Fundraisers are a great way for parents, teachers, or organization leaders to raise money they need for various causes such as extracurricular activities, field trips, scholarships, sports events, school equipment, and much more.
When sifting through different fundraiser ideas, you may have come across the typical car washes, bake sales, or raffles. However, another great way to raise money is through football squares – especially during football season!
Football squares, also commonly referred to as super bowl squares, are an excellent way to engage your community and raise funds for your needs.
What Is a Football Squares Fundraiser?
A football squares fundraiser is a fun way for organizers to raise money for their cause by combining the excitement of a football with a raffle-style game.
Football squares fundraisers utilize a grid with squares and are used for a specific football game of choice. Participants purchase random squares on the grid, and each square will correspond to a score combination for the football game. A percentage of the square costs can be allocated to your fundraiser, while still offering a percentage of the money collected to the winners.
Let’s dive deeper into exactly what football squares are and how they work.
What are Football Squares?
Football squares, commonly used for major football games such as the Super Bowl and college football playoff games, is a raffle-style game where players purchase squares and can win money throughout the game based on the game’s score.
- It starts with a blank grid of squares, typically a 10×10 grid equal to 100 squares.
- One football team will be assigned to the rows and the other team to the columns.
- Participants will purchase squares, either one square or multiple squares, at the cost per square that you choose (for example, $10 per square).
- After all of the squares are purchased, the numbers 0-9 will be randomly assigned to each row and column.
- In order to win, a participant’s square must match the last digit of each team’s score.
- The payout structure can vary, but typically participants can win based on the score at the end of each quarter, halftime, and the final score.
For example, if Team 2’s score at the end of the game is 21 and Team 1’s score is 14, Parent 1 will be named the winner.
Benefits of Hosting an Online Football Squares Fundraiser
If you’re researching just how to run a football squares fundraiser, you may have come across two options:
- Downloading a free printable grid
- Running your football squares fundraiser online
While downloading a free printable grid may be appealing because it is typically free, running an online football squares fundraiser can have a multitude of benefits.
Choosing an online football squares service, such as SuperBowlSquares.org, is often the preferred method for running a football squares fundraiser for the following reasons:
- It allows participants to easily select squares online through a website
- People can participate from afar through a special link to your online football squares fundraiser, making it possible to engage more people and raise more funds for your cause
- Row and column numbers can be easily generated randomly, ensuring a fair process and saving you time
- It allows the organizer to clearly see who has selected squares and mark them as paid all online
- Rules and payout breakdown can be easily stated on your unique football squares online link, including your preferred payment method (venmo, cashapp, etc.), winning percentage for each quarter, and more
Running a football squares grid fundraiser online will keep your game extremely organized and make it easy for family, friends, parents, and others to join in on your cause, wherever they are.
Step-by-Step Guide to Organizing an Online Football Squares Fundraiser
Here is a simple, step-by-step guide to setting up your online football squares fundraiser.
1. Choose an Online Platform
Our online football squares platform, SuperBowlSquares.org, simplifies the online football squares process with an easy-to-use interface. Sign up takes just a few seconds and setting up your squares can be done in no time at all.
2. Create Your Football Squares Grid
Once you purchase your online grid, you can start your set up. This will entail selecting a title for your fundraiser, a unique URL for your online football squares grid that you will send to participants, and deciding on a cost per square.
The cost per square is up to you and your fundraising goals – typically, most organizers will do between $10 and $20 per square.
You will also choose which of the two teams in the football game you are basing your squares on will be the column team and which will be the row team on your grid.
When using SuperBowlSquares.org, you’ll also have the opportunity to create a “Rules” section which will show on your unique URL when you send participants your online grid. Here, you can outline important information such as:
- How football squares work (for first time participants)
- Where to send you money for squares (venmo, PayPal, cash, etc.)
- The winnings breakdown for the fundraiser
Having this additional information on your online football squares website will streamline the process for your participants.
3. Set Fundraising Goals and Payout Structure
When selecting a cost per square, consider your fundraising goals. For example, if you are looking to raise $1000, you may want to consider charging $20 per square. At $20 per square, the total pot for your game for a 10×10 grid will be $2000. If you decide you keep 50% for your fundraising and put the other 50% towards winnings, you will have reached your goal.
Here’s an example of a football squares fundraiser payout structure:
- 50% for fundraiser
- 10% winning score at end of first quarter
- 10% winning score at end of halftime
- 10% winning score at end of third quarter
- 20% winning score at end of game
You can get creative with the payout structure to keep your fundraising game fun and interesting for those participating. Depending on your fundraising goals, you can adjust your cost per square and the winnings for each quarter.
4. Get the Word Out
To ensure that your fundraiser is a success, you need to be able to sell all of your grid squares. This means getting the word out about your cause and finding friends, family, parents, teachers, or other applicable parties to get involved.
Depending on your cause, spread the word about your fundraiser – whether through word of mouth, friends and family, or even through social media platforms like Facebook. With an online football squares fundraiser, you can have supporters join even if they don’t live locally.
5. Managing and Tracking Your Fundraiser
As you sell your squares through your online football fundraiser, you can track who is purchasing and which squares they are buying through your admin profile on SuperBowlSquares.org.
Once you receive payment through your preferred method(s), you can mark participants as paid in your account for easy tracking.
Once all of your squares are purchased, you can initiate the random generation of row and column numbers. These numbers will be the determining factor of your winners.
Once the football game is over, you can easily track winners through your online account and find the names and contact information of those who you need to pay winnings out to.
Get Started With Your Online Football Squares Fundraiser
Running an online football squares fundraiser is easy! With SuperBowlSquares.org, you can sign up in just minutes and send out your football squares grid quickly with a unique URL to get the ball rolling with your charity event.
Start your own online football squares fundraiser today and support your cause!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I run a football squares fundraiser that is bigger than a 10×10 grid?
A: Yes! There are various sizes of football square grids. You can choose the size of your grid based on how many participants you anticipate will join your game.
Q: What are the best online platforms to run a Football Squares Fundraiser?
A: SuperBowlSquares.org makes it easy to quickly set up and manage an online football squares fundraiser.
Q: How much should I charge per square in a Football Squares Fundraiser?
A: It is recommended to consider your fundraising goals and set your square costs accordingly. Typically, football squares can range from $5 to $20 per square.
Q: Can I use a Football Squares fundraiser for any football game, or is it only for the Super Bowl?
A: Football squares can be used for any football game! Typically, football squares are used for major games like the Super Bowl or college playoff games, but can be used for any game you choose.
Q: Can I accept payments online for my fundraiser?
A: When using SuperBowlSquares.org, your participants do not pay online. You can accept payments however you choose, whether through Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, or even just cash.
Q: How do I ensure fairness in the Football Squares Game?
A: When you use an online football squares platform, making the game fair is easy – it will randomly generate the grid row and column numbers randomly, ensuring fairness for all.
Q: How do I distribute prizes once the game is over?
A: The method in which you send out winnings is up to you. It may depend on the preference of the winners, so it is best to reach out to winners afterwards for preferences or set your method of payout at the beginning of your fundraiser for transparency.