Fundraising is a tricky business, especially if you don't have any experience in drumming up extra cash for a good cause. And if you're involved with a non-league football club, it's something you'll need to get to grips with sooner rather than later.
The good news is that there are a few interesting options available when it comes to raising funds. Here are a handful of tactics to try out to keep your club afloat.
Get A Sponsor
It may sound obvious, but the simplest way to support your team effectively is to seek outside sponsorship. And you may be surprised by the number of organisations that will be willing to help out.
From local retailers to successful online businesses like http://reelbonanza.com/, inking a deal with a commercial sponsor could be your ticket to financial security.
In terms of courting sponsors, try to tailor your offerings to suit the business in question. You could agree to give away branded products through your social media accounts, use your website to link to the sponsor's own online presence, or provide exclusive discounts to fans through the partnership. Think outside the box and the sponsors will come running.
Make Match Days Special
You can have all the sponsorship in the world, but unless people are turning up to games, it will be hard to maintain these relationships. And building a loyal following is about more than just scoring goals and impressing on the pitch.
You need to engage with your fans directly by making match days feel like a real event. Sell kit, provide access to tasty food and drink, or even hold fundraising promotions based around the game itself.
Work with volunteers where possible and try to drum up interest in the club, along with a bit of cash, by any means necessary. You could run a car washing scheme for people who turn up each week, operate a bake sale or even a car boot. The options are endless if you put your mind to it.
The fact is that people are willing to put up with a lot to watch non-league football, even in blizzard conditions. You should do all you can to reward their commitment.
Engage During the Off Season
While you might wish that the season would last throughout the year, all good things must come to an end. But that doesn't mean that your fundraising efforts should take a break as well.
Set up events to run during the summer when matches are not being played. You could host a fair or fete with entertainment, refreshments, foot stalls and stands selling your merchandise.
This is not only good for the club from a financial perspective, but will get the community involved. You could even run a small tournament with other teams in the area to act as the focal point during the day. Just try to avoid team sheet confusion unless you want to earn national media attention.
Generate Media Coverage
Of course media outlets can be your biggest allies if you want to raise funds for your non-league club. And the best way to get their attention is to jump on the bandwagon of an existing national event. You could even create one of your own that will help you stand out from the crowd.
From giving a discount to fans who bring their dogs on Non-League Day to participating in other charity drives like Sports Relief, you can always find something to get involved with. Contacting the local press to let them know about what you are up to, or even getting on the radar of the nationals, will be much easier this way.
Harness Your Resources
Having access to a place to train and play can be great for your club in terms of its prowess on the field. But if these facilities are just sitting there throughout the week without being used, you are missing an opportunity to make some money.
Hiring out pitches to other groups and organisations is an obvious solution, and it can do more for the club than just improving its balance sheet. You might be able to get people interested in joining up and becoming involved if they see what kind of experiences are on offer and the team spirit you foster.
