Fundraising ideas to support your club and its community

Fundraising can play a vital role in helping clubs grow and thrive, bridging gaps in income and creating new opportunities for your community.

Whether you’re raising money for new equipment, facility improvements, or team experiences, the impact goes far beyond finances. Done well, fundraising can bring your community together and strengthen the sense of belonging within your club.

To help you get started, we’ve put together a range of fundraising ideas, from simple wins to more creative approaches. There’s something here for every club, no matter your size or setup.

Outside the box – quick and easy fundraising ideas

Sometimes, the most effective fundraisers are the simplest. These ideas are easy to organise, low-cost to run, and great for getting your whole community involved.

• Smarties challenge – give families a tube of Smarties and ask them to return it filled with coins
• Pre-loved leotard or kit sale
• Wear your PJs to training
• Movie and pizza nights
• Watch weeks or squad displays
• Coach challenge – set a fundraising target and, if it’s hit, the coach takes on a fun forfeit
• Game day car wash
• Rent-a-Team – offer help with jobs like gardening or cleaning
• Dance-off or talent show
• Club or team calendars
• Team picnic or BBQ
• Bring-a-friend training sessions
• Car boot sales at events
• Spare change collections
• Skill challenges – penalty shoot-outs, dribbling challenges, or ‘beat the coach’
• World record attempts – fun and memorable challenges
• Sponsored clean-up events
• Reverse raffles
• Dunk tank – always a crowd favourite

The key is to choose ideas that suit your club and feel enjoyable to take part in. The more engaged your community is, the more successful your fundraising is likely to be.

Making fundraising work for your club

Fundraising isn’t just about the activity itself, it’s about how you bring people into it.

A few simple principles can make a big difference:

• Keep it inclusive – involve parents, grandparents, carers, and the wider community
• Make it social – the best fundraisers double as community events
• Be clear on the goal – people are more likely to contribute when they know what they’re supporting
• Keep it simple to take part – the easier it is, the more people will get involved

Clubs that approach fundraising as a shared experience, rather than just a financial exercise, often see the strongest results.

Supporting your fundraising efforts

As your club grows, having simple ways to organise events, communicate with your community, and manage contributions can make fundraising feel much more manageable.

Thrive4 supports clubs in bringing these elements together, helping you run fundraising activities in a way that feels organised, accessible, and easy for your community to engage with.

That means less time coordinating and more time focusing on creating events people genuinely want to be part of.

It doesn’t have to be complicated

With the right ideas and a strong sense of community, even small initiatives can have a meaningful impact. Start with something simple, build momentum, and involve your community at every step.

Over time, these efforts don’t just raise funds, they help build a stronger, more connected club.