Running a sports club is more than just training sessions, competitions and team spirit, it’s also about ensuring that there’s enough funding to keep the club going. From purchasing new equipment and uniforms to travel expenses to upgrading training facilities, the costs of keeping a club running smoothly can quickly add up. That’s why fundraising is essential for any sports club looking to succeed.
As summer rolls around, it’s the perfect time for sports clubs to make the most of outdoor spaces and organise a fundraising event. In 2025 however, we’re looking to move past the traditional fundraisers like bake sales, raffles and quizzes and explore some fun, fresh ideas that will get everyone involved. So if your sports club is in need of some new equipment or has a competition coming up, here are 5 fundraising ideas that are guaranteed to boost funds and get the community involved.
1. A Colour Fun Run
Colour runs are exploding in popularity right now and it’s no surprise why. Fun runs encourage a bit of sporty fun while also being accessible for all ages and fitness levels, and when combined with colour powder, they turn into a vibrant event that gets everyone excited. Invite members of the sports clubs, their friends, families and the wider community to get involved in this feel-good event. It doesn’t matter if they walk, jog or run the course, the whole point is to have fun, get covered in colour and raise money for a good cause along the way!
To raise funds, consider charging each participant a small sign-up fee and encourage them to gather sponsorships leading up to the event. On the day, set up stalls selling colour powder packets, colour accessories and food and drink to boost your fundraising total.
If you don’t know where to get started with organising a colour run, check out our fundraising zone where you’ll find plenty of helpful resources and planning guides to make your event a success.
2. Sponsored Challenge
A sponsored challenge is a great way to get members active while also raising money for the club. You could organise a one-off event, such as a sponsored hike or run, or set a target over the course of a month, like running, cycling or walking a certain distance. Supply members of your club with sponsorship forms or access to an online donation page.
If you’re looking to collect donations online for your sponsored challenge (or any fundraising event for that matter!), we recommend using PitchIn Platform – a fundraising platform designed specifically for sports clubs. PitchIn Platform is a simple and effective way to collect donations, working in the same way as other popular fundraising platforms, but with additional reporting, integrations and customisation features.
To keep things fun and add a creative twist to your fundraiser, set various challenges or themed days throughout the event. For example, pick a day where everyone must do their challenge in fancy dress, or another where they need to complete their distance while dribbling a football. Set up an internal social media page or forum where everyone can share videos and updates of their challenges to cheer each other on. This will help keep participants motivated and connected throughout the fundraiser while keeping the energy high as they complete the challenge.
3. Charity Matches
This next idea is one for the parents. Let them swap the sidelines for a chance to be in the spotlight and take part in a charity match of their own! Whether it’s a game of football, rugby, rounders or cricket, this idea is a fun and lighthearted way to get families involved in their child’s favourite sport while raising funds for the club.
Charge each parent taking part an entry fee and encourage them to get sponsors leading up to the event. To raise even more funds, consider making the event ticketed and charge spectators a fee to come along and enjoy the action. You could also host a raffle at half-time or a game such as a penalty shoot out, giving spectators the chance to test their skills for a small donation. To round off the event and keep the atmosphere lively, offer lighthearted prizes like ‘Man of The Match’, ‘Best Goal’ or ‘Top Scorer’.
4. Sports Day
Everybody loved the fun of sports day back in school, so why not bring back the nostalgia by hosting an old-school sports day event for participants of all ages? Adults will be sure to love this idea, getting the chance to take part in sack races, three-legged races, tug of wars and the classic egg and spoon race once more. To turn this event into a fundraiser, charge each participant a sign up fee and offer them the option to gather additional sponsorships for taking part. You could even reach out to local businesses and ask them to sponsor individual races and activities.
You can split people into teams, encouraging them to co-ordinate their outfits with matching colours or themed accessories to add an extra element of creativity to the day. This will also add a competitive, yet lighthearted atmosphere as teams compete against each other to be the overall winner. Hand out medals to race winners after events, saving bigger trophies and prizes until the end of the day when the winning team is announced. This is guaranteed to boost engagement and energy as everyone comes together to cheer on their team mates and do the best they can to be crowned the champions.
If you want to add a creative twist to the day, incorporate colour powder into some of the challenges to brighten up the fun. During a tug of war, both teams could be showered in vibrant colours or as participants race with their egg and spoons, they have to dash through clouds of colour powder. It’s an easy way to make your event more memorable and add an extra element of energy.
5. Colour Fun Day
Why not combine multiple ideas into one and host an unforgettable colour fun day? This vibrant event could kick off with a smaller-scale colour run, setting the tone for a day packed with colourful sports activities and mini games, all wrapped into one action-packed fundraiser.
Offer participants the choice between paying an entry fee per activity or purchasing a full-day pass that grants access to every colourful activity. Boost fundraising by setting up stalls selling bags of colour powder and fun accessories, like sunglasses, visors and whistles. Encourage parents to contribute to the event by baking or cooking and feature plenty of food and drink stalls, with all proceeds going towards the club. To keep the energy high throughout the day, play non-stop, upbeat music that’s sure to keep everyone motivated.
To finish off the festivities, host an epic colour war. Make sure everyone is armed with packets of colour powder, then kick off the battle with a countdown. On one, have everyone throw their powder in the air to create a colour cloud, providing a great photo opportunity! Take things one step further by using a colour fountain to completely spray everyone in rainbow hues of colour. This all-in-one event combines fun and fitness to create unforgettable memories for everyone involved while supporting an important cause.
Here at Ministry of Colours, we’re your one-stop partner for all of your colour powder and fundraising needs. We offer high-quality, authentic colour powder that brings vibrancy and excitement to every event, along with a variety of fun and practical accessories. Beyond products, we also offer a host of fundraising resources and planning guides to help you organise a successful fundraiser with ease.
Whether you’re planning a colour run, sports day or fun day, we’re here to get your event up and running in the most colourful way possible. And remember, if you need an easy and effective way to collect donations for your event, Pitchin Platform is available to assist with their intuitive fundraising tool, designed to make the process straightforward and seamless. If you have any questions about our products or require support getting started with your event, please get in touch with a member of our team.
