Starting a booster club is a great way of raising funds for scholastic sports and supporting student-athletes. However, launching your own booster club can be daunting, especially if you are new to the world of sports fundraising.
Fortunately, there are a few simple steps that you can follow to make the process manageable and even fun. When forming a booster club, you’ll need to:
First off, you’ll need to define your mission and vision for the booster club. This means deciding if you want to be an athletic booster club or a sports-specific booster club. An athletic booster club (ABC) raises funds and supports all of a school’s sports teams. Conversely, a sports-specific club supports and raises funds for a specific team.
You’ll also need to identify your goals (i.e., raising money, organizing volunteers, staffing concessions). Most booster clubs do a little bit of everything. However, it’s important that you relay your purpose to the school, parents, and supporters so they know what your club is all about.
Next, you need to incorporate your club. You’ll also need to pursue a 501(c)(3) status, which will provide a federal tax exemption. You won’t have to pay federal taxes on the funds you raise for charitable purposes. This includes donations, profits from ticket sales, and revenue from concessions.
Incorporating your club and obtaining 501(c)(3) status can be a hassle. Fortunately, Parent Booster can guide you through these processes. They help with incorporating your club, getting a federal tax ID number, and registering with your state.
Once your club is incorporated and registered, it’s time to start building your digital footprint. Create a “.org” website and social media pages so that you can engage with parents, athletes, alumni, and donors. Make sure you invest in a great booster club management software. With management software, your club can manage funds, track volunteer assignments, and more.
If you want your new organization to thrive, you need a great playbook. That means determining roles and writing formal descriptions for each. Some common titles within a booster club include president, vice president, and treasurer, to name a few. Have a structured nomination process and put a great leadership team in place.
Now, you are ready to launch your booster club and start accepting donations. Take advantage of social media and communicate with parents and alumni regularly. Most importantly, make sure your club is active in the community.
Ready to Start A Booster Club?
The hardest part about starting a booster club is taking the first step. Don’t wait for the perfect opportunity — just do it! Get together with some like-minded alumni and parents, organize a plan together, and begin knocking out the steps outlined above. Before you know it, you’ll be scoring big for your school and providing student-athletes with much-needed funding.
