Creative Pickleball Fundraiser Ideas for Any Organization
Sierra Swigert Last updated: October 17, 2025
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the U.S. and it’s easy to see why. It’s not only a fun way to stay active but it’s also a social event that brings communities together. The sport is beginner-friendly, fun for all ages and inexpensive to play.
Its inclusivity and low barrier for entry makes it a perfect fit for fundraisers, where players, families, and friends can rally together for a good cause. Platforms like Jersey Watch make it simple to organize, promote, and collect donations for your pickleball event, so you can focus on creating a fun and successful fundraiser.
In this post, we’ll share creative pickleball fundraising ideas to help maximize participation and donations with practical, easy-to-implement strategies.
Why pickleball is perfect for fundraising
Pickleball has exploded in popularity and according to the SFIA (Sports & Fitness Industry Association), it has seen a 311% average growth rate over the last three years.
Whether you’re super competitive or just playing for fun, pickleball is one of those games anyone can jump into and enjoy. That’s what makes it such a hit for tournaments and community events: it brings together all kinds of people, keeps things social, and even gets spectators in on the action.
And unlike other sports fundraisers that take tons of planning, equipment, or serious skill, pickleball is easy to organize, full of energy, and welcoming to everyone.
Types of pickleball fundraisers to try
There are plenty of ways to turn pickleball into a fun and effective fundraiser. Whether your crowd loves a little friendly competition or prefers a laid-back social event, there’s a format that fits. Here’s a look at some pickleball fundraising ideas for you to try out!
Round robin tournaments
A round robin pickleball tournament is a great way to keep everyone involved and active throughout the event. Each team or player gets to play multiple games instead of being eliminated early, which makes it perfect for community centers, schools, or clubs with limited courts.
You can charge an entry fee for participants and put all proceeds towards your cause. It’s a fun, fair, and social way to raise money while keeping the games going all day.
Doubles challenge events
Pickleball doubles are all about teamwork and comradery. Doubles challenge events add a fun, social spin to fundraising while keeping the competition lighthearted.
You can mix up teams so players of different skill levels get a chance to play together, or keep teams consistent for groups that prefer a little structure. Either way, everyone stays involved, which is key for a successful fundraiser.
Plus, doubles challenge events are easy to pair with other fundraising activities. You can charge entry fees, add small competitions or mini-games, and even involve spectators by letting them join in on side contests.
Charity exhibition matches
Charity exhibition matches are a fun way to draw a crowd and create excitement for your fundraiser. Showcase local coaches, athletes, or even pickleball pros in a special match that people won’t want to miss.
You can raise funds by selling tickets, offering concessions, or even providing livestream access for those who can’t attend in person. It’s a high-energy, memorable way to support a cause while bringing the community together.
Skills contests (serve accuracy, dink challenges, fastest rally)
Skills contests are a fun way to mix things up and let players of all skill levels take part. You can host challenges like serve accuracy, dink contests, or fastest rally competitions to keep the energy high and spectators engaged.
Consider charging per entry for each contest or bundling them into event packages to maximize fundraising. These contests add variety and excitement which will make your pickleball fundraiser even more engaging.
How to organize a successful pickleball fundraiser
Pulling off a great pickleball charity fundraising event is all about planning, preparation, and keeping things fun. From choosing the right format and securing a venue to managing registration, a few key logistical steps can make your event run smoothly and feel professional.
Plan your event details early
The first step to organizing a successful pickleball fundraiser is to plan your event details as early as possible. Securing courts, permits, and equipment well in advance will allow you to confirm a date, set event capacity and refine your budget.
Think about whether your event will be indoors or outdoors, taking the season, weather, and available facilities into account. Consider things like seating for spectators, shade or shelter, and space for concessions or registration tables.
Set clear goals for fundraising
Before you start planning your event, take time to define what success looks like. Decide how much money you want to raise and what the funds will support - whether it’s new equipment, facility upgrades, scholarships, or helping families with registration fees. Clear fundraising goals not only guide your planning but also give participants and sponsors a stronger reason to get involved.
Share your fundraising target in your event promotions and on your club website along with updates to keep everyone motivated. When players and supporters know exactly what their efforts are helping achieve, they’re more likely to give generously and help you hit your goal.
Simplify registration and payments
One of the easiest ways to make your pickleball fundraiser run smoothly is by moving registration and payments online. Collecting sign-ups digitally helps you stay organized, cuts down on paperwork, and avoids the confusion of handling cash on event day. It also makes the process faster and more convenient for players and donors.
With tools like Jersey Watch, you can set up online registration, collect registration fees, and even accept donations all in one place. Everything is tracked automatically, so you can spend less time managing forms and more time focusing on the fun parts of your event.
Tips for maximizing donations and participation
Once your event is planned, it’s time to focus on getting people excited to join and support your cause. A few simple strategies can go a long way in boosting turnout and increasing donations.
Offer tiered entry fees or donation levels
The best way to maximize participation is to provide options that fit everyone’s budget. Tiered entry fees allow both participants and spectators to find a price level that works best for them.
For those pickleball players who are budget conscious, you can offer Early Bird pricing and family packages to help cut down on cost. Both options also benefit your organization, making it more likely people will register early and in bulk.
To increase funding, you can offer a VIP experience for both players and spectators. The price would be higher but would entail an elevated experience. VIP tickets can include reserved courts, special t-shirts, or behind-the-scenes access!
Use this same approach when collecting donations too. Providing various monetary amounts allows donors to pay what they can. For this reason, we’d recommend any online donation forms offer the ability to create custom amounts.
Promote widely across channels
Getting the word out early and often will boost participation at your pickleball event. Use email, social media, eye-catching flyers, and even local press to reach as many potential players and supporters as possible. The more channels you use, the more likely people are to hear about your event and get excited to join.
Platforms like Jersey Watch make it easy to get a sports website up and running the same day. And because it’s made for sports, the platform comes with other fundraising tools such as online registration, payment collection, communication tools and scheduling features.
🧠 Learn: How to Build a Sports Website
Leverage community support and sponsorships
Local businesses and community organizations can play a big role in making your fundraiser a success. Sponsors can contribute prizes, donate supplies, or even help cover event costs, which frees up more of your funds for your cause.
Partnering with community groups also helps spread the word and attract participants who might not otherwise hear about your event. Highlight your sponsors in promotional materials, on event signage and your website to give them recognition and encourage ongoing support.
Encourage peer-to-peer fundraising
Give participants the chance to get friends and family involved by fundraising on their own. Peer-to-peer fundraising adds a personal touch and helps expand your reach beyond just the players at your event.
You’ll want to provide advice and resources to participants to help them increase their donation potential. Ideas include setting up a QR code to collect online donations, organizing a small fundraising event raffle or silent auction and sharing donation links on social media.
Simplify how you run your pickleball organization with Jersey Watch
Pickleball is the perfect vehicle for fundraising because it brings the community together, is easy for players of all ages and skill levels to enjoy, and is just plain fun. With so many ways to get involved, from pickleball tournaments and doubles challenges to skills contests and exhibition matches, there’s something for everyone.
Managing all the details doesn’t have to be stressful. Jersey Watch helps volunteers and organizers handle registration fees, donations, and event logistics in one easy-to-use platform.
Spend less time juggling paperwork and more time enjoying the game and building community. Get started today by signing up with Jersey Watch.
