Fundraising is essential for sports teams at every level. Whether you’re a high school football team, a youth soccer club, or a community baseball league, funding helps cover equipment costs, travel expenses, and tournament fees. As traditional fundraising methods evolve, sports teams are looking for fresh and engaging ways to raise money. One of the most effective and low-cost strategies gaining traction in 2025 is the “Pick a Date to Donate” calendar fundraiser.
What is a Pick a Date to Donate Calendar Fundraiser?
A Pick a Date to Donate calendar fundraiser is a simple yet powerful way to generate the necessary funds for your team. The concept is unique yet straightforward: you create a calendar with donation amounts corresponding to each day of the month. Supporters pick a date and donate or “sponsor” the amount associated with that day. For example, if someone selects the 14th, they donate $14; if they choose the 29th, they contribute $29. The goal for each fundraiser participant is get donations or sponsors for each day in their calendar.
Why This Fundraiser Works So Well in 2025
1. Easy to Organize and Low-Cost.
Unlike elaborate fundraising events that require months of planning, venues, and volunteers, a calendar fundraiser is incredibly easy to set up. All you need is a simple calendar template, a way to share it (social media, email, or a fundraising platform), and a payment collection method (Venmo, PayPal, or a team website). This makes it ideal for busy coaches, parents, and players. To make things even easier you can use a completely free digital pick a date to donate calendar software to make creating, sharing, and completing your calendar even easier with an online tool.
2. Engages Your Community
People love supporting local teams, and this fundraiser gives them an easy way to contribute without requiring a big commitment. Whether it’s friends, family, or local businesses, this method encourages broad participation, as donors can choose a giving level from $1 to $31 or more (by donating multiple dates) that suits their budget.
3. Encourages Competitive Giving
Because donation amounts vary based on the date, supporters may be inspired to choose a higher date to give a larger amount or to complete the calendar by filling in multiple remaining dates. This playful competition can lead to increased donations. Moreover, when donating or sponsoring days, the donor has their name placed in the date on that calendar to signify that they’ve donated that amount – making it clear to everyone who sees the calendar that they’ve pledged their support. This can help encourage others to donate and follow suit.
4. Works Well With Social Media and Online Platforms
In 2025, digital fundraising is more important than ever. With the rise of cashless payments and social media sharing, teams can quickly reach a larger audience beyond their immediate community. Posting daily updates on social media, recognizing donors, and creating a sense of urgency (e.g., “Only 5 days left!”) can boost engagement and donations. In addition, if using a completely digital calendar fundraiser solution, you can share a link to your calendar directly to social media, via text, or by email making it easier than ever to get the word out.
5. Generates a Predictable Fundraising Total
If all 30 or 31 days of the calendar are claimed, teams can easily calculate how much they will raise. For example, a full 30-day calendar could bring in $465, while a 31-day month totals $496. This predictability helps teams budget for upcoming expenses with confidence.
Tips for a Successful Calendar Fundraiser
- Make It Fun: Create themes, offer prizes for the biggest donors, integrate incentives for the most money fundraised, or host a celebration once your goal is reached.
- Get the Whole Team Involved: Have each player promote the calendar to their network to maximize participation.
- Express Gratitude: Publicly thank donors through social media shout-outs or handwritten notes, or go a step further and offer themed and relevant thank you gifts.
With minimal effort, low overhead, and high engagement potential, the Pick a Date to Donate calendar fundraiser is a winning play for sports teams in 2025. Give it a try and watch your team score big in fundraising success!
