Draw a crowd with these 7 fundraising activities

Together with our friends at Rowperfect UK, we explore different ways for you to raise funds for your rowing club throughout the year. This month we’re encouraging you to get out and involved with your community. The goal here is to grow your name and your club wallet at the same time, creating opportunities from social fundraising gatherings. Check out these hot ideas:

Want more great ideas? Check out our e-book:
Fundraising Hints and Tips for your Rowing Club.

Auctions

A couple of caring mothers recently held an auction to raise money for Marlborough under-23 and under-19 rowers. An oar, donated and signed by world and Olympic champions Joseph Sullivan and Nathan Cohen, raised $550 for them. A further $200 came from a rugby ball autographed by the All Blacks development squad.
Dig deep in your sheds and reach out to your community for items to sell off in your club auction. This is also a great way to clean out old or unused equipment the club has to deal with.

Dog walks

With over $300 raised at the Moultonborough Lions Club dog walk. there’s no reason it can’t do the same for you. Getting funds into the club while getting your rowers together and exercising is the perfect ploy for a rowing club. This is a very simple and elegant idea that pushes the community to get involved with your club. Get ready to meet your neighbourhood and their tail wagging friends.

Holding a club luau

Have a party in the name of rowing at your club and invite the neighbourhood to come along. Newburgh Rowing Club did this recently and included raffles, contests, and more. Broaden your activities to include all members of families to get the most out of the event. This is another great way to show off your venue and is suitable for a broad range of community members.

Corporate rowing race

Bring the big businesses in with team building corporate boat races. Your club provides the materials while businesses provide the funds. This gets your club in close contact to potential sponsors while helping their employees bond. Everyone is left with a smile on their face at the end of the day, and probably some new friends as well.

Fishing competitions

As a rowing club you might just have a few spare rowboats around so go and put them to good use. A children’s fishing competition in New Castle (New Hampshire, USA) raised funds for several charities recently and it can do the same for your rowing club. Showing off your club and the passion behind it by including small rowing activities on site, like having child sessions (but be careful not to scare the fish!).

Live music

Sometimes all it takes is a relaxing night with a drink to pull people together. The Row for Life crew recently made a night of it with free music from Juice Box, rowing challenges, and a raffle. Music always livens up a party and getting local bands in for free to support your club can be very enticing to potential sponsors.

Market

Does your club have a large meeting hall or space? Create an opportunity for unsuspecting entrepreneurs by selling spaces at your venue, or even sell your own products and services, in the name of a club fundraising market! Giving a Future Animal Aid held a market of their own recently, making over $2000 in their own sales. This makes a great day out for the locals and could easily become a regular thing if you pull it off right.

Get your club and community working together with your fundraising activities while growing your club name!