How to Set up Fundraising for a Soccer Program

Provided by: Amplified Soccer

Over the course of the past three decades, an increasing number of people in the United States have become fans of soccer. This includes a larger number of people who enjoy watching soccer games. It also includes people, in different age brackets, who participate in the sport. Youth soccer leagues have shown a particular increase in participation recent times.

If you are involved in some sort of youth soccer program, rather for younger children or teens, you likely have faced the prospect of raising money. Many people consider fundraising a drag. They also do not necessarily know what route to take in order to raise funds for a soccer program. With this in mind, there are some essential elements that you need to bear in mind when it comes to the business of raising money for a youth soccer program.

Set Up a Fundraising Crew

An initial step that you must take when it comes to raising money for a youth soccer program, or for any soccer program for that matter, is setting up a fundraising committee. You really need several different types of individuals on your fundraising committee.

First, you need to recruit people for your fundraising crew that have the financial wherewithal to donate money to the cause themselves. The reality is that for a soccer fundraising effort to work, or any type of fundraiser, you need to prime the pump. The best way to prime the pump is to get some folks on board at the outset that believe in your cause, and have the cash available to chip in.

Second, a key element of a young soccer program fundraising endeavor is parental involvement. You definitely will want to get the parents on players on your fundraising crew. Not all of them need be on the core organizational committee. But, you should strive to get them all involved in the effort in some way, even if they may not be in a position to donate to the effort themselves.

Third, as part of your fundraising crew, get some people on the team who have experience in organizing different types of fundraising events. One tool that you will want to consider seriously in a youth soccer program fundraiser is organizing some type of event. Experience matters when it comes to this element of your fundraising program.

Get the Paperwork Associated with Fundraising in Order

The business of running a successful fundraising campaign for a youth soccer program depends upon taking care of business. By that it is meant that you need to make certain that you have all of the paperwork necessary to raise money in proper order.

For example, you may want to consider organizing your youth soccer program as a not-for-profit corporation. In addition, you may want to take an additional step of obtaining what is known as a 501 (c) (3) letter from the Internal Revenue Service. With this letter, donors to your organization are able to obtain a tax deduction, as allowed by law, for a contribution to your fundraising effort.
If you intend for your fundraising to be a more long term, or even permanent, endeavor, you definitely will want to seriously consider taking these important steps.

Setting an Overall Fundraising Goal

Finally, before launching your fundraising campaign for a youth soccer league, you will definitely want to establish a specific final goal for the campaign. In addition, you will want to establish intermediary milestones along the way. Taking this approach allows people involved with the effort, and those you would like to get involved, to see progress along the way.

Jessica Kane is a professional blogger who focuses on personal finance and other money matters. She currently writes for Checkworks.com, where you can get personal checks and business checks.