Types of Golf Fundraising Events & How to Fundraise with Golf Events
Nonprofits looking to diversify their fundraising events consistently ask questions about golf events. Some nonprofits see golf events as a key donor cultivation point. Others see golf as an additional way they can raise funds to support programs and services during the year. Golf events can be set up in a number of ways and no two events are exactly the same. Each one looks to create revenue in a different way and range in complexity. Summarized below are three of the most common formats for golf fundraising.
Golf Tournament – “Stand Alone” 
Beginning with early morning or after lunch Shotgun start (where all groups of players tee off at the same time from different holes) the stand alone golf event normally doesn’t include a meal. Not hosting a meal offsets the fees the nonprofit would incur paying for a meal. Revenue driven from this event usually comes from registration and sponsorship fees. The standalone golf event can be the most simple to setup, but also has the possibility of the lowest net fundraising revenue. The format of the fundraising event follows a traditional format of a normal golf game or golf tournament.
Golf Tournament – Followed by a Lunch, Dinner or Party
Different from a standalone golf event this fundraising type includes golf and a meal or awards banquet. The idea behind many of these events is that the post-golf social event is a great time to cultivate the organizations cause to donors and incorporate a message from the Executive Director or Board Members. Banquets commonly see a silent and/or live auction taking palace, awards from the day’s raffles contests and games. Additional monetization for this tournament type comes from selling “non golfer dinner only” tickets for significant others community members. Nonprofits might have a speaker who has been impacted by the efforts of their organization, creating a connection for golfers with what their funds are supporting.
From a stand point of raising funds, one of the key ways golf events make money is in the ticket sales or sign ups. Also going hand and hand with golf is the sale of sponsorships. In many cases the auction(s) held in conjunction with a golf event is much smaller, averaging only 20 to 50 packages.
Golf Tournament – Full Day/Multi Day
The largest golf events in terms of dollars raised are normally full day or multi day events. Outlined below is one sample multi-day golf event agenda. Keep in mind multi-day events can get very complex sometimes even having events happening within events. Kicking off the night before with a formal dinner and auction is a great way to raise additional revenue. Using tools like Greater Giving Mobile Bidding, a silent auction can be kept open over multiple days letting bidders keep track of their bids from their own smart phone.
Sample Multi Day Golf Event Agenda:
Friday:
- 4:00pm VIP Happy Hour and Preview of Silent Auction
- 5:00pm Dinner and Silent Auction
- 9:00pm Live Music/Entertainment
- 10:00pm Auction closes (get to bed we have are playing golf in the morning)
Saturday:
- 7:00am Registration Opens
- 7:30 am Tournament Games* and Demo with Course Pro (Sponsored by Acme Corp)
- 8:00 am Golf Kickoff Shotgun Start
- 12:45am Helicopter Ball Drop
- 1:00pm Lunch and Awards Banquet
* Tournament Games include: longest drive with a marshmallow, Helicopter Ball Drop opportunity sales, blindfold putt contest (games will be open until 1pm.)
We would love to hear more about the Golf Tournament format you use. Email us? Tweet us?
