How To Start A Chess Club: Funding Your Club

 

As I conclude my series on how to start a chess club, I would like to share some of the ways I fund my chess club.

If you have followed my series on starting a chess club, you know that I work with  students that come from some of the most financially challenged neighborhoods in Houston. In fact, in an article written several months ago, the Houston Chronicle named my district as serving the poorest overall group of families in Houston.

This situation presents challenges.  If I were to count on my students' families paying for entry and USCF membership fees for chess tournaments, I would only have a handful of students attending competitions. However, I routinely bring 20-25 students to a tournament. I pay for all students to attend tournaments through my club.

At $20 a pop this adds up!  Especially when the cost of a school bus is added in. So, how am I able to do it?

Chess Club Meetings Selling snacks at club meetings will generate funds for your club.

 

At chess club meetings I sell snacks to my chess team members.  I have experienced chess players who hold club staff positions.  These players sell snacks during club meetings.

In addition to my chess club members, I also end up having students who are staying for tutorials and other after-school activities also stopping by to buy snacks.  I offer snacks that cost from 25 cents to $1.00. When I buy my snacks, I always try to buy items that will double the club's money.  Students may not have $20 on tournament day -- but they usually can dig up a dollar or fifty cents for a bag of chips.  Over time, these snack sales really add up.

 

Host a Tournament Hosting a tournament lets you sell concessions to participants.

 

The club hosts two major tournaments a year.  One is a rated scholastic tournament, the other an unrated tournament for my school district.  Hosting tournaments has the added bonus of being able to sell concessions (and this also saves the cost of a school bus for travel to a tourney).  

I ask my parents to donate sodas for these two tournaments.   I remind my families that the club covers the costs of their USCF memberships, tournament entry fees and chess camp, as well.  I never have problems getting donations of sodas and water.  This is free money -- with no cost to the club, every drink sold is pure profit.  

Additionally we sell pizza that we buy from a national seller for $5 but sell for $1.50 a slice/$10 pie. These are normal tournament prices and for the convenience, parents and children attending the tournament don't mind.  These two items usually generate a lot of money for the club in addition to the normal selection of concessions sold at the tournament.  Hosting a tournament can generate significant revenues for a chess club.

A school club can save the cost of transportation by hosting a tournament.

Contact Your School District

Does your school district have a gifted and talented department?  Most likely it does!  You may be able to obtain funding from this organization.  Also, consider splitting the costs of a bus with other schools in your district. I routinely share a bus with two other schools in Aldine. This means I only have to pay for every third bus. That's a big savings!

 

Think Creatively Think outside the box!

 

When I first started my chess club, we hosted the school talent show.  We sold tickets for $2.00 each and sold about 400 tickets.  It was a good fundraiser.  Have a movie night and sell concessions to your students.  Better yet, invite parents and siblings to increase the audience.

I take photos at school parties and sell these to the students. This has also been a nice source of revenue for the club.

Selling club shirts can generate a small profit for your group.  I found that this only generates a modest profit, however.  I used to sell shirts at a profit, but now I sell at cost only and provide them free to any student who cannot afford to purchase one. 

I hope you enjoyed this series on starting a chess club.  

Well?  What are you waiting on?  Let's get started and get a group of students into a club.  Is it work?  Yes.  Is it fun?  Absolutely. Is it rewarding?  Limitless.

Good Luck(er) as you start your first club!

 

 

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