Skip to Content
Categories:

How high school sports programs thrive or struggle based on fundraising efforts

From lacrosse to track the level of athlete and family commitment is key to securing funding with some teams outperforming others in raising the resources needed to succeed.
Yoann Boteko (Class of 2026) runs towards the finish line, and towards their fundraising goal.
Yoann Boteko (Class of 2026) runs towards the finish line, and towards their fundraising goal.
Victor O’Neill Studios

High school sports programs rely heavily on fundraising to cover various expenses, from purchasing equipment and uniforms to travel costs. These programs are critical to students’ athletic development and encourage school spirit and community pride. However, the amount of money various teams can raise often varies dramatically.

Some programs do better at raising money than others, raising more money and providing athletes with better resources. One key factor influencing these disparities is the level of commitment and engagement from athletes, coaches, and their families. Fundraising efforts are often more effective and productive when athletes are very invested in their performance and the team’s overall success.

The lacrosse team is one example of a team that benefits from strong fundraising efforts. At Urbana, the lacrosse team enjoys higher funding than other sports. This success is often related to the athletes’ and their families’ commitment and dedication to the program.

Lacrosse player, Johnny Crane (Class of 2025), explained that, “We raise money by using an app with a bunch of family and friends on it, and it sends emails to help support the team.”

TJ Harne (Class of 2025) runs to score a goal, wearing the new jersey’s the team bought with the money that they raised. (Victor O’Neill Studios)

Parents and players are more likely to donate their time and money when they see the potential for success in their team’s goals and believe in the value of their donations.

In contrast, track teams often face more challenges when it comes to fundraising. Track and field is typically a more individualistic sport, where athletes compete in separate events and usually focus on personal achievement rather than collective team success.

While track teams may involve significantly more athletes than a sport like lacrosse, they often need help generating the same financial support. Sean Mulcahy (Class of 2025), a hurdler on the boy’s track team, explained “The lacrosse team has much more funding yearly, but I think it’s because the whole team takes it much more seriously. Even though the track team has significantly more people involved, I think most of the team aren’t going to donate because so few people run in meets.”

This shows one of the challenges the track teams often face: while there may be a larger pool of athletes, many do not feel the same commitment to the team’s overall success. Since track is often focused on individual competition and personal performance, with many people not competing in every meet, some people have a more challenging time feeling the need to provide donations.

Platforms such as School Fundr allow for coaches and sports to send out quick and easy emails to parents of athletes to allow them to donate to their child’s sport.

Another contributing factor to tracking teams’ fundraising challenges is the need for more fans and visibility compared to more popular sports at Urbana. Track meets are run at indoor tracks, the closest one to Urbana High School being at Hagerstown Community College. Due to the length and distance from Urbana, these meets are rarely as widely attended as football or basketball games, and, therefore, fundraising efforts may not benefit from the things. Without large fan bases, the track teams may find it more difficult to generate interest in fundraising.

The girls’ soccer team also face a similar challenge. Although the girls’ soccer programs have dedicated, passionate athletes, they still struggle with fundraising compared to male-dominated sports such as lacrosse. These sports typically benefit from larger fan bases, making it easier for them to generate financial support. The lack of visibility for girls’ soccer often results in a funding gap, as these teams do not enjoy the same level of attention or resources as their male peers.

Grant Friedland, a girls’ soccer coach, noted, “It’s hard for us to gain money as our sport doesn’t get much of a fan base, so we only have our team’s families to support us.” Even though the girl’s soccer team may only have family and friends to rely on, when athletes, coaches, and families all have a vision for the team’s success, they can create substantial financial support.

Josey Hines (Class of 2026) helps her team out in a game, just as she helps them raise money. (Victor O’Neill Studios)

This shared purpose can make all the difference in building a successful fundraising program. When athletes and their families are invested in the team’s success, they are more likely to take ownership of fundraising efforts and invest their time and energy into making those efforts successful.

The success of a high school sports program’s fundraising efforts depends mainly on the commitment and engagement of the athletes, their families, and the community.

As high school sports continue to be an essential part of many students’ educational experience, athletes and their families must recognize that their involvement in fundraising can play a critical role in guaranteeing the success and longevity of Urbana’s teams.

By being committed, supportive, and accountable, high school sports programs can overcome financial challenges and continue to provide student-athletes with the resources they need to succeed.

Donate to THE HAWKEYE
$100
$500
Contributed
Our Goal

Your donation will support the student journalists of Urbana High School - MD. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment as well as help us build up the program further and promote student journalism!

More to Discover
Donate to THE HAWKEYE
$100
$500
Contributed
Our Goal