Fundraising ideas for sports clubs
Clubs have what most groups don’t: clubrooms, a bar, game days and local businesses that already know them. Sponsorship, club nights and gaming-trust grants carry most club budgets.
Raffles and housie at the club are usually Class 1 or 2. A bar at a public event needs the right licence, and a club licence usually covers members and guests only.
Best return for your time
- Community trust grants (Foundation North, Trust Waikato, Toi Foundation, BayTrust, Rātā and others)$750/hrtypically $15,000 per grantRegional trusts (mostly from the old trustee savings banks) fund community groups in their region.Weeks of part-time work, No permit, 1–2 people
- Class 4 gaming trust grants (NZCT, Lion Foundation, Pub Charity, Aotearoa Gaming Trust, Four Winds and others)$526/hrtypically $5,000 per grantGrants from pokie-machine proceeds for equipment, uniforms, travel and running costs of community groups.A few evenings’ work, No permit, 1–2 people
- Sport NZ Rural Travel Fund (via councils)$500/hrtypically $1,500 per grantSmall subsidies for rural junior teams' travel to local competitions.An afternoon’s work, No permit, 1–2 people
- Sport NZ Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa (via regional sports trusts)$357/hrtypically $5,000 per grantFunding for play, active recreation and sport for 5-18 year olds, especially those who are less active.A few evenings’ work, No permit, 1–2 people
- Live auction$333/hrtypically $10,000 per eventA few high-value lots sold by an auctioneer from the stage during an event.Weeks of part-time work, No permit, 3–6 helpers
- Council community and local-board grants$300/hrtypically $3,000 per grantDistrict and city councils (and Auckland local boards) give small community grants, often in fixed rounds.A few evenings’ work, No permit, 1–2 people
- Business donation (no advertising in return)$286/hrtypically $1,000 per sponsorA company gives money to a donee organisation without expecting advertising.An afternoon’s work, No permit, 1–2 people
- Pick-a-number board or envelope wall$286/hrtypically $2,000 per campaignA board of numbered envelopes or squares (e.g. 1-100); people pick one and give that many dollars.An afternoon’s work, No permit, 1–2 people
Something different
Less common ideas that stand out because people haven’t seen them ten times already.
- Gala dinner or charity ball · typically $60,000 · big charities do it; small groups rarely try
- Long lunch · typically $40,000 · mostly corporate; uncommon for community groups
- Online raffle (Class 3 licensed) · typically $15,000 · licensed big-prize raffles are run by few groups
- Restaurant fundraising dinner · typically $15,000 · a treat night that most groups haven't tried
- Community festival or fair on a park or reserve · typically $5,000 · a big undertaking that few groups take on
- Personal endurance challenge · typically $5,000 · rare and personal, which makes it newsworthy
* General fundraising information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Money figures are examples and estimates, not promises. Check current official requirements before you commit. About this guide