FUNDRAISING GUIDE
Super Bowl Squares Fundraiser Guide
Turn the biggest game of the year into your most successful fundraiser. Super Bowl squares can raise thousands of dollars - often making up a huge portion of yearly budgets for youth sports teams and charities. But running them manually is hard work with low engagement. Sportsball makes it effortless.
Create Your Fundraiser Game⚠️ LEGAL COMPLIANCE IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY ⚠️
Before running any fundraiser, YOU must verify compliance with all federal, state, and local laws in your jurisdiction.
Sportsball is a software tool only and provides no legal advice. Gaming and fundraising laws vary significantly by location. You are solely responsible for obtaining any required licenses or permits, consulting with legal counsel, and ensuring full compliance with all applicable regulations. See detailed legal information below.
Why Super Bowl Squares Raise So Much Money
Youth Sports Teams: A Yearly Budget Staple
For many youth sports leagues, Super Bowl squares fundraisers make up 20-40% of their entire yearly budget! A single well-run squares fundraiser can raise $3,000-$10,000 or more. Parents, players, grandparents, and fans all want to participate. It's become THE annual fundraiser that coaches and league organizers depend on to fund equipment, travel, tournaments, and team expenses.
Universal Appeal
Everyone can participate - football fans, casual viewers, and even people who don't watch sports. It's pure luck, so knowledge doesn't matter. Perfect for reaching your entire community.
Predictable Revenue
Know exactly how much you'll raise before you start. 100 squares × your price = total revenue. Easy to budget and plan around.
The Manual Fundraiser Problem (And Why Most Fail)
Running Super Bowl squares fundraisers manually is EXHAUSTING:
• Donors forget which squares they bought
• No one knows if they're winning during the game
• You're manually tracking everything on spreadsheets
• Engagement is LOW - people donate and forget
• You spend game day calculating scores instead of watching
• Winners don't even realize they won!
Sportsball solves ALL of this. Automatic scoring, live leaderboards on every donor's phone, instant winner notifications. You collect donations, we handle everything else.
Live Scoreboard = Massive Engagement
With Sportsball, every donor has a LIVE scoreboard on their phone during the game. They see their squares light up in real-time, get instant notifications when they win, and watch the leaderboard update after every play. This transforms passive donors into engaged participants who tell their friends to donate next year. Higher engagement = more donations year after year.
Zero Overhead = Maximum Profit
Unlike car washes, bake sales, or tournament concessions, Super Bowl squares have virtually no overhead costs. Every dollar raised goes further.
100% Virtual = 100% Efficient
✓ No facility rental or venue costs
✓ No equipment or supplies to purchase
✓ No food, drinks, or inventory to buy
✓ No volunteer coordination headaches
✓ No weather cancellation risks
✓ No cleanup or breakdown time
Compare the Effort
Traditional Fundraiser (Car Wash, Bake Sale, etc.)
Hours of planning, volunteer coordination, supply purchases, day-of execution, and cleanup. Often 20-30%+ goes to overhead costs before you see any profit.
Sportsball Super Bowl Squares
Create your game in 2 minutes, share the link, collect payments. That's it. Automatic scoring means you watch the game like everyone else. Near-zero overhead = maximum fundraising.
Reach Beyond Your Local Community
Because it's all online, grandparents in Florida, college friends across the country, and supporters who've moved away can all participate. No need to be physically present - just share the link and they can join from anywhere.
Pricing Your Squares for Maximum Revenue
The key to successful fundraising is finding the sweet spot between participation and revenue. Here are proven pricing strategies:
Recommended Pricing Tiers
$5 per square = $500 total
Great for schools, youth groups, small communities. Easy for everyone to participate.
$10 per square = $1,000 total
Most popular option. Good balance of participation and revenue for most causes.
$25 per square = $2,500 total
For established organizations with engaged supporters. Higher revenue per participant.
$50+ per square = $5,000+ total
Corporate events, major fundraising campaigns, or affluent communities.
Smart Payout Structures That Maximize Fundraising
Choose the payout structure that works best for your fundraiser. Here are two proven approaches:
OPTION 1
50/50 Split
50% to winners, 50% to your cause
• 1st Quarter Winner: 12.5% of total pot
• 2nd Quarter Winner: 12.5% of total pot
• 3rd Quarter Winner: 12.5% of total pot
• Final Score Winner: 12.5% of total pot
• Your Fundraiser: 50% of total pot
Example: At $10/square ($1,000 total), winners split $500 and your cause keeps $500.
OPTION 2 - MAXIMUM FUNDRAISING
Donated Prize Packages (100% to Your Cause!)
Solicit donated prizes from local businesses, then your fundraiser keeps 100% of all square sales!
• Ask local restaurants for gift cards
• Reach out to businesses for merchandise or services
• Request sports memorabilia from team supporters
• Offer "Sponsored by" recognition to donors
• Your Fundraiser: 100% of all square sales!
Example: With $500 in donated prizes and $10/square ($1,000 total), your cause keeps the entire $1,000. Winners get exciting prizes, and donors get community recognition!
Promotion Strategy That Fills Your Squares
📅 Timeline (Start 2-3 Weeks Before Super Bowl)
Week 1: Launch & Initial Push
Announce the fundraiser, share the link, explain the cause. Target your core supporters first.
Week 2: Expand Reach
Share on social media, ask supporters to share with friends. Post updates on squares sold.
Final Week: Create Urgency
"Only X squares left!" Push hard on social media and direct outreach.
📢 Promotion Channels
• Email lists and newsletters
• Social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)
• Word of mouth through volunteers and supporters
• Local community groups and forums
• Workplace announcements (if appropriate)
Legal Considerations & Best Practices
⚠️ IMPORTANT LEGAL DISCLAIMER - READ CAREFULLY
YOU ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING YOUR FUNDRAISER COMPLIES WITH ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
Sportsball is a software tool only. We do not provide legal advice and make no representations about the legality of running squares games in your jurisdiction. Laws regarding raffles, gaming, gambling, and charitable fundraising vary significantly by state, county, and municipality.
Before running any fundraiser using our platform, you must:
• Research and understand all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding gaming, gambling, raffles, and charitable fundraising in your specific location
• Determine whether you need any licenses, permits, registrations, or other legal authorizations
• Consult with a qualified attorney familiar with gaming and nonprofit law in your jurisdiction
• Ensure your organization has proper nonprofit status if required for charitable gaming in your area
• Comply with all age restrictions and participant eligibility requirements
• Follow all reporting, record-keeping, and tax requirements
• Obtain any necessary insurance coverage
By using Sportsball, you acknowledge that you are solely responsible for legal compliance and agree to hold Sportsball harmless from any legal issues arising from your use of the platform.
⚖️ Understanding Gaming Laws
Gaming and gambling laws in the United States are complex and vary dramatically by jurisdiction. What is perfectly legal in one state may be prohibited or heavily regulated in another. Some states require charitable organizations to register, obtain licenses, or meet specific criteria before conducting raffles or gaming activities.
Key areas to research for your specific location:
• Whether squares games are classified as gambling, gaming, raffles, or charitable fundraising in your state
• Licensing and registration requirements for your organization type
• Limits on prize amounts, entry fees, or total fundraising
• Age restrictions for participants (typically 18+ for gaming activities)
• Reporting requirements to state gaming commissions or other regulatory bodies
• Tax implications for winners and your organization
• Whether online/virtual fundraising has different rules than in-person events
📋 Best Practices for Compliant Fundraising
• Consult with legal counsel BEFORE launching your fundraiser
• Obtain all required permits, licenses, or registrations
• Be completely transparent about payout structure upfront
• Clearly explain how funds will be used for your charitable purpose
• Keep detailed records of all sales, payouts, and expenses
• Verify participant ages if required by law (typically 18+)
• Pay winners promptly after the game
• Comply with all tax reporting requirements (e.g., IRS Form W-2G for gambling winnings over certain thresholds)
• Thank participants and share fundraising results transparently
🔍 Do Your Due Diligence
While many schools, churches, and nonprofits successfully run squares fundraisers, this does not mean they are automatically legal in your area or that those organizations are necessarily in compliance with all applicable laws. Do not assume legality based on others' activities. Always verify compliance for YOUR specific organization in YOUR specific jurisdiction before proceeding.
Why Serious Fundraisers Choose Sportsball
The difference between a mediocre fundraiser and one that raises serious money comes down to engagement. Here's what Sportsball does that manual squares can't:
✅ Live Scoreboard on Every Phone
Donors don't just donate and forget. They're glued to their phones during the game, watching their squares light up in real-time. This creates excitement and word-of-mouth that brings more donors next year.
✅ Instant Winner Notifications
Winners get notified instantly on their phones. No more "wait, did I win?" confusion. Winners immediately share their success, creating more buzz for your organization.
✅ Zero Work For You On Game Day
You deserve to watch the game! Sportsball automatically scores everything, announces winners, and keeps everyone engaged. Your only job is collecting donations - we handle the rest.
✅ Professional Presentation
Donors get a polished, professional experience. This isn't a messy spreadsheet - it's a beautiful, mobile-optimized game board that makes your organization look legitimate and organized. This builds trust and increases donations.