Grants can be a fantastic alternative for booster clubs that rely on fundraising in the community and club donations from members. Booster club fundraising revenue can fluctuate wildly from year to year, and boost club donations are often not enough to fully support the booster club’s goals. Government grants and private grants for booster clubs can help smooth out budgets from year to year and provide a foundation for a club’s finances to relieve pressure from fundraising efforts and club membership dues.
In this article, we will discuss both government grants and private grants for booster clubs and discuss how to apply for them. We will also go over a few tips for finding and choosing grants for your booster club. By the end of this article, you will have a good idea of what to expect when searching for and applying to grants for your booster club.
How to Apply for Government Grants For Booster Clubs
Government grants are one of the best opportunities for booster clubs to find and secure extra funds for the academic year. There are grants for every imaginable sport as well as grants for student groups and students in need. In fact, while some government grants will explicitly be created for booster clubs, they might be closely related to a goal of the booster club and can, therefore, be a target for funding applications.
The best way to start the process of finding and applying to government grants is to visit grants.gov. There you will find helpful step-by-step guides for applying to grants for booster clubs and a searchable database of grants that are currently available.
Here is a General Overview of the Steps of the Process:
- Check Your Eligibility. Are you or your organization eligible for a grant?
- Get Registered. To apply, you need to register an account with Grants.gov.
- Apply for Grants. When you are ready, start searching and applying to grants.
- Track Your Application. Track your applications after they have been submitted.
Every grant will have different requirements to qualify to apply. Most grants will state exactly who they are hoping will apply for the grant. Additionally, some grants will require the booster club to do certain things in return for being awarded the grant. Make sure that your club is able to take on these requirements before you accept the award.
How to Apply for Private Grants For Booster Clubs
Private grants for booster clubs can be very different from government grants. They can be harder to find and require different steps to apply. Some private booster club grants can be far simpler to apply for than government grants, but the opposite can be true as well. It all depends on who is behind the grant and how they have chosen to structure the process
Thankfully, there are many services out there that specialized in finding private grants and collecting information about them all in one searchable database. Some of these databases will use search methods that locate different types of grants, so it’s often a good idea to sign up for several of them. Just be aware that private grant databases might charge a fee for grant information and applications, so you will have to factor that into your budget.
The Grant Application Process
The process for applying to private grants for booster clubs is very similar to the process for applying to government grants, but there are a few key differences. Here is a general overview of the process:
- Search for private grants: Locate private grant databases and sign up.
- Check Your Eligibility: Make sure your organization is eligible for target grants.
- Apply for Grants: The application process can vary significantly between grants.
- Track Your Application: If possible, track your application or follow up periodically.
The main things to watch out for when signing up for private grants are fees and unusual application processes. First, private grants or grant services may require fees for finding grants and processing applications. These fees can add up quickly over time, so if your club is applying to many different grants, make sure to track the fees and budget for them properly.
Second, private grants come in all stripes, and many of them can have very different application processes. Some may require paper applications to be mailed in while others will be online only. Others will have strict requirements for supporting material for the application, such as essays and spending plans. Keep track of these differences so that your booster club submits the applications properly and on time.
The Takeaway on Grants For Your Club
Government grants and private grants for booster clubs offer many different ways for booster clubs to find extra funding for the school year. These extra funds can help smooth over the variations in revenue from booster club fundraising efforts from year to year. Grants can also help booster clubs stay afloat when booster club donations struggle to meet expected donation targets.
The first step to applying for these grants to figure out what your club’s budget is for applications. If your club wants to avoid paying any fees, then it is probably a good idea to focus on government grants. But if your club has extra money to support grant applications, then there are a wide range of private grants for booster clubs available. Whichever type of grant your booster club decides to pursue, make sure to follow the application process carefully and track your application after it is submitted. That way you can give your club the best shot at winning the funds it needs for the school year.
Need help with your booster club marketing or management? Read some of our other helpful booster club articles to keep your organization on track and growing!
