There’s no doubt about it: COVID-19 has changed the way we live, work, and fundraise. Its long-term impact remains to be seen, but as health and safety restrictions and guidelines remain in place heading into the end of the year, organizations large and small are tasked with the challenge of planning amid the uncertainty of the year ahead. Here are eight predictions for golf fundraisers in 2021 and how to prepare so you’re ahead of the curve.

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1. Golfers Will Be Eager to Play

For years, the golf industry has reported incredibly high latent demand (that is, tons of people who report that they want to golf, but haven’t or don’t regularly). The pandemic, almost at its immediate onset, poured fuel on the fire—challenging folks to get out and play. In fact, the industry as a whole has reported a record season with tee times booked consistently by golfers of all skill levels. This is good news for charity golf outings. Golf fundraisers traditionally use the scramble format, which means golfers don’t necessarily need to be extremely skilled at the game to participate in a charity tournament. 

With a huge uptick in rounds played by both new and experienced golfers in the 2020 season, event organizers can expect to have an easier time filling teams, especially by spring, when winter will be clearing up and folks will be eager to get out of the house.

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2. Expect to See More Tournaments on the Calendar

With many organizations forced to cancel their other fundraising events, a lot was riding on golf fundraisers in 2020 and many long-standing annual events were able to safely press on thanks to some creative modifications and the use of technology. At the same time, many organizations that ended up making the difficult decision to cancel will have high expectations for 2021. Coupled with first- and second-year events born out of necessity during this time, organizations can expect to see not only a renewed interest in golf from donors and sponsors, but a renewed interest in golf fundraising events across the board and more events taking place overall. 

This makes early planning more important than ever. You’ll need to get save-the-dates out with enough time for players and sponsors to act. That means, if you’re planning a spring event, you should get a quick notice out to supporters ahead of year end (especially sponsors, who will be planning budgets). It’s also a good idea to get an event website for your golf outing set up so you can list available packages and supporters can start to actually commit. If you end up needing to postpone or modify the event, an event website designed around the nuances of the golf outing also makes it easy to do so.

3. Social Distancing & Other Safety Protocols Will Linger

No one can predict with certainty what’s ahead, but there’s definitely some merit in the old adage: Plan for the worst and hope for the best. It’s likely that event organizers and golf facilities will need to continue to modify events to meet capacity limitations, mitigate contact, and ensure social distancing. For golf events, this means using online registration, modified formats where necessary (i.e. tee times as needed), touch-free mobile scoring, and other adaptations that keep your event safe.

4. Extended Play & Multi-Course Events Will Be More Common

Virtual golf outings are another trend that has taken root in 2020 and will likely continue into 2021. Instead of an on-screen gaming experience like many virtual events, virtual golf outings are played remotely. The event is extended over multiple days and/or across multiple courses so players can essentially donate their round and participate in an aggregate leaderboard without being in the same place at the same time as 100-plus other golfers. One benefit of these modified virtual outings is that they’re particularly convenient for participants, who sometimes can’t make a one-day event due to busy schedules. Virtual events also broaden the scope of the outing so it can include more supporters (i.e. there’s a much larger field size limit). Lastly, these events often require minimal overhead and less planning—making it possible to hold them without a ton of costs, time commitments, or months of advanced notice.

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5. Leaderboards Will Become More Common

Mobile scoring solved the problem of paper scorecards and the need to touch and pass them around, and there’s likely no going back. Live leaderboards allow tournament participants to score their round in real-time, so players and spectators can see standings at all times. The benefits are numerous: the event becomes instantly more competitive, golfers playing remotely in virtual outings are connected by a central scoreboard, and event organizers are able to sell exposure on the live leaderboard at a premium. What’s more, event leaderboards are a great place to collect additional online donations from event participants and those following along.

6. Sponsors Will Be Eager for Digital Exposure

With virtual elements and the adoption of technology, there comes digital advertising and opportunities for sponsor exposure. Digital logo placements are helpful for event organizers in that they’re easy to manage (just plug in a logo on a website, in a mobile app, or on leaderboards) and often have little to no overhead costs compared to signage or branded merchandise. Sponsoring businesses have also shown a propensity to support the technology that helps nonprofit organizations run more efficiently and effectively, making digital sponsorships a key opportunity for events that are evolving to leverage technology.

7. Organizations Will Focus on Capturing Event & Donor Data

Data has been the big buzz word in the sector for years, but there are some events and programming that seem to escape data capture and tracking mechanisms. The golf tournament has historically been one of those events, but it shouldn’t be. Indeed, the golfer demographic is, statistically, an affluent one. When golfers field a team, they tend to call on their networks and sphere of influence to do so. Perhaps most importantly, the golf outing can be a key entry point for corporate sponsors and partnerships. But none of this works if you don’t know who’s fielding teams, who’s being invited to play as a guest, who’s sponsoring your organization, and where the tournament falls into that supporter’s larger giving history.

The easy fix here is to use a platform that offers an event website with online registration and secure payment processing so you can capture and export that crucial information into your donor CRM. If your organization is fortunate enough to be the beneficiary of peer-to-peer fundraising or events run by third party organizers, capturing this data can be even more tricky, but it’s a huge missed opportunity if you’re not doing it. And, it’s still possible so long as your supporting events use the right technology.

8. Time Savings Will Be a Crucial Consideration

With many organizations facing budget cuts and staff consolidations, fundraising professionals have more on their plates than ever before heading into a high-stakes year. That means constant cost-benefit analyses, it means the ability to delegate is more important than ever, and it means organizations have to get creative to adopt technology to save time without adding more line-item expenses.

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GolfStatus.org offers no-cost access to the technology that’s leading golf fundraising forward for qualifying nonprofits through its Golf for Good program.

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Event Organizers Adapt to Hold Safe & Successful Traditional, Virtual & Hybrid Events

Whether you’re looking for a way to hold an event postponed from the spring or hoping to keep your annual golf tournament safe and successful, you’ll need to adapt. That means social distancing, eliminating touchpoints, offering new sponsorship options, utilizing technology to potentially go virtual, and finding ways to attract donors and sponsors. Here are a few actionable options to consider for your upcoming outing.

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1. Adapt a traditional in-person event to minimize contact and allow for social distancing. 

With this approach, you will still host teams at a designated golf facility on a particular day at a particular time, but with some rule changes, potential format changes, and technology to allow for social distancing and minimize contact. Communicate with the golf facility about any pertinent rule changes, especially those that might affect the format or field size for the event. You’ll need to streamline registration and minimize mailers, check processing and handling, and other touchpoints. Do so with an event website, where you can list all pertinent information about the event alongside all available team packages, individual registrations, and sponsorships. You’ll likely need to plan to skip a banquet or other gathering after the event, which means you’ll need to find new sponsorships to sell. You’ll also need touch-free scoring options. Use a reliable live-scoring app with an option that will make it possible to sell additional digital sponsorships (such as a leaderboard sponsorship and in-app exposure) so you don’t miss out on critical sponsorship dollars. 

2. Hold an extended play event over multiple days, a weekend, a week, or longer. 

An extended play outing extends the length of time over which your outing is played to limit the number of players at the facility at once and keep everyone safely distanced. You’ll need to introduce some technology—namely online registration and an aggregate live leaderboard that collects scores as participants get out to the course and play for your cause. Leverage a holistic communications plan to share the leaderboard, collect online donations, and keep participants and spectators engaged before, during, and after the event. Not only does this ensure a good turnout and more sponsor exposure, but it also casts a broader net to bring in donations from folks following along online. Digital sponsorships will also be important here, as some of the traditionally used sponsorship options for your outing may not be possible (such as dinner sponsors and on-course hole signage).

3. Hold a virtual event across multiple courses. 

Another virtual/hybrid option is a multi-course outing that allows organizations to designate several courses where participants can play in support of your organization—essentially on their own time. Like an extended play outing, participants schedule and play their round when convenient. One key benefit of this approach is that your organization is less limited when it comes to the number of participants. Live leaderboards are also crucial here; you’ll need options that display scores at each course and across multiple courses and you’ll need to implement a thoughtful communications plan to keep people interested in the relevant geographic area interested in your outing. Take advantage of online registration to keep information organized and process participant information, and be sure to sell digital sponsorships—another great source of revenue. 

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Whether you host a modified traditional outing or get creative with formats, scheduling, and locations, the right technology makes all the difference. GolfStatus.org can help! Our technology streamlines golf outings to save you time and keep your organization flexible.

Are you with a nonprofit or planning a golf outing that benefits one? No-cost access to our technology is available to qualifying nonprofits through our Golf for Good program.

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There’s no doubting it: 2020 has forced organizations, industries, and entire sectors to adapt. Event fundraising is no exception and, within the category, the golf fundraiser has become especially critical. With other major events going completely virtual and, in many cases, being altogether canceled, nonprofits have looked to the golf tournament as a live event that’s not only salvageable, but grounds for improvement and innovation. What fundraisers have realized along the way is that this traditional and long-standing event is rife with opportunities to upgrade, streamline, and improve outcomes altogether. Indeed, golf outings are having something of a renaissance in a time when corporate connections, donor engagement, and outreach efforts are perhaps more important than ever.

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1. Focus on audience

Any seasoned event planner knows that it’s not just about how many people you attract to a key fundraiser—but whom. Demographics and networks are important, and golf’s demographic tends to include high-capacity donors with powerful networks. In fact, golfers report an average household income more than twice that of the national average, the average net worth of a golfer is nearly $1 million, one in three are top-level managers and/or key decision-makers within their organizations, and the vast majority are invested in stocks or mutual funds.

The most successful event organizers understand the rarity of having four focused hours of access to these influential community members and capitalize on it by strategically aligning the event’s goals accordingly. This value can get lost when an annual event is passed to a new volunteer every few years. The shakeup of a crisis like COVID-19 has forced organizations to get to the heart of why their golf event matters and evaluate where it might be missing the mark.

2. Golf events are an entry point for corporate partnerships

Fundraisers are realizing that the golf outing’s unique tendency to attract wealthy and connected community members makes it a useful way to not only steward existing corporate partners, but to onboard new ones. This requires a more focused effort on approaching new sponsors and asking for their support amid a tumultuous economy. The ask is substantially easier because nonprofits are able to bring additional value to the table for sponsors who benefit from networking opportunities, exposure to an affluent and influential demographic of potential customers, and the especially crucial brand lift that comes with supporting a fun community event tied to a great cause.

3. Have a website for your golf event

Virtual events have brought to light the importance of a communication plan that engages participants before, during, and after the event in a meaningful way. What’s more, online followers and supporters are beneficial whether the event is virtual or not. For the golf outing, that has made an event website common practice. Having a website to display updated information about the event that includes the ability to register or sponsor the outing instantly and on the spot makes sharing the event in the time leading up to it easier and more effective. The event website is also an easy place to display and share live leaderboards and post final results.

4. Utilize live leaderboards

Access to live-scoring technology that’s easy, inexpensive, and glitch-free has made live leaderboards common practice. It used to be that live-scoring required devices on carts or supplied by third-party event companies, but today’s technology makes it possible for players to enter their scores and view standings in real-time from their mobile device. Live leaderboards also save the golf facility time, help organizers avoid that awkward downtime after the outing, and keep competitive players more engaged in the outing. They’re also a great sponsorship opportunity—one that resembles the high-end look and feel of professional-caliber events.

5. Solicit online donations from event spectators

Event organizers are also capitalizing on the opportunity to collect donations from supporters following and engaging with their golf event online. Event organizers do this by including asks in their communications plans and making it easy to donate from places like the event website and the leaderboards. Not only is this an outreach effort, it’s also an easy way to generate additional fundraising revenue.

6. Offer digital sponsorship opportunities

Digital sponsorship opportunities provide more opportunities for premium exposure and are helping event fundraisers attract and retain sponsors during this crucial time. With elements like registration websites, mobile scoring, and live leaderboards improving planning efficiencies and making it easier for players to commit and engage—they’re also a great opportunity for sponsors.

7. Extend golf events to engage online spectators longer

Restrictions and regulations have forced many organizations to consider and execute on creative formats in order to keep players safely socially distanced. This includes extended play options, multi-course options, and live online leaderboards that engage a following and keep supporters interested in the event for longer than a single day. What event organizers are realizing is that extending play and opening up multiple courses provides convenience to online spectators.

Before these innovations, event organizers might miss out on a key team or a number of key teams due to busy summer and fall schedules. Technology provides the ability to extend play over multiple days or even weeks, and include multiple courses in the outing—not only making it possible for more players to (safely) participate, but making it easier and more convenient for them to do so.

8. Embrace technology & professionalism

2020 has necessitated a no-frills approach that reinforces the importance of smooth logistics and an overall smooth and professional look and feel for the event. In short, it’s less about the tee gifts and more about having a relaxed, enjoyable time on the course. Donor expectations include an easy and convenient registration process, organized day-of operations, and an effortlessly high-end look and feel in line with a professional-caliber outing.

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Take the next steps

The technology overhaul that happened years ago for large-scale fundraising events, such as galas and walk/run-a-thons, has finally come to golf events. What was once done by hand or through spreadsheets has been overhauled with better systems and processes—many of which are inexpensive, make it easy to underwrite or cover costs, or are no-cost altogether.

GolfStatus.org is designed specifically to streamline and upgrade the quality of your outing while also saving you tons of time. In short, when you have the tools and knowledge you need to position your golf outing in the right light and with less and less overhead, the sky is truly the limit when it comes to outreach, fundraising, stewardship, growth, and the overall success of the event.

This article was originally published by Nonprofit Tech for Good.

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Interest in learning more about GolfStatus’s Golf for Good program? Submit an inquiry here to get qualified or email us directly at

[email protected].

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Nonprofits relying on events have been hit especially hard by COVID-19 with cancelled conventions, luncheons, galas, and other key fundraisers. With the fate of summer and fall events uncertain, many nonprofits are evaluating virtual options and making hard decisions about next steps. Among those decisions: What to do with the golf event. It turns out, in many cases, golf events can be modified to be made contact-free and safe. All it takes is some forethought and the right tools. Here’s how your organization can adapt the golf event to move forward.

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Online Registration

Event logistics are consideration number one when it comes to planning a safe event. Be aware that the golf facility will inevitably have different protocols in place that you’ll need to plan around, including rule changes and capacity requirements. With courses reopening nationwide, most must observe capacity limits and require social distancing at all times. Online event registration eliminates this issue. Players purchase teams, sponsorships, and even add-ons like mulligans and raffle tickets through an event website (qualifying nonprofits can get a free custom-built and hosted event website through GolfStatus.org’s Golf for Good program), so they’re ready to tee off when they arrive on event day and don’t need to check in or congregate in the clubhouse.  

Staggered Tee Times & Extended Play

You may need to consider some format changes, including tee times instead of a shotgun start and twosomes instead of foursomes. This keeps players properly distanced at all times. Extended play is another option to consider. This allows event organizers to reap the benefits of a large field size and well-attended event, but keeps everyone safe by extending the duration of the event so it happens over several days or even weeks to spread out attendance. Players attend the event when they feel safe and when it’s convenient, so the event can have a potentially massive turnout without putting players, sponsors, and course staff at risk.

Live Scoring & Online Leaderboards

To accommodate extended play options (and even if you’re not extending play), you’ll need a contact-free way to collect scores from players participating in the event and a way to post them online to keep supporters engaged; that’s where live leaderboards come in. GolfStatus provides live scoring through its free mobile app. Players can use it to check into an event at a specific course, enter a unique code, and submit scores to an online leaderboard for the event. Your organization can then share the leaderboard online and through social platforms to engage a global audience of donors. In fact, online spectators can donate directly to your cause from the leaderboard. Plus the leaderboard sponsor gets unprecedented exposure—which means you can sell that sponsorship at a higher price point.

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Invite Only

On the opposite end of the spectrum from extended play is an event with a limited field size. Depending on the goals for your event and the participants it traditionally attracts, this option—though it may sound counterintuitive—may be best. Limiting the size of the event to invite-only guests allows your organization to narrow in on its highest-capacity donors and corporate contacts. This not only increases dollars per donor, it increases the value of the event’s sponsorships because it provides exposure to a hard-to-reach demographic with substantial spending power. This is another opportunity to sell sponsorships at a higher price point.

Digital Sponsorships

When it comes to sponsorship options, these digital and virtual elements allow organizations to take advantage of digital exposure. There are several inherent benefits here: first, you save on the costs associated with printed materials and logo-printed merchandise. Second, your organization can provide more exposure during a time when everyone is online. Sponsors get exposure through your event website and live leaderboards—so online, in the app, and through any social and email promo you do for the event. Because sponsorships can be customized and listed online and registration is also online, you won’t need to mail print materials and packets. Just engage players and sponsors through digital channels and provide the added-value of ongoing exposure through them to your sponsors.

Communication

From the planning stages, it’s especially important to communicate clearly with players and sponsors. Be sure to let them know that modifications have been made to this year’s event to ensure the health and safety of all. Supporters are often happy to oblige, so long as they know what to expect. An event website is a great place to clearly outline changes to schedules, rules, formats, and other standard operating procedures. Be sincere and be honest. Let supporters know that their health and safety are of the utmost importance. Be sure to send email updates and other timely notifications when changes happen or an update is needed. GolfStatus.org’s technology makes this easy, too, with the ability to email all event participants with one simple click at any time. You can also send push notifications leading up to, during, or after the event.

Use Technology, Stay safe

With the right technology, a safe and successful golf outing is not only possible—it’s easy. GolfStatus.org streamlines every single adaptation your organization needs to make in order to safely host a live golf event or virtual golf fundraiser. What’s more, no-cost access to this technology is available to qualifying nonprofits through GolfStatus.org’s Golf for Good program.

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To learn more or get started, submit an inquiry online or email us directly at

[email protected].

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You’ve heard of virtual auctions, virtual galas, and even virtual walk-a-thons—but a virtual golf tournament? It’s surprisingly simple, and a pretty brilliant way to use technology to bring people together to safely fundraise. Of course, virtual golf fundraisers provide the ability to tap into online and remote audiences for additional outreach and exposure, not to mention their substantial cost savings. These are especially crucial considerations as organizations assess the costs and benefits of moving fundraisers forward during these unprecedented times. Indeed, virtual golf events can be a straightforward, cost-effective, and—above all else—safe way to fundraise amid COVID-19. 

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How Virtual Golf Events Work

Golf facilities are adapting to incorporate technology and require social distancing in order to continue to operate safely and responsibly during this time. Rule changes include walking requirements or one person per cart, leaving the flag stick in the hole at all times, foam cup inserts that make it easier to retrieve golf balls, and mobile scoring that eliminates the use of scorecards and pencils.  

The most common form of virtual golf event basically extends the duration of the event from the traditional half day to multiple days and, in some cases, multiple weeks. Event organizers work with the golf facility to accommodate this setup, and are often able to negotiate better rates because the facility can continue to serve other patrons at a safe volume when events are extended over a longer period.

The event organizer is set up with an event website from GolfStatus.org (free for qualifying nonprofits) that they can use to spread the word. Sponsorships are listed on the site and can include a number of digital exposure opportunities. Golfers can also register directly from this website, so they pay ahead of time and tee up contact free once they get to the course.  

Once at the course, players use GolfStatus’s free mobile app to check into the event and submit scores to an online leaderboard. Event organizers keep the leaderboard posted online for the duration of the event and use it to post final results. Organizations can offer sponsors high-value exposure on the registration website used to market the event and collect signups, in the mobile app, and on the leaderboards for the duration of the event (which is extended to offer even more value) and after scores are final.

During the event, donors, supporters, volunteers, and other online spectators can follow leaderboards online, and submit donations right from the leaderboard. It’s easy for event organizers to send updates and asks when the event kicks off, when it reaches a milestone, and when it’s almost over. Once finished, the final leaderboard can also be used to thank participants and sponsors. It’s all online, and the exposure sponsors get is primarily digital, so costs remain low and it’s easy to manage across multiple channels.

Key Outcomes

• A safe event for all. This is the first and foremost consideration and it’s absolutely crucial.

• Easy, online marketing and communications. Provide key info such as pertinent logistics and rule changes, share event details, thank sponsors, and spread the word through your free custom event website and through push notifications in the app as needed.

• Contact-free. Staggered participation, online registration, mobile scoring, and other key elements keep your event safe and contact-free.

• More participation. The convenience of flexible scheduling means players are more likely to be able to attend your event.

• Extended sponsor exposure. A longer event with digital sponsorship opportunities and online exposure gives your sponsors a better value, keeps your organization flexible, and helps mitigate costs.

• Better outreach, engagement, and exposure. Virtual events open your event up to a broader audience, helping you leverage a once-hyper-local event to spread national awareness for your outing and engage supporters in your cause. 

• More fundraising revenue. Virtual events keep costs low, so more of your dollars go to your mission.

• Flexibility to reschedule or cancel. These are uncertain times. If you do end up needing to reschedule or cancel your outing, there are no fees when you use GolfStatus and our customer success team makes it easy.

How to Get Started

Virtual events are easy and straightforward when you use the right technology. Get a custom event website and access to GolfStatus.org’s virtual golf event management platform (available at no cost to qualifying nonprofits) by inquiring below.

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Click here to submit an online inquiry,

or email us directly at

[email protected].

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It’s a challenging time for fundraisers as nonprofits assess the next steps for events, many of which have been held for years and are crucial to the bottom line. As organizations question how to move forward safely and responsibly amid the backdrop of COVID-19, one event has emerged as safe and viable during this unique time: the golf outing. With the right technology and with some modifications, golf fundraisers are forging ahead to hold safe and successful events. Here’s how GolfStatus.org can help you do it.

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GO VIRTUAL

• Spread an event across multiple days, a weekend, or even several weeks. Offer players and teams the option to participate on their own time, when it’s convenient and they feel safe. Players visit the course when it’s not congested and enter their scores using their mobile device—then follow an aggregate leaderboard online and in the GolfStatus app until the event is over.

• Live-stream leaderboards online. Keep supporters engaged on social media over the course of your event (whether it’s one day or multiple days) by live-streaming leaderboards. This also gives your sponsors more of the exposure they love.

• Accept donations from online spectators. GolfStatus.org’s Donate Now feature makes it easy for online spectators to submit a donation instantly right from the leaderboard.

GO CONTACT-FREE

• Use online registration with secure payment processing. Avoid mail-in forms and checks and limit check-in congestion and chaos at the golf course. Online registration is contact-free to keep everyone safe.

• Use mobile scoring instead of pencils and scorecards. Players stay safe by entering their scores on their mobile device. Your staff and the golf facility’s staff stay safe by avoiding passing scorecards back and forth.

• Offer digital sponsorships. Selling in-app sponsorships and live leaderboard sponsorships helps your organization avoid overhead costs and stay flexible. Add direct links to more information about each sponsor and even to their website to add more value and get them the exposure they need to support your event.

• Take advantage of pin flag exposure for sponsors. Custom pin flags are an easy, professional, contact-free sponsorship option, as most courses are mandating that pin flags stay in the cup at all times.

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PLAN & COLLABORATE REMOTELY

• Manage sponsor logos and information in one place. Keep imagery and info (including sponsor descriptions and links) organized and accessible for all digital sponsorships in GolfStatus’s super sleek sponsorship management interface. It’s easy for your staff and volunteers to access and use.

• Keep information secure with user access permissions. The GolfStatus platform allows event organizers to provide access to different elements of the golf event planning process to specific committee members, board members, or volunteers on an as-needed basis. This keeps information secure and makes it easy to delegate—especially when your team is working remotely.

• Keep information accessible and updated. Make it easy for your team to access information online and in real time without hiccups through a web-based platform designed specifically for golf events. No need to hassle with web-based spreadsheets, online asset sharing, and a mix of other tools. Everything you need is in one place and every element of the golf fundraiser is accounted for.

• Safely and seamlessly collaborate with the golf facility. Handle tasks like team pairings and hole assignments, collaborate on them remotely with the golf facility, or delegate everything to the course. Handing off information is super easy when it’s all in one place and you can control and provide access permissions to the golf facility’s staff as needed.

STAY SAFE & FOCUSED

• Put GolfStatus.org to work. All of the above can be accomplished with the simple yet powerful technology available at no cost to qualifying nonprofits through GolfStatus.org’s Golf for Good program. This technology can not only save your organization time and resources, it can keep mission-critical dollars coming in the door during these challenging times when you need them most.

• Get in touch. Reach us directly to determine if your organization qualifies for no-cost access to our platform. And if you need help, advice, or just need a hand figuring out how to move forward with your event, our customer success team is here to help every step of the way!

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Submit an inquiry here or contact us directly at 

[email protected].

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The challenges fundraisers face in the months ahead present a complicated outlook—especially for those with budgets that rely heavily on event revenue. Will venues be open? Will supporters be willing and able to attend? Will it be socially responsible to host an event? These are questions with unpredictable answers, making time savings and flexibility more crucial than ever. With some modifications, summer and fall golf events can be a safe way to fundraise, but event organizers will need to make some important planning considerations on the front end. Here’s how to leverage technology to plan a golf fundraiser in these uncertain times.

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Use an Event Website

Costs associated with designing, printing, and distributing flyers, packets, and registration forms are non-refundable expenses that can be eliminated by using an event website. As a nonprofit, you can get one for free through GolfStatus.org’s Golf for Good program. Promote your event through email, social media, and text messages by sharing a link to your website, where players and sponsors can register instantly.

The event website is also a good place to communicate any pertinent information, including cancellation policies and contingency plans. Be sure to collaborate with the golf facility to include information about any specific modifications that players will need to make for safety purposes. In addition to requiring social distancing, many facilities are eliminating paper scorecards, eliminating or modifying cart usage, and requesting that players leave the flag stick in place.

Eliminate Mail-In Registration Forms

Another key benefit of an event website is that it allows you to eliminate paper registrations and the costs and time spent printing, sending, and processing them. With an event website, players and sponsors can register online at their convenience. Plus, when you’re managing registrations from a web-based interface, teams, sponsors, and other information can be updated by your team or by the golf facility’s staff in real time.

Leverage Mobile Scoring

Mobile scoring is easy to incorporate into your event and a great way to eliminate the need to touch and pass paper scorecards and pencils among staff and players. Instead, players input their score from their smartphone (in the case of a scramble, one player per team enters scores for the team). Mobile scoring also offers the added benefit of live leaderboards, which players can see on their mobile device during the round.

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Capitalize on Digital Sponsorships

Digital sponsorships prevent your organization from incurring costs associated with branded merchandise, signage, and other materials. They’re also easier to manage and update, can be added last-minute, and offer a high-end look and feel. Mobile scoring in particular allows event organizers the opportunity to sell a leaderboard sponsorship. This can be wrapped in with a title sponsorship or sold as an individual package, but be sure to list it as a top-tier offering.

At professional Tour events, the leaderboard is considered prime real estate. Including it in your sponsorship packages sets your event apart as a high-end outing, which also helps you attract high-capacity donors and supporters from their networks. With the right live scoring platform, you can also incorporate digital hole sponsorships that show sponsor logos, additional brand details, and website links. Unlike printed materials, if you decide to refund or transition sponsorship investments in the event of a canceled or rescheduled event, digital exposure helps you mitigate input costs while also delivering value to sponsors.

Use Web-Based Tools

A web-based event management platform keeps all the information you, your team, and the golf facility need in one convenient place. This is especially important with members of your team and volunteers more likely than ever to be working remotely in the time leading up to your event. Use a platform that allows you to adjust user access permissions, so you can delegate tasks to individual team members or staff at the golf facility quickly and easily. This also makes it easy to handoff information to staff at the golf facility at any time.

Communicate Authentically

If you do have to postpone or cancel an event, be sure to communicate authentically and share your story. Let supporters know how important the golf event is to your fundraising efforts and annual budget. Don’t be afraid to make the ask for donations in lieu of committed registrations and especially sponsorships. Many businesses will have already budgeted for this support and may be more than willing to transition it into a tax-deductible donation. Then be sure to thank supporters publicly in social media communications, email updates, and wherever else is appropriate. This is an important expression of gratitude, but it’s also a way for supporters to reap some positive public relations and brand lift from their donation, making them more likely to continue to support your organization in the future.

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Golf Tech for Nonprofits

A golf-specific event management platform not only offers these unique features, it makes quick work of team pairings, hole assignments, handicaps, flighting, and other golf-related tasks that once required days and weeks of prep time and tons of coordination with the golf facility. GolfStatus.org does all the above and more. A web-based golf event management platform, its features include a registration website, live scoring and leaderboards, digital sponsorships, and tons of other tools that help event organizers save time and remain flexible. GolfStatus.org makes its platform available to qualifying nonprofits at no cost through its Golf for Good program; click here to submit an inquiry and get started or email us directly at [email protected].

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This article first appeared on

Nonprofit Tech for Good.

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The golf fundraiser is an ideal avenue for outreach and stewardship, and given the sport’s tendency to attract affluent businesses professionals, it’s a huge opportunity to fundraise and forge or advance corporate partnerships. Here’s what you need to know to maximize your outing’s sponsorships and raise more dollars for your cause.

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Approach the right businesses.

Keep golf’s affluent demographic in mind when approaching sponsors. It’s much easier for marketing teams and decision makers to make a business justification for investing in a sponsorship if it provides direct exposure to their ideal customer. Consider car dealerships, homebuilders, jewelers, insurance agencies, real estate firms, accountants, beverage distributors, mortgage brokers, banks, travel agencies, financial service providers, and other businesses offering services that appeal to this audience.

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Consider what matters most to sponsors when making asks.

There are a number of reasons for sponsors to support fundraising events, especially golf fundraisers. In addition to providing direct exposure to an affluent and influential audience, sponsorship aligns brands and companies with good causes. The golf tournament also serves as an ideal place for sponsoring businesses to entertain clients, partners, and other business associates—not to mention the value of focused networking opportunities that are especially unique to golf outings. Be sure to tout these selling points when you reach out to sponsors to make asks.

Create appropriate sponsorship packages.

Be cognizant of how you build sponsorship packages. Consider player demographics, the caliber of the golf course, and the reputation your event has garnered. If supporters tend to return year after year and spots fill up quickly, don’t be afraid to edge up prices, add another sponsorship level, or offer additional premium packages. Look for opportunities to add recognition, exposure, and value, especially for top-tier sponsorships. Consider custom-branding pin flags with a sponsor’s logo to sell a flag sponsorship. They’re common at professional Tour events, and great as a stand-along sponsorship package or as a value-add for premier-level sponsors.

Make sponsors look good.

Sponsors want to support events that are well-organized with clear communication, simple registration, and a high level of professionalism. These events attract affluent participants who invite business colleagues and clients—the ideal audience for your organization to engage. It’s no secret that higher-end events pave the way for higher-level sponsors, creating a snowball effect that benefits your organization across the board.

Once sponsors are secured, be vigilant about handling logos, messaging, links, and other info and requests quickly and professionally. Pay close attention to details, like how the sponsor logo looks and prints, where it appears, and whether it displays the supporting organization prominently and positively. Use a web-based platform so sponsor assets are all stored in one place and easy for multiple members of your committee, team, or volunteer task force to manage.

Live-score the event and sell a leaderboard sponsorship.

When it comes to sponsorship opportunities, the leaderboard is as premium as it gets. It captures the attention of players, spectators, and other supporters (both at the event and following online) for the duration of the event and afterward. Live scoring also makes the event more fun, competitive, and higher-end, and streamlines scoring for the golf facility staff (who would typically be rushing to enter scores after the round during an awkward lull while golfers wait for teams to finish). Be sure to utilize a live scoring platform that’s reliable, sleek, and easy-to-use and offer the leaderboard sponsorship at a premium.

Make it easy to spread the word.

When you spread the word not only about available sponsorship opportunities but that they’re going quickly, there’s a domino effect that begins to happen. The easiest way to both recognize sponsors and spread the word about businesses that are on board is through a registration website for your event, which provides a place for you to send interested sponsors and display those who have already pledged their support. A registration website also offers other key advantages, like saving you tons of time and keeping everything organized (and qualifying nonprofits can get one for free through GolfStatus.org’s Golf for Good program).

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Make it easy for sponsors to commit.

You’ll certainly want to promote the event to existing supporters through email, social media, and possibly even direct mail. The key advantage of using an event website is that you can provide a clear call to action on all promo items—not matter their medium—that provides a quick and easy way for sponsors to commit on the spot without the fuss of mail-in forms and checks. They head to your golf event’s website, choose a package, and submit payment instantly.

Call on your networks.

Chances are, your board members, most engaged donors, and committee members have connections to businesses. Instead of making a vague request for folks to ask around, be intentional about rallying your troops. Ask board and committee members to participate in making a list of target sponsors, then divvy out a plan of action for contacting them based on relevant connections. Follow up at your next meeting to be sure board members are following through.

Get local media involved.

Reach out to your local newspapers, TV stations, support organizations like regional nonprofit associations, and other outlets to let them know about your golf event. Be ready with details like date, time, and location, and remind them about the cause the event supports. Ask them to direct interested players and sponsors to your event website for more information and to register and purchase sponsorships.

Steward sponsors appropriately.

When sponsorships sell, reach out to let sponsors know you appreciate their support. Follow up with a social media post from your organization to share that they’ve committed to supporting the event, thank them for doing so, and remind other sponsors that there are more opportunities available (be sure to link your registration website).

Run a flawless event.

The better your event goes off, the more support it will garner year after year. Now’s the time to take a look at the systems and processes behind your event and look for opportunities to streamline, simplify, and upgrade.

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Looking to streamline all your golf fundraiser’s logistics to save time and attract more players and sponsors? GolfStatus.org’s simple, powerful platform has everything you need—and it’s free for qualifying nonprofits.

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To learn more, submit an inquiry here, or email us directly at

[email protected]

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Whether your association has run a golf event for years or is just getting started, its benefits are numerous, and when you have the right tools, reaping those benefits requires a small investment of time and resources. Here are four key goals to explore ahead of your 2020 golf outing.

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1. Generate Non-Dues Revenue

The golf outing is an ideal way to generate NDR (non-dues revenue). Whether your outing channels its fundraising dollars solely back into the association, or parts them with a nonprofit beneficiary (or several), fundraising dollars can be collected from registrations, sponsorships, add-ons like mulligans and raffle tickets, on-course games, and other donation asks. The golf event can also be paired with a luncheon, dinner, more formal gala or auction.

Pro tip: When planning your golf event, consider the venue, price points, sponsorship options, and other key items on the front end and be sure they align with your goals. If your association has the opportunity to attract high-capacity members and big-time sponsors, be sure the caliber of the event is aligned with that opportunity. Be aware that positioning your outing as a high-end corporate entertainment event ensures that members gain substantial value from attending, making them willing to invest in supporting and participating in the event.

2. Ramp up Member Recruiting & Retention

Golf outings require participants to field a team, which encourages them to reach out to their networks and naturally leads to new member prospects. If membership growth is a primary goal for your organization, let your tried-and-true golf event participants know so they can build their teams accordingly. You can also make the event a member guest-style outing, so teams include both members of your association and non-members (i.e. prospects). Because of the inherent networking value golf events offer, and the fact that attendees tend to genuinely enjoy them, outings are a great way to keep members engaged and invested in supporting your organization year after year.

Pro tip: Be sure your event has a website and offers online registration. Association members are busy and need (and even expect) a no-fuss way to get registered for any event. They don’t have time to fuss with forms, checks, and mail-in registrations. Plus, everyone’s online these days; it’s the fastest and easiest way to reach both existing and future members and supporters.

3. Forge & Steward Corporate Partnerships

The golf outing is a great opportunity to secure corporate support and further existing relationships. Golf’s inherent connection to business keeps it on the radars of business professionals and in the sponsorship and marketing budgets or corporate entities large and small. The outing itself provides focused exposure to your members—which offers a great value to corporate partners looking to sponsor and particpate.

Pro tip: Offer high-end sponsorship opportunities, like branded pin flags, hole sponsorships, and leaderboard sponsorships. Provide exposure through physical and digital channels so sponsors get quality, cross-channel impressions that drive tangible results like web traffic and genuine inquiries.

4. Build Goodwill & Spotlight Community Efforts

Golf is a fun community event that brings people together to enjoy a great day outdoors. It’s also inextricably linked to charity. As an association, your goals are to align interests and support causes that matter to your members, and you can leverage your annual golf outing to do both while also building goodwill for your organization and advancing its positive reputation in the community.

Pro tip: When you designate a specific cause or nonprofit organization as the beneficiary of your event, let players and sponsors know how much of their investments will go to this cause and what kind of impact those dollars make. Not only are you raising mission-critical funds for a great organization, you’re building your association’s reputation and brand as a whole.

Take the Next Step

GolfStatus.org is uniquely aligned to streamline all the (sometimes complex and time-consuming) component parts of planning and executing a golf outing—no matter your goals. And it’s available at no cost to qualifying nonprofits.

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Submit an inquiry or contact us at

[email protected]

to learn more.

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