Organizing a community sports event requires good planning. You will need to put together a budget of all the costs before you even commit to setting a date. The financial picture has to be clear so you know what funds you will need.

You will need to find a suitable venue and know what is available at the venue. You will need to build in contingencies for unexpected costs, which often come up when planning a community sports event. The cost of facilities, equipment, referees and promoting a community sports event can all add up. Having a financial game plan ensures that your expenses will stay in check and the event will be a successful one.

Enlist support from local businesses

Community sporting events rely on the generosity of donors and supporters. Local businesses can benefit from more visibility by supporting a community sports event. It’s a win-win situation because you raise funds and the local business gets involved in the community and gains some good publicity.

Using digital score tables from Sideline Interactive can help you to raise funds from local businesses easily and effectively. Having a scorer’s table for a community match naturally attracts businesses who want to have their company logo and advertisement on display. The initial investment in such a scoreboard is nothing compared to the amount of money it can raise from local businesses. You can create different levels of sponsorships to meet their varying needs and budgets.

Use digital fundraising options

The more donation options you give to potential donors, the more likely you are to receive the funds you need. You can choose an online donation platform, set up a donation form and direct donors to it through newspapers, social media posts, etc. It is also possible to choose a text-to-give software provider that allows you to set up a unique phone number for donors to give money.

You could also have a campaign to raise funds on social media. For instance, “kick an unhealthy habit” fundraiser can work very well when raising funds for a sports event. Encourage supporters to donate the money they would normally spend on sugary snacks, coffee, soda etc. For the duration of the challenge, you could share motivational messages to inspire participants.

Partner with other organizations

For organizations that own indoor or outdoor facilities, hiring them out can be an important source of income for them. A local school may have an indoor gymnasium that would be perfect for a community event. You could even negotiate a special rate to use it for a community event.

If you partner with an organization that has a venue, you could arrange to share event profits with it in exchange for using the venue for free. Partnering with local food trucks offers a convenient way to provide food and beverages for your event and they are likely to be eager to participate if you can guarantee a good crowd.

Use a crowdfunding platform

Crowdfunding is another way to gather donations. All you need to do is to start a campaign using a crowdfunding platform. You can share the donation page for your event far and wide with community members and the more the campaign spreads, the more funds it will bring in.

Using a crowdfunding platform for an event means you can build support and offer perks. You can expand your offerings to other items like shirts or water bottles. Various mini-events can help you to attract an audience and build excitement before the main event. You can add various perks as your campaign builds popularity and followers.