Bake sales, car washes, coupon books. If you've been on a booster committee for more than one season, you've probably run all three. And somehow the same twenty families end up buying everything while the travel fund is still $800 short and you're already staring down next year's schedule.
Football squares fundraisers work differently. You're not asking people to donate out of obligation. You're inviting them to play something. People buy in because they want a shot at winning, and they pull in their coworkers, neighbors, and extended family because they want more chances. The game does your marketing for you.
This guide walks through how to set up a football squares fundraiser for a youth team, school booster club, or athletic department, covering the free tools, the concession-stand QR trick, and the compliance basics your AD will ask about.
Why This Format Works for Fundraising
The usual problem with fundraisers is friction. Buyers have to pick a product, wait for delivery, or show up somewhere. Football squares eliminates most of that. You buy a square, pay your entry, and then just watch the game you were probably already going to watch. The prize structure (winners at each quarter break) keeps energy high throughout the night instead of peaking at the beginning and dying off.
There's also the fairness factor. Because numbers are assigned randomly after all squares are sold, no one can game the system. The parent who buys one square has the same shot as the one who buys five. That matters in a community setting where you need everyone to feel like they had a real chance.
Setting Up Your Board
PickMySquare is free to use and takes about ten minutes to set up. You create the board, name it something your community will recognize ("Riverside Raiders Playoff Fund" or "JCHS Spirit Night"), pick the sport and game, and share the link. No software to install, no account fees.
Before you go live, lock in a few decisions:
Price per square. Most youth fundraisers land between $5 and $10. A $10 board with all 100 squares sold grosses $1,000.
Payout structure. Prize splits vary by group. A 50/50 split -- half to prizes, half to the cause -- is a common starting point, netting $500 on a sold-out $10 board. Some groups push the split further in favor of the cause (60/40 or 70/30), though a stronger prize pot can also drive more buy-in. Decide and announce the split before anyone buys in.
Cutoff time. Squares need to be locked before the game starts. That's when PickMySquare randomizes the grid and numbers are assigned. Set a clear deadline, usually kickoff or tip-off, so you're not chasing down stragglers mid-game.
Once the board is live, you get a shareable link and a QR code. Both are the entry points you'll use to promote.
If you're new to how squares actually work, the beginner's guide to football squares has a clear breakdown before you start explaining it to fifty parents.
The Concession Stand QR Code Pattern
Here's the setup that booster clubs keep coming back to: print the board's QR code on a half-sheet of paper, laminate it if you want it to last, and tape it to your concession stand window or the table where people pick up programs on game night.
While parents are standing in line for nachos, waiting for warmups to end, or chatting near the bleachers, they scan, see the open squares, and buy in on the spot. Impulse purchases are your friend here. You want zero barriers between "I want to play" and "I'm in."
The volunteer at the table collects payment separately through whatever your group already uses: cash, Venmo, Zelle, a payment app you've set up for the booster club. PickMySquare shows the grid and tracks which squares are taken. Your group handles the money. Those are two completely separate things, and that distinction matters.
Compliance: What Your AD Will Want to Know
Football squares involves chance and an entry fee, which puts it in the same general territory as raffles and bingo from a legal standpoint. State laws vary pretty significantly. Many states have charitable gaming exemptions that let nonprofits run games of chance with minimal paperwork; others require a permit or have more specific rules about prize amounts.
The practical thing to know: PickMySquare does not collect or process any entry fees. It's a board management tool. Your organization collects money directly, the same way it handles any other fundraiser. That means the financial transaction is between your group and your community, with no third-party platform in the middle.
Before running this as a formal fundraiser, check two things. First, your state's charitable gaming regulations. Second, your school district's policy on games of chance. A quick email to your athletic director is worth it. Most districts have done this before and can tell you exactly what's needed. Getting that sign-off up front means no awkward conversations later.
Running It on Game Day
You really only need one volunteer with a phone or laptop to manage the board on game day. Here's what that looks like in practice:
The day before, send the board link to your email list and drop it in the team's group chat or parent app. People who buy in early reduce how much you have to push during the event.
Day-of, set up the QR code at the entrance or concession stand. Have your payment person nearby so buyers don't have to hunt down how to pay.
During the game, update the scores at the end of each quarter. PickMySquare highlights the winning square automatically once you enter the score. Announce the winner over the PA or in the parent group chat, and pay out on the spot.
After the game, you're done. The whole operation requires one person with a phone and about thirty seconds per quarter break.
For a more detailed walkthrough of the full setup process, how to run football squares covers everything from board creation through payouts.
Getting All 100 Squares Sold
A full 100-square board is the goal because that's where the math works best for your fundraiser. A few tactics that move squares fast:
Send the link to alumni families, not just current team members. Anyone who follows the program is a potential buyer, and they're usually motivated by nostalgia and community loyalty.
Post it in the school's parent Facebook group or your community app. Squares sell faster when people can see the grid filling up; there's a natural urgency to grab one before they're gone.
Offer a small volume deal. Two squares for $15 instead of $10 each pulls in fence-sitters and bumps revenue per buyer without much extra effort on your end.
Run a second board if you sell out the first one. Two boards at a big game doubles your ceiling without any additional setup time.
Text winners their numbers once the grid locks. Something like "You got 3 and 7, good luck tonight!" gets people engaged and talking about it, which plants the seed for next time.
For more fundraiser formats that work alongside squares, see the sports fundraiser ideas guide for other options that fit the same community event structure.
Football Squares Fundraiser FAQ
How much money can a football squares fundraiser raise?
A full 100-square board at $10 per square brings in $1,000 gross. Prize splits vary -- a 50/50 structure (half to prizes, half to your cause) nets $500 per board. Run two boards for a big game and you're at $1,000 in a single night. Smaller groups pricing at $5 per square net $250 on a sold-out board at a 50/50 split, which still beats most bake sale totals.
Does PickMySquare charge anything?
No, creating a board is free. Your group keeps everything collected. PickMySquare never touches the money; entry fees go directly through whatever payment method your organization uses.
What sport or game should we use?
Any game with scores works. NFL Sunday games are the most popular for fall fundraisers, but college football, NBA games, and playoff matchups all work well. Pick a game your audience is actually going to watch and you'll sell squares faster because people are already invested.
Do we need all 100 squares filled before the board locks?
No. You can randomize and lock the grid with however many squares have been sold. Some groups run a 50-square board at $20 each and end up at the same gross number. Just set expectations before sales open so everyone knows the cutoff time and the rules.
Is it legal to run a football squares fundraiser for a school or nonprofit?
It depends on your state. Most states allow nonprofit and charitable organizations to run games of chance, but rules around permits, prize limits, and reporting vary. Check your state's charitable gaming laws and your district's policy before running a formal fundraiser. Most booster clubs run squares every season without issues; getting your AD's go-ahead in advance is the safe move.
What happens if the game goes to overtime?
That's your call to make, and you should announce the rule before anyone buys a square. The most common approach is to pay on the final score no matter how long the game runs. Making this clear upfront prevents any confusion at the end of a long night.
Set Up Your Fundraiser Board for Free
Create a football squares board for your booster club, youth team, or school event in minutes. Free to use, nothing to download, and your group keeps every dollar collected.
Create Free Board →