Being a hockey mom is a multi-dimensional role that spans a wide range of activities. Whether it’s waking up in the early hours on cold weekend mornings to drive to practice, airing out sweaty equipment between games or wincing a little every time her son or daughter takes a spill on the ice, hockey moms have a lot on their plates.
For many hockey moms, fundraising is a big part of their hockey mom duties, and for good reason. Hockey players wear equipment from head to toe, and it’s not cheap. When you add the cost of registrations, ice time, hockey tournaments and the fact that many kids need new equipment each year as they grow, fundraising becomes an activity that’s more necessity than anything else. Luckily, there are many fundraising ideas for hockey moms to consider when setting up a campaign, so the opportunity to raise money is always there.
The Old Standbys
There are a several hockey fundraising ideas that keep getting used over and over again, and it’s because they are effective at raising money. Some of the most popular ones include:
- Car Washes
- Dances for Parents
- Pub Nights or Bowling Nights
- Garage Sales
- Golf Tournaments
- Selling Raffle Tickets
- Community Barbecue
- Bottle Drive
- Create and Sell Cookbooks by Hockey Moms
- Skate-a-thon
- Bake Sales
- Bingo Night
Look for Local Sponsors
If you have connections in the local business community, you might be able to persuade some businesses to sell certain products or services to you at cost so you can sell them for a profit at your sales. This may take some finessing and powers of persuasion, but most hockey-loving communities will have at least a handful of businesses that are willing to help in this way. Local businesses can also donate items that you can use as the prize for your raffles.
Taking it Online
A unique fundraising idea for hockey moms is to take the operation online and delve into the world of affiliate marketing. Thousands of companies from around the world have affiliate programs, which means you get paid for referring customers to a business. This is accomplished via website traffic through a special affiliate link, and you get a commission on any sales that are made through that link. You can also sell your own products such as cookbooks and tickets online for a greater reach.
Many affiliate marketers use a blog to attract visitors, and then have their affiliate links in banner ads in various spots throughout the blog posts. The beautiful thing about using affiliate marketing as a fundraising idea is that it can be ongoing, and the subject matter can be anything you enjoy writing about. There are many hockey-related affiliate programs such as this one, but you can create a blog about any subject under the sun and find affiliate products to generate money year-round.
Important Tips to Keep in Mind
When it comes to fundraising, hockey moms should keep a handful of important tips in mind in order to be as successful as possible. Some of the most useful tips include:
- Staying organized throughout each campaign
- Showing volunteers why the fundraising effort is worthwhile
- Targeting the right audience for your campaign
- Being creative and using fresh ideas
- Creating different types of fundraisers throughout the season
- Developing a thick skin and a lot of patience
No one ever said fundraising was easy. In fact, finding just the right fundraising ideas for hockey moms can be incredibly challenging. The key is to remember why you’re doing it, and everything will work out just fine.
