Sponsorship Woes/Ideas

[djcarter1966]

IF it's going to be free for kids it is OK to expect them to help raise funds, in other words in lieu of money they have to donate their time. TIME = MONEY no matter what the fund raiser Car Wash, bake sale, selling candy, raffles are good (as long as it's legal in your state). If the kids put in time the money comes.

As far as businesses, I think plaques for the business and banner in outfield is pretty standard.

 

[JAD]

Group fundraisers (car wash, bake sale, ect) can be a great way to raise money and for teammate to "bond", but you need to get 100% participation. It can be frustrating if only half the team shows up.

 

[gdc03120]

There are all kinds of NPOs and depending upon which type you are, many are allowed to carry a balance from year to year, even if it's a minimal amount.

We haven't registered as an NPO through any particular organization or source. We are strictly stating we are a not-for-profit team/group in our sponsorship letters, with the caveat that ANY money that comes in goes directly for team-related matters (umpire fees, game balls, all the way down to zip ties to secure banners to fences.) I'm considering the idea of a fundraiser by car wash - we did that when I was in college for a club and charged by donation, and walked out with almost $500 in 4 hours, which would be almost ALL we'd need for the season, approximately.

 

[YOCOACH]

We haven't registered as an NPO through any particular organization or source. We are strictly stating we are a not-for-profit team/group in our sponsorship letters, with the caveat that ANY money that comes in goes directly for team-related matters (umpire fees, game balls, all the way down to zip ties to secure banners to fences.) I'm considering the idea of a fundraiser by car wash - we did that when I was in college for a club and charged by donation, and walked out with almost $500 in 4 hours, which would be almost ALL we'd need for the season, approximately.

Let me get this straight. You're a team now and not a league and you aren't an NPO but you infer that you are in the interests of generating donations from area businesses? Honestly, if I were an area business, I would be wary also. As a true NPO, the businesses get to write off a far larger amount as a deduction than the current situation. Without a tax ID number from a true NPO, they can write off $100 I think. Though that may have changed since I was last in business for myself.

ETA: Just two thoughts on your situation. If you are going to solicit funds from area businesses, send your girls around and have them ask in person. It is much harder to say no to a person if the people being asked can put a face with the donation as opposed to putting a letter in the garbage.

The second thought is that no matter what you do, you need to find a way to involve those businesses with your team. A good way to do this is to have a large banner made and for a $25 donation, they get their name in 1" letters on the banner, for $75 they get their name in 2" letters, for $100 they get their name in 3" letters and at every game you play, hang this banner up on the back of your dugout. Going around personally, asking face to face with a letter in hand and asking for a small amount will get you far closer to your goal quicker.

 

[WARRIORMIKE]

Theres money to be found. You have to think outside the box. Hit up local chambers of commerce. COC like to do business within the community. Indian Casinos are great for giving out money too. Go outside of your town. Ask your parents. Get quotes from sporting places and show parents or business what the cost of pants, socks, jackets, helmets are gonna cost. I got checks from companies that would say they would sponsor our socks, or just helmets. BOOM Check in hand! Take ammo and fire away!

 

[mudrunner]

Man, we have done so many fundraisers the last few years. BBQ's are usually good for a few hundred dollars. We have it in front of the grocery store, and they sell us food at their cost. Butter braid,cookie, and pizza sales work, but are kind of a pain. Cosmic bingo was by far the most lucrative, but also a lot of work. Heck, we even had a gun raffle. If it's small local businesses you could set up a discount card or coupon book with a few of them. Sell them for $10-20 and all the profit goes to the team. The business doesn't pay any out of pocket, they just give whoever bought the discount/coupon book a percentage off or a free waffle or something.

 

[gdc03120]

Let me get this straight. You're a team now and not a league and you aren't an NPO but you infer that you are in the interests of generating donations from area businesses? Honestly, if I were an area business, I would be wary also. As a true NPO, the businesses get to write off a far larger amount as a deduction than the current situation. Without a tax ID number from a true NPO, they can write off $100 I think. Though that may have changed since I was last in business for myself.

ETA: Just two thoughts on your situation. If you are going to solicit funds from area businesses, send your girls around and have them ask in person. It is much harder to say no to a person if the people being asked can put a face with the donation as opposed to putting a letter in the garbage.

The second thought is that no matter what you do, you need to find a way to involve those businesses with your team. A good way to do this is to have a large banner made and for a $25 donation, they get their name in 1" letters on the banner, for $75 they get their name in 2" letters, for $100 they get their name in 3" letters and at every game you play, hang this banner up on the back of your dugout. Going around personally, asking face to face with a letter in hand and asking for a small amount will get you far closer to your goal quicker.

I didn't get a Tax ID because I was told it would take too long by the time I sent in the paperwork and everything to where once I got it, the season would be over. Oddly enough, I was able to get $1720 from 7 businesses. 2 businesses donating $400 each. Each business received a receipt from me stating their donation, the recipient, date of receipt, signature, essentially anything you could think of to declare the matter to be as official as possible. I considered it for this year, but the only reason I haven't is largely due to this question: What happens if there is NO team this season? I spent all the time making something that no longer exists official.

2ndly, I actually went door-to-door to about 65-70% of the businesses I solicited funds from last year, dropping off a cover letter/donation form combination, talking to as many managers/owners/bosses as possible. Those I couldn't received theirs in the mail (or those that were closed that day, etc. As a substitute teacher at the time, my work availability varied). This year I'm unsure of what I'll do, though I'm iffy of doing door-to-door with the girls just because nobody in this town (Scouts, Churches, Schools, etc) are doing it. It's almost become an unwritten rule to avoid door-to-door anymore.