When it is time to run fundraising activities for youth sports or school clubs, most adults fall into the same trap. We usually do all the heavy lifting ourselves and just tell the kids to “go ask your neighbors for money.” It is easier, sure, but it is rarely effective. If you really want your next fundraising event to blow past previous records, you have to stop treating the kids like laborers and start treating them like partners.
When you let the kids lead the fundraising program, everything changes. You are not just raising cash, you are building a team that actually wants to win.
1. Sit Down and Actually Listen to Them
One of the best fundraising tips I can give you is to stop making all the decisions behind closed doors. If you want a kid to care about a project, they need to feel like they own a piece of it. Hold a kick off meeting that is more about listening than talking.
Ask them for their thoughts. Maybe they have a funny idea for a fundraising post on TikTok, or perhaps they know a local business that loves to support the team. When they see their ideas being used, their energy levels skyrocket.
- The Power of Numbers: Don not just hand them a goal. Explain what the money is actually for. If they know $500 means new turf or a bus to the championship, they will work twice as hard to hit that mark.
- Accountability: When a student picks their own target, they feel a personal responsibility to reach it. It is no longer “Mom’s goal,” it is theirs.
“Goal-setting is important in sports and fundraising is not any different. By giving players goals, you will tap into their competitive spirit”
–theSeason
2. Make Competition Fun, Not Stressful
I know some organizers worry that competition can get a little too intense. But let us be real, kids are naturally competitive. Instead of trying to ignore that, use it to fuel your fundraising activities.
The trick is to frame it the right way. Tell them that while individual wins are great, the group only wins if everyone crosses the finish line. Think of it like a relay race, it does not matter how fast the first person is if the bar gets dropped.
- Visual Progress: Put a big poster board in the locker room or hallway.
- Weekly Shout-outs: Use your weekly meetings to highlight someone who had a great conversation with a donor, not just the person who made the most money.
3. Focus on Team Rewards over Individual Prizes
Most fundraising guide booklets tell you to give a prize to the top seller. That is fine, but it can leave the rest of the group feeling left out. If you want to see a real shift in your results this year, try offering a “Team Reward.”
At your first meeting, tell them: “If we hit our total team goal, everyone gets a pizza party or a day off practice.” Now, instead of the kids competing against each other, they are helping each other. Your top sellers will start giving fundraising tips to the younger kids because they want that group prize. It turns a solo task into a true team effort.
At the end of the day, a team that feels heard and supported is going to out-perform a bored team every single time. Try these shifts in your fundraising program and watch how much more engaged the families become.
Now that the kids are pumped up, you need a solid plan for the people actually giving you the money. Check out Part 3: Optimizing Donor Relationships.
Need a hand? Download our free Fundraising 101 Guide for step-by-step help
