cookies ect. plus a donation bucket. Had poster board signs made up for the girls to hold.
To be honest I didn't think we would do all that great, but ended up making almost $700 in 3 hours.

Social media helps. Some teams have done 50/50 raffles.
Some teams will put together a cooler slam full of liquor and raffle it off. Those bring in a ton of money.

[Shane]

You looking for something the kids can do to raise the money? If so get with Wal-Mart and see if you can set up in front of a store or two to sell something or just to ask for donations.

OK, I'm not jumping on you personally, RiverRat1. But I gotta say.... I hate it when people bring their kids to panhandle at Wal-Mart. I never donate to those. When my kids were in sports, we just paid for it out of our own pockets. We didn't have our kids beg from other people to fund our activities.

If you're not gonna write the check yourself, at least have the kids do some kind of work to earn the money (mow lawns, car wash, sell something, etc...). Don't teach them, even accidentally, that it's everybody else's responsibility to pay for their fun activities.

[Kooter80]

OK, I'm not jumping on you personally, RiverRat1. But I gotta say.... I hate it when people bring their kids to panhandle at Wal-Mart. I never donate to those. When my kids were in sports, we just paid for it out of our own pockets. We didn't have our kids beg from other people to fund our activities.

If you're not gonna write the check yourself, at least have the kids do some kind of work to earn the money (mow lawns, car wash, sell something, etc...). Don't teach them, even accidentally, that it's everybody else's responsibility to pay for their fun activities.

We donate to tons of activities for school, church, sports, etc. I think the community tries to take care of its people and kids that might not have parents, or parents that can afford a week long trip to play somewhere out of town when they thought they were just signing him up for a few summer games but ended up making playoffs. Not looking for handouts, we will be as involved as we can be.

[RGV Hunter]

One of the teams that we print uniforms for will go to town and give away bottled water and ask for donations. They always triple their money and sometimes even higher.

[Shane]

We donate to tons of activities for school, church, sports, etc. I think the community tries to take care of its people and kids that might not have parents, or parents that can afford a week long trip to play somewhere out of town when they thought they were just signing him up for a few summer games but ended up making playoffs. Not looking for handouts, we will be as involved as we can be.

Of course. I always coached my son's teams. I quietly paid for stuff for the kids on our teams who couldn't afford it (gloves, bats, uniforms, etc...). Lots of people are willing to help kids and families who need a little help. I'm not knocking that at all. I just don't like the panhandlers outside Wal-Mart. Most of them clearly aren't living in poverty. I just don't think it is good for the kids to learn how to ask for donations rather than learning how to earn their own way. But that's just my opinion. Congrats on making the playoffs!

[RGV Hunter]

OK, I'm not jumping on you personally, RiverRat1. But I gotta say.... I hate it when people bring their kids to panhandle at Wal-Mart. I never donate to those. When my kids were in sports, we just paid for it out of our own pockets. We didn't have our kids beg from other people to fund our activities.

If you're not gonna write the check yourself, at least have the kids do some kind of work to earn the money (mow lawns, car wash, sell something, etc...). Don't teach them, even accidentally, that it's everybody else's responsibility to pay for their fun activities.

I think you may be missing the point. Even thought I could always afford to pay for my kids activities out of my own pocket, there are many kids with parents that cannot afford the expenses involved in playing at a higher level. Many of these kids are very talented and without the help from donations they would never experience playing at a higher level.

I know because I used to coach a travel ball team in a low income area and these kids could play with the best of them. Without fundraisers ranging from carwashes, BBQ plates, sponsor and DONATIONS, these talented players would never be able to participate at the travel ball or playoff level. Now that my three kids have graduated and gone to college (one even played college ball) I always donate to these players when they are asking for donations and such. I even donate when they are having carwashes and don't even get my car washed.

[Kooter80]

I think you may be missing the point. Even thought I could always afford to pay for my kids activities out of my own pocket, there are many kids with parents that cannot afford the expenses involved in playing at a higher level. Many of these kids are very talented and without the help from donations they would never experience playing at a higher level.

I know because I used to coach a travel ball team in a low income area and these kids could play with the best of them. Without fundraisers ranging from carwashes, BBQ plates, sponsor and DONATIONS, these talented players would never be able to participate at the travel ball or playoff level. Now that my three kids have graduated and gone to college (one even played college ball) I always donate to these players when they are asking for donations and such. I even donate when they are having carwashes and don't even get my car washed.

Well said

[Shane]

I think you may be missing the point. Even thought I could always afford to pay for my kids activities out of my own pocket, there are many kids with parents that cannot afford the expenses involved in playing at a higher level. Many of these kids are very talented and without the help from donations they would never experience playing at a higher level.

I know because I used to coach a travel ball team in a low income area and these kids could play with the best of them. Without fundraisers ranging from carwashes, BBQ plates, sponsor and DONATIONS, these talented players would never be able to participate at the travel ball or playoff level. Now that my three kids have graduated and gone to college (one even played college ball) I always donate to these players when they are asking for donations and such. I even donate when they are having carwashes and don't even get my car washed.

I completely understand that there are kids/families that can't afford the costs, and I'm all for helping them - and do. I just don't like to see teams asking for donations when they're, clearly, not all poor, and they're all capable of washing cars, selling raffle tickets or candy bars or mowing lawns or whatever. Maybe it's just me that's bugged by that.

I always buy stuff from them when they knock on my door, and I just about always donate more than whatever they charge for their product or service. I praise them for their hard work and wish them good luck with their team. I just don't hand them money on my way out of Wal-Mart when all they're doing is asking for handouts. I wouldn't want my own kids to ask for handouts when they could work to earn whatever they need. Sorry if that makes me heartless or whatever, but that's just the way it hits me.

[2B4Him]

I completely understand that there are kids/families that can't afford the costs, and I'm all for helping them - and do. I just don't like to see teams asking for donations when they're, clearly, not all poor, and they're all capable of washing cars, selling raffle tickets or candy bars or mowing lawns or whatever. Maybe it's just me that's bugged by that.

I always buy stuff from them when they knock on my door, and I just about always donate more than whatever they charge for their product or service. I praise them for their hard work and wish them good luck with their team. I just don't hand them money on my way out of Wal-Mart when all they're doing is asking for handouts. I wouldn't want my own kids to ask for handouts when they could work to earn whatever they need. Sorry if that makes me heartless or whatever, but that's just the way it hits me.

Completely agree with Shane on this whole point.
First, I had being ambushed by ANYONE outside any store that I am going to for some other reason than donating. (My family already donates substantially throughout the year to causes/ministries we support.)
Second, athletics teach much more to kids than how to pitch, kick, or shoot. Teamwork, hard work, discipline, etc. Another lesson that can/should be taught is to earn your way. I support teams that DO something or SELL something to earn money. But begging for donations for their sporting activities . . . naw.

[RGV Hunter]

I completely understand that there are kids/families that can't afford the costs, and I'm all for helping them - and do. I just don't like to see teams asking for donations when they're, clearly, not all poor, and they're all capable of washing cars, selling raffle tickets or candy bars or mowing lawns or whatever. Maybe it's just me that's bugged by that.

I always buy stuff from them when they knock on my door, and I just about always donate more than whatever they charge for their product or service. I praise them for their hard work and wish them good luck with their team. I just don't hand them money on my way out of Wal-Mart when all they're doing is asking for handouts. I wouldn't want my own kids to ask for handouts when they could work to earn whatever they need. Sorry if that makes me heartless or whatever, but that's just the way it hits me.

Some of them can afford to pay their way but I am not going to walk up to them and ask them who can and cannot pay their way and just give to the low income players. I don't know their circumstances and financial obligations. Things happen to families even the ones that have money and sometimes we all need a lift. I just give and move on. You are putting too much thought into. I say let God bless the givers. If someone is not in need just let God worry about that.