10 winning fundraising ideas for sports teams in an NCAA revenue sharing era

Whether you’re gearing up for your next big sports fundraising campaign or specifically searching for football fundraising ideas, these 10 creative approaches help build lasting alumni and donor relationships. They tap into digital tools like sports fundraising software and align with the new era of NCAA revenue sharing.

1. Activate your alumni network

Tap into your already-passionate network of former athletes, coaches, and fans with an alumni network. Alumni networking platforms like Athlete Network lets you rally your network into one virtual place, making it easy to meaningfully engage and solicit at scale. Use the platform to put in place targeted and automated email and social media campaigns. Consider hosting an alumni giving drive where each class competes to raise the most, with the winner receiving tickets to this season’s biggest games or meet-and-greets with the team.

By giving alumni insight into how their gifts will be used within the athletic program, highlighting things like scholarships and equipment, you are more likely to see participation. 

2. Host online clinics to raise funds & build community

Invite star players or coaches to run online clinics for local youth. Charge a registration fee and offer tiered packages. Promote through your team’s website and social channels and integrate sports fundraising software to automate invites, process payments, and track sign-ups—so coaches can focus on coaching.

3. Put stars in the spotlight with personalized video messaging

By leveraging video messaging tools like Gratavid, you can have top players, coaches, well-known alumni and even superfans easily record videos to increase donor engagement and giving – think personal invite to a gala or a giving day — like this example from the University of Northwestern.

4. Organize a fantasy football camp

This timeless football fundraising idea brings fans onto the practice field for drills, scrimmages, and playbook breakdowns. Package it with a team dinner and silent auction. Sell limited spots at premium rates, then amplify follow-up with personalized donor thank you videos, creating a memorable touch that encourages recurring support.

5. Run a 50/50 raffle at games for instant donations

Simple, high-engagement and perfect for any sport. Sell raffle tickets both in-stadium and online using embedded giving forms. Draw at halftime or quarter-breaks, splitting proceeds 50/50 between the winner and your program. It’s an instant revenue booster and a great way to collect donor data for future campaigns.

6. Launch a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign to tap into athletes’ competitive spirit

Empower athletes and student leaders to fundraise on your behalf. Advance from Gravyty can help by creating individual crowdfunding pages and donation forms that are easy to share across social media. Track progress, highlight top fundraisers each week, and celebrate milestones in an email newsletter. Winners can get small prizes like signed team gear.

7. Educate donors on NCAA revenue sharing (& what it means for your school)

Show donors exactly where their dollars go by hosting a short webinar on NCAA revenue sharing—how conference payouts trickle down to scholarships, travel, and facilities. Pair this with a live giving moment during the event. Providing transparency boosts trust and often unlocks larger gifts from savvy alumni who appreciate the breakdown.

8. Raise money through limited-edition team merchandise

Partner with local vendors to design limited-edition jerseys, hoodies, or fan gear. Open pre-orders before the season, giving supporters exclusive early access to not only raise funds but also spread team pride citywide. Use easy, branded checkout through online giving forms.

9. Build Sponsor-a-Player programs with local businesses

Match players with local businesses: sponsors cover that athlete’s travel, equipment, or performance analytics in exchange for logo placement on social media, jerseys or stadium signage. An athletics alumni platform can automate this so it’s not a manual slog for your team. Use sports fundraising software to manage sponsor tiers, automate invoices, and deliver periodic impact reports.

10. Use AI and alumni fundraising software to scale impact

AI may sound like another fundraising buzzword, but when used well, AI fundraising tools can change the game for your athletics team now tasked with raising hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Raise from Gravyty uses AI to prioritize top donors with the highest likelihood to give—or give more—by combining through databases. Untether your team to focus on building relationships by reducing manual time required to scale campaigns.