The past nearly two years have tested nonprofits’ ability to rapidly pivot everything from programs and priorities to events and fundraising. The sector is still recovering in many ways as organizations look ahead to 2022 fundraising events. As the world slowly returns to varying levels of normalcy, organizations are beginning to reignite strategic fundraising events and longer-term donor stewardship—both of which golf can help accomplish. Here are nine predictions for golf fundraisers in 2022.

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1. Golf’s popularity will level off but remain steady.

Golf grew exponentially during 2020 and into 2021, but the National Golf Foundation reports that the sport’s growth has cooled slightly in the second and third quarters of 2021. That being said, golf is still more popular now than it was pre-pandemic, and after a winter of being indoors, folks will be eager to golf and play in tournaments that support worthwhile causes. Keep in mind that golf fundraisers traditionally use the scramble format, which means golfers don’t need to be highly skilled to participate in a charity tournament, which gives your event an even larger pool of participants. 

2. Expect to see second- and third-year events gain momentum.

Nonprofits of all types and sizes saw the value of the golf fundraiser during 2020 and 2021, as golf events provided a safe, in-person fundraising option amid hit-or-miss online and virtual events. Many first-time golf events were launched out of necessity during this time, which in turn have become annual events. This means more golf tournaments on the calendar, so planning ahead is crucial. Get save-the-dates out as early as possible so your event is on players’ radars sooner rather than later and your tournament is included in sponsors’ budgets. It’s also a good idea to get an event website for your golf outing launched so you can list available team and sponsor packages so supporters can commit to your event as soon as they hear about it.

3. Tournaments will be business as usual.

Golf tournaments were able to be held during the height of the pandemic, thanks to technology and creative modifications and adaptations that either eliminated or significantly reduced touchpoints and large groups of people gathering in one place at one time. In 2021, many tournaments were able to safely resume some or most of their usual activities—tee time starts, on-course games and contests, pre- and post-golf gatherings, and awards ceremonies. This is likely to continue across the board in 2022, with golf tournaments returning to pre-pandemic protocols. That being said, the technology that helped nonprofits proceed with golf fundraisers proved to be helpful beyond COVID-19, providing time and resource savings, additional sponsor exposure and options, and an elevated tournament experience.

4. Golf events will continue to provide Fundraising options and flexibility.

Though normalcy is inching closer, if COVID-19 taught us anything it’s that staying nimble is key. Local situations and circumstances can change rapidly, which means organizations may need to once again adapt events on the fly. Golf fundraisers are unique in that any modifications made, whether it’s switching to tee time starts instead of a shotgun start, eliminating banquets or cocktail hours, or even going virtual, don’t affect the heart of the event—the golf and the fundraising it drives. It will continue to be important for organizers to have the right technology in place to make the adaptations, as well as communicating them to golfers and sponsors, easy and seamless. 

5. More organizations will rally third parties to hold events that benefit them.

Corporate partners, businesses, passionate supporters, volunteers, avid golfers or other third parties often plan golf events that benefit a nonprofit or cause. Organizations benefit from the passive fundraising and, if done correctly, collect the information of the golfers and sponsors participating in these golf tournaments for further donor stewardship. It’s important for organizations to make it as easy as possible for third parties to hold these events, so using a common technology platform that simplifies planning and seamlessly and uniformly collects donor data is crucial.

6. Live scoring will become the norm.

Scoring via mobile app eliminated the touchpoint of paper scorecards at golf fundraisers, but came with a plethora of other benefits that make organizations unlikely to want to go back. Mobile scoring is linked to live leaderboards, which allow tournament participants to score their round in real-time, letting golfers, spectators, and other supporters see current standings at any time. Live leaderboards make the event more competitive and allow for virtual rounds and even completely virtual events that are connected by a common leaderboard. What’s more, they open the door for additional sponsor exposure which can be sold at a premium and a place to collect online donations from event participants as well as those following along.

7. Sponsors will be eager to support golf fundraisers.

The adoption of technology to plan and manage golf fundraisers has led to additional sponsorship offerings and, in turn, more dollars raised for organizations. Digital exposure is mutually beneficial for the organizer and the sponsor. For organizers, they’re easy to manage (you simply upload a logo to an event website, mobile app, or event leaderboards), can be sold at a premium, and often have little to no overhead costs compared to signage or branded merchandise. For the sponsor, this digital exposure provides high visibility among your tournament’s golfers, getting their brand in front of an affluent audience of potential clients and customers. Indeed, over the last nearly two years, sponsoring businesses have also shown a propensity to support the technology that helps nonprofits run more effectively and efficiently, making digital sponsorships a key opportunity for organizations evolving to leverage technology.

8. Responsibly collecting event & donor data will continue to be crucial. 

Data has been a buzz word in the nonprofit sector for years, but some events and programming still seem to escape data capture and tracking mechanisms. The golf tournament has historically been one of those events, but there’s no reason it should be. Statistically, the golfer demographic is affluent and influential, so golfers tap into their personal and professional networks to field a team, particularly with a scramble format that can involve all golf skill levels. Even more importantly, golf events can open the door to corporate sponsors and long-term partners. But unless you know who’s playing in and supporting your golf tournament at what level and during what year or years, this information can’t be leveraged by your organization. The easy fix here is to make the switch to an event website with online registration and built-in payment processing, which makes it easy to capture this critical information and seamlessly export it for inclusion in your organization’s donor CRM. For third party events, this becomes even more important and is a huge missed opportunity if this information isn’t being collected.

9. Time & resource savings will be vitally important. 

Much of the nonprofit sector is still recovering from reduced revenue, fewer fundraising opportunities, budget cuts, and a labor shortage caused by the pandemic. Remaining staff have more on their plates than ever and are looking for ways to save time and reduce costs on things like fundraising events. Event organizers need to be able to seamlessly collaborate with volunteers and planning committees using tools that provide efficiency and are easy to use. What’s more, with budgets stretched thin, organizations have to get creative to adopt technology to save time without adding more line-item expenses. 

Holding a Golf Event in 2022?

GolfStatus’s all-in-one golf event management and fundraising platform streamlines the details of a golf fundraiser, letting organizers focus less on the minutiae of the tournament and more on connecting with donors and sponsors. Through the company’s Golf for Good initiative, nonprofits and those holding events that benefit them can qualify for no-cost access to the platform to save time and raise more money. Get started here or email [email protected]. 

Niobrara County High School (NCHS) is located in Lusk, Wyoming, a town of about 1,500 people in the state’s Eastern plains. It’s home to open pastures, rolling hills, and a rich history in mining and cattle ranching. When Jason Wasserburger, an attorney living in Cheyenne, attended his 15-year NCHS reunion six years ago, he was disappointed by the lack of turnout. 

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Dollars raised

$27,000+

Annual tournament

6th year

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Each NCHS class typically holds an individual reunion on Friday night of the alumni weekend each June, with an all-class banquet on Saturday night, Jason says, though he points out that recently, these events have garnered lower participation than in the past. He and a few classmates played a round of golf over the reunion weekend, and it sparked an idea to draw more alumni: provide an economic boost to the community, and raise money for the school—a golf tournament fundraiser.

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Launching & Growing a Fundraiser

Jason tapped three other NCHS alumni to get the ball rolling in the tournament’s first year. While two of the four weren’t golfers, they all had a penchant for organization and getting things done. “The first year was mostly an experiment in figuring out how to make this work and getting folks on board with the idea,” Jason says. In its first year, the tournament raised about $7,500, of which $4,000 was donated the rest used as seed money to run the tournament the following year. But perhaps more importantly, the fundraiser gained momentum and buy-in from alumni.

As the years passed, the tournament steadily grew in both the number of teams and the total dollars raised. The tournament’s second year brought in $10,000 and increased to $12,000, $15,000, and over $18,000 in its third, fourth, and fifth years, respectively.

But as the sixth year of the fundraiser approached, the NCHS Alumni Golf Board wanted to find a way to modernize the tournament and reduce the manual labor required to handle registrations, hole assignments, and scoring. Enter GolfStatus, which provided a free event registration website, and—since the tournament raised money for the nonprofit alumni association—access to its golf event management and fundraising platform at no cost through its Golf for Good program.

“We wanted to automate as much of the process as possible, and GolfStatus did that,” Jason says. The switch to online registration was the biggest time-saver, collecting team information and payments via the event website instead of using multiple spreadsheets to process checks and receipts received via email, mail, and social media. 

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“We wanted to automate as much of the process as possible, and GolfStatus did that.”

— Jason Wasserburger, NCHS Alumni Golf Board

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For the 2021 tournament, the Board set an aggressive fundraising goal of $25,000, increasing the cost of team registration packages and add-ons like mulligans to help the event continue to raise more dollars. “Some of us thought we were a few years away from being able to reach that goal,” Jason says. Not only did the tournament meet the goal, it surpassed it, raising over $27,000!

Making the Experience Great

Jason says the tournament has always focused on the golfer experience. As the event grew, it was split into two rounds, with more competitive folks generally playing in the morning round but all teams handicapped and scored together. Because the tournament is played at a small nine-hole golf course, teams were limited to three people to keep a steady pace of play.

One of the ways the Board has aimed to attract  teams, and keep them coming back each year, is to provide a stellar tournament experience. Working with sponsors to secure high-end hole and contest prizes like TaylorMade golf bags and clubs, putters, cash prizes, and Yeti coolers has proven effective. The addition of contests, including closest to the pin, longest putt, and longest drive competitions, keeps folks lingering at the course beyond playing their round of golf, encouraging alumni to reconnect.

A hallmark of the GolfStatus platform is simple, reliable live scoring. Teams submit their scores on each hole via the free GolfStatus app, which syncs with the event’s live leaderboards. Leaderboards can be viewed by anyone, anywhere on the event website or in the app, keeping golfers and spectators engaged and making finalizing the tournament simpler and more efficient. “It’s way better than handwriting it on a big scoreboard like we used to,” Jason says. He points out that rather than waiting until after the tournament to tabulate scores, GolfStatus provided that information in real-time, saving a tremendous amount of time.

The Board was admittedly concerned ahead of the event that there might be resistance to mobile scoring among golfers, but the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Teams reported how they liked seeing the standings throughout the event. “Everyone was really happy with the live-scoring app,” Jason says, noting that even the older generation enjoyed it. 

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“Everyone was really happy with the live-scoring app.”

— Jason Wasserburger, NCHS Alumni Golf Board

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Doing Good For the Community

As the tournament has grown and gained momentum over its six-year tenure, it’s increasingly viewed as a viable community fundraiser. Jason notes that people seek out ways to make donations because they know the money is going back to the school and benefits the community as a whole. “Most sponsors have a connection to the community and see the golf tournament as a way to give back,” Jason explains.

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“Most sponsors have a connection to the community and see the golf tournament as a way to give back.”

— Jason Wasserburger, NCHS Alumni Golf Board

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The proceeds from the tournament go to the NCHS alumni association, donated in honor of Jerry and Lynnea Fulmer, longtime teacher, coach, school district employee, and all-around huge supporters of NCHS. The association supports scholarships for NCHS graduates and their families, ensuring the stability of the longtime scholarship fund. Additional donations are made to the NCHS Activity Fund, which supports all students and activities, and the Tiger Pride Booster Club. The Board wants current students to have access to the same activities and opportunities older alumni had when they were in school. The golf tournament helps fill the funding gap from declining enrollment, a decrease in state funding, and lower participation in historic fundraisers like the alumni banquet, providing funds for the extras that NCHS or the Booster Club may not otherwise be able to support, like hotel rooms for a state tournament, tires for a bus, new uniforms, pregame meals for sports teams, and post-prom activities. The Board also established and helped fund the Joseph K. Tully Memorial Scholarship, create in honor of a longtime teacher, principal, and coach.

The Board plans to continue to use GolfStatus to delegate some of the prep and planning tasks in the future so they can focus more on the fundraising aspect of the tournament. The web-based platform makes collaborating among teams and committees super simple; since everything is kept in one easily accessible place, everyone is working with the same up-to-the minute information, instead of relying on spreadsheets that quickly become outdated. 

The Board is also training new members on best practices for running the tournament (including getting them looped into the GolfStatus platform) to keep the tournament’s planning team fresh and energized. “Overall, for the size of our event and community, we’re able to raise a ton of money and we continue to need go-getters to make the tournament happen,” Jason says. He’s excited about the future and how GolfStatus will continue to create efficiencies and pave the way to raise more money for the association.

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“Overall, for the size of our event and community, we’re able to raise a ton of money.”

— Jason Wasserburger, NCHS Alumni Golf Board

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Through GolfStatus.org and the Golf for Good program, nonprofits and those holding golf fundraisers that benefit one can qualify for no-cost access to GolfStatus’s event management and fundraising technology. Get started with a free event registration website and a platform that keeps you organized, handles the golf-specific details, and provides time-saving automation. Click the link below to get qualified or email [email protected]. 

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.

Fun was at the heart of Pat Neal’s personality. A natural jokester and all-around personable guy, Pat loved playing in golf tournaments or playing a round of golf with his buddies whenever he could. “He had a good short game,” says Katie Little, Pat’s youngest daughter. Mostly, she says, he played golf for fun.

In early 2017, Pat was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive, incurable form of brain cancer. He was treated by Dr. Nicole Shonka at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, who was researching new therapies for brain tumors. Because of the nature of this type of cancer, treatment is often difficult, and more research is needed into new and better treatment methods and advances in early detection. 

Pat Neal

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dollars raised for brain cancer research

$24,000

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After battling glioblastoma for 16 months, Pat passed away in 2018 at the age of 67. The family chose the Brain Cancer Research Fund at the University of Nebraska, which helps fund Dr. Shonka’s work, as the beneficiary of memorial gifts—not only to remember Pat and celebrate his life, but to help further this important research for other glioblastoma patients. Dr. Shonka’s research into glioblastoma continued while she was treating Pat, which made the Neal family’s connection to her work even stronger. 

Yet the family wanted to do even more. According to Katie, the Neal family likes any reason to get together—whether it’s a birthday, helping with a project on a house, a barbecue, or a round of golf. “We all show up for each other,” she says. So when Pat’s nephew, Frank, threw out the idea of a golf tournament to raise money for brain cancer research, the family was all in.

Pat’s family in Hawaii in 2017

Getting a Tournament Off the Ground

In just a few short weeks, and thanks to some heavy lifting from GolfStatus’s golf event management platform, the first annual Pat Neal Memorial Golf Tournament was held in October of 2020. A friend of the family created the tournament’s logo based on a photo of Pat mowing the lawn in his bucket hat. 

The event sold out almost immediately. “So many people loved my dad and wanted to play for him,” Katie says. But with such a short time to plan due to golf course availability, Katie credits GolfStatus with making the event a reality. “It was crazy, but somehow it all came together and worked because of GolfStatus.” 

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“So many people loved my dad and wanted to play for him.”

— Katie Little, Pat’s youngest daughter

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With one year under their belts, planning for the second annual tournament was much smoother. Because they knew what to expect, Katie and the other family members helping to plan the tournament had a better idea of how to prepare for their July 2021 event, when things needed to be done, and how to make the event run smoothly. And above all, to keep fun as the focus of the tournament. 

Katie says that in its second year, people who didn’t even know her dad played in the tournament. “They saw it on GolfStatus,” Katie says, referring to the tournament’s listing in the GolfStatus mobile app and on events.golfstatus.com, a website that lists upcoming golf events in the user’s area. “It was great that so many more people heard about my dad and learned about glioblastoma.”

In its first two years, the memorial tournament raised more than $24,000 for brain cancer research. Beyond a sold out tournament field, the tournament benefited from the involvement of so many extended family members and family friends who personally knew Pat. Family members reached out to local businesses they had connections with to solicit sponsorships and donations to glioblastoma research. “We love being able to support research into this specific type of cancer,” says Tara Neal, Pat’s wife of 32 years.

Simple Technology Keeps Everything Organized

Katie’s first exposure to GolfStatus came through the mobile app, which she used when she played golf. The app not only provides live-scoring capabilities for fundraisers and other tournaments, but lets golfers record their scores for rounds played at any golf facility, track advanced statistics, and use GPS to gauge distances to the front, back, and center of every green. The app also lists tournaments in the user’s area, which makes it an especially easy avenue to reach avid golfers looking to play in a tournament. Golfers and sponsors can also register for tournaments right in the app.

For folks who want to start a fundraiser or are already charged with planning one, GolfStatus offers a program called Golf for Good that provides access to its golf event management and fundraising platform to events raising money for a nonprofit or cause at no cost. The web-based software makes it easy to plan an event, streamlining some of the most time-consuming tasks of golf fundraisers. “The best part of GolfStatus was how simple it made everything. We just shared the link to the website where people could sign up, and it was great to keep track of everything in one place,” Katie says. “It couldn’t have been easier!” She notes how they used their free event website not only for registrations and sponsorship recognition, but to share some information about glioblastoma and her dad, and where the money raised was going.

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“The best part of GolfStatus was how simple it made everything. We just shared the link to the website where people could sign up, and it was great to keep track of everything in one place. It couldn’t have been easier!”

— Katie Little, Pat’s youngest daughter

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The tournament also took advantage of GolfStatus’s mobile scoring capabilities. Each team in the four-person scramble recorded their score via the GolfStatus mobile app, which automatically synced to the tournament’s overall leaderboard. Not only can anyone follow along with the tournament’s progress, but donations to the cause can be made directly from the live leaderboard. “The mobile scoring was so great,” Katie says. “People really liked seeing how their scores stacked up against everyone else throughout the day.” She heard from golfers how it added even more fun to the day, and because the scores were already calculated, there was no waiting around at the conclusion of the round to announce the winners—it was all handled in real-time by the software.

Pat’s three kids, from left: Hank, Katie, and Emily

A Legacy of Fun & Generosity 

The focus of the Pat Neal Memorial Golf Tournament is simple—to have fun. “That’s exactly how he always played golf, just for fun,” Katie says. The tournament was a scramble, which is the most common format used for charity golf tournaments. A scramble is ideal for tournaments looking to attract a wide range of abilities and golfers who just want to have a good time. In a scramble, each player on a team (typically of four) has a chance to hit the ball; the team then determines which ball was hit in the best position. The team then plays the ball from that spot, and so on until the ball is holed. One person then submits the team’s score to the GolfStatus leaderboard through its live-scoring app for each hole with a few simple taps. 

“I know Pat would be the first one out there having a good time!” says Tara, noting how thankful they are that the tournament has a bigger purpose for a cause that’s so important to the entire family. “Dr. Shonka was so amazing to my dad, and the whole family is grateful to be able to contribute to her work,” says Katie.

As for the future, the golf tournament is another excuse to get the close-knit family together. “I think we’ll definitely keep this an annual tradition,” Katie says. “It’s too much fun not to!”

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“Dr. Shonka was so amazing to my dad, and the whole family is grateful to be able to contribute to her work.”

— Katie Little, Pat’s youngest daughter

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Want to Launch a Memorial Golf Tournament?

GolfStatus can help! Its event management platform is built specifically for golf, and streamlines prep and planning. Events that raise money for a charity or cause can qualify for GolfStatus.org’s Golf for Good program, which includes a free event website and access to GolfStatus’s golf event management and fundraising platform at no cost. Click below to get qualified or email [email protected].

If the past 18 months have taught fundraisers anything, it’s the importance of being nimble. Indeed, fundraisers have had to find new ways to pivot over the past 18 months, a theme that looks like it’ll continue into the planning season for Spring 2022 events. Fundraisers will need to stay nimble if changes in local circumstances necessitate modifications to in-person gatherings and create approaches to event fundraisers. Options and flexibility are perhaps more important than ever.

Golf tournaments can be easily adapted for distancing and reduced contact, giving event organizers more flexibility than perhaps any other fundraising event, while attracting the right donors and sponsors to effectively help your organization expand its donor network. Here’s a look at six distinct advantages of a golf tournament fundraiser, plus tips for launching a first-year tournament or adapting an existing event (ahead of time or at the last minute).

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1. Golf is something many donors genuinely enjoy.

Golf saw a sustained rise in popularity throughout 2020 and so far in 2021, attracting both veteran and first-time players and amassing over 24 million active, on-course golfers, according to the National Golf Foundation. The surge is expected to continue, particularly given golf’s innate social distancing, which gives donors the opportunity to safely participate in your fundraiser through an activity they enjoy. Charity golf events are unique in that they attract everyone from serious golfers to loyal supporters of your organization. These supporters often use their personal and professional networks to field a team and end up coming back year after year because they enjoy the chance to play a round for your cause.

2. Golf tournaments can be easily adapted for health and safety concerns.

It’s no surprise that golf has been dubbed the official sport of social distancing. The fact that golf is played outdoors and is an individual sport makes it possible to easily remain distanced while still convening. In fact, rounds are up nationwide for the second straight year; overall, play is up 22.8% through June of 2021 compared to 2020. With broad support from the golf industry as a whole via its 2020 Back2Golf initiative aimed at organizing a safe return to play at courses nationwide, event organizers have taken several steps to maintain distancing throughout golf tournaments. This includes using tee times instead of a shotgun start, adapting or foregoing post-golf banquets, limiting carts to one golfer, adequately spacing tables for check in, and switching from paper scorecards to mobile live scoring and real-time leaderboards.

3. A contact-free event is easier than you might think.

Converting to a contact-free in-person event is quite simple with the right technology. You’ll need an event website to market your event and collect registrations, eliminating the need for paper registration forms, checks, and receipts. You’ll also want to get rid of paper scorecards, making live-scoring a must. Doing so gives you more sponsorship options and sets your event up for a seamless transition to a virtual round (where participants can play at the course on their own time in support of your cause instead of gathering for a formal event) should you have to pivot last-minute. If you’re already set on a virtual golf fundraiser, online registration and live-scoring are crucial, ensuring that supporters commit to the virtual round and submit their scores to the leaderboard, which you can also use to keep supporters following your event and submitting online donations before, during, and after the virtual event.

4. Golf events attract high-capacity donors.

Veteran fundraisers and event planners know that it’s not always about attracting supporters to a fundraising event, but the right supporters. The golfer donor is especially important for many organizations because these supporters typically belong to an affluent and influential demographic. The average golfer’s net worth is over $768,000 with a household income exceeding $100,000 (nearly double the national average). These folks also have noteworthy ties to potential sponsors: one in three golfers are top level managers and 90% of Fortune 500 CEOs are golfers. These are the types of supporters who can move the needle for nonprofits in terms of major gifts, and who organizations want to have in their donor database. They can also help organizations connect with local, regional, and even national brands and businesses, making the golf event a seamless entry point to corporate donors and partnerships.

5. Golf tournaments are both fundraisers and outreach opportunities.

Most charity golf events are scrambles, which means that players must tap a few friends or colleagues to join them in participating, making the event a natural outreach effort. If you’re planning an established annual event, you’ll of course want to start by engaging participants from years past. If your field tends to sell out each year, consider adding a virtual round to the traditional in-person event to involve more supporters and give folks who might not feel comfortable playing in the event an opportunity to still participate on their own time. Golf tournaments also tend to attract coverage by local media outlets, which spreads awareness for your cause throughout the community. It’s a good idea to reach out to newspapers, online news outlets, radio stations, and television stations with information about your event and invite them to cover it.

6. Virtual tournaments give you a built-in back-up plan.

Whether you decide ahead of time or need to pivot to virtual leading up to your event, it’s easy to add a virtual option for a hybrid event or go completely virtual with your golf tournament if necessary. Flexible technology makes it simple to collect registrations online, provide touch-free mobile scoring during the event, collect donations, and share live leaderboards to keep golfers and spectators engaged with the event and your cause. Not only does a virtual round give golfers the choice of when and how they play to support your organization, it also provides an avenue to grow your fundraiser. Best of all, you have options, including a completely virtual tournament, a hybrid event that includes an in-person round as well as a virtual round, or a completely in-person event that’s touch-free and safely distanced.

How to Get Started 

The right technology is key to a successful fundraiser, whether it’s a distanced in-person event, a virtual round, or a hybrid tournament. Launching an event website is a great place to start—simply outline a few key details like date and facility and get it on your supporters’ calendars sooner rather than later. 

You’ll need to be aware of any guidelines or regulations that courses are requesting to keep golfers safe, such as not touching the pin flag, wearing masks in the clubhouse, and restricting carts to one golfer or those in the same household. In addition, be cognizant of capacity limitations at the golf facility and adjust accordingly. You’ll also want to be ready with a back-up plan if local conditions change. Having a virtual round in your back pocket is a great option so you’re ready for changing circumstances. Technology makes it easy to adapt and pivot and keep your golf fundraiser moving forward.

GolfStatus’s golf event management software is designed specifically for fundraisers (including traditional and virtual outings). It’s available to qualifying nonprofits at no cost through GolfStatus.org and the Golf for Good program. Get qualified by clicking the button below or email us directly at [email protected].

Nonprofit event organizers are used to finding ways to squeeze every cent out of limited budgets. When it comes to your golf fundraiser, whether you’re planning an event for the first time or looking to level up an event that’s been going on for years, there are a number of tools available at no cost that help make planning, prep, and promotion easier and more impactful. Best of all, these tools won’t affect your budget or event’s bottom line.

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1. Golf Event registration website

An event registration website is one of the simplest—and most impactful—tools you can have for your golf tournament. A event website makes it easy to promote your event and collect player and sponsor information, saving you a ton of time and effort. You can use it to share more information about your organization’s mission, what the golf tournament is raising money for, and keeps golfers and spectators involved before, during, and after your event. (Through the Golf for Good program, qualifying nonprofits can get a free website for their golf fundraiser built by the GolfStatus team.)

golfstatus.org

2. Social Media

If your organization isn’t already on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to engage with constituents, recognize donors and sponsors, and raise awareness for your mission. Promote your golf fundraiser (with a link to your event website where folks can purchase teams or sponsor packages) in the months and weeks leading up to your event and invite your constituents to share with their personal networks. It’s a good practice to give sponsors shoutouts on social media, providing additional exposure and a bigger return on their investment. You can also share pictures, impact stories, results, and donation appeals from your golf event.

Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

3. Canva

Canva is an online design and publishing tool. The free version has a number of built-in templates and features that make it easy for anyone—even if you don’t have any graphic design experience—to create attractive imagery for your golf tournament. Use it to design a tournament graphic, resize logos, or create promotional images to share on social media. Canva also has learning opportunities and resources on design, marketing, and branding.

canva.com

4. GIF Maker

This no frills, simple tool lets you create animated gifs, slideshows, and video animations for your event’s website, social media, or organizational website with just a few clicks. Upload images, set the size and animation speed, determine if the slideshow should loop, and even add music.

gifmaker.me

5. QR Code Maker

A QR (quick response) code makes it easy for people to use their phone’s camera function (or other QR code reader) to quickly get to your event website. Simply include the code on all printed tournament materials likeflyers, personal invitations, save the date postcards, and sponsorship requests for easy access to purchase team and sponsorship packages and make a donation to your organization. Customize the appearance of your QR code with frames, color, and even your organization or event logo.

qr-code-generator.com

6. Any Video Converter

This free tool helps you use video effectively on your event website, organization website, and social media. Need to download a video you own from YouTube? Check. Reduce the size of a video file? Check. Convert a video to a different format? Check.

Any-video-converter.com

7. Golf Event Management Software

Most event management technology isn’t built to handle the nitty gritty details of a golf fundraiser. Organizers need one specifically designed for golf events, with features that help spread the word, collect registrations and payment, recognize sponsors and offer premium sponsor exposure, coordinate with the golf facility, communicate with golfers, avoid hours of duplicative data entry, and keep everything organized in one space. GolfStatus provides all this and more, plus, qualifying 501(c) organizations and those holding events that benefit them can get access to GolfStatus’s golf event management platform at no cost through the Golf for Good program.

golfstatus.org

Get Started With Golf for Good

Through Golf for Good and GolfStatus.org, the social impact division of golf technology company GolfStatus, nonprofits and organizations doing social good can qualify for no-cost access to GolfStatus’s full-featured golf event management software. Get a free event website built by the GolfStatus team plus features that save time, keep you organized, and help you handle all the golf-specific details. 

From small, local fundraisers to massive charity tournaments, golf is a great way to bring people together in support of a cause. This summer, GolfStatus.org is teaming up with our giving partners at Dormie Network and Dormie Network Foundation to celebrate those who are doing exactly that.

This is a unique opportunity to “play” it forward: You nominate a golf fundraiser to receive a $10,000 donation and get a chance to win a one-year honorary membership to Dormie Network, plus a $10,000 stipend to spend on golf and lodging at its exclusive private destination golf resorts.

The golf fundraiser can be anything from a memorial tournament commemorating a loved one to an alumni golf event and from a celebrity pro-am to a corporate golf outing raising money for a favorite charity. As long as the golf tournament raises money for a charitable cause, it’s eligible! Nominate a tournament by telling us about the mission and cause it supports, and why that cause is important to you.

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

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

You don’t want to miss out on this chance to make a difference and use golf for good. The entry deadline is Labor day (September 6) so nominate a golf fundraiser today!

ORGANIZATION SNAPSHOT

For over 40 years, Christian Adoption Services (CAS) has placed children in need of a home with their forever families. Through domestic and international adoption, as well as foster-to-adopt programs, CAS cares for kids, birth families, and adoptive families throughout the adoption process. 

“People don’t always understand why we need to fundraise,” says Sonia Livingston, Events Coordinator for CAS. “Because adoptive families pay a fee to our agency to adopt, people assume we don’t have fundraising needs, but those fees don’t cover all of the expenses or outreach programs.” CAS makes caring for birth mothers a priority, whether it’s coordinating doctor’s appointments, assisting with groceries or living expenses, or offering post-adoption counseling services. Much of this ministry is not covered by adoption fees, so the funds necessary to care for 200 birth mothers each year must come from outside fundraising efforts.

Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, the agency works throughout North Carolina and has expanded into South Carolina. This growth and expansion in programming allows the agency to serve more kids and families, but also requires raising additional funds.

THE CHALLENGE

CAS has relied on golf tournament fundraisers for several years. “They’re fun and a great chance for fellowship,” says Sonia, noting that proceeds from the golf events benefit the agency’s general operating fund to support services for birth mothers, adoption fee assistance, and overhead. Golf tournaments also present an important outreach opportunity for the agency. Because regular supporters tend to fill teams with people from their personal and professional networks, Sonia and her team are able to share more about their work and its impact with potential donors and sponsors. CAS also relies on banquets for fundraising, and while they certainly have value, golf has allowed CAS to do more than just raise money. Golf tournaments give staff the chance to interact with supporters, building relationships and networking. “During a banquet you don’t get to interact with people the same way you do at a golf tournament,” says Sonia. 

The expansion into South Carolina has led the agency to kick off additional golf tournaments in its new service areas. Now with four golf tournaments to plan and execute, it was imperative to keep everything organized in one place and streamline the logistics to maximize organizers’ time as well as opportunities to bring in funds for the agency’s work. 

THE SOLUTION

Sonia and CAS adopted GolfStatus for their 2020 golf events, after looking for an option that allowed online registration and add-on purchases ahead of the event to streamline registration and check-in and maintain social distancing to protect staff members and golfers in the wake of COVID-19.

The 2021 golf tournament series marked CAS’s second year using GolfStatus as a solution. Sonia says the support of GolfStatus’s in-house customer success team was invaluable. GolfStatus’s team built CAS’s first event registration website, and Sonia was able to make changes as necessary and copy events for easy set up. “Having one place to keep track of everything is a huge benefit of using GolfStatus,” Sonia says.

Highlighted Platform Features:

• Event website

• Online registration and secure payment processing

• Fundraising add-ons (raffle tickets and mulligans)

• Sponsor management

• Drag-and-drop hole assignments

• Pre-formatted professional event printouts with sponsor logos

• Detailed reporting

• Live scoring and leaderboards

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“Having one place to keep track of everything is a huge benefit of using GolfStatus.”

— Sonia Livingston, Events Coordinator for Christian Adoption Services

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THE RESULTS

Thus far in 2021, the golf events have hit their fundraising goals and Sonia hopes each golf event continues to grow as their service area grows. Their biggest event takes place in September, and Sonia is all in on using GolfStatus to keep things organized, professional, and running smoothly.

Online Registration & Add-Ons 

GolfStatus’s event website with secure online registration allowed golfers to purchase add-ons like mulligans and raffle tickets with their golfer package, rather than having to wait until the day of the event and buying them separately. “Letting golfers buy those when they registered made it so much easier, and we sold more mulligans and raffle tickets!” Sonia says, noting that they communicated with supporters the tournament, encouraging them to purchase those pieces in advance.

Tournament Format

Holding tournaments during COVID-19 led CAS to switch to tee time starts rather than the traditional shotgun start to stagger the number of people at the golf course at the same time. It turned out to be a positive change—more golfers were able to participate, bringing in additional funds, and it gave staff a chance to connect and talk with each team as they teed off on the first hole. Teams used GolfStatus’s mobile app to record their scores for the tournament’s scramble, which automatically synced to the event leaderboards. Not only did this add a competitive element to the tournament as teams could check live standings, but it made it easy for organizers to see how the tournament was progressing as scores were posted.

Sponsor Retention & Stewardship

CAS has retained the majority of their sponsors year-over-year, thanks to a combination of digital and traditional sponsorship exposure. The digital exposure specifically offered by GolfStatus has been appealing all around for organizers and sponsors. “I really like that we can put all of our sponsors’ logos on the event website and they show up in the app,” Sonia says. Golfers see sponsor logos every time they check the live leaderboards, get event information, or add scores for a hole, adding tremendous value to a sponsor’s investment. Sonia explains that their golf events are also a great chance to further steward sponsors for additional asks and donations. “Once they’ve sponsored a golf event, they tend to be more engaged with us and often attend a banquet or even give an additional business or personal gift,” she says.

Data Collection & Management

CAS recently became part of the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, which necessitated a change in donor databases. In the past, CAS had used their CRM for online registration for all of their fundraising events. But the merger meant a new donor database, which didn’t have the capability for online registration or event management. GolfStatus filled this gap, collecting golfer information at the time of registration, ensuring that no information is missed. Following each event, the information is seamlessly imported into the organization’s new donor CRM.

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“Keeping track of golfer contact information, handicap, hole assignments, and payment details was so much easier with GolfStatus.”

— Sonia Livingston, Events Coordinator for Christian Adoption Services

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Time & Resource Savings

GolfStatus’s online platform made it easy for Sonia and her team to stay organized and save time. When golfers and sponsors registered online, their information dropped into the back-end of the software, keeping everything organized in one easy-to-access place. “Keeping track of golfer contact information, handicap, hole assignments, and payment details was so much easier with GolfStatus,” Sonia explains. “Plus it makes the event and our organization look so much more professional.” CAS qualified for GolfStatus’s Golf for Good program, which provides 501(c) organizations with no-cost access to its golf event management software and a free event website. “The fact that GolfStatus offers this at no cost for nonprofits is unbelievable!” says Sonia.

For more information about Christian Adoption Services, visit https://www.christianadopt.org. 

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Need help with your next golf tournament? GolfStatus is here to help with user-friendly technology that streamlines the process to save time and help you raise more money, plus a responsive in-house customer success team to guide you every step of the way. Nonprofits can qualify for no-cost technology through the Golf for Good program. Click the button below to get qualified or email us directly at [email protected].

If your organization isn’t using an event website for your golf fundraiser, you’re missing out on an opportunity to save time, increase your event’s professionalism, and attract more players and sponsors. Here are six advantages of an event website, how to get the most out of one, and where nonprofits can get a website for their golf fundraiser at no cost.

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1. Event Promotion is Quick, Easy & Effective.

With an event website, you simply include the link on all communications and marketing surrounding the event, including emails, social media posts, and even printed pieces. This links players and sponsors directly to an attractive, professional website where they can find more information about your event and purchase teams and sponsorship packages. The right website provider will be mobile-friendly, so it looks great and functions well on any device. You’ll also want something built for golf—that is, able to collect golf-specific info like team members, player handicaps, and other key details.

Pro Tip: Ask each of your organization’s board members, planning team members, and staff members to email or text a link to the event website to five people who might be interested in either playing or sponsoring your golf event.

2. Your Event & Organization Are Cast in a Professional Light.

A clean, professional event website for your golf tournament keeps information organized and lets you tell the story behind the event, your organization, and the cause it benefits. It’s a good idea to link your event website to your organization’s existing website, so visitors can find out more about the tournament and register to participate with a few clicks. Sponsors also appreciate the added professionalism of an attractive event website, which provides solid exposure.

Pro Tip: Make sure the website provider offers customization features so you can use pictures, videos, and text to tell the story of the event in a compelling way.

3. Online Registration Makes it easier to commit.

People are accustomed to online transactions, including donations and event registrations. The simple convenience of letting golfers and sponsors commit to your event the moment they hear about it, whether through word of mouth, online promo, or an email blast, means they’re substantially more likely to do so. Collecting registrations through your event website streamlines everything—there’s no need to take registrations over the phone; process and track down mailed-in forms, checks, and receipts; enter and re-enter data or manage information across multiple spreadsheets or lists; or hunt down payments the day of the tournament. Instead, registrant information (i.e. donor and sponsor data) is collected in an online platform in real-time. Your organization collects valuable donor data and ensures sustainers and potential supporters are added to your donor database and properly stewarded.

Pro Tip: Be sure the website provider/event platform you use includes built-in, secure payment processing and robust reporting.

4. Sponsors Get Premium Exposure.

An event website provides an easy way to display and sell sponsorship packages customized to the event and your organization’s needs. Sponsors benefit from broad exposure before, during, and after the event to an audience of potential clients and customers as folks visit the website to register, check hole assignments, and get other additional event details. When it comes to the golf tournament specifically, the event management platform you use should automatically display sponsorship logos, and provide options for sponsors to get recognition on leaderboards.

Pro Tip: Make a final push for sponsors and players a few weeks ahead of the tournament by giving current sponsors a shout out through social media posts and a simple email blast to your database. This provides sponsors added recognition, shows your appreciation, and garners additional support from others.

5. Track Everything in One Place & save time.

With online registration, you don’t have to manually process every registration, eliminating the time-consuming practice of processing cash and checks, and providing receipts. You simply direct players and sponsors to your golf event website, where they can purchase teams, packages, and add-ons like mulligans and raffle tickets (or simply make a donation to the event) quickly and easily. While it’s a huge time savings and certainly a best practice to have golfers and sponsors register themselves on your website, you can still accommodate folks who prefer to contact you directly to register by simply entering their info. Online registration ensures that player and team information is complete and organized, and event organizers, volunteers, and even staff at the golf facility can access and update details as needed. Coordinating with the golf course in the days leading up to the day of the event on last minute logistics—team pairings, hole assignments, tee sheets, and cart signs—becomes super simple when everyone has access to up-to-the-minute information.

Pro Tip: Make sure the website platform you choose is part of a robust event management system that makes handling the details easy and efficient.

6. It’s Easy to update & Communicate info.

It’s easy to make updates to your event website, so you don’t have to necessarily have every single detail of your event hammered out before you launch your site. It can be as simple as listing the date and time, with a note that more details will follow. This lets you get on the radars of donors and sponsors as early as possible. And if you need to make any last minute details or adaptations, you can communicate them very easily. When you use a platform designed specifically for golf, you’re also able to integrate live scoring and make adaptations like virtual formats and remote participation if you need to.

Pro Tip: Add a virtual round to your existing event to involve and engage more supporters and sponsors and raise more money for your mission.

Get a Free Event Website

Qualifying 501(c) organizations, or events that benefit one, can get qualified for a free event website and no-cost access to GolfStatus’s full-featured golf event management technology as part of our Golf for Good give-back initiative. Our in-house customer success team can get your website up and running with a few simple questions (or show you how to do it on your own) and is here to help with anything you need. Get qualified here or email [email protected].