Set Up Guide

Pickleball Court Fundraiser

Program Overview: Every community deserves accessible spaces where people of all ages can play, exercise, and stay active together. A Pickleball Court Fundraiser makes this possible by uniting individuals, families, and local businesses to invest in a shared future. With pickleball’s rapid rise in popularity, building new courts supports active lifestyles, attracts all ages to play, and creates a fun, accessible hub for recreation.

Set Up Guide for a Pickleball Court Fundraiser

1. Outline How Your Community Can Contribute

The first step in any successful fundraiser is giving people clear, meaningful ways to contribute. With a pickleball project, connecting donations to visible improvements inspires donors to give generously.

Set Donation Levels: Establish realistic tiers based on construction costs. For example, $250 could provide nets or paddles, $1,000 might cover court surfacing, $5,000 could fund lighting, and $20,000+ could sponsor the full court. Linking donations to specific features makes giving tangible.
Allow Custom Amounts: Flexibility ensures that individuals, families, and businesses can participate at any level, broadening support and inclusivity.
Set a Fundraising Goal and Show Progress: Share a clear campaign goal, such as $150,000 for 2 courts, and celebrate milestones with a progress tracker. Public updates keep donors engaged.
Share Impact Examples: Use site plans, photos of existing pickleball games, or community testimonials to show how new courts will bring people together for recreation and competition.

Tips for

Successful Fundraisers

Celebrate Progress Together: Share milestone updates like “Halfway to our first new court!” to keep momentum strong.
Recognize Every Gift: Thank donors through announcements, signage near the courts, or community newsletters.
Show the Impact: Share stories of how new courts will serve families, seniors, and leagues to highlight the community-wide benefits.

2. Keep Giving Simple and Accessible

Donors are more likely to give when the process is convenient and trustworthy. Offering multiple payment options helps maximize participation across all donor groups.

Easy-to-Use Donation Pages: Provide a mobile-friendly page so donors can give quickly, whether at home or at the park.
Multiple Payment Options: Offer credit/debit cards, ACH transfers, or cash/check payments. This ensures both digital givers and traditional donors can participate.
Instant Digital Receipts: Give donors peace of mind with automated receipts they can save for tax purposes.
Collect Donor Details: Gather names, affiliations, and contact info to personalize thank-yous and maintain lasting donor relationships.
Secure and Convenient: Ensure every contribution is processed reliably to build donor confidence.

Did You Know?

Pickleball projects that highlight the sport’s popularity often see higher community participation, since donors want to be part of the fastest-growing sport in the U.S.

3. Keep Track of Contributions and Fundraiser Success

Organization and transparency are the backbone of a successful fundraiser. Strong tracking and recognition ensure community members feel valued and confident in supporting the project.

Track Contributions Clearly: Record each donation by donor, amount, and type, while ensuring payments are processed securely.
Coordinate Donor Communication: Send thank-you notes, provide updates on construction milestones, and highlight early successes.
Report and Stay Transparent: Share how contributions are used, such as resurfacing, lighting, or equipment purchases, to show accountability.
Recognize All Donors: Honor donors publicly, whether with signage at the courts, recognition events, or community shout-outs.