Run a football squares fundraiser that people understand

A squares board has three things a good fundraiser needs: a low entry price, a short time commitment and a visible result. A supporter can buy one square for $10, watch the game and know exactly when they might win. There is no bracket to fill out and no season-long commitment. The board also gives the organizer a natural script: the prize pool is a fixed percentage, the charity share is a fixed percentage and the rules are printed on the sheet. That transparency makes it easier to ask local businesses and coworkers to take part.

A 100-square board at $10 raises $1,000 if it sells out. A 25-square board at $20 raises $500 and fills faster with a small group. Decide the charity share before you print anything. A common structure is 50 percent to prizes and 50 percent to the cause, or 60 percent to prizes and 40 percent to the cause if the prize needs to be more attractive. Write the split on the board: total raised, prize pool and donation amount. If a business sponsors the prizes, the full entry revenue can go to the cause, which is the cleanest version for a school or a nonprofit.

Print a short rules block on the board or a flyer: the suggested donation per square, the number of squares, when the numbers are drawn, the four payout periods, whether the final includes overtime and what happens to unsold squares. If the board is not full at kickoff, either draw anyway and leave the empty squares dead or reduce the prize pool to the number sold. Announce the choice in advance. A fundraiser cannot afford a dispute after the game, so put the answers in writing and keep a copy.

Cash is simplest at an in-person event, but a payment app creates a record without extra work. Keep a list of who paid, not just who claimed a square. If you use the online pool, One credit adds a paid/unpaid column and a running total, and the CSV export gives the treasurer a clean record. Do not mix the entry money with personal funds, and pay the prizes promptly after the final whistle. If the charity receives the proceeds directly, say so on the flyer and show the total after the event.

Tape the printed board where people can see it, keep a pen nearby and have one person own the money and another own the draw. That separation matters for trust. After the board fills, draw the column digits and the row digits in front of the group, read each one aloud and write it on the sheet. Photograph the completed board. During the game, record the score at the end of each period and circle the winning square. At the end, announce the winners and the amount raised. The photo and the written rules are your record if anyone asks later.

An online pool lets people who are not at the event buy a square from a link. They claim a square with a tap, no account needed, and the host locks the board to draw the numbers. The host enters the score at each period and the winning square is highlighted for everyone. The free plan covers one pool at a time, which is enough for a single fundraiser. If you expect several boards or need payment tracking, a premium pool is $5.99 for one credit (3 for $14.99), paid once after the event.

A one-page flyer with the board, the date, the suggested donation and the charity share is enough. Put the QR code or public link next to the board so people can join from their phones. Say what the money supports and when the winner will be announced. Avoid promising a specific prize until it is confirmed; a generic prize pool is easier to change than a named item. If local businesses donate prizes, list them on the flyer and thank them at the event. Plan the ask around the game, not the other way around: the board is the hook, and the cause is the reason.

Check your state and local laws before running a pool for money; many offices play for fun or donate the pot. Fundraising rules vary, and a charity may need a permit, a license or a specific disclosure. Ask the organization's treasurer or legal advisor before you advertise a cash prize. Keep the entry price low, document every payment and publish the total raised. This page is general information, not legal advice, and it does not make a claim about any particular state.

The most common mistakes are drawing numbers before the board fills, failing to state the charity share, collecting cash without a record and promising a prize the organization has not secured. Another is running the pool as a surprise: people need time to buy a square, so announce it at least a week ahead. Finally, do not let the person holding the money also be the only person who verifies the draw. Two people, one board and a written rule set are enough to keep a small fundraiser clean.