Gymnastics competitions and other events can be great ways to build team spirit and improve your gymnasts’ skills. But in addition to regular class fees, the cost for these added activities can be difficult for some of your students to afford. Of course, your gymnastics school can’t just foot the bill, either. The solution? Fundraisers! Okay, we hear your groans, but did you know that a fundraiser doesn’t have to mean high-pressured sales or door-to-door cold calls? It doesn’t have to mean a major time commitment, either — from you or your gymnasts’ parents. And — here’s the kicker — they can even be — drumroll, please — fun! Yes, we’re serious! And no, it’s not too good to be true.
Parents’ Night Out
Parents get to go out without their kids for the evening, and your gymnastics school gets to raise money: it’s a win-win! Basically, your staff and older students provide babysitting services at your gym in exchange for payment. You’ll need to plan ahead by advertising and having food available for the kids as well as activities for the evening. You’ll also want to have some kind of sign in and/or waiver for parents to sign as well as a way to keep track of the kids who come.
This event should last between 3 and 4 hours, allowing parents enough time to grab dinner and a movie. Depending on your local economy, plan to charge around $60 per family (give or take $20). Be sure to point out how much they’ll be saving by not having to pay for the kids’ meals or movie tickets! (We’re pretty sure they’ll note an extra benefit to dropping them off before they go out, too.)
The JackRabbit Events Calendar will make RSVPs simple too, allowing you to know ahead of time how many kids will be attending your Date Night event.
Family Night Out
A little less labor intensive than the Parents’ Night Out, a Family Night Out event requires partnering with a local restaurant, who will turn over a certain percentage of their profits for a given day or evening. You’ll want to be sure to advertise well in advance of your event and request permission to set up a table for added donations. (If you choose a sit-down restaurant, make sure to inform your guests that they should still tip servers, even if they also wish to put something extra in your donations jar.)
Families won’t have to pay more than they would normally pay to eat out, but they’ll still get to help support your gymnastics school. More importantly, parents will be getting a night off KP and your gymnastics families will have some nice down time to enjoy with one another. This fundraiser is a definite win-win!
For more fundraising ideas you’re going to love, check out Part 2.
From the Jackrabbit Class blog:
• Jackrabbit Software Inspires Time and Money Savings – and Makes Growth Possible
• Jackrabbit Software Helps East York Gymnastics Club Offer More Services That Please Clients
JackrabbitClass
Jackrabbit Class software provides gym studios with smart online solutions for billing, sign ups, registration & business management. Jackrabbit’s leading online class management software delivers an unparalleled combination of speed, reliability and smart customer-focused solutions. Learn more at www.JackrabbitClass.com or call them at (704) 895-4034.
Leave a Reply