BoosterHub

Why Do Some Schools Have an Athletic Booster Club vs. Clubs for Each Sport?

As you may have noticed, some schools have centralized athletic booster clubs (ABCs) and others have a dedicated club for each sport or group.

If you use the ABC model, you may have contemplated making the switch so you can provide dedicated support to each organization at your school. To help you navigate that decision-making process, take a closer look at these two models and consider the pros and cons of ABCs.

Sports-Specific Clubs vs. Athletic Booster Clubs

Under the sports-specific model, each booster club raises funds for a single team or group. The parents, alumni, and coaches are responsible for organizing events, managing funds, and filing taxes.

The centralized model is simpler to manage in that only one entity has to file taxes, manage funds, rally support, etc.

Unfortunately, not every team’s group of supporters has the flexibility they need to fundraise for their respective sport. As a result, the school’s most popular sports will generate most of the revenue, but they will also have to share some of these funds with other entities.

The Good and the Bad of ABCs

The athletic booster club model has benefited tens of thousands of student athletes over the years. It provides a multitude of benefits along with some drawbacks. Here’s a look at the good and bad of ABCs.

Benefits of ABCs

Logistically, managing an ABC is infinitely easier. Only one entity manages funds, schedules rallies, seeks sponsorships, represents the school’s sports teams, and files taxes.

Additionally, an athletic booster club has the ability to support smaller, less popular sports or school groups by redistributing funds. This is especially beneficial when a school is starting a new sports program or overhauling an existing one.

As an added bonus, ABCs can encourage cross-disciplinary support. For example, let’s say that a few of your most productive booster members are relatives of a member of the varsity basketball team. If they believe in the club’s mission, they may start helping out during the other sports’ seasons as well.

Potential Downfalls of ABCs

Sports schedule overlap is a major headache associated with the ABC model. When schedules conflict, boosters have to be more selective of which events they participate in.

The concerns of overlap have been driving many schools to adopt the sports-specific club model. Transitioning away from the ABC approach provides added flexibility and enables boosters to devote time to the clubs they are most passionate about.

Great Tech: The Key to Thriving as an ABC

If managing your athletic booster club has become a bit tedious, don’t make the switch to sports-specific clubs just yet. While dispersing resources across all of your school’s clubs and sports can be a challenge, there are distinct advantages to ABCs that you will lose out on if you decentralize your clubs.

Instead of transitioning away from an athletic booster club model, consider revamping your management playbook and upgrading your software. Implementing an all-in-one solution for accounting, resource tracking, scheduling, and sales processing is like adding an all-star player to your roster.

By leveling up your tech stack, you can enjoy the benefits of ABCs and make sure all school groups and teams receive the support they deserve. If you decide to change to sports-specific clubs, a versatile app can support all of your fundraising groups. Talk about a win-win!

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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: