Just to add to what MidloDad stated...we use the same principle with the "straight donations" and our boosters seem to like it. At the beginning of the year, we require our players to submit to us the names/addresses of 5 people who they think would be interested in making a donation to our program. Using a form letter on the computer, I add the (potential)donor's name, change a few details if neccessary in the letter, then add the player's name and mine at the bottom. The players will then sign all 5 letters and I send them out with self-addressed stamped return envelopes. We have had tremendous success with this fund-raiser.
Ryno23,
I've heard of people who use this as a fundraiser, but I never thought it would have much success. I'm glad to hear it worked for you. Would you be able to show us a sample letter of what you send out to the potential donors?
I've heard of people who use this as a fundraiser, but I never thought it would have much success. I'm glad to hear it worked for you. Would you be able to show us a sample letter of what you send out to the potential donors?
quote:Originally posted by Ryno23:
I was amazed at how well it worked, two years ago the SMALLEST donation we received was $25 and we have raised about $3500 in the two years we have used it. We're also located in a small rural area, but that doesn't matter, really. I've had kids give me addresses of relatives from different parts of the U.S. who've sent donations.
As far as a form letter, it basically goes like this:
1. Personalized greeting (Dear Uncle Fred)
2. The body of the letter - this includes the purpose of this letter, the reason we need to raise funds, SPECIFICALLY what we are raising the money for (this is key, to me), and how to return payment (in the stamped, self-addressed env.).
3. A thank you and closing.
4. The signature line (one for player, one for coach).
That's about it. We will also list any successes that our program has had in recent years at the beginning of the letter and state that our success has been directly related to the support and financial backing of the community.
We also have outfield signs and have a hit-a-thon. But the best thing about the letter campaign is that every day at your school mailbox is like Christmas!
Thought you may still be interested in fund raising so I searched the site and found this post. Our teams (both JV and V) put on an Annual Alumni game (all former players and coaches invited). This was our third Annual event. It turns into a large baseball fest and a 7 inning game (old timers vs recent graduated) and each year attendance from alumni, other schools, kids, you name it, have increased each year. This is becoming a big local event. All food and drinks for our concessions stand are donated by team families. Here is s sample of what we put on during the fest, which lasts from 7:00 AM until around 6:00 PM: Concessions, Raffles, Silent Auctions (donated items like autographed memorabilia from former standouts or whatever), spirit wear, baked goods table, bounce house, batting cages, dunk booth, baseball toss, home run derby, cake walk, radar gun, boxing, sumo suits. This takes an enormous about of volunteer hours from parents and the kids and we are getting better at it each year. We also put on a little league night and sell shirts and concessions. Then we typically do a childhood Cancer night (proceeds donated to the fight against cancer). Each of the events is manned by one or two of the players and parents through out the day. Since this is such a big fundraiser for our school, the coaches moved up the Saturday AM weight room workout to 7:00 AM and made it optional. We are finding that the more of the little league and Cancer fundraisers we do, the more draw it brings for the Alumni Baseball Fest.
Forgot to tell you that the Alumni game is our end of year fundraiser. At the beginning of the season, the players get professionally printed discount cards to sell for $20 each. Each card has discounts from local restaurants that have agreed to accept the square with their name on it. Figure we have approximately 60 + kids on our JV and V teams combined. Each kid sold between 25-35 cards. In the beginning of this fundraiser, only one year ago, our Coach was skeptical about the program. It's now done every year and will continue indefinitely. I am not sure about the cost to professionally print the tickets, and there are gifts given to the players for hitting selling thresholds (team pull over, batting jacket, Oakley's), but the profit for the team is quite high.
Originally Posted by 2forU:
Forgot to tell you that the Alumni game is our end of year fundraiser. At the beginning of the season, the players get professionally printed discount cards to sell for $20 each. Each card has discounts from local restaurants that have agreed to accept the square with their name on it. Figure we have approximately 60 + kids on our JV and V teams combined. Each kid sold between 25-35 cards. In the beginning of this fundraiser, only one year ago, our Coach was skeptical about the program. It's now done every year and will continue indefinitely. I am not sure about the cost to professionally print the tickets, and there are gifts given to the players for hitting selling thresholds (team pull over, batting jacket, Oakley's), but the profit for the team is quite high.
Wouldn't work around here. Every freakin team from the 4 high schools serving our area sells those cards. at best your lucky if you sell 4 cards.
Originally Posted by joes87:
Originally Posted by 2forU:
Forgot to tell you that the Alumni game is our end of year fundraiser. At the beginning of the season, the players get professionally printed discount cards to sell for $20 each. Each card has discounts from local restaurants that have agreed to accept the square with their name on it. Figure we have approximately 60 + kids on our JV and V teams combined. Each kid sold between 25-35 cards. In the beginning of this fundraiser, only one year ago, our Coach was skeptical about the program. It's now done every year and will continue indefinitely. I am not sure about the cost to professionally print the tickets, and there are gifts given to the players for hitting selling thresholds (team pull over, batting jacket, Oakley's), but the profit for the team is quite high.
Wouldn't work around here. Every freakin team from the 4 high schools serving our area sells those cards. at best your lucky if you sell 4 cards.
Same here...plus the football teams sell them too, I'm really beginning to dread my doorbell ringing!
Originally Posted by CaCO3Girl:
Originally Posted by joes87:
Originally Posted by 2forU:
Forgot to tell you that the Alumni game is our end of year fundraiser. At the beginning of the season, the players get professionally printed discount cards to sell for $20 each. Each card has discounts from local restaurants that have agreed to accept the square with their name on it. Figure we have approximately 60 + kids on our JV and V teams combined. Each kid sold between 25-35 cards. In the beginning of this fundraiser, only one year ago, our Coach was skeptical about the program. It's now done every year and will continue indefinitely. I am not sure about the cost to professionally print the tickets, and there are gifts given to the players for hitting selling thresholds (team pull over, batting jacket, Oakley's), but the profit for the team is quite high.
Wouldn't work around here. Every freakin team from the 4 high schools serving our area sells those cards. at best your lucky if you sell 4 cards.
Same here...plus the football teams sell them too, I'm really beginning to dread my doorbell ringing!
Yep. We have the football, softball, soccer, golf teams, etc all selling these. In fact our baseball program has eliminate fundraisers. They simply ask the kids to supply their own pants and helmet. They provide specs for what they kids need so everyone is consistent. I prefer this over fundraisers.
Applebee's has a pancake fundraiser they run on weekends that my sons teams have used. Only costs $5(team gets $4 and Applebee's $1) a plate and 3 hours(7am -10am). Combine with a Chinese auction and 50-50 and you can pull in several thousand for 3 hours of time.
http://www.flapjackfunds.com/program.php?id=1
I favor the "just ask" idea above. The buying/selling stuff is just trading dollars. I buy from my neighbor for girls soccer. She buys from me. Net, Net, all I get are extra calories I don't need.
I love the "hit-a-thon" idea! im going to draw up something right now to set one of these up for end of season. Thanks folks! hope your seasons are all going well!
-CoachZ
For some reason the Hit-A-Thon jogged my memory on one that we kicked around for a LL fundraiser at one point. Could easily be modified for a HS fundraiser. Basically a "night at the fields". Invite the local LL kids to hangout at the fields with the HS players. Charge $5 to $10 a kid or so. That includes some instruction time with the HS kids. Maybe put them at stations or something to work with the kids. A mini-scrimmage game on the HS field and then to cap the night off, rent a blow up movie screen (or use something attached to the backstop) and show a kid related baseball movie. You could also setup concessions at the field and movie to raise even more money.
We are fortunate to have a AAA minor league team which cooperates with area high school teams by allowing them to play a 7 inning regular season game prior to some of their regular season games. Ticket prices are increased by $5 per as a contribution to the selling team (both share). Our baseball booster club and the JV and Varsity players sell the tickets with each player (and family) responsible for 15. That generates anywhere between $2500 to $4000 for the program. The date and time of the game is critical for this to be successful.
We ask each player's family to join the Booster Club at $25 per year: $400 - $600
We ask each family to pledge to do one of the following: sell 1 banner (they get a free, high quality embroidered hoodie for each sold) OR contribute $200 OR to give us 10 names and addresses of extended family, friends and neighbors to whom we send a personalized request for contributions: $800 - $1100
We sell banners for our outfield fence at $375 per season if we produce the banner or $250 per season if they produce the banner or it is renewal of support: $2500 in cash and in-kind contributions (Recycling pick up/field maintenance equipment free rental etc.).
We operate concessions during both team's games: $800 - $1000
This year we have established a Booster Club Golf Tournament and have projected a net in the area of $5000 for the inaugural tournament.
We asked the HC and his staff for a wish list of items the Booster Club can fund: that list included a lawn tractor to drag field and pull trailer(done-contributed); 40 tons minimum of high grade clay/Turface mix (done); new batting cage nets (done for 1 of the cages); replacement of L-screens (done); replacement and additional square screens (done); new pitching machine and flyball machine (done); pre-emergent grass treatment and fertilization professionally (done via in-kind contribution).
The needs of a high school baseball program, in today's budget-cutting economy, are not met by our school or the school system and without the active support of a booster club and the school community the players and coaches will constantly have to 'make-do' in order to continue to improve the facility, the tools and other elements necessary to field teams in a manner consistent with the desire to reflect and achieve excellence.
Our baseball booster club is independent of the school, is a legitimate 501(c)3 organization and is able to funnel the monies raised directly to the benefit of the baseball program.
