Host a bowling event as a fundraiser
Most communities have a commercial bowling alley in their area. These business establishments are always looking for ways to increase their income, so partnering with your charity for a bowling-type event is quite possible.
Most bowling establishments rely on leagues for most of their revenue, but like all businesses, they have downtime. Your event can help them during that downtime.
There are several ways to structure the event:
- Charge an entrance fee. $25 to $100 is the usual amount.
- Have bowlers get pledges to help meet the gate fee amounts. These can be for a defined amount or for the total number of pins thrown by the participant. If you use total pin commitment, have the minimum commitment for the total input of at least one dollar. Since most bowlers average 150 pins per game. Your total of three games can be close to $500 each.
- You need to award prizes. In addition to prizes for the best overall score, you must award prizes for the total money raised. You can also increase your profits by offering a turkey shot. The first bowler to have three strikes in a row during a game wins half the pot. Players are asked to contribute a small sum, usually $5 or $10, to participate.
- Finally you can have a designated sponsor. For the sum of $500, a local business can have the event called XYZ bowl-a-thon
- Since this is an indoor event, the best time of year to hold it is in the winter months, although a charity bowling event can be held at any time.
- For publicity, distribute flyers several weeks before the event to the various leagues. If you are using a bowling pledge system, distribute pledge sheets to participants at least two weeks before the event.
- If your organization has a website, set up a page for the event and of course let the local media know about it.
My old Rotary club in Northern Virginia has now hosted this tournament for the past several years. They clear over $5000 each time they run it.
