Netball Fundraising Ideas That Actually Work, Ranked

If you're the treasurer of a netball club, you already know the maths. Court hire, league fees, umpire courses, balls, bibs and new dresses all add up, and subs only stretch so far.

Here's our take after years of kitting out netball clubs: most clubs pour their energy into bake sales and raffles, then wonder why the dress fund never fills up. Those ideas are great for club spirit. But the real money is in sponsorship. One local business can cover what a whole season of cake stalls won't.

So we've ranked these netball fundraising ideas by what they can realistically raise for the effort involved. Start at the top and work down.

Start with a target

Before you pick an idea, decide what you're raising for. "New dresses for the U14s" gets far more support than "club funds". People give more when they can picture where their money goes.

• Name the goal. Kit, court hire, coaching courses or a tournament trip.
• Put a number on it. Share the total and update everyone as you get closer.
• Set a deadline. "By the end of January" gives everyone something to aim for.

Tier 1: the big earners

These can fund a full kit order or a season of court hire. They take some planning, so start them first.

1. Find a main kit sponsor with Kit Funder

A main sponsor can cover a whole season of kit in one go. As a rough guide, kit sponsorship often ranges from £250 to £2,000+. The hard part is finding one, because most club volunteers don't have time to write to every business in town.

That's why we built Kit Funder. It matches grassroots clubs with businesses that actively want to sponsor local sport.

• Free for clubs. No fees for your team.
• No cold outreach. Businesses tell Kit Funder what they want to support, and both sides opt in to every match.
• Matched on what matters. Location, values, budget, community goals and sport.
• Quick to join. Create your club profile in under five minutes.

Kit Funder is a not-for-profit company developed with the University of Surrey, and 5% of every invoice goes to a local mental health organisation.

Prefer to approach businesses yourself too? Our guide to securing sponsorship in grassroots sport includes a free sponsorship request letter you can adapt.

2. Launch a sponsor-a-dress scheme

Sponsor-a-dress lets the whole community back your kit. A local business, a grandparent or a group of parents funds one player's dress, and you say a proper thank you.

• Set one clear price per dress so it's easy to say yes.
• Thank sponsors in public. A sponsor wall on your website, a social post and a mention at presentation evening all count.
• Offer logo space to businesses. A logo on your match dresses or training tops is the most visible thing you can give them.
• Plan around your kit order. Collect sponsor logos before you sign off your artwork.

Our custom netball dresses are fully sublimated, so sponsor logos are dyed into the fabric and won't crack or peel. Badges and sponsor logos are included in the price. Dresses take 6 weeks from artwork sign-off, so start your sponsor-a-dress push at least two months before you need the kit.

3. Host a netball tournament

A tournament is the classic netball fundraiser for good reason. You already know how to run a game, and other clubs always want match practice.

• Charge an entry fee per team and take payment on entry.
• Pick a format that fits your courts. Short games, round robin, then finals.
• Add extra income. A refreshment stall, a raffle and a best-dressed team prize.
• Open it up. Mixed, walking netball or parents-versus-players categories bring in new faces.

Example: 12 teams at £40 each brings in £480 before you've sold a cup of tea. Ask a local business to sponsor the trophies or the day, and their name reaches every club that turns up.

Tier 2: worth the effort

Mid-sized returns, and each one brings something extra: new members, a bigger project or a great social post.

4. Apply for small grants

Grants take some paperwork, but they can fund bigger projects. Sport England's Movement Fund offers grants and crowdfunding pledges from £300 to £15,000 for community projects, with a focus on people who face barriers to being active. A new junior section or a walking netball group could fit. Check your local council, county sports partnership and community foundation too.

5. Run a sponsored shooting challenge

This one is pure netball. Players collect pledges for every goal they score in a set time, or the squad aims for a big total, like 1,000 goals in a weekend.

• Make it visual. A big tally board by the post keeps everyone going.
• Involve every position. Defenders and centres love the chance to shoot.
• Film the final countdown. It's perfect for social media.

6. Offer taster and walking netball sessions

Lots of people near you would love to play again, or try netball for the first time. Pay-as-you-play taster sessions and walking netball bring in money and new members. January is the best time, when people are looking for a new year activity.

Tier 3: small but steady

These won't fund a kit order alone, but they add up across a season and need very little effort once they're running.

7. Turn match days into fundraising days

• Refreshment stall at home fixtures.
• Bake sale run by a different team each month.
• Pre-loved kit rail for outgrown dresses, training tops and trainers.
• Match ball sponsor for each home game, thanked on social media.

8. Make the most of the festive season

• Christmas raffle. Ask local businesses to donate prizes and promote them in return.
• Quiz night or festive social. Cheap to run and great for bringing families together.
• Christmas jumper match. Charge a small entry fee to play in festive fancy dress.

9. Sign up for everyday giving

Set it up once and let it run. With easyfundraising, supporters raise free donations for your club when they shop online, at no extra cost to them. Share the link in team group chats every few weeks, especially before Christmas.

Cut costs too: a free online club shop

Every pound you don't spend is a pound you don't have to raise. A free online club shop takes kit costs and admin off your treasurer's plate (subject to meeting qualification criteria).

• Players and parents order direct. No chasing sizes, collecting cash or updating spreadsheets.
• Open all year. New players order any time, with no minimum once your shop is live.
• More than dresses. Hoodies, training tops, jackets and bags in your club colours.

It helps your sponsors too. Every hoodie on the sideline is another place their logo gets seen, which makes your next sponsorship conversation easier.

Which idea suits your club?

Your winter fundraising plan

Netball fundraising searches climb from October and peak in January, so now is the time to plan.

Top Tips for Fundraising

• Share the load. Give each team or parent group one idea to own.
• Say thank you, loudly. Sponsors who feel appreciated come back next season.
• Show the result. A team photo in the new dresses is the best thank you there is.
• Don't do everything. One big earner plus two or three easy, always-on ideas is plenty.

Netball fundraising FAQs

What are the best fundraising ideas for a netball club?

For the biggest return, focus on sponsorship: a main kit sponsor and a sponsor-a-dress scheme. A netball tournament is the best one-off event. Add everyday giving and match day stalls for steady income.

How much should we ask a sponsor for?

It depends on what you offer. As a rough guide, kit sponsorship often ranges from £250 to £2,000+, and a match day or training sponsor from £100 to £500. Offering a few levels helps businesses with different budgets say yes.

Can we put sponsor logos on our netball dresses?

Yes. On our fully sublimated netball dresses, club badges and sponsor logos are included at no extra cost and won't crack or peel. Check your league's rules on logo size and placement before you finalise your design.

How does Kit Funder work for netball clubs?

Create a free club profile with your location, teams and what you need. Kit Funder matches you with businesses that want to support clubs like yours, and both sides opt in before you connect. There are no fees for clubs.

What's the quickest way to raise money?

A match day refreshment stall, a raffle or a shooting challenge can be organised in a couple of weeks. For bigger sums, start your sponsor search early.

When should we start fundraising for new kit?

At least two to three months before you need it. Custom netball dresses take 6 weeks from artwork sign-off, and sponsor logos need to be confirmed before then.

Fund your season, your way

You don't need ten fundraisers on the go. Find a sponsor first, add one event and let your community do the rest.