Hosting a Cornhole Tournament: A Genius Fundraising Idea!

Sometimes it can be difficult to come up with a great fundraising idea that’s cost-effective and a surefire way to get people to participate. Involving as many people as possible is the best way to raise the maximum amount of funds.

It takes a special sort of event to get those sorts of results, though.

What’s a fundraising idea that will appeal to a ton of people, no matter their age or physical abilities? If you said “cornhole,” you’ve got the right idea!

Aside from the numerous benefits to having a coordinated game at your fundraiser, there are plenty of other advantages to using cornhole as a way to gather together for raising funds.

Cornhole: The Basics

For starters, it’s probably best to explain what cornhole is, just in case you aren’t entirely sure.

Cornhole is a game where each player attempts to toss bags into the hole of the conveniently named cornhole board. This game has been around in an official capacity for decades, and it can be found in backyards, company parking lots, or even roadside pit stops on cross-country road trips.

Because it’s easy to learn and easy to play, cornhole offers everyone an opportunity to join in the fun. Points are assigned based on where each tossed bag ends up, and they’re calculated at the end of each inning.

This straightforward scoring system, as well as the simple cornhole game rules, helps make the game a mainstay of any gathering of people.

Why Pick Cornhole?

If you’re wondering why you should use cornhole as the basis of your next fundraiser, the answer can be explained in four simple reasons.

Cornhole Is Compact

With equipment that is both easy to transport and simple to set up, cornhole is the ultimate fundraising event. It takes up little space when set up, too, so even if you only have a small venue for your fundraiser, you’ll still find that you have plenty of room for cornhole.

Cornhole Is Affordable

Official cornhole boards are easy to find at a good price. In fact, we have a wide selection of reasonably priced cornhole equipment that is ideal for fundraising events.

Weather Won’t Affect Your Event

With some fundraisers (like fun runs), participants have to be outside, no matter the weather. Cornhole, fortunately, is different. Even if it rains, you can just move the game indoors. Its versatility is one of its major benefits.

Anyone Can Play

That’s right. Anyone. The elderly and young folks out there can play, and even those of us who aren’t athletically inclined can participate. Basically, if you can toss a bag, you can play cornhole.

How Does Cornhole Work as a Fundraiser?

Since the initial cost of setting up a cornhole tournament is on the low end of the spectrum, the revenue you can generate far outweighs its cost. By keeping the cost of the activity down, the host charity can maximize the money collected from entry fees and the sales of any concessions to both the players and the spectators.

One great way to streamline revenue from this event is to combine it with other events. For instance, you could have a joint fundraiser with a cornhole tournament and a raffle. This sort of benefit tournament would ensure the charitable organization earns a majority of the profits, but the winners of the two events would not be without their own prizes.

Of course, you don’t have to split the winnings 50/50, either. You could give a percentage of the prize money to each of the top three participants.

Supply the Equipment or Bring Your Own?

If you host a cornhole tournament, you have two options when it comes to equipment. Participants could bring their own sets. This would significantly reduce your costs, but it would also limit the pool of available participants.

If you truly want to involve as many people as possible, it would be wise to supply the necessary cornhole boards and cornhole bags. Check out the selection we have available. Our affordable, high-quality boards and bags will perfectly complement your next fundraising event.

You can also rent boards or contact your local cornhole league for help. If your event is in the Tampa Bay area, Custom Corntoss rents cornhole sets, with pickup at our Palm Harbor location.

How to Run a Cornhole Tournament for Charity

Charity events are a great way to raise money, but you need to provide quality entertainment to get people to show up. A cornhole tournament is the perfect way to do that. When setting up a tournament for charity, you will need three things.

Food and Drinks

Providing food and drinks is a big draw for players. The sales of these items can also be a great way to add to your profits. A lot of businesses are also willing to donate food and beverages if they like your cause. Reach out to local businesses to see if they are willing to donate food and drinks in exchange for the publicity they will get at this event.

Music

The tournament provides plenty of entertainment, but music will keep everyone entertained when they aren’t playing. It also adds to the fun atmosphere that you’re creating.

Sponsors

Many companies will sponsor charity events as a part of their marketing campaign. To ensure that you can raise the most money possible for your favorite charity, you’ll need to reach out to companies for sponsorship.

Custom boards printed with a sponsor’s logo are a great perk to offer, since every game and every photo shows off their brand.

Promotion

You can’t have a cornhole tournament if no one knows about it, so promote it! Social media, online marketing, fliers, and word of mouth are great ways to advertise your tournament and get people interested. You can also ask your sponsors to help you advertise!

For a step-by-step checklist covering the venue, court layout, food, marketing, and registration, see our tips for planning a cornhole tournament. When teams start signing up, our guide to cornhole tournament brackets shows how to set up the bracket.

Start Planning Your Cornhole Fundraiser

As it happens, cornhole is one of the more cost-effective and fun fundraising options out there, since it provides so much flexibility for the host while still maximizing enjoyment for participants. With those sorts of odds, how can you pass up the opportunity? Start planning your cornhole fundraiser today!