There are a ton of ways to boost your golf tournament’s fundraising revenue. This blog series has explored various ideas to not only raise more money, but make your golf tournament even more fun and engaging for everyone.

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posts in this blog series

BackSwing Golf Events

Hole-In-One Contests

On-Course Games

• Golf Tournament Ideas That Raise More Money: Backswing Golf Events

• Golf Tournament Ideas That Raise More Money: Hole-In-One Contests

• Golf Tournament Ideas That Raise More Money: On-Course Games

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What Are In-Kind Donations?

In-kind donations are donations of any kind other than cash. They could be things like goods, services, or expertise. In-kind donations are attractive to businesses because they don’t necessarily have to consider budgets and cash flows to make such a gift. They might have excess inventory or products they’re looking to move or have already spent or allotted their charitable dollars for the year but still want to find a way to support your event. In short, in-kind donations can be a simpler way for businesses and companies to give.

How Can I Use In-Kind Donations for My Golf Tournament?

There are a number of ways to leverage in-kind donations for your golf tournament, for everything from player gifts to auction items to food or drinks. They can enhance the overall tournament experience for golfers, as they walk away with great gifts and have the chance to win exciting prizes.

Keep in mind that in-kind donations can also be considered sponsorships, in lieu of a monetary contribution, so be sure you’re recognizing in-kind sponsors the same way you would traditional sponsors. For example, a restaurant might be willing to donate boxed lunches to your tournament, so it’s appropriate to recognize them on your event website and any promotional items as the Lunch Sponsor.

How Can In-Kind Donations Help Raise More Money?

In-kind donations replace tournament items you might otherwise spend money on, which leaves more dollars for your cause. These can also help drive participation from both golfers and sponsors, filling your tournament’s field and driving revenue. More commonly, in-kind donations can be leveraged for raffle prizes, pin prizes, and auction items.

Some examples of in-kind donations for golf tournaments include:

• Golfer swag bag items

• Pin prizes

• Auction items

• Contest prizes

• Raffle prizes

• Food and beverage

• Logo or graphic design

• PR or promotional services

• Printing services

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Our friends at Dormie Network Foundation are committed to supporting nonprofits by offering in-kind donations of national golf membership and Stay and Play Packages. These high-end donations can help raise thousands of dollars for your cause. Find out more and request consideration.

GrayBull Club

Maxwell, Nebraska

Opening 2024

Victoria National

Newburgh, Indiana

Hidden Creek

Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey

Dormie Club

West End, North Carolina

Briggs Ranch

San Antonio, Texas

Ballyhack

Roanoke, Virginia

ArborLinks

Nebraska City, Nebraska

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How Do I Ask for In-Kind Donations?

Reach out the same way you would for the rest of your sponsorship offerings. Make a formal, specific request, then follow up if you don’t get a response. Start with businesses your organization or planning team members have a relationship with for the best response, but don’t be afraid to make a cold request. Consider reaching out to the sponsors who are already on board to see if they have any promotional items they would be willing to donate for player gift bags or raffle items. They get additional exposure and you get another chance to boost revenue.

If a business says no to a monetary contribution for a sponsorship, shift your ask to any in-kind donation instead. Be specific in your asks, otherwise you might end up with items that are of no use to your organization or event. You might also list specific in-kind sponsorships on your golf tournament’s event website so folks can jump onboard.

SPONSOR REQUEST & FOLLOW UP Template

Use this customizable template to help you reach out to prospective sponsors.

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Raise More Money With GolfStatus

GolfStatus’ exclusive sponsorships, built-in fundraising tools, and tournament add-ons can help you raise more money for your cause. Plus, the platform’s time-saving automations and tournament management tools will make sure you spend less time dealing with spreadsheets and bouncing between platforms and more time stewarding donors, selling sponsorships, and making your tournament unforgettable. Nonprofits can qualify to use GolfStatus at no cost through the Golf for Good program. Click the button below to find out more and get in touch with our team.

Organization Snapshot

Melwood’s six decades of serving those with disabilities began with a small group of parents and community supporters who had a bold idea—to create jobs and training for these individuals. They started by teaching plant care to young adults who were thought to be unemployable, and expanded into workforce development services that teach marketable, useful skills to adults with disabilities and provide a valuable workforce to partner businesses.

Based in the Washington D.C. area, the nonprofit advocates for and empowers individuals with disabilities to trans­form their own lives through unique opportunities to live, work, and thrive in their community. Sarah Boynton, Director of Corporate at Foundation Giving at Melwood, says their approach is individualized for each individual’s goals and to overcome the barriers to employment that they might face. “They have a ton of value in the community and are driven to find their purpose,” she says. “We look for ways to transform their lives through unique opportunities so everyone is included.”

The Challenge

The Melwood Champions Golf Tournament was originally an informal gathering of supporters who loved to golf and donated to support Melwood’s work. When Melwood decided to brand the golf tournament as an official fundraiser, they wanted to increase professionalism and elevate the entire event experience. Melwood’s newly-created fund development team heading up the golf tournament needed a way to easily collect registrations and payments, provide exposure to sponsors, and promote the tournament to its supporters.

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The Solution

GolfStatus offered an all-in-one solution for Melwood’s golf fundraiser, from registration and payment processing to tie-breakers and reporting. The nonprofit qualified for GolfStatus’ Golf for Good program, which gave Sarah and the entire planning team full access to the tournament management platform at no cost. After the first year of using GolfStatus, Sarah said it was a no-brainer to continue with GolfStatus. Beyond the software’s ease-of-use, GolfStatus’ in-house client success team was there to walk Sarah and her team through the software and troubleshoot issues every step of the way.

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“I talked to the support team more times than I care to admit, and they were always reassuring, like ‘We got you, don’t worry.’”

— Sarah Boynton, Director of Corporate and Foundation Giving at Melwood

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The Results

Making Everything Easier

When Sarah came on board with Melwood a few months prior to the 2022 golf tournament, GolfStatus was already in place, thanks to her boss, Heather Sherman, Melwood’s Vice President of Fund Development. An event website was actively collecting registrations and sponsorships as Sarah was tossed into the deep end of planning a golf tournament for the first time.

Thankfully, the GolfStatus client success team quickly got Sarah up to speed on the software, walking her through the back end to make sure she felt comfortable using each feature. “They showed us how to download reports and assign holes and what to send to the pro at the golf course,” Sarah says. She says check-in the morning of the event was super easy thanks to the pre-formatted printouts with all golfer information and team codes.

Online registration spared Sarah and the planning team from having to manually process payments and forms, saving a ton of time. “Having golfers and donors cover the fees really helped get us over our goal,” Sarah says. “As a fundraiser that’s huge.” Registrants could also round up their purchases to raise additional dollars. 

Unlike standard event management platforms, GolfStatus is built specifically for golf events, with tools to manage things like handicaps, flighting, and tie breakers. “I had a panic attack about halfway through the event about breaking ties!” Sarah says. She reached out to the client success team, who reassured her that the system is able to break ties automatically. “That was a relief!”

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“GolfStatus makes it easy for nonprofits to be successful. At the end of the day, that’s why we’re coming back.”

— Sarah Boynton, Director of Corporate and Foundation Giving at Melwood

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Carrying On A Tradition of Generosity

The Melwood Champions Golf Tournament had humble beginnings, starting out as some friends getting together to play golf and raise money for Melwood’s mission. The “Melwood Champions” are a group of longtime supporters and friends of the founding families of Melwood, who have supported the organization’s work for close to 60 years. The Champions led the golf event until the fund development team branded it as an official fundraiser in 2020. Since then, the tournament has grown and flourished, and with the help of GolfStatus, leveled up the event experience and raised even more money. In 2022, the tournament brought in $107,000 and is looking to raise even more for the 2023 event.

Proceeds from the tournament benefit different programs each year. For example, the 2022 golf fundraiser benefited the Camp Accomplish Scholarship Program, which provides financial support to attend the inclusive day and overnight summer camp for all ability levels. The 2023 tournament will raise money for Melwood’s Workforce Development and Career Exploration Programs, which supports over 2,800 individuals with disabilities achieve career goals in the greater Washington D.C. area.

Elevating the Event

GolfStatus clients have access to exclusive add-ons and sponsorships that take their tournaments to the next level. For example, Sarah said they knew they wanted to incorporate a hole-in-one contest to the tournament and were pleased when they discovered GolfStatus’ exclusive contest packages. The planning team originally wrapped the Technology Sponsorship into the tournament’s Title Sponsorship, but saw the premium value in the space and decided to purchase it themselves to provide to a longtime sponsor as a thank you, along with an accompanying stay and play package from the Dormie Network Foundation. “Dormie Network has opportunities to play golf at some pretty awesome places, and that just added to the high-end tournament we’re going for,” Sarah says.

The sale of the Technology Sponsorship combined with the hole-in-one contest also unlocked a cash donation from the Foundation. “The extra products and opportunities for our tournament that GolfStatus offered just made it so easy!” Sarah says. 

Sarah looked for other ways to make the event memorable, adding golfer swag bags with player gifts and items from sponsors (giving them even more brand exposure). They also used GolfStatus’ live scoring to give the tournament a professional touch. Sarah’s not a golfer, but says she lost count how many golfers told her how much they loved the live scoring. Teams would submit their scores via the free GolfStatus mobile app, which synced with live leaderboards that were updated in real-time. Golfers could check standings throughout the round in the app and on the screen in the clubhouse. “We sent golfer information ahead of time about where and how to download the app,” says Sarah, as a way to set them up for success. “Everyone loved how easy it was to keep track throughout the day.”

celebrating Success

Melwood is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2023 and 25 years of Camp Accomplish. “We’re celebrating all things Melwood!” Sarah says, and that the golf tournament is a big part of that celebration and a way to connect with donors and partners. “GolfStatus is a big part of making the golf tournament super successful.”

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Golf for Good

Looking to make your next golf event the best one yet? GolfStatus’ tournament management system streamlines and simplifies prep and planning, and exclusive sponsorships and add-ons help raise thousands more dollars for your cause. Best of all, nonprofits (and organizations hosting golf events that benefit one) can qualify to use GolfStatus at no cost through the Golf for Good program. Click below to learn more and get qualified.

Avery’s Hope, an all-volunteer, grassroots organization that provides financial assistance to rare, ultra rare, and undiagnosed pediatric GI patient families, has been selected as the winner of the 2023 Play It Forward giveaway.

The Play It Forward campaign was held in collaboration with GolfStatus’ giving partners at Dormie Network and Dormie Network Foundation and celebrates organizations using golf to do good. Entrants were asked to nominate a golf tournament fundraiser to receive a $10,000 donation and were entered to win a one-year Dormie Network membership plus $10,000 to spend at the Network’s exclusive golf clubs.

Avery’s Hope’s inaugural TopGolf fundraiser was held June 25, and highlights the inclusive approach of the organization’s support of families with pediatric GI illnesses. Co-founder and executive director, Caryl Harris, says, “This year we hosted at TopGolf to be more inclusive for patient families, children, and those who don’t golf. By doing so, this event attracted a number of families who wouldn’t be able to afford or otherwise support a traditional golf outing.”

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Avery’s Hope is named in honor and celebration of the founders’ grandson, Avery Harris, who was born with microvillus inclusion disease. The rare, genetically-inherited disease is characterized by an inability of the intestines to absorb nutrients. Avery’s grandparents realized how many other kids and their families were suffering, not only with their child’s illness but with the financial burdens, and wanted to make a difference.

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Avery’s Hope has formed partnerships with major national institutions specializing in rare pediatric GI care, including five major children’s hospitals, the National Organization for Rare Disorders, and Patients Rising Now Helpline. The group focuses on alleviating the financial burdens of out-of-pocket and insurance-denied expenses faced by families, which often delay treatment and diminish quality of life.

The $10,000 donation will immediately be put towards supporting families. “Patient assistance organizations don’t always receive the same amount of financial support as those who raise money for research. Avery’s Hope has chosen to help with the immediate needs of families,” says Caryl.

Almost 600 organizations and golf fundraisers were nominated for this year’s giveaway, and two other finalists also received a donated Dormie Network membership to be used for fundraising opportunities: Coventry Reserve and Hope Strengthens Foundation.

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Ready to golf for good?

GolfStatus helps streamline and simplify golf tournaments to help organizations save time and raise more money. Through the Golf for Good program, 501(c) organizations and those holding golf events to benefit a charity can qualify for no-cost access to GolfStatus—including an event website, online registration, live scoring, and much more. Click the button below to find out more and get qualified!

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For the third year, GolfStatus is teaming up with our giving partners at Dormie Network and Dormie Network Foundation for the Play It Forward campaign to celebrate nonprofits and causes who are using golf to do good.

Play It Forward gives individuals the chance to nominate a charity or nonprofit raising money through golf to receive a $10,000 donation to its golf fundraiser, and get the chance to win a one-year honorary membership to Dormie Network (a national network of private golf clubs) plus a $10,000 credit toward onsite golf and lodging.

Designed by famed golf course architect Tom Fazio, Dormie Network’s Victoria National Golf Club boasts gorgeous views amid challenging holes.

nominate your favorite golf fundraiser!

Here’s how to nominate a golf fundraiser for the $10,000 donation (and for you to be eligible for the Dormie Network membership prize):

1. Fill out this form and tell us who you are, who’s organizing the golf fundraiser, and why you think they should receive a $10,000 donation.

2. Follow GolfStatus on social media. Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn

3. Follow Dormie Network on social media. Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn

The campaign launched May 29 and the nomination period closes July 4.

Winners will be announced on GolfStatus and Dormie Network’s social media, so follow both handles for news, updates, and announcements.

past winners

Play It Forward began in 2021, awarding $10,000 to the Cameron Steinberg Foundation and its inaugural golf fundraiser. The annual golf event has raised $100,000 for research into congenital heart disease and to help families affected by these defects.

In 2022, two nonprofits were selected for $10,000 donations: Make-A-Wish Foundation of Philadelphia, Delaware, and Susquehanna Valley and Sisters Across America. Make-A-Wish’s Pro-Am for Wishes raises money to grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Sisters Across America provides support and mentoring for young minority women pursuing professional golfing careers and teaching juniors to grow the game, raising money through two annual golf fundraisers.

GolfStatus and its giving partners at Dormie Network and Dormie Network Foundation are excited to announce that two winners have been selected for the second annual Play It Forward giveaway: Make-A-Wish Foundation of Philadelphia, Delaware, and Susquehanna Valley and Sisters Across America.

The goal of the campaign was simple: to recognize those who are using golf to do good in their communities and beyond. Golfers were asked to nominate their favorite golf tournament fundraiser for a $10,000 donation and were entered to win their own one-year membership to the Dormie Network (a network of private destination golf clubs) plus $10,000 to spend onsite.

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Make-A-Wish’s Philadephia, Delaware, and Susquehanna Valley chapter’s annual golf tournament was held August 15, 2022. The Pro-Am for Wishes raises money to grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Since the chapter’s founding in 1986, more than 7,500 wishes have been granted for children in the local community, helping them build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illness.

Sisters Across America provides support and mentoring for young minority women pursuing professional golfing careers, raising money through two annual golf fundraisers. Current mentee Lakareber Abe, a 26-year-old alum of the University of Alabama, recently qualified to play in her first LPGA event. Sisters Across America’s support helps remove the mentees’ concerns for financial viability and allows them to focus on improving their game. The group also teaches juniors, to further expand access to the game.

Participant at Sisters Across America’s annual Invitational golf tournament fundraiser.

Cassandra Doty, co-founder and President of Sisters Across America, says that the idea for the organization came from a round of golf with a group of friends, who had all taken up the game later in life. “We wanted to support the next era of young players, and because tomorrow is a promise to no one, we decided to start right then,” she said.

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You Can Golf for Good!

GolfStatus helps streamline and simplify golf tournaments to help organizations save time and raise more money, like the 2021 winner of the Play It Forward campaign, the Cameron Steinberg Foundation. The tournament saw an increase of more than 66% in dollars raised when compared to the tournament’s first year, along with half of the administrative work in using GolfStatus. Through the Golf for Good program, 501(c) organizations and those holding golf events to benefit a charity can qualify for no-cost access to GolfStatus—including an event website, online registration, live scoring, and much more. Click the button below to get qualified or email [email protected].

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Sam and Melissa Steinberg’s journey from expectant parents to ICU veterans to creating a foundation to honor their daughter started at a routine ultrasound when Melissa was 20 weeks pregnant. They received a devastating diagnosis—Cameron had hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart does not develop properly and cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.

Not only did they have to cope with this unexpected diagnosis, but try to understand the complexities, treatment options, and prognosis of the condition at the same time. “You have this bomb dropped on you and then have to try to make sense of what’s happening,” Sam says. He explains that a heart doctor brought out a piece of paper with a diagram to explain how Cameron’s heart worked, but with all the emotions of the moment, “It didn’t make sense or help us understand.”

Cameron was diagnosed at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, near where the Steinbergs lived, but she was transferred to C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor after she was born, where a plan was in place to treat and correct the defect. But in addition to her heart issues, Cameron also battled a lung disease that ultimately claimed her life at just nine weeks old.

Sam, Cameron, and Melissa Steinberg

Sharing Their Experience

It was during the weeks the family spent at Mott that the Steinbergs learned about the relative lack of funding devoted to research into congenital heart defects. And it was then that the family decided to do something to help other families affected by these heart conditions.

Sam and Melissa received a care package from a family that had spent time in the cardiac ICU. “It was filled with simple things—a soft blanket, water bottles, gum, puzzles,” Sam says. “But it came from someone else who had lived in the ICU and knew what would be helpful.” That inspired them to think about how they could use their experience to help families going through the same ordeal.

They started small. While Cameron was still in the hospital, they had t-shirts made with the #CamiStrong logo to raise money that bought books and stuffed animals for kids undergoing open heart surgery. After Cami’s death, they wanted to do even more, and settled on a golf tournament as a way to bring people together in her memory and raise a significant amount of money for the newly established Cameron Steinberg Foundation.

“Our mission doesn’t stop even without her,” Sam says. “We will carry on her legacy to help other heart patients and families.”

Proceeds from selling t-shirts with the #CamiStrong logo were used to purchase books and stuffed animals for kids undergoing open heart surgery.

Play It Forward & The Cameron Steinberg Foundation Golf Classic

Dr. Michael Gaies was one of Cameron’s cardiologists when she was in the cardiac ICU at Mott Children’s Hospital. The family formed a strong bond with Dr. Gaies, who, as Sam says, really took them under his wing and made them feel like they were part of his family. “He had to deliver some really tough news to us but never left a stone unturned and went out of his way to get additional opinions about her treatment,” Sam says.

Sam and Melissa had many conversations with Dr. Gaies about the lack of funding for congenital heart defects in children and resources for families while at Mott, and he was a staunch advocate for the creation of the Cameron Steinberg Foundation and believer in its mission. They also talked a great deal about their love of golf and the sport’s capacity to rally support and raise money for a cause. Sam’s dad’s experience running a series of golf tournaments made it a natural choice for a fundraiser. “People tend to be willing to open up their wallets and donate at a golf tournament,” Sam says.

Dr. Michael Gaeis was one of Cameron’s cardiologists at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. He is a staunch supporter of the Foundation and has participated in both golf fundraisers.

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“People tend to be willing to open up their wallets and donate at a golf tournament.”

— Sam Steinberg, Cameron's Father & Co-Founder of Cameron Steinberg Foundation

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The inaugural Cameron Steinberg Foundation Golf Classic was held in May of 2021 and raised about $30,000 for a research fund in Cameron’s name at Mott Children’s Hospital. 

A few months after the golf tournament, Dr. Gaies came across an Instagram post for Play It Forward, a joint campaign of GolfStatus and Dormie Network, which asked people to nominate a golf fundraiser to receive a $10,000 donation. Dr. Gaies believed so strongly in the Steinberg’s work through the Foundation that he submitted a nomination to Play It Forward: “This donation could really elevate the possibilities for next year’s tournament and I have no doubt that the Steinberg family could give a huge return in that investment. They are special people and so passionate about making Cameron’s life meaningful and everlasting.”

Proceeds from the 2022 fundraiser were split between C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

Year Two: Half the Administrative Work & Double the Proceeds

In the tournament’s first year, Sam relied on Venmo to collect credit card payments, processed cash and checks, then had to reconcile all payments on multiple spreadsheets, send receipts, and manually make pairings and hole assignments. “It was truly a headache,” Sam says.

After the tournament was nominated for Play It Forward following the 2021 event, Sam decided to come online with GolfStatus for the 2022 fundraiser to help reduce the administrative load. As a nonprofit, the Foundation qualified for the Golf for Good program, which provided access to GolfStatus’s entire golf event management tech at no cost. “Obviously, our goal is to raise as much money as possible, so hearing that we get all the benefits of using GolfStatus without losing a chunk of our proceeds was huge,” Sam says.

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“Obviously, our goal is to raise as much money as possible, so hearing that we get all the benefits of using GolfStatus without losing a chunk of our proceeds was huge.”

— Sam Steinberg, Cameron's Father & Co-Founder of Cameron Steinberg Foundation

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Working closely with Sam, the GolfStatus team built an event website for the golf tournament, along with custom registration packages. Golfers and sponsors could view and purchase available packages on the site, submit payment, and even make a direct donation to the Foundation. “The website was great—I didn’t have to create a site from scratch and it was a one-stop shop for people to register, become a sponsor, or make a donation,” Sam says. What’s more, sponsors could upload their logos to instantly appear on the sponsor page of the website, not only saving Sam time in collecting and posting those assets, but providing the sponsor more exposure and more return on their investment.

The 2nd Annual Cameron Steinberg Foundation Golf Classic event website.

The golf tournament software includes a number of golf-specific features to make handling those details easy and efficient, including live scoring and leaderboards, drag and drop hole assignments, and pre-formatted printouts. “I loved the printouts,” Sam says. “It was so cool to see Cameron’s logo on them.” With just a few clicks, the software generates professionally formatted score cards, cart signs, and alpha lists with the tournament or organization logo plus the Technology Sponsor logo, saving organizers a ton of time and hassle (and providing the Technology Sponsor even more bang for their buck).

Sam says the biggest benefit of upgrading to GolfStatus was having everything in one place. “Being able to see who registered or made a donation and not having to try to reconcile a bunch of different payments was so helpful,” Sam says. “Using GolfStatus cut my administrative work in half.”

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“Using GolfStatus cut my administrative time in half.”

— Sam Steinberg, Cameron's Father & Co-Founder of Cameron Steinberg Foundation

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Thanks to Dr. Gaies’s nomination, the Cameron Steinberg Foundation Golf Classic was chosen as the winner of Play It Forward. The $10,000 donation gave them a headstart in their fundraising efforts, helping crush the tournament’s 2022 goal of $50,000 and raising more than $64,000.

Proceeds from the tournament will help fund a hypoplastic left heart syndrome 3D model that uses virtual reality to help doctors, patients, and families better visualize, understand, and treat these heart conditions. “When Cameron was diagnosed, a tool like this would have been important in helping us understand the condition,” Sam says. “We’re super excited about this!”

Golf for Good Program

Qualifying nonprofit organizations, like the Cameron Steinberg Foundation, can get no-cost access to GolfStatus’s entire golf event management platform through the Golf for Good program. With solutions to streamline planning and tools to raise more money, GolfStatus helps nonprofits tap into golf’s giving power. Get qualified by clicking the link below or email us directly at [email protected].

Organization Snapshot

Sarah Valentine’s vision for Riverside Ranch was simple—combine her love of horses with her innate desire to help people with special needs. She grew up riding horses, but after her grandfather passed away, she discovered therapeutic riding and felt called to create a nonprofit dedicated to using this medium to help people coping with challenging circumstances in their lives.

After intensely fundraising for over a year and a half, and a postponement due to COVID-19, Sarah opened the Ranch’s doors in July 2020. “We literally built this from the ground up, with dirt and a dream!” Sarah says. She’s grateful for the strong community support and dedicated volunteers who help empower clients dealing with autism, Down syndrome, vision impairment, cancer treatment, grief, and other conditions through therapeutic riding. Most of their riders aren’t able to participate in traditional recreational activities, so therapeutic riding not only lets them have fun, but helps with muscle strength, cognitive skills, and confidence. “At Riverside Ranch we empower different abilities and give them an opportunity to shine,” Sarah says. “When they ride, they build strength and belief in themselves and walk away feeling celebrated.”

Riverside Ranch empowers kids and adults coping with autism, Down syndrome, vision impairment, cancer treatment, grief, and other conditions through therapeutic riding.

The Challenge

Because Riverside Ranch opened during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sarah knew her options for traditional fundraising events would be limited. The idea for a golf fundraiser came simply from observing the golfers that flocked to the golf course near where Sarah lives. “The golf course never closed,” she says, leading her to team up with the organization’s board president to explore launching a new charity golf tournament. Beyond raising mission-critical funds, Sarah says the idea for a golf tournament meant they could spread the word about what the Ranch does and who it serves.

Neither had planned a golf fundraiser before, and though both were concerned about COVID-related restrictions, they felt confident moving forward with a golf event. Unsure of where to start or how to make the process less cumbersome, they initially tried setting up registration through Riverside Ranch’s website. “That ended up making things way too complicated and not at all user-friendly,” Sarah says. They decided to seek out simpler, more efficient options.

The Solution

A Google search led them to GolfStatus as the solution to online registration and streamlining planning. “We saw GolfStatus and knew it was just what we needed,” Sarah says. In the golf tournament’s first year, the software helped give the tournament some structure and saved hours of time on administrative tasks. As a nonprofit organization, Riverside Ranch qualified for GolfStatus’s Golf for Good program, which allowed them to use the platform at no cost, which was a huge selling point for Sarah and her team.

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“We saw GolfStatus and knew it was just what we needed.”

— Sarah Valentine, Executive Director at Riverside Ranch

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The Results

In the tournament’s first two years, Riverside Ranch raised over $40,000. These funds help support the Ranch as a whole and add a third horse to its stable, allowing them to serve even more riders. Over 40 teams and sponsors supported the tournament in its two year tenure. 

Tournament format

Four Person Scramble

Dollars raised

$40,000

Additional fundraising

Mulligans, red tees, silent auction

Managing Registrations & Sponsorships

The event website was the home base for the golf fundraiser, and where all promotional materials sent golfers and sponsors. With just a few clicks, folks could purchase teams and sponsorship packages right on the spot. Sarah says creating custom sponsorship packages and being able to carry those over from year to year was super helpful, and the software made it easy to manage sponsor logos and assets. Sarah approached local businesses and contacts from families and friends as sponsors and sent them directly to the event website. “When people hear about our mission and what we’re doing at the Ranch, they want to be a part of it!” she says. The tournament involved 40 sponsors over two years

What’s more, online registration meant no dealing with multiple platforms, spreadsheets, checks, or receipts. “Online registration was so great,” Sarah says. “It’s the expectation for events anymore and made everything so easy.” She could log into the tournament management system’s back end and see who had registered, which sponsorships had been sold, and manage all the details in one easy-to-access place.

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“Online registration was so great. It’s the expectation for events anymore and made everything so easy.”

— Sarah Valentine, Executive Director at Riverside Ranch

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An event website makes it easy to promote the tournament, share information about the event, and sell team and sponsor packages.

An Easier Year Two

The first year of the golf tournament came with building the event’s infrastructure, including processes, sponsorship and team packages, pricing, designs, and promotional materials. Because Sarah employed GolfStatus from the get go, she didn’t have to manage multiple spreadsheets, process a ton of checks and receipts, and spend hours and hours doing administrative busywork. Instead, she could focus on promoting the event to attract teams and sponsors and making the tournament experience top-notch.

In year two, Sarah says the entire process was easier from start to finish. She worked with the GolfStatus team to simply copy the 2021 event for 2022, so there was no need to start from scratch. A few quick updates to the event date, course information, team and sponsorship packages, and the event website was up and running and ready to accept registrations.

GolfStatus and Dormie Network

After Sarah signed on to use GolfStatus for the tournament’s first year, she discovered the connection between GolfStatus and its sister company, Dormie Network, where her husband, Matt, and several of his friends are members. Dormie Network is a network of private destination golf clubs across the U.S. The Dormie Network Foundation donated a Stay and Play Package for the golf tournament’s auction, which helped raise several thousand dollars both years.

Connecting to the Cause

Though Riverside Ranch already had deep, meaningful connections with the community, the golf fundraiser was another opportunity to share its mission, attract new volunteers, and steward new donors and supporters. “I’m truly in awe of the positive impact therapeutic riding makes on the amazing individuals we serve. We want to share that excitement with our supporters,” Sarah says. 

To help make this connection, a father of one of the riders, Addy, spoke at the tournament’s luncheon and shared what the Ranch meant to his family. He described how riding has helped Addy gain confidence and the joy she experiences while on her favorite horse, JaRule. 

The Riverside Ranch Charity Golf Tournament was listed on GolfStatus’s master event listing, where avid golfers go to find and play in tournaments in their area. Sarah was pleasantly surprised at several teams finding the fundraiser in this way. “That meant some brand new people learned about and supported Riverside Ranch!” Sarah says.

Tournament volunteers were able to chat with golfers and sponsors about Riverside Ranch’s mission.

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Get Started With Golf for Good

Through the Golf for Good program, GolfStatus serves nonprofits and provides access to its entire golf event management and fundraising platform at no cost. Qualifying nonprofits get an event website, with online registration and secure payment processing, plus golf-specific tools, robust reporting, and the ability to collect donations to save organizers a ton of time and raise even more money for organizations’ missions. Want to learn more and get qualified? Click the button below or email [email protected].

Golf is an incredible force for good. Whether it’s a brand new tournament or decades old tradition, a small golf fundraiser or a massive charity event, or anything in between, golf brings people together to support the important work nonprofits are doing in their communities and beyond.

GolfStatus is once again teaming up with our giving partners at Dormie Network and Dormie Network Foundation for the Play It Forward campaign to give back to organizations that are using golf to make an impact.

For the second year, the Play It Forward campaign will award a $10,000 donation to a nonprofit or cause raising money through golf. Individuals nominate their favorite golf fundraiser and get the chance to win a one-year honorary membership to Dormie Network, a national network of private golf clubs, plus a $10,000 credit toward onsite golf and lodging.

Designed by famed golf course architect Tom Fazio, Dormie Network’s Victoria National Golf Club boasts gorgeous views amid challenging holes.

2021 winner

The 2021 Play It Forward nonprofit winner was the Cameron Steinberg Foundation’s inaugural golf fundraiser, nominated by Dr. Michael Gaies (who was the recipient of a year-long membership to the Dormie Network). The Foundation honors the life of Cameron Steinberg, who was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and tragically passed away at just two months old, and helps families affected by congenital heart disease.

The $10,000 donation was made to the Foundation’s second annual golf tournament, held May 23, 2022. The event’s second year utilized GolfStatus’s golf event management platform (which organizers used at no cost through the Golf for Good program) to manage registrations, sponsorships, and live scoring, and saw an increase of more than 66% in dollars raised when compared to the tournament’s first year.

Mel and Sam Steinberg post with Dr. Michael Gaies at the inaugural Cameron Steinberg Foundation’s golf fundraiser in May of 2021.

nominate a fundraiser today!

The golf fundraiser can be any size or format—a memorial tournament raising money for a favorite cause, alumni golf event, celebrity pro-am, nonprofit fundraiser, or corporate golf outing. The event simply must be raising money for a charitable cause to be eligible for the $10,000 donation. Tell us about the event, what it’s raising money for, and why it’s important to you.

The campaign launched May 31 and nominations close July 4.

The winners will be announced via a press release and on social media, so make sure you follow GolfStatus.org (Facebook and Instagram) and Dormie Network (Facebook and Instagram) for the latest.

Don’t miss out on this chance to make a difference and use golf for good!

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a rare congenital heart issue that affects one out of every 1,000 babies born in the U.S. Cameron Morgan Steinberg, daughter of Sam and Mel Steinberg, was diagnosed with the condition before birth. Knowing the challenges ahead, the first-time parents worked with their team of doctors to put a plan in place for Cami to be treated at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor immediately after birth.

Mel, Cami, and Sam Steinberg

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In babies with HLHS, the left side of the heart doesn’t develop properly in the womb. In a normal heart, red blood returns from the lungs and flows through the heart’s upper chamber (atrium) through the mitral valve to the left ventricle, where it’s pumped through the aortic valve and out to the child’s body. But with HLHS, the left side of the heart isn’t strong enough to pump the required blood for the body’s needs.

Dr. Michael Gaies, a pediatric cardiologist, associate professor, and one of the doctors who treated Cami at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, developed a strong bond with Cami and her parents. “They were remarkable advocates for Cami,” Dr. Gaies says. “They pushed us to turn every stone for Cami, and truly made us better healthcare professionals.” 

In addition to Cami’s heart issues, she also battled a lung disease that was, ultimately, untreatable. On November 23, 2018, Cami passed away in her parents’ arms at just two months old. Though they were shattered by the loss of their daughter, they turned that heartbreak into an effort to honor Cami’s short life, launching the Cameron Steinberg Foundation to raise money to help other families affected by congenital heart disease. 

“This is a special family, to take a tragedy like this and turn it into something good in the world,” says Dr. Gaies. He believes so strongly in what Mel and Sam are doing that he nominated the Cameron Steinberg Foundation’s newly established golf fundraiser to receive a $10,000 donation from the Dormie Network as part of a charitable giving effort with GolfStatus.org, and it was selected as the winner.

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“This is a special family, to take a tragedy like this and turn it into something good in the world.”

— Dr. Michael Gaies, pediatric cardiologist at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital

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“It’s hard to describe the sadness we as Cami’s doctors and nurses experienced when we came to the conclusion that we couldn’t help her,” Dr. Gaies says. “The work this family is doing to honor her short life and help other kids and families have a better outcome is nothing short of incredible, and it’s so meaningful to be able to contribute to that.”

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“The work this family is doing to honor her short life and help other kids and families have a better outcome is nothing short of incredible, and it’s so meaningful to be able to contribute to that.”

— Dr. Michael Gaies, pediatric cardiologist at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital

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Shortly after Cami’s passing, Sam and Mel used the proceeds from shirts that were sold bearing the #CamiStrong logo to donate 100 copies of the book Zipline (written specifically for kids who have undergone open heart surgery to help them feel comfortable with themselves and their surgical scar) and almost 400 stuffed animals to the hospital for current and future heart patients. In addition, a Comprehensive Single Ventricle Clinic was created at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Cami’s honor. The clinic provides support for patients and families leading up to and after open-heart surgery. “Thirty years ago, kids born with single ventricle heart conditions like HLHS didn’t have much in terms of treatment options,” says Dr. Gaies. Now, he explains, kids are generally expected to survive through childhood. Though Cami had other complications that made that impossible, Dr. Gaies says this clinic was established to help other pediatric heart patients deal with the unique medical and behavioral needs they’ll face over the long-term. 

The second annual Cameron Steinberg Foundation Charity Golf Classic will be held on May 23, 2022 at Tartan Field Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. Gaies describes how he chatted with Cami’s family about golf on many occasions throughout her stay at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and how it was a natural progression to using the sport to raise money for the Cameron Steinberg Foundation. “Golf is an easy way to rally support for a great cause,” he says. He admires the Steinbergs’ commitment to making a direct impact on families grappling with the challenges of congenital heart conditions with every dollar raised through the Foundation.

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“Golf is an easy way to rally support for a great cause.”

— Dr. Michael Gaies, pediatric cardiologist at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital

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“I couldn’t be more thrilled to help this family,” says Dr. Gaies. “This donation is going to help them do great things!”

Mel and Sam Steinberg pose with Dr. Michael Gaies at the Cameron Steinberg Foundation’s first annual golf fundraiser.

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ABOUT THE CAMERON STEINBERG FOUNDATION

The Cameron Steinberg Foundation was established in memory of Cameron Steinberg, who lost her battle with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) as an infant in 2018. In honor of Cameron and other families that have lived through similar pain, her parents established the Foundation to increase awareness for all congenital heart defects and raise money that makes a difference for HLHS patients and their families.