4 Ideas: Fundraising for your Rowing Club
Fundraising is a never-ending task for rowing clubs. We've taken a tip from Rowperfect and added to their list of Quarterly Fundraising ideas. Creativity is key when you're fundraising, so let your imagination run amok!
Want more ideas? Check out our e-book: Fundraising Hints and Tips for your Rowing Club.
Night at the Movies
Host a movie screening, like Philadelphia City Rowing. Choose a film that's relevant to your location or rowing. Make sure to give the event lots of charm – rent retro popcorn machines, kick off the event with a raffle, or have a costume and decor theme that fits the film that you're showing.
Row the Distance
Forget the old standby of a row-a-thon on rowing machines in the school gym or at the boathouse. It's time to do something that will get donors a little more excited. Take the 340 mile row down the Erie Canal as example. Rivals from Canisius and McQuaid Jesuit High Schools took the challenge to raise money and support for the Juvenile Diabetes Research foundation. If you're raising funds for your own boat club, try a similarly impressive distance perhaps 100 miles. It will be good practice for the crews, and donors might toss a bit more money at it than a 24 hour row-a-thon.
It's all about a gimmick when it comes to fundraising, so use catchy titles like: Row a Million Metres – throw people off with a gigantic number, the disclaimer will be that you're splitting it between all team members, and a meter, ain't that big… John Yeatman did a million meters to raise funds for Marlow Rowing Club's rebuild after a fire destroyed half the club house.
Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend
The idea of a raffle becomes a lot more interesting when you throw precious stones into the mix. Use who you know, and in some cases, that may be a jeweler who wants to donate a small diamond for the love of rowing. Hey, it's happened before. Focus on high-quality goods to rake in the tickets, rather than home-baked cookies, etc.
If you also limit the total number of tickets, it encourages people as they have a greater chance of winning.
Fun Fair
Sell tickets to a themed fun fair hosted by your rowing club. Rent carnival games, make cotton candy (candy floss), and finish it all with a rowing race with every team from your club.
