BoosterHub

Is My Booster Club Paying Too Much in Fundraising Fees?

With limited resources, booster club fundraising can be a real challenge for some organizations. Organizing a fundraiser takes time, volunteers, and money. Oftentimes, the easiest way for clubs to organize an event is through a platform that comes along with fees. Some platforms charge as much as 25-40% in fees.

If your club is paying this much, it may not be worth all of the effort that you put into the fundraiser in the first place. Paying these high fees is not your only option. There are lots of ways that you can raise money without giving away a significant amount of your proceeds.

What Is a Good Fundraising Fee Target?

Ideally we would all love to pay 0% in booster club fundraising fees. While that’s an optimal solution, it’s just not possible in all situations. Sometimes you need services to organize an event, and fees are the best option to fund the cost.

Typically, you should target fees of 5-15%. This fee model ensures that you get to keep the vast majority of what you raise and that the effort is worth your time.

Fundraising Ideas to Minimize Fees

Not every fundraising opportunity has to include an expensive fee. There are many ways to fundraise that can keep your fees low — or even no fees at all. Here are a few nonprofit fundraising opportunities that can help you keep your fees low.

Revenue Share with a Local Business

Local businesses are one of your best resources when it comes to fundraising. If they aren’t able to offer a corporate sponsorship, they may be open to a revenue-sharing arrangement. For every patron you send to their establishment, they’ll share a portion of the proceeds with the booster club.

All it takes is a few phone calls and you can have a long-term fundraising revenue source in place.

Online Store

Creating an online store is a great way to set up a permanent opportunity for community members to support the club. Some online stores offer services for a fee, but it’s usually under 10%. Other services, like BoosterHub, offer a flat fee.

Some items you might consider selling in your online store include:

T-shirts
Sweatshirts
Hats
Stickers
Water bottles
Coffee cups

If you don’t want to commit to shipping items sold in your online store, you can organize a pick-up arrangement at the school or at the concession stand.

Letter-Writing Campaign

Emails and digital communications can get lost in the shuffle. If you’re having trouble engaging supporters through digital communications, try a letter-writing campaign. Have the officers of the club — or even better, the students — write letters to members of the community encouraging them to support the organization.

Personal letters are more effective in getting the attention of potential supporters and can be a very effective means of communication. If your organization has 501(c)(3) status, you may be eligible for reduced postage.

Keeping fees low is important to ensure that your organization meets its fundraising goals. With a few creative solutions, you can minimize your fees and keep more of your hard-earned dollars.

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Ways to Fundraise for a Booster Club

Fundraising is perhaps one of the most important functions of your booster club. However, it can be tough to build momentum, especially if you are new to fundraising as a whole. You can also get stuck in a rut and feel like you are running the same two or three events on repeat. That’s when it’s important to mix things up to keep club members and donors engaged, ensuring a steady stream of support for your student-athletes. With that in mind, here are a few ways to raise more money for the student-athletes you support:

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Non-Profit Donation Receipt

Whenever someone donates to your club, you must ensure that you send them a clear receipt so they can take advantage of their tax deduction. These receipts are your club’s way of saying, “Thanks for being on the team,” and they’re essential for keeping records organized. Providing a timely and well-documented receipt also makes your club appear professional and organized. In turn, you’ll be able to more easily build trust with donors and encourage them to give again in the future. After all, donors need to be confident that you’re acknowledging and managing their contributions properly. On that note, here are a few tips to help you create compliant receipts:

Booster Club Best Practices

Booster Club Rules

You certainly wouldn’t sign up for a sports league without knowing the rules of the game, so why would you attempt to run a booster club without a clear set of guidelines? In a booster club, the rules take the form of bylaws, which are policies and procedures that are vital in keeping everyone on the same page, helping to avoid misunderstandings, and ensuring that each member understands their part in supporting the club’s mission. In some cases, these bylaws will spell out who can and can’t be members, as well as who is eligible to serve on the board. Some states even have standardized playbooks that you need to follow. The University Interscholastic League (UIL) in Texas, for instance, has a playbook of its own, covering specific bylaws for booster clubs that support school programs. In any case, here are some tips for ensuring everyone in your booster club plays by the rules so you can have a productive year: