Generating Revenue for Local Clubs

[john.m.cole3]

Looking for ideas to bring in some money for our local reef club. We want to use it for guest speakers, door prizes, and food for the meetings. A friend suggested getting the LFS involved as a sponsor. The idea is great but I'm not sure how much to ask for and how the LFS owner would benefit from being more involved.

 

[143MPCo]

@reefwiser

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Its all about the raffle. A sponsor gives a free thing and 30 folks pay $1 for 10 or 20 tickets.

 

[bump3rb33tl3]

Your near my neck of the woods! Im from the Houston area. Our local reef club here is MARSH. We have a couple of our BOD's on this site, @clownfish chris is one of them. Feel free to pm him and I'm sure he would be able to share with you how they handle lfs sponsorships, donations, membership dues, and fundraisers.

 

[Desmond]

I think it is no harm asking a local LFS. My local one in Norway sponsors 1 and they both benifit. He generates customers and also has more time to talk and help them as sometimes the store can be so busy

 

[bump3rb33tl3]

I think it is no harm asking a local LFS. My local one in Norway sponsors 1 and they both benifit. He generates customers and also has more time to talk and help them as sometimes the store can be so busy

Agree'd! Sponsorships are great when both parties benefit from the relationship. Our club offer's three tiered sponsorship levels so the lfs has a choice. Each one has differing benefits, these lfs will then offer 10% discounts to paid club members while they benefit from referrals and business galore from our club.

 

[reefwiser]

Raising money is a tough nut. We have sponsors that provide raffle prizes for our frag swap. To get speakers to come in can get expensive. I really the average hobbyist doesn't know a lot of the "name" speakers. So it doesn't always help attendance. Door prize we get gift certificates from all the local shops and then raffle them off each meeting. First one has to get on good terms with the LFS owners. That can be a tricky thing as some are more hobby friendly than others. An you get some LFS that do not like to work with other LFS's.
Food at meetings generally the host takes care of it. My main goal on any event is breaking even so that all the cost's are covered. You need to have your club set up as a non profit for donations so that companies can write it off. Also most companies have a budget for donations to clubs so its not easy to get free items for raffles.

We have a club meeting card if you get your card stamped you get 10% off at LFS for purchase for 30 days till next meeting. We used have people join the club just for the discount and never show up to meetings. So with this new card we make sure that they come to meetings if the want a discount.

 

[clownfish chris]

Did someone say my name? Yes, I am on the Board of Directors for the Marine and Reef Society of Houston. As @reefwiser pointed out raising money can be tough. Our club is rather large and are able to rely primarily on membership dues and sponsorship. Houston is a high populous area with many reefers shopping locally so it works for us. I am not sure Lubbock is large enough to really support a club. Pm me your Contact information and I will put you in touch with One of our Officers who may be able to help a bit more.

 

[bump3rb33tl3]

Did someone say my name? Yes, I am on the Board of Directors for the Marine and Reef Society of Houston. As @reefwiser pointed out raising money can be tough. Our club is rather large and are able to rely primarily on membership dues and sponsorship. Houston is a high populous area with many reefers shopping locally so it works for us. I am not sure Lubbock is large enough to really support a club. Pm me your Contact information and I will put you in touch with One of our Officers who may be able to help a bit more.

Thanks Chris! And yeeesssss.....I mentioned your name [emoji16]

 

[saltyhog]

Our club is relatively small and one of our big fund raisers has been frag workshops. We charge $45 for the workshop and everyone get's at least two frags(usually choosing between 3 or 4 choices). Local reef shops that are sponsers order the corals for us at a discount.

We also have at least one coral to frag every month at meetings and all members present get a frag. Our membership is $50 but you recoup that the first meeting you attend.

 

[reefwiser]

If you are a club pres or other officer or want to start a club. R2R has a club leaders forum. We want clubs to be successful. Share your good and bad times there.
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/reef-club-leaders.844/
This is a forum just for those with or interested in starting a club.