12 Simple Tennis Fundraising Ideas For Your Program

Tennis seems like it’d be cheap enough to participate in. A tennis racket, a pack of balls, and your local municipal tennis court. How expensive could it be? If you’re on this blog you know exactly how expensive it can be.

Tennis athletes face costs of over $1,000 a year on average to participate. When you take an entire team of tennis players, all of a sudden, that number skyrockets.

Not just rackets, but shoes, uniforms, travel expenses, food and drinks for long tournaments, a tent for shade, and entry fees. It all adds up, and it adds up FAST!

A strong fundraiser can help solidify your season. No need to stress about finances and focus on who is playing singles and who is playing doubles. In this blog we walk through twelve proven fundraising ideas that are designed to help your tennis team raise money and have fun along the way.

Tennis Fundraising Idea No. 1 - Tennis Calendar Fundraiser

A calendar fundraiser is one of the easiest ways to raise money quickly. Each day on the calendar has a donation value, and supporters claim their spots by paying the amount shown. For example, day 18 equals a $18 donation, day 21 is a $21 donation, and so on.

This fundraiser works especially well for tennis since players can personalize calendars with team photos or match highlights. Teams that switch to digital calendars raise more because supporters from anywhere can participate online.

It’s how Vicksburg Girls Tennis raised over $5,500! Yes, a tennis team can pull in thousands thanks to the power of digital fundraising. It's what makes it a candidate for the perfect tennis fundraiser.

Tennis Fundraising Idea No. 2. Serve-a-Thon

An A-thon fundraiser is a growingly popular form of fundraising. Participants complete a specific activity like walking, hitting a baseball or softball, running, or even reading.

Similar to a walk-a-thon, players rally for pledges on the tennis court. How many straight rallies can you do? How many straight volleys can you do? Grab a radar gun and see how fast you can serve the ball. Families, friends, and alumni pledge per rally or make flat donations, and they can come out to watch.

This not only raises funds but also encourages athletes to sharpen their skills while entertaining donors. Hosting it at your courts can draw in parents, friends, and families to watch and cheer. Then you can collect the funds after.

Tennis Fundraising Idea No. 3. Tennis Skills Clinic

This idea is essentially the same as hosting a summer camp, which if you’re a tennis program, you should definitely do! Host a youth tennis clinic or camp where your players and coaches teach basic strokes, rules, and footwork. 

Charge a registration fee that goes to the program and include snacks, drinks, and a t-shirt. The apparel part is important to spread the word about your program to others potentially interested in tennis.

Summer camps are not only a great fundraiser, but they alsohelp keep kids active during the summer months. Parents love opportunities for their kids to learn directly from high school or college athletes that came from your program. It builds community while showing younger players a path into the sport. The perfect tennis fundraiser? Perhaps.

Tennis Fundraising Idea No. 4. Color Run

A color run is one of the most popular and family-friendly ways to raise money for a tennis program. Participants sign up for a short fun run or walk, and throughout the course volunteers toss safe, brightly colored powder on them. The event is not about speed or competition, but rather about having a good time and bringing the community together in a colorful celebration that ends with everyone covered head to toe.

To make the fundraiser successful, charge an entry fee that covers the cost of race packets, T-shirts, and the color powder. Local businesses can sponsor sections of the course in exchange for signage or logo placement on the event shirts. Hosting it at your school grounds or a nearby park makes the logistics simple and keeps expenses low.

A color run is an event that appeals to all ages. Sound interesting? Get answers to all your questions about color runs and how to run them.

Tennis Fundraising Idea No. 5. Hit-a-Target Challenge

In basketball, there’s a fun halftime game called pop-a-shot. There, kids pay something small like a dollar to shoot a basketball from the three-point line and try to make it. If they win, they get a two-liter of pop.

Now a two-liter of pop can cost just over a dollar with bulk purchasing, and if on average one in five participants makes a three pointer, you’re averaging around two dollars profit every five shots taken.

Now imagine something similar in tennis.

Set up targets on the court and charge participants to try hitting them with a serve or forehand. Offer small prizes like a two-liter of pop or snacks. 

This can be added to any team event or another community gathering. It’s fun for players and non-players alike, making it an easy add-on fundraiser.

Tennis Fundraising Idea No. 6. Sponsorship Banners

A must do for any program, but tennis is a sport where your fences around the courts provide a perfect space to hang up banners. 

Local businesses love visibility and when you're looking for the perfect tennis fundraiser, having supportive businesses help. Offer banner space on your courts or fence in exchange for sponsorship. Each banner can include the business name, logo, and a thank-you message.

This creates a professional look for your program while securing recurring support each season. It’s especially valuable if your courts see a lot of traffic both during the season and after. 

Tennis Fundraising Idea No. 7. Tennis Program Fun Night

Organize a program fun night! You can host at a local sports bar and could even schedule around one of the major tournaments like the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, or a college football game with your local college playing on the big screens. 

To make the evening engaging, add extra activities like a trivia contest based on tennis history, famous players, and even fun facts about your own program. Trivia works well because it keeps guests entertained and builds friendly competition among tables. Admission tickets can be priced to cover the basic costs of food and the venue so that all other money raised goes directly to your program.

The highlight of the night should be a silent auction with donated items from local businesses, tennis gear, or even experiences such as private lessons from your coaches or players. Silent auctions often generate the largest share of revenue at these types of events since supporters are motivated to bid generously knowing it benefits the team. 

Our donation pages are a way to collect payment after the event if you need an app that takes credit card payments for example.

Tennis Fundraising Idea No. 8. Team Merchandise Sales

In a sport that doesn’t always get the love it deserves, help change that with tennis themed apparel and merchandise. Items like T-shirts, hoodies, hats, and water bottles with your logo give fans and families a chance to show their support both on and off the court. The key is to select products people will actually use and wear. Comfortable apparel and everyday items also serve as walking billboards for your tennis team.

To make your merchandise fundraiser successful, think beyond just selling at matches. Online stores are a smart way to avoid holding extra inventory and ensure every order is profitable. Many apparel companies are willing to provide this.

Finally, make the purchasing process easy. Whether you set up an online store or use a digital fundraising platform, families and alumni should be able to order in just a few clicks. This expands your reach far beyond the stands and ensures grandparents, relatives, and former players across the country can support your program. 

Tennis Fundraising Idea No. 9. Community Cleanup Day

Partner with your school or local parks department to host a tennis team cleanup day. 

In exchange, ask for donations from families, alumni, or community sponsors.

Here’s how it works. Find areas in your community that could benefit from landscaping, cleanup, or cosmetic improvements like a fresh coat of paint. Your athletes volunteer to take on these tasks with the idea that with big numbers, like 12 kids, tasks can get done rather quickly and efficiently.

Approach the businesses and locations and offer to take on these tasks for a specific donation. When the business or organization says yes and donates, then you knock it out.

Not only does this raise money, but it shows your program’s commitment to giving back, which inspires more donor support.

Tennis Fundraising Idea No. 10. Alumni or Exhibition Tennis Match

Put on a showcase match featuring your top players, alumni, or even coaches. Admission costs for a tennis match aren’t usually the norm, and it’s part of why fundraising is so essential for a tennis program. 

Most state guidelines prohibit charging admission for an exhibition match, but what you can do is do a “recommended donation” to your tennis program as a form of entry. Not required, but most people are willing to donate and then some.

Imagine a one vs. one tennis match between your head coach and number one singles, or number one singles against a former player now competing collegiately.

Tennis Fundraising Idea No. 11. Digital Crowdfunding Campaign

Digital crowdfunding lets you reach donors far beyond your immediate community. Using Teamfi’s state of the art software, players can share their campaign through text, email, and social media. Each link provides player information and your tennis team’s logo. Simple efficiencies like that allow for a clean fundraiser look that research has proven increased fundraising success.

Families, particularly sports families, often have connections spread out across the country. Crowdfunding captures that support and can raise thousands in a matter of weeks. Teamfi can help you create the perfect tennis fundraiser, ask us how!

Tennis Fundraising Idea No. 12. Concession Stand at Matches

A concession stand at a tennis match? Not something you typically see, but that’s simply because a lot of programs don’t have a facility for concessions. There are ways to make it happen though.

Food trucks are an easy solution to this problem. If you have a match you know you’re going to have decent attendance, and promote the food truck being there ahead of time, it’s beneficial for both your program and the food truck.

Whether the food truck pays a certain amount to set up shop next to the courts or offers some sort of profit split, either way there’s a way to both benefit.

Additionally you can run a small concession table with simple pre-packaged snacks like granola bars, trail mix, cookies, chips, as well as drinks like water and sports drinks.

Parents and fans appreciate the convenience, and even small purchases add up over time. This is a reliable fundraiser that works all season long.

So You’re Ready to Start Fundraising?

From interactive events like serve contests to simple fundraisers like team merchandise, tennis teams have plenty of options to raise the money they need. Choosing a mix of ongoing and event-based fundraisers will maximize your results and keep supporters engaged. With creativity and teamwork, your tennis program can serve up both wins on the court and success off it.

If an a-thon, digital fundraiser, or calendar interests you, reach out and we can get started! Let's build the perfect tennis fundraiser together.