How to Run an Online Team Fundraiser: A Step-by-Step Guide for Club Directors

Running an online team fundraiser is simpler than a product sale, but it still rewards a little planning. This guide walks club directors through the whole thing, from picking a goal to the final thank-you, in the order you'll actually do it.

Step 1: Decide what the money is for

Supporters give more when they know exactly where their money goes. Pick one or two clear purposes:

• Tournament and league fees
• Uniforms and equipment
• Travel to an away event
• Scholarships for families who need help

Write it in one sentence you can reuse everywhere: "We're raising $6,000 so all 24 players can travel to the spring showcase."

Step 2: Set a goal and a timeline

Divide your total by the number of players to get a per-player target. A $6,000 goal across 24 players is $250 each, which feels doable for most families.

Keep the campaign short. Two to three weeks is long enough for families to share and short enough to create urgency. Put the end date on everything. Not sure when to run it? See our season fundraising calendar.

Step 3: Pick a prize and a rule

A prize for the top fundraiser gives players something to chase. It doesn't have to be expensive: a team jersey with their name, a gift card, or the right to pick the warm-up music for a month all work.

Decide how the winner is chosen before you launch. Most money raised is the usual rule, but "most gifts" rewards players who reach lots of people, which can feel fairer to families with smaller networks.

Step 4: Set up player pages

Every player needs a page they can share: their name, the team goal, a progress bar and a big "give" button. Families should control what shows publicly. Photos, age groups and schools should be off unless a parent turns them on.

On Kick For Good, families add their own player, the club approves them, and each player automatically gets a page and a QR code for flyers and yard signs.

Step 5: Line up a sponsor match (optional, but powerful)

Before launch, ask one local business to match gifts up to a set amount. A banner that says "Every gift is doubled by Joe's Pizza" makes supporters feel their money goes twice as far. Our guide on getting a sponsor match includes a script.

Step 6: Launch with a kickoff message

Send families one clear message on launch day:

1. What we're raising money for, and the goal
2. How to find their player's page
3. A ready-to-send text they can forward to 10 people
4. The end date and the prize

Our fundraising text and letter templates give you copy-and-paste versions.

Step 7: Keep the energy up

The middle of a campaign is where momentum fades. A few simple habits help:

• Share leaderboard updates two or three times a week. Celebrate players who moved up, not just the leader.
• Announce milestones when the team passes 25%, 50% and 75% of the goal.
• Send gentle reminders. Supporters who were invited but haven't given often just need one more nudge. Two reminders, a few days apart, is plenty.
• Make the last 48 hours count. "Two days left, we're $600 away" is one of the most effective messages you can send.

Step 8: Close it out and celebrate

When the end date arrives, giving should stop automatically. Then announce results: crown your champion, recognize the top three, and thank every family that took part. On Kick For Good, the top three players earn gold, silver and bronze certificates showing exactly how much they raised, and the campaign page becomes the final scoreboard.

Step 9: Thank supporters (the step most clubs skip)

Every supporter should get a receipt automatically, but a personal thank-you is what earns a gift next season. Ask players to send a short text or video: "Thank you, Grandma! We made it to the showcase." It takes a minute and makes a lasting impression.

Step 10: Look at what worked

After the campaign, note which families raised the most and how they shared. You'll usually find the top fundraisers sent personal texts to a long list of people early on. Share that with everyone before your next campaign.

A quick checklist