Parents Fundraising

[pinklemonadeliz]

I have been trying to come up with ideas for team fundraising and was wondering about business sponsors - similar to what a little league team would do (except they, of course wouldn't have their business name on the backs of the girls leos! ). The sponsors could get their business name on a banner on the gym wall, maybe on the backs of a t-shirt and, of course on the program at our yearly show.

Our gym does not do this, but it seems like it would be a sensible thing to do instead of schlepping cookies and baked goods at exhibitions.

Does anyone know if there is any kind of rule against this (because if not, why in the world aren't we doing it?)

I'm also open to any other ideas you may have for great fundraising projects.

Thanks!
- Liz

 

[B Gymnast]

for the past 2 years my gym has had a trivia night.. us gymnasts get to work it and it's a lot of fun! we also get donations and do a silent auction.

 

[gym law mom]

I have been trying to come up with ideas for team fundraising and was wondering about business sponsors - similar to what a little league team would do (except they, of course wouldn't have their business name on the backs of the girls leos! ). The sponsors could get their business name on a banner on the gym wall, maybe on the backs of a t-shirt and, of course on the program at our yearly show.

Our gym does not do this, but it seems like it would be a sensible thing to do instead of schlepping cookies and baked goods at exhibitions.

Does anyone know if there is any kind of rule against this (because if not, why in the world aren't we doing it?)

I'm also open to any other ideas you may have for great fundraising projects.

Thanks!
- Liz

Liz, gyms do the corporate sponsor thing. Your booster club would need to decide how much to ask for a banner in the gym for a year, banner plus program ad etc. Make sure you have a letter you can give to a business indicating their contribution to a 501(c)3 organization. It really is great advertising for businesses and I've seen banners/ads for PT clinics, chiropractors and dentists. To get a big company, you usually have to have an "in" somewhere and many large companies will take 3-6 mos to review the request and get back to you.

 

[cathiann]

Our booster club offers this--we have a few businesses that participate. I think it depends on the gym too--maybe your gym doesn't want banners hanging or perhaps no one has wanted to do the work of asking business owners!

 

[IrenicMom]

Our gym does this, too, in conjunction with our home meet.

As far as schlepping, we do:
trash bags
cookie dough
poinsettias
Scrip (which we really only schlep to ourselves, but it's still schlepping LOL!)

Our school does trivia night and it's much fun. Ours is no kids allowed, though, and we carry a liquor permit for the night. Also Casino night - again, no kids allowed!

 

[pinklemonadeliz]

Thanks for all the great info - I definitely think business sponsorship is a fantastic idea that we need to explore. I also love the trivia night idea - and casino night would be awesome.

You guys are great - thanks again!!!!

 

[Gymdad2]

Corporate sponsorships are a wonderful fundraising idea. We sell banners that we hang up at out annual meet and then in the gym for the rest of the year. We also sell program ads, and then we also sell a 'meet sponsorship' which is the top item that gets the biggest banner at the meet and in the gym, prominent display in the program and special thanks at the beginning of each session. These sponsorships are a huge money maker for our boosters and the best part is that it is almost all profit (especially if you can get the banner maker to donate their work) and we are not hitting up the same friends, neighbors and relatives for money from our latest sales project.