10 Softball Fundraising Ideas to Support Your Team

Fundraisers, Sports

Softball teams run on more than just skill and teamwork — they also need funds for travel, uniforms, equipment, and tournament fees. But fundraising doesn’t have to feel like a chore! With the right approach and help from Cheddar Up,  it can bring in money and build team spirit. These softball fundraising ideas will help your team score big while keeping things fun and easy to manage.

Top 10 Softball Fundraising Ideas

Add a Donation Option to Softball Registration

One of the easiest ways to raise extra funds is by adding an optional donation to your team’s registration process. Parents and supporters are already paying for player dues, and many are happy to contribute a little extra to help with team expenses. Small donations add up quickly and can help cover uniforms, tournament fees, or equipment costs without needing a separate fundraiser.

Tips for success:

  • Make it simple add a suggested donation amount ($10, $25, or $50) directly to the registration form.
  • Explain where the funds go — parents are more likely to give if they know how their donation will help the team.
  • Offer an incentive — recognize donors on a team banner, social media post, or with a small gift like a team sticker.
softball registration form

Hit-a-Thon Challenge

A hit-a-thon turns batting practice into a high-energy fundraiser that keeps players motivated and fans engaged. Here’s how it works: Before the event, each player gathers pledges from family, friends, and supporters. Pledges can be a flat donation or a per-hit amount (e.g., $2 per hit). On the big day, players take turns at bat, swinging for a set number of pitches. Every hit counts toward their fundraising total!

For extra excitement, create leaderboards to track the top hitters or add mini challenges like “longest hit” or “most consecutive hits.” You can even set team-wide incentives — if the whole team reaches a certain number of hits, the coach agrees to do something fun, like wearing a silly costume at the next game.

Tips for success:

  • Set a team goal and encourage friendly competition between players to boost participation.
  • Live-stream the event so out-of-town supporters can watch and donate in real-time.
  • Use Cheddar Up to track pledges, collect donations, and make it easy for supporters to pay online.
  • Offer a “buy-in” option for supporters who want to donate without pledging per hit.

Custom Team Merchandise

Fans love to show off their team spirit, and selling custom merchandise is a fantastic way to raise funds while building excitement around your team. T-shirts, hoodies, hats, water bottles, and even custom car decals can generate serious revenue and turn your supporters into walking advertisements.

Start by designing a unique logo or slogan that makes your gear stand out. Then, decide whether to order in bulk or take pre-orders to avoid excess inventory. Consider offering limited-edition designs or seasonal items (like warm hoodies in the fall) to create urgency and boost sales.

For even more fundraising potential, reach out to local businesses to see if they’d be willing to sponsor the merchandise in exchange for their logo on the sleeve or back of a shirt. This reduces costs and increases profit margins.

Tips for success:

  • Offer pre-orders to avoid overstock and maximize profits.
  • Create bundle deals (e.g., “Get a hoodie and hat for $5 off”) to encourage more significant purchases.
  • Promote everywhere — share your QR code or unique URL on social media, send email newsletters, and set up a merch table at games.
  • Use Cheddar Up’s reporting tools to track orders, payments, and inventory in real-time.
team store

Sponsor-a-Player Program

A sponsor-a-player program is a win-win for both your team and local businesses. Supporters — whether they’re local businesses, family members, or community organizations — can sponsor individual players or the team in exchange for advertising opportunities. These sponsorships help cover the cost of equipment, uniforms, travel, and tournament fees while sponsors get valuable exposure within the community.

Tips for success:

  • Create sponsorship tiers with perks like social media promotion, game-day announcements, or logo placement on jerseys and banners.
  • Reach out to sports-related businesses, such as local sporting goods stores, gyms, and athletic trainers, as they’re often eager to support teams.
  • Use Cheddar Up to collect sponsorship payments and organize donor information — make it easy for businesses to pay online, automate receipts, and track which sponsors are at which tier.
Community sponsorship template

Concession Stand Sales

A well-stocked concession stand can be one of the most consistent and profitable softball fundraising ideas. Fans, parents, and players love grabbing snacks and drinks during games, and with the proper setup, you can turn your stand into a significant moneymaker throughout the season.

To maximize profits, go beyond the basics. Add high-margin items like nachos, pretzels, or baked goods, and adjust for the weather — freeze pops and sports drinks for hot days, hot cocoa, and coffee for chilly evenings. Offer combo deals and sell team-branded items like water bottles or spirit wear to boost sales even more.

Tips for success:

  • Plan ahead — stock up on bulk items from wholesale stores to keep costs low.
  • Price items strategically — affordable enough to encourage sales but with a solid profit margin.
  • Use a Cheddar Up sign-up sheet to organize volunteers into shifts, ensuring smooth operations.
Concession stand template

Glow-in-the-Dark Softball Game

Turn a regular game into an unforgettable glow-in-the-dark softball fundraising idea! Charge an entry fee for players and sell tickets to spectators for an exciting night game played with glow-in-the-dark softballs, bases, and wristbands. Use glow sticks, neon face paint, and black lights to make the event even more fun. You can raise additional funds by selling glow-in-the-dark merchandise, snacks, and raffle tickets throughout the night.

Tips for success:

  • Sell glow-in-the-dark accessories like necklaces, bracelets, and team shirts to boost fundraising.
  • Encourage local businesses to sponsor the event in exchange for advertising on glow gear or banners.
  • Promote the game as a family-friendly event, including fun extras like a DJ, food trucks, or a home run contest.

50/50 Raffle

A 50/50 raffle is a simple and effective softball fundraising idea. Sell raffle tickets, and at the end of the event, draw a winner who takes home half the money raised, with the other half going to the team. The bigger the pool, the bigger the prize — so selling as many tickets as possible is key!

Tips for success:

  • Sell tickets at games, community events, and online.
  • Set a deadline for ticket sales to create urgency.
  • Use Cheddar Up to sell online raffle tickets and track entries automatically.
5050 raffle

Skills Clinic for Younger Players

Hosting a softball clinic is a win-win: young athletes improve their skills, and your team raises funds through registration fees. Parents are always looking for ways to help their kids get better at the game, and a clinic run by older players and coaches is an affordable, community-driven alternative to expensive private lessons.

Offer a half-day or full-day clinic where kids rotate through drills, games, and one-on-one coaching. Focus on fundamentals like hitting, fielding, base running, and pitching, and keep things fun with friendly competitions and prizes. To make it feel more like an event, consider having a guest coach, like a former player or local college athlete, to add extra excitement.

Tips for success:

  • Plan structured activities to keep kids engaged and learning at all times.
  • Offer a free team T-shirt or certificate of participation to make the experience more memorable.
  • Cap registration to ensure quality instruction and prevent overcrowding.
sports camp

Community Yard Sale

Turn clutter into cash by hosting a team-wide yard sale! Have players’ families donate gently used clothing, toys, furniture, and household items, then set up a large community sale to raise funds. With the proper organization and promotion, this can be a high-profit, low-cost softball fundraising idea — plus, it’s a great way to connect with the community.

Tips for success:

  • Choose a high-traffic location, like a school parking lot or community center, to attract more shoppers.
  • Offer bundle deals (e.g., “Fill a bag for $10” or “Buy two, get one free”) to encourage bigger purchases.
  • Use Cheddar Up’s point-of-sale system to make yard sale day hassle-free.
  • Have a donation jar so customers can contribute extra to your team’s fundraising goal on yard sale day.

Dine-and-Donate Night

Many restaurants host fundraising nights, donating a percentage of sales to your team on a designated evening. Since anyone can participate, encourage players, coaches, and parents to invite friends, extended family, and neighbors to dine in or order takeout. The more people who show up, the more funds your team raises — just make sure they mention your team fundraiser when paying so their purchase counts toward the total!

Tips for success:

  • Pick the right date — avoid scheduling it on game nights or practices when players and families are busy. A free evening or weekend works best for maximum turnout.
  • Choose a high-traffic restaurant — family-friendly spots or places your team already loves will attract more supporters.
  • Negotiate the best deal — some restaurants offer 10%, while others may increase to 20% or more. Ask about promotions to maximize earnings.

How to Make These Softball Fundraising Ideas Easier Than Ever

With so many excellent softball fundraising ideas, the real challenge is keeping everything organized — collecting payments, tracking orders, and managing registrations can quickly become overwhelming. That’s where Cheddar Up comes in. 

Whether you’re accepting online donations, selling team merchandise, or handling event sign-ups, Cheddar Up streamlines the entire process. With everything in one place, fundraising becomes easier, faster, and completely stress-free, so you can focus on supporting your team.

Before you go

Pick one of these winning softball fundraising ideas, set up your Cheddar Up collection page, and get ready to hit a home run for your team!

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