Fundraising Opportunities to Finance Your Sports Tours

There are many ways to raise money for sports tours abroad.  Here are a few ideas with which we have had personal success.

1. Contact family and friends- Send out a letter that describes the trip you will be taking and what kinds of activities you will be participating in.  Friends and family will be happy to hear about your adventures and will most likely want to help out however they can.  Family and friends are sometimes unaware that these big events are even going on, so all they need is a little update.
    
2. Car washes- Choose a few weekends during the summer, fall and spring, when you can organize team car washes.  The only costs you will need to consider are some old rags, buckets, towels, soap and sponges.  Gas stations and school parking lots are usually good places to facilitate this type of fundraiser, but be sure to get permission before going through with the car wash. 
   
   
3. 50/50 Raffles- Whoever has the winning ticket gets half of the money in the raffle, and the other half will go to your team.  These raffles are great because of how easy they are to set up.
    
4. Raffles or silent auctions with donated prizes- If members of your team, family or friends have certain things they are willing to donate; these kinds of raffles are often times very successful.  For example, if a family has a time share at a summer house, ski passes, free airline tickets, concert tickets etc. see if they are willing to help out.   These big prizes usually attract a lot of interest and money.
    
5. Contact local corporations- Local businesses are often times willing to sponsor teams in these kinds of endeavors.  If you present a good image and prepare a nice presentation, then it is in these companies interest to help you out and advertise their names/products at the same time.
    
6. Lacrosse/soccer clinics- Over the summer or on the weekends try to organize a few youth clinics at your school.  Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the U.S. and younger kids love learning from high school athletes.  You only need to make the clinics 2-3 hours long and you will be surprised how much interest you will generate through flyers, signs and word of mouth.
   
   
7. Contact local restaurants- Choose a couple local restaurants in town and see if they would be willing to host a night where a percentage of the money made would go towards your team’s trip.  If you spread the word and promise to bring in a lot of business, it is in their best interest to help you out.