For some teams, the joy of qualifying for an end-of-season tournament or "Super Bowl" is sometimes diminished when reality hits.
With the postseason comes travel costs. Teams need to rent buses and stay in motels. Some even board planes to head to tournaments.
"Fundraising is the lifeblood of any successful youth organization and we realize it can be challenging," said USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck. "As the national governing body, we work to help folks running leagues by sharing best practices for fundraising, and we believe we've found the best fundraiser out there."
BRAX Spirit CupsTM - the official fundraising partner of USA Football - stands among the most successful programs.
The 18-ounce cups with 3-D graphics feature NFL, NCAA, and MLB teams, and are sold in packs of four. NFL team cups are far and away the most popular sellers. Key positives of the program are that the league controls all proceeds from the sales and no upfront money is required.
A set of four cups sells for $12, with $4 from each set sold going back to the organization.
Over the years, USA Football has learned that successful fundraising campaigns depend on the product being sold and BRAX Spirit CupsTM have delivered results.
Jim Hibbs, fundraising coordinator of the Bennetts Creek (Suffolk, Va.) Football Association, reports that his league annually clears close to $10,000 in profit.
"Our organization has been around for more than 60 years and the Spirit Cups are our No. 1 fundraiser, hands down," Hibbs said. "It's what we use to build up funds to run our operation for the whole year. We've been with BRAX for the last three years, and we'll continue to stay with them as long as they keep making cups."
For David Ivey, president of Pop Warner's North Brevard (Fla.) Hawks, the Spirit Cup fundraiser is a ‘must have.'
"I've been around youth football for almost 13 years, and they didn't have fundraising like this back when I started," Ivey said. "I have two kids, and I know how a parent can feel about this stuff - selling candy and all that.
"But the Spirit Cups are far and away the best fundraiser we've ever done. The cups are easy to sell and they sell themselves. I'd recommend the Spirit Cups to any youth organization."
Fundraising Tips from the Experts:
- Select a fundraising coordinator to "captain" the campaign to keep all records and meetings on schedule.
- Hold a meeting with all parents who are participating in the fundraiser and clearly explain your fundraising goals and expectations of each participant.
- Set a team goal and emphasize to the parents the amount of money you will raise if each reaches the mapped-out goal.
- Remind parents that 80 percent of sales usually come through their relationships with friends, co-workers and family members. Work environments are the perfect place to bring a sign-up brochure. Encourage those who buy to tell a friend.
- Limit the length of the fundraising effort to three weeks or less. This allows your efforts to be focused and maintain enthusiasm.
To learn more about successful fundraising, log on to spiritcups.com.