Successful Fundraising

If you are looking to raise money for your cheerleading squad, you have a plethora of fundraising options to choose from. While cheerleading might not seem like an expensive sport at first glance, there are all sorts of expenses from competitions, travel, camps, uniforms and various fees. If you raise enough funds at the start of the season, these expenses won't overwhelm your team. Let's take a look at some of the best cheerleading fundraising ideas. Before you start brainstorming, consider what other cheerleading squads are doing in terms of fundraising. Take care to not duplicate their efforts. Your fundraising method should be unique to your town. Be original and creative! Coupon Books: Head on out to local businesses and ask them to donate coupons to your team. The businesses will benefit from the coupons because they'll receive valuable exposure. If you find enough interested business owners, you can create full coupon books. Try to span the entire range of entertainment and dining options in your area. Approach fast food businesses, fine dining establishments, car washes, retail outlets, movie theaters and so on. Laminate your coupons, put them into booklets and start raising money. Gift Cards: While you are speaking with the owners of the businesses described above, go ahead and ask them if they are interested in a gift card fundraising effort. Squad members can re-sell these gift cards and make a profit margin on each one. The benefits should be obvious for the business owners. If they ask how it helps them, respond that it increases foot traffic and those who enter the store with their gift cards are likely to buy items in excess of the card's value. They'll also come back for future purchases. Pep Rally: Hold a pep rally with some fun events and games like dunk booths. Charge a couple dollars for each game. Your dunk tank will be a hit if you recruit a local celebrity or the school principal to sit in the booth. Be sure to have concessions and other sundries available for sale at the pep rally to raise as much money as possible. There are stories of cheerleading squads making over a thousand dollars at pep rallies that last merely two or three hours. Tournaments: Does your school or gym hold any sports tournaments? Give some consideration to implementing a raffle or an auction for door prizes. Ideally, you will be able to find local businesses to donate the prizes to you for free. Ask them for a store sign to display at the event and be sure to mention them as a sponsor to the crowd. Car Washes and Bake Sales: If no other cheer squads in your area have conducted a car wash or bake sale fundraiser, go ahead and start planning one for your team. Be sure to hold it in an area with plenty of traffic and visibility. Make large posters and signs ahead of time, set up your wash/bake sale in a busy area and get to work.