If you truly want your hockey fundraisers to thrive, it’s vital to build a loyal base of supporters. This applies whether you’re raising money for a local team, an unprofessional league, or a charity.
Having staunch supporters in place can have an enormous impact on outcomes. To find out how to assemble and maintain such fans, read on.
In this blog post, we’ll present seven tips that will aid you in both building and nurturing a passionate supporter base for your hockey fundraisers. Ready? Let’s go! It’s time for your hockey fundraisers to reach new heights.
Building a strong supporter base for hockey fundraisers requires engagement with the sport’s community. Linking up and working with people who love the game can make a huge difference to how much you raise.
Start by contacting local teams, coaches, and players. Go to games or tournaments and set up a stall where you can tell people about your fundraising campaign.
Think about connecting with sports shops or ice rinks linked to the game in your area – they may be willing to work with you.
Use social media sites popular among supporters of hockey clubs and teams; from there, share progress towards fundraising goals as well as success stories involving them.
Encourage backers not only to give money but also to get behind your efforts by sharing their own connections to the sport and why they care so passionately about what you are trying to achieve.
Work hard at building links within this community and use it as a way of putting down roots while inspiring others to do what they can when it comes time to raise cash.
If you want to build a big fanbase for your ice hockey fundraisers, social media is the tool you need. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter will help you reach large numbers of people who love the sport.
Create posts that show what you want to achieve with your fundraising and share stories that inspire people to get involved. Don’t forget videos and photos showing what donations can do, too.
Ask fans to share your posts – this means they pass them on so their friends see them – which can really boost numbers. You could also ask well-known ice hockey figures or websites to do a quick post about your appeal.
Use ‘#’ signs before words related to either ice hockey or raising funds (or both) when posting on platforms like Twitter and Instagram. This helps more people find your page and shows related articles or images.
Why not try doing an online Q&A session using something like Zoom? Or how about holding a live video event – say via Facebook Live?
Doing things like this gives followers a chance to feel part of a group – it’s much easier helping an organization if supporters feel connected.
If you want your hockey fundraisers to be successful, think about using email marketing and newsletters. They are a really effective way to build a strong base of supporters.
Email allows you direct contact with potential donors and is perfect for providing them with updates, stories, and opportunities to give.
To begin, it’s important to create an engaging email list – this can be done through sign-ups on your website or at community events.
Consider segmenting the list according to people’s interests or how involved they are in the local hockey scene so that you can tailor content more effectively.
One option would be to send regular newsletters that highlight success stories, as well as flagging up any upcoming events or ways that people could get involved. The use of customer narratives and images will help capture attention if used correctly.
To encourage sign-up, it might also be worth considering offering exclusive perks or discounts for those who subscribe.
By regularly emailing your supporters like this, you’ll have created a direct line of communication between yourself and them – helping foster a sense of community among them while keeping interest alive in terms of their continued support for your hockey fundraisers.
To create a powerful fan base for hockey fundraisers and build support, make your communications personal. Your supporters want to feel like they matter and are connected to the cause that they’re supporting.
Start by segmenting your donor list based on interests, past involvement, or donation history so you can tailor messages. Use personalized email greetings (Dear Janine ) and first-name references in any written correspondence.
Share success stories or testimonials that show how their contributions have made an impact.
Engage with them on social media — individually responding to comments and direct messages on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram will help you forge connections.
Handwritten notes expressing gratitude for support can also be effective, as can old-fashioned phone calls.
Demonstrate that appreciation in a genuine way — not just because it’s good manners but because most donors like being part of something close-knit.
The deeper the connection, the more likely someone is to stick around for future campaigns; the more closely tied they feel to what you stand for, usually the larger contributions they’re willing to consider making.
For instance, sending out an email thanking returning donors specifically for continuing support would be one thought about what this principle means in practice.
Sharing specific updates about where their donations have made a difference (scholarships provided, equipment purchased) could be another idea.
Are you a fundraising whiz with a hockey team to support? Then, it’s time to get cracking on some sharp team-building events.
No, really. These events can help shape the foundation of your fundraising strategy: building an army of loyal supporters.
What better way to do that than by inviting your fundraisers and potential donors – not to mention die-hard supporters – along for some fun?
Not only will they meet other members of the fundraising dream team, but they’ll also get to see first-hand how much skill and passion is involved in this sport we all love so much.
From friendly pick-up games or skills competitions right through to hosting mini-tournaments … there’s plenty you can pack into these pre-determined time slots. And don’t forget that businesses might want to sponsor them or be invited along as guests.
Consider putting together post-game socials where people have more chance – away from the rink – to find out what you’re doing with the money you raise.
Or perhaps show off the merchandise (think T-shirts or official team gear) available for sale as part of raising funds.
Introducing regular options like this not only builds their sense of community around what you’re trying to achieve – but taps into their shared love for hockey.
If you want to build up strong support for your hockey fundraising campaign, try offering incentives.
People love getting something in return when they donate or help out, so it’s a powerful technique – and one that can work especially well if you’re trying to attract new supporters.
You could offer special merchandise – like signed memorabilia or team shirts – as an incentive for people who give over a certain amount.
Another option might be organizing meet-and-greet sessions with players or coaches. For example, you could run an event where donors get the chance to have a friendly game with professionals.
And don’t forget about establishing reward programs: they encourage recurring donations.
Giving your donors some recognition and thanks is important, too – feature their names on social media shout-outs, put donor plaques up at the arena, etc.
These kinds of things not only incentivize individuals but also create camaraderie and loyalty within your supporter base.
Demonstrating the zeal of your team is a key element in forging a strong network of backers for hockey fundraisers. Supporters who see how ardent and committed your team is are more likely to get involved with and support what you’re doing.
One way to demonstrate this passion is through effective storytelling. Share tales about how playing hockey has changed the lives of your players, or talk about things your team has had to overcome on or off the ice.
You could do this by posting on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, writing blog posts, shooting short videos that you then put online, or even using live streaming tools such as Periscope (owned by Twitter) or Facebook Live.
Another suggestion would be staging events that will allow supporters to witness – up close and personal – just how passionate your squad really is.
Think along the lines of open practices or exhibition games where fans can chat with players, ask questions about what they’re trying to achieve through fundraising efforts, and generally find out more about them.
The idea behind exposing the genuine adoration for all things puck-related that exists within your unit’s ranks centers around attracting those individuals who feel exactly the same way: connected enough emotionally with both cause and effect that they’ll back everything else up wholeheartedly.
Mastering the art of gathering hockey fundraisers’ fans is a must if you want your fundraising campaign to take off. The good news? There’s already a whole community of fans out there who are just as nuts about the sport as you are.
If you’re watching from the stands, partnering with local businesses, or hitting social media, reaching out to fans and players will be at the center of your game plan. By showcasing that passion on behalf of your team, you’ll inspire others and create a sense of belonging.
But remember: building these relationships takes time and energy – this won’t happen overnight. Keep at it, though, because by creating this devoted group around what we’re trying to do here in hockey, we can make some noise together!
