Hey, everyone. One of my clubs is looking for unique ideas for fundraising. The really dependable volunteers are generally in their sixties & seventies, some in their eighties. That being said, we need options that would entice our younger members to become more involved. Any positive suggestions would be appreciated. Our main source of funds currently comes from our yearly, combination “Big Buck Contest & Raffle”. Thanks for your consideration.
Fundraiser ideas for local Gun Clubs?
- Thread starter Topwater
- Start date
I am watching this thread with interest. It is getting harder and harder for small rural Clubs to exist. Our Club has closed its trap range because of ammo and component price and availability. Raising annual dues is not an option.
We have an annual squirrel hunt with a Chinese auction, it funds our 2 scholarships and keeps the club open for hunter safety training and police training. BUT, it is a lot of work and it's difficult getting people to help beg for prizes. PS: it is run by my Granddaughter. She had been running Playoff game pools to raise cash for prizes.
We have an annual squirrel hunt with a Chinese auction, it funds our 2 scholarships and keeps the club open for hunter safety training and police training. BUT, it is a lot of work and it's difficult getting people to help beg for prizes. PS: it is run by my Granddaughter. She had been running Playoff game pools to raise cash for prizes.
I don't know what kind of facilities you have or how many members, but FWIW my local club gets most of it's money (or at least a big part of it) thru match fees. We have a lot of matches for pistol, rifle and shotguns, each with a modest fee for competing. We have at least one match per week, usually more, year 'round. One of our biggest draws is 1/2 scale metallic (rimfire) silhouettes, shooting at the standard 1/5 scale distances but with the bigger Cowboy Silhouette targets. This is a great match to get the kids started shooting, but also draws plenty of adults. We also shoot action pistol, 3-gun, clays, and many more. You can check out our web site, Bentongunclub.org for more ideas. Good luck!
Years ago, maybe late 90s when Harley was 3 or 4 years out on new order bikes one of the members of a club I was in was able to get a bike through some connections at harley or a dealership. We sold raffle tickets for it and they sold like crazy because it was for an item that money couldn’t buy. Right now if you could get ahold of some primers or powder you could probably sell raffle tickets for $5 or $10 and make out like a bandit.
How big is your club now membership-wise? Rural or near metro area?
As hogpatrol said meat tickets normal sell really good where I am from also sometimes organizations run a meat ticket with a chest freezer so you have storage for it. Another really hot ticket that use to be sold where I work at (it wasn’t for our gun club just fundraiser) is 1 dollar gun ticket. It was always something simple like a golden boy, glock or a safe from tractor supply. 1000 tickets at a dollar a peice, it’s amazed me how guys would buy 5 of them but wouldn’t buy a 5 dollar single ticket lol.
hogpatrol
Gold $$ Contributor
In another life eons ago, I worked in a manufacturing plant (now closed) that had over 10,000 employees. If a guy had a gun he wanted to get rid of, he sold chances on it. There was no shortage of gamblers and he usually got double or triple what it was worth. The legal version today are fire companies' gun calendars tied to the nightly lottery number. I understand they bring in a good piece of change.
Downeast
Gold $$ Contributor
One of the local hunt clubs used to put on a big bash every year to raise funds. They got involved with a reputable charity which gets a cut of the proceeds (Elks, Lion, VFW, etc., some of which have their own meeting halls) They sold a hundred tickets for $100 apiece ($10,000) or $150 per couple (up to $15,000). They hire a band, and serve steaks which they purchase whole and cut and cook to order outside on big grills, and serve alcohol too. The tickets used to sell out in hours. Music, dancing, drinks, and all the ribeyes you can eat. And the wives and girlfriends loved it too. They also sold some raffle tickets. When it was all said and done the club got about 25-30% of the take. I'm no tax person so I'm not sure on how it all worked out but I assume they were "hired" by the charity to put it on and got paid a percentage with all of the work being volunteered by the club. They used the money for food plots, club house, and road maintenance. If I recall the club lost a significant part of their leased lands (originally over 5,000 acres) to residential development and ceased to exist. But it was a very unique way to raise money.
Oh, almost forget! They had a cash raffle too. They sold raffle tickets and every so often during the evening they would pull a ticket. It started at $25, then $50, then $250, then $1000 for the grand finale. They sold a lot of tickets since there were only 100 banquet tickets sold.
Oh, almost forget! They had a cash raffle too. They sold raffle tickets and every so often during the evening they would pull a ticket. It started at $25, then $50, then $250, then $1000 for the grand finale. They sold a lot of tickets since there were only 100 banquet tickets sold.
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FNSafari
Gold $$ Contributor
Our fire department does a Vets Day supper and an ice fishing derby, among other things.
JSH
Gold $$ Contributor
“Raffles” you better check local, state and federal laws. The good ole days are just that, forever gone.
Depending on wording it is considered gambling in some places.
On food, you better have a catering service do it, or a licensed person in charge.
Serving alcohol, we all know the answer to that. (I learned a lot at my sons wedding)
If you do anything outside of club events, especially with nonmembers, a call to your insurance company should be done.
I would ask a knowledgeable legal type person questions to see what you can do and may or may not need a license or permit for. Get outside the circle of the BOD even if it cost a few bucks, there is always a “well my uncle jobob did a fund raiser with no permit in the crowd”.
Not trying or wanting to be a Debbie Downer. I just don’t want to see someone raise funds of $XXXX, then get a fine and attorney fees that equal $XXXX.
Until your involved in putting on an event start to finish, it sounds pretty easy.
It can be with lots of good help and a lot of fun too.
Bad help and bad planning will sour many for a long time, wether they were helping or attending. A double edged sword, so to speak.
Depending on wording it is considered gambling in some places.
On food, you better have a catering service do it, or a licensed person in charge.
Serving alcohol, we all know the answer to that. (I learned a lot at my sons wedding)
If you do anything outside of club events, especially with nonmembers, a call to your insurance company should be done.
I would ask a knowledgeable legal type person questions to see what you can do and may or may not need a license or permit for. Get outside the circle of the BOD even if it cost a few bucks, there is always a “well my uncle jobob did a fund raiser with no permit in the crowd”.
Not trying or wanting to be a Debbie Downer. I just don’t want to see someone raise funds of $XXXX, then get a fine and attorney fees that equal $XXXX.
Until your involved in putting on an event start to finish, it sounds pretty easy.
It can be with lots of good help and a lot of fun too.
Bad help and bad planning will sour many for a long time, wether they were helping or attending. A double edged sword, so to speak.
I notice in a lot of nearby community celebrations that corn hole tournaments have had good turnouts.
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