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Fundraising Golf  Tournaments

Fundraising tournaments usually do not raise a lot of money but they do require a lot of work. So, one needs to ask is the work effort involved worth the effort given the expenses and potentially a limited return for the effort?

Fundraising events is a good moneymaker if they are managed well and there frequency allows for it to be considered special in the minds of donors as well as the organizers. If not don’t do it. Donors will burn out quickly with too many invitations. They will see the next event as just that…the next event.

A fundraising tournament is normally limited to 144 golfers. It is expected that there will be refreshments on the course for the golfers as they play through. A charity fundraising tournament will frequently generate a number of participants who do not play golf. This can be problematic as the golfer doesn’t really enjoy the experience and neither do those people playing behind them. It is fun for a little while and then it is a pain for everyone.

Organizers often try to supplement the fundraising by setting up a fundraising table with a silent auction where individuals can bid for each item on display. Of course companies or individuals have donated these items so there is no cost to the tournament just straight profit.

Larger items can such as tables, chairs, barbeques, lawn mowers, golf clubs, boats, etc. can be donated by individuals or companies and these gifts may generate a tax receipt for the donor based upon the final value raised for the particular item at the auction. The tournament organizers should check this out and make this known went soliciting for the tournament silent auction or the prize table.

The prize table is where most tournaments try to have a prize for everyone involved in the tournament.  The winners of the fundraising event select from the prize table first followed by everyone else so the last group or two gets the “leftovers”. Not always the best solution.

Perhaps the winners of the fundraising tournament should be given a specific prize the following prizes are awarded by a “draw” of some other means. Believe it or not, prizes are important to most event participants.

The biggest drawback for hosting a fundraising golf tournament is the weather. The weather can’t be controlled and so a “Plan B” needs to be in place in the event that the golf tournament is rained out…more on that in a later posting.  So when it comes to fundraising golf tournaments the bottom line is…plan well and hope for the best!

Well, that’s the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon
Master Financial Planning Services Inc.