A booster club is a volunteer group of parents, alumni, and community members that raises money and provides support for a school or youth program, like sports teams, marching bands, theater departments, robotics teams, and more.
The goal? Give the program a little extra boost (hence the name!). Booster clubs raise money for expenses the regular budget may not cover, like uniforms, equipment, travel, celebrations, and other extras that make a season or program special.
If you just joined a booster club, or somehow walked into a meeting and walked out as a board member, you’ll want to read this guide. Here’s what booster clubs do, how the money works, and tools to help run one.
What is a booster club?
Programs with booster clubs include:
- Sports teams, from football and basketball to swimming and lacrosse
- Marching band, orchestra, and choir
- Cheer, dance teams, and poms
- Theater and arts programs
- Academic teams like debate and robotics
Some booster clubs focus on one team or activity. Others go big, supporting every sport or fine arts program at a school under one board.
What does a booster club do?
Fundraising is an important part of what booster clubs do, but it’s not their only role. Booster clubs also bring families together and help coaches and directors with tasks that support the program.
Fundraising
Here’s why booster club fundraising matters: in Cheddar Up’s 2026 State of Booster Club Fundraising survey of 125 booster club leaders, 59% said the programs they support are underfunded or have limited funding.
That can leave a pretty big wish list.
Depending on the program, booster clubs may help pay for:
- Uniforms, warmups, or performance costumes
- Equipment and instruments
- Travel to away games, tournaments, and competitions
- Scholarships for graduating seniors
- End-of-season banquets and awards
Money can come from annual dues, local sponsorships, and fundraisers throughout the season. Pancake breakfast? Spirit wear? Fun run? There are plenty of ways to get the community involved.
If you’re planning your club’s first fundraiser, check out these booster club fundraising ideas to get the wheels turning.
Community building
A great booster club can turn a group of families into a community.
Volunteers chaperone trips, organize team dinners and senior nights, work home games and performances, and tackle all those little jobs that make a season run smoothly.
For new families, joining the booster club can also be one of the fastest ways to learn the ropes and meet other parents. Nothing brings people together quite like setting up a concession stand before kickoff.
Program support
Coaches and directors lead the program. The booster club backs them up by handling the work around them: ordering uniforms and spirit wear, coordinating volunteers, keeping families informed, and funding items the coach or director requests.
How do booster clubs work?
Booster clubs are typically run by a volunteer board that plans fundraisers, manages funds, organizes volunteers, and works with the school to understand the program’s needs.
And yes, there are meetings. But there’s usually plenty of action between them, too.
Board roles
Board members are elected from the membership, generally for one-year terms. A board includes:
- President: Runs meetings and serves as the main contact for the coach or director
- Vice president: Backs up the president and often leads events or committees
- Treasurer: Manages the bank account, tracks income and spending, and reports to members
- Secretary: Takes meeting notes and handles communication with members
Larger clubs may also have chairs for fundraising, volunteers, concessions, spirit wear, or other big jobs.
Meetings
The board meets on a regular schedule, often monthly during the season. These sessions give members a chance to hear updates, weigh in on plans, and sign up to help.
Dues and money
Families commonly pay dues once a year when they join. With a booster club membership form, you can collect payment and all the details you need, such as names and contact information, in one go.
The treasurer keeps club funds in a dedicated bank account and shares regular financial updates with the board. Good records aren’t just helpful at tax time. They make parent questions easier to answer, and officer transitions much less painful.
Booster club software can simplify the treasurer’s job by keeping payments, member information, and reports organized in one place. With Cheddar Up, those details are tracked automatically, so there’s less manual recordkeeping each season.
Working with the school
Your booster club and school should be on the same team.
Coaches, directors, and athletic directors are usually the board’s main school contacts. Some schools and districts also have specific booster club rules for purchases, fundraisers, events, and handling money.
A booster club in action
In Ohio, the Avon Eagles Booster Club supports more than 20 sports across the fall, winter, and spring seasons. Its volunteers handle team fees, warm-up gear orders by grade, and fundraisers like raffles and a Night at the Races event.
How to start a booster club
To start a booster club, begin with a few committed people, get clear about what the program needs, and build from there.
Find your founding members.
Start with a handful of parents or supporters who are willing to pitch in. You don’t need dozens of volunteers on day one. A small group that follows through can get a lot done.
Talk to the coach and the school.
Meet with the coach or program director to talk about where the club can help. Ask the school or district about any booster club guidelines you’ll need to follow, too.
Elect a board.
Fill the core officer roles, then put basic bylaws in place. These should explain how decisions are made, how elections work, and what happens when officers change.
Open a bank account.
Keep booster club money separate from anyone’s personal funds. Having at least two officers associated with the account also helps build accountability into the process.
Set your dues and open membership.
Decide what families will pay and what membership includes. Then start collecting dues early in the season using booster club software, so people can join while excitement is high.
Before long, you’ll have the foundation for a club that can keep supporting the program year after year.
Booster club vs. PTO
A PTO supports school-wide needs, while a booster club focuses on a specific extracurricular program, such as a sports team or school musical. Our booster club vs. PTO guide covers the differences in more detail. Organizing for a parent group? See our PTA fundraising guide
Tools for running a booster club
Running a booster club involves a surprising number of moving pieces: dues, fundraisers, gear orders, volunteer information, payments, and the inevitable question, “Wait, did I already pay for that?”
Putting those tasks online can make life much easier.
With Cheddar Up, families can pay from a link without creating an account or downloading an app. You can collect payment and information together, so an order can include details like a shirt size or other information your club needs. Payments and responses are automatically tracked, giving organizers a central place to see what’s come in and pull reports when needed.
To set up your club, start with Cheddar Up’s booster club fundraising tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a booster club for sports?
A sports booster club is a volunteer group, usually parents, that raises money and support for a school’s athletic teams. Some clubs back one sport, like football or swimming, and others support every team at the school. The money often covers gear, tournament travel, and senior recognition.
What is the purpose of a booster club?
The purpose of a booster club is to give a school program support its budget doesn’t provide, through fundraising, volunteer help, and community building. Boosters handle the work around the program, like coordinating volunteers and keeping families informed, while coaches and directors lead the program itself.
How do booster clubs work?
A volunteer board, elected from the membership, runs the club and meets regularly to plan fundraisers and approve spending. Members pay dues, the treasurer tracks funds in the club bank account, and the board works with the coach or athletic director to determine the program’s needs.
How is a booster club different from a PTO?
Booster clubs raise money for one extracurricular program, while a PTO supports the whole school and its classrooms.
Before You Go
If “what is a booster club?” brought you here, the next step is to join one or start your own. Cheddar Up makes it easy to collect dues and track who’s paid from day one.
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