The importance of fundraising in youth sports cannot be overstated. Sports programs are often vulnerable to budget cuts, so the parents and families of athletes and the community are tasked with bridging that gap. “I’m in Los Angeles, and the public schools don’t have the resources. They’re cutting arts and athletics, so it’s up to the coaches and the boosters to pay for apparel and gear for games and tournaments,” says Thomas Levin, western sales director for Hit Promotional Products (asi/61125).

That’s why it’s a common sight to see children, dressed in their team uniforms, positioned at traffic stops and grocery store entrances to solicit donations for a trip or big tournament.

But perhaps no more, because innovations with online stores are changing how youth sports teams fundraise. “Online stores are a consistent method of continuous fundraising without much effort,” says David Schmaeling, president of Proforma Color Press (asi/300094). They’re also popular because leagues don’t have to hold inventory, no one has to staff a merchandise table and theft is not a concern.

“We offer online store options for teams, leagues and fans to order fan gear and merchandise,” he notes. Schmaeling’s company helps by building the site with the team’s branded items, and offers a percentage back at the end of each month as a fundraiser. Most leagues buy simple things that most fans want, such as stickers, water bottles and stadium seats; Schmaeling finds that apparel items like T-shirts, caps and hoodies sell the most. Teams and fans will sometimes order fun promotional items like megaphones, spirit towels noisemakers.

“The days of kids walking door-to-door to sell pizzas or candy bars are over. Schools, businesses, rec leagues and families want something that isn’t going to put their kids in harm’s way,” says Brian Paskill, sales director of ADL Promotions (asi/491984), Whoever sets up the initial online store typically adds $3-$4 to each item as a fundraiser, he explains. “This model works very well with my middle school – they sell their physical education uniforms online and make an average of $2,000-$4,000 per store,” Paskill says.

“They love it because they have no overhead and their only job is to promote the store with their flyer and online link, which I provide.”

Whoever sets up the initial online store typically adds $3-$4 to each item as a fundraiser, he explains. “This model works very well with my middle school – they sell their physical education uniforms online and make an average of $2,000-$4,000 per store,” Paskill says. “They love it because they have no overhead and their only job is to promote the store with their flyer and online link, which I provide.”