Cheerleading Fundraising

About Cheerleading Fundraising

Cheerleading is certainly fun, but is isn't all fun and games. If you're part of a reasonably active squad, you're going to need uniforms, shoes, equipment and more. You're also going to need transportation to away games, competitions and other events. You may even need to stay in hotel rooms for multiple day events. All of these things cost money, and few cheerleaders are prepared to handle these expenses all on their own. That's where cheerleading fundraising comes in.

Fundraising can help your team make up the shortfall where school or organizational funding leaves off. A well-run fundraiser can turn a healthy profit, but a poorly run sale can wind up costing you money. Find out how to properly plan for your needs and how to raise those much needed funds to keep your squad going.

Setting Your Budget

What will your needs be for the coming year?

Travel Expenses

The first step in figuring this out is to set a schedule. When you know how many away games you'll need transportation for, you can plan this expense into your budget. You'll need to do the same for parades, competitions and any other events your cheer squad will attend. Don't forget to research the cost of hotel rooms if overnights are involved.

Uniforms and Equipment

Will the squad try to defray the cost purchasing and cleaning uniforms or will it be left up to the individuals? What about equipment? Are last year's pom poms going to need replacing, and what about safety mats? Make a thorough check of all of these items and figure out what must be replaced and what can be used for one more year.

Clinics and Camps

A trip to a cheer clinic or camp can really raise the performance level of your team. Most find these events well worth the cost, but they're one more thing you must plan into your budget.

Miscellaneous Expenses

No matter how well you plan, unexpected expenses will crop up. Maybe the parent carpool dissolves the week before you head to camp. It may become necessary to charter a van or bus for the trip. Equipment gets lost and uniforms sometimes rip. Even if you just want to stop at a restaurant during a road trip, you're going to need extra funds. By raising extra money through cheerleading fundraising for a "rainy day" fund, you can cover some of these unexpected costs aside from your yearly budget.

Fundraising Ideas

There's almost no limit to the number of fundraising activities your team can participate in. This is especially good news since it isn't always possible to raise all the money you'll need from a single event. By planning a variety of fundraising activities, members can avoid fundraiser burnout, and the community will be more apt to participate in fresh events.

Here are a number of fundraising ideas you can try:

• Citrus Sales: Approach your local green grocer and ask if the store would be willing to sell you cases of oranges and grapefruits at cost so you can resell them at a profit. Create a simple flyer that states the cost per case, the exact type of fruit, the number of cases ordered and a delivery date and location. Be sure to give your sponsor credit on the flyer. Some free advertising creates good will and may generate future sales for the grocer. To protect the team from a loss, make sure the grocer will allow you to order only the number of cases you pre-sell and pay for them once you've collected payments from your customers.
• Car Washes: Many local businesses are open to letting you hook up a hose to their outside faucet and wash customers' vehicles. Try approaching oil change shops, fast food restaurants and gas stations with this idea. You'll need to provide your own buckets, sponges, soap and towels. Be sure to make a few large signs to help advertise the event to passersby.
• Movie Night: If your school has the proper facilities, a screen and DVD equipment, ask if you can have a movie night fundraiser. Plan to rent a very recent movie that is suitable for your audience, advertise the event in your school newspaper and sell tickets. You might even want to sell popcorn and lemonade at the event to increase your profits.
• Sponsor a Cheerleading Clinic: Organize a two hour clinic to teach basic cheerleading skills to younger girls and boys. Not only will you make a profit on your registrations, you'll create a feeder program to keep the squad going.

Now that your wheels are turning, you can probably think of dozens more ways to raise money for your squad.

Getting Approval

No matter which fundraisers you choose, you need approval from your coach and school/sponsor before you set your plans in motion. When everyone understands and agrees to the same plan, things run smoother.

Safety Tips

The following safety tips should be kept in mind while participating in cheerleading fundraising.

• Never work alone. Whether you're going door-to-door or setting up booths at local business, always work in pairs and preferably in larger groups.
• Never collect money without a parent or other adult from your organization present to help.
• Schedule your events for daytime whenever possible.

Cheerleading fundraising is hard but necessary work. However, you can take some of drudgery out of it by planning well and sticking to your yearly budget. This will help your team keep fundraising in the background and fun in the forefront of your activities as it should be.

If you held a great fundraiser for your squad, share it with us in the comments box below.