Bowl a Thon Fundraiser Template – Free Pen-and-Paper Download

Bowling is one of the oldest sports in existence. Tracing its roots back to ancient Egypt nearly seven thousand years ago, bowling in its earlier form consisted of stone balls and polished rocks even potentially being thrown down lanes. Italian archaeologists uncovered evidence of one of the first “bowling alleys”, about four meters long, the game a mixture of bowling, billiards, and lawn bowls.

Today, of course, bowling is an activity done around the world, but is the most popular here in the United States, particularly in the midwest and northeast. Relaxed sports fundraisers are one of the biggest fundraising trends in organizational fundraising today. Whether you’re a sports team, organization, high school class, travel team, or another group that needs a fundraiser, social sports like fowling, cornhole, and yes, bowling are trendy right now.

What’s not to love? With the rise of venues like Topgolf and the continued popularity of local bowling leagues, social sports have redefined how we gather and compete. They’re casual, community-driven, and easy to participate in—making them the perfect vehicle for fundraising. A Bowl a Thon takes that same spirit and turns it into impact. It's a chance for teams and supporters to get together, enjoy a few games, and raise money in a low-pressure, high-energy setting that appeals to all ages. Whether you’re fundraising for uniforms, travel, equipment, or a charitable cause, a Bowl a Thon is a fun, inclusive way to make it happen.

Bowling is an inclusive sport, whether you’re routinely in the 200’s or trying to break 100, it’s never a bad time to be on the lanes.

That’s what a Bowl a Thon is, a bowling fundraiser idea everyone can participate in—and enjoy. If you’re looking for a simple, proven way to raise money for your bowling program, school group, or nonprofit, we’ve got you covered.

Download our free, printable bowlathon template below.

Quick Refresher: What is a Bowl a Thon?

A Bowl a Thon is a pledge-based bowling fundraiser built around a bowling event, where participants collect donations based on how many pins they knock down, how many games they bowl, or through flat contributions. It’s a fun, community-centered way to raise money that works well for teams, schools, and organizations of all sizes. Bowl a Thons combine friendly competition with peer-to-peer fundraising, making them both engaging and effective.

Want a guide on how to run a successful Bowl a Thon? Take a look here.

Free Bowl a Thon Fundraiser Template – Easy, Printable, and Ready to Use

Charitable giving dropped from 2023 to 2024, it’s bad timing for organizations like yours. Whether it’s a sports team, organization like the Scouts of America, club, or another worthy group in need of fundraising, it’s harder to fundraise. Why? A lot of it is economy driven, but there’s reason to be optimistic. People still want to have fun, and people do still want to give back especially to community organizations.

Enter the Bowl a Thon. We’ve created a simple and easy template to help you run a Bowl a Thon.

Download our free printable Bowl a Thon fundraising template—no watermark, no signup fees, no commitment. Just enter your email in the form below and get access to a ready-to-use pen-and-paper Bowl a Thon form to track pledges and raise money the old-school way.

Our printable Bowl a Thon fundraiser sheet helps your participants collect pledges based on the number of pins they knock down during a bowling event. It’s simple, familiar, and effective—just like the best fundraisers should be.

The form includes:

• Pledge-per-pin and flat donation columns
• Bowler name and score fields
• Total pins and donation calculations
• Simple design and ready to print and hand out at practice

Why Bowl a Thon Fundraisers Work So Well

Fundraisers at bowling alleys check every box affordable, convenient, enjoyable, versatile, and healthy, according to a recent breakdown by Stars and Strikes, a Georgia-based family-entertainment company with decades of event-planning experience. Their insight highlights exactly why a Bowl a Thon delivers big results without big headaches.

Bowl a Thon fundraisers hit all five of those boxes: Here's why they’re gaining traction with teams and nonprofits across the country:

• It’s fun. Bowling is already a built-in event. Turn a team outing into a bowling fundraiser without needing extra overhead. If you’re a bowling program, you already have some great options to choose from to run a Bowl a Thon and if not, they’re some great options in your community or nearby no doubt.‍
• It’s easy to explain. “Pledge 10¢ per pin” is a lot more straightforward than product sales or events with a complex ticket system.‍
• It’s scalable. Whether you’ve got 10 fundraiser participants or 50, each one brings in their own supporters and donations.‍
• It builds momentum. Everyone loves a challenge—and when every pin equals dollars, participants bowl with purpose.‍
• It works offline or online. Use the pen-and-paper version to get started, and upgrade to our Teamfi digital Bowl a Thon platform when you’re ready to automate everything.

What is the state of fundraising right now? We asked over 100 coaches their thoughts.

Bowl A Thon Template - How to Use

Before Downloading Bowl a Thon Form

1. Set a goal (e.g., $500 for new bowling shirts, $2,000 for travel costs). Be specific in what the money you’re raising is being used for.‍
2. Assign a bowling date where all participants will bowl 2–4 games. Plan about a two hour time slot.

Using Your Bowl a Thon Form

1. Download the template and print one copy for yourself to write in details.‍
2. Fill out the how it works section. In the How It Works section, complete the sentence “Each bowler will get ___ games to knock as many pins as possible.” Replace the blank with the total games each participant will bowl—e.g., 2 games or 3 games.
   
   1. Also write in your date, and when all pledge money should be collected by. Give everyone about a week after the event to provide enough time to gather pledges.
   2. If you want to go the extra mile, plug in an example donation of $0.10 per pin to show everyone the math behind the bowl a thon.‍
3. ‍Make copies and distribute to your fundraiser participants. Now that all your information is in, it’s time to start off your fundraising!

How Much Can You Raise with a Bowl a Thon?

Let’s run the numbers:

On average, bowlers will knock down 600 to 800 pins across 3–4 games. If a donor pledges:

• $0.05 per pin → $30 to $40
  
• $0.10 per pin → $60 to $80
  
• $0.25 per pin → $150 to $200
  

If 20 bowlers collect just $50 each, your program raises $1,000. As you can see, it’s very doable!

If they average $100 each, you're looking at $2,000+—all without needing to sell anything. Our guide on how to run a Bowl a Thon fundraiser can help you with layering on additional fundraisers.

Want to Go Digital? Here’s What Teamfi Can Do:

Once you’ve tried the template and seen what a Bowl a Thon can raise, many teams level up by going digital. Our Teamfi digital Bowl a Thon platform takes care of everything:

• Set up your Bowl a Thon fundraiser in minutes
  
• Each bowler gets their own personalized pledge page
  
• Donors can give per pin, per game, or flat amounts
  
• Multiple metrics to track how your bowling fundraiser is progressing in real time.
  
• With no platform fees, your program’s donations are staying within your organization.

If this interests you, just book a quick demo and we’ll show you how to convert your pen-and-paper success into a digital fundraiser that works even better.

Hear how other coaches used the Teamfi platform for their programs.

Bowl a Thon Fundraiser FAQs

Do I need to have a bowling program to run a Bowl a Thon?
No! Bowling teams, schools, church groups, nonprofits, clubs—if you can bowl, you can fundraise with this form.

Do donors pledge per pin or are there other options?
That’s up to you. The template includes columns for both, so each donor can choose how they want to contribute. Just be sure to scale your fundraiser based on your decision. Pledging a dollar per pin is much different than pledging a dollar per say 25 pins.

What if we aren’t good bowlers?
That’s okay. Even a modest game can bring in $20–$50 in donations. It’s not about being great bowlers, it’s about harnessing the power of community and participation.

How do I get the digital version?
Book a demo with our team and we’ll walk you through how to upgrade from pen and paper to the full Teamfi Bowl a Thon experience, which can automate your process.

Ready to Get the Ball Rolling?

You don’t need another bake sale. You don’t need another car wash in 90 degree whether. Getting your community involved, and the National Federation of High Schools says as much, is the key to successful fundraising.

Download our free Bowl a Thon template today and give your team a simple, fun, and effective way to raise real money for your organization. Just fill out the email form below and we'll send you the template: