The dark clouds over the economy spell more than rain.  They also spell a challenge for non profit sports leagues.  Most leagues are driven by player registrations.  Player registrations mean operating revenue for club administration.  Clubs tend to operate on paper thin margins anyhow.

So as the recession deepens so do job losses.  When faced with paying for groceries or sports registration, the choice is obvious.  In that vein, leagues and clubs must do more on the fundraising side.  Fundraising makes it possible for clubs to continue operating, and if done wisely can actually help keep the cost of player registrations down.

The trend in fundraising, however, is away from the typical candy bar or magazine subscription route.  While those still have merit, they tend to pull money from the same source--the parents supporting the league.  There's only so many ways you can squeeze the same turnip.

On the other hand, the trend is towards value based fundraising.  For instance, many grocery stores now offer coupon books that can be purchased.  Those coupon books tend to more than repay the initial cost of purchase.  It's a win-win for the giver and the league.

Yet another trend is towards the donation of tangible items that can be sold.  The donation of tangible items means that people don't have to dig so deep for cash but rather can go to their basements, garages or jewelry boxes for opportunity.  The donation of tangible items includes things like cars, boats or RVs.  They can be the simple gift such as the car that is barely running but may still net $200 to the charity.  Or it may the gift of the extravagant--one charity received a yacht that is being sold for $150,000. 

But the list doesn't stop there.  It may be a stamp collection.  Jewelry, particularly gold, represents a good gift because of the price of gold.  For the giver, they get the corresponding income tax deduction while the charity gets the benefit of the cash proceeds.  Look at www.idonate.com for some of the opportunities afforded to charities.

The fundraising opportunity must be conducted online and calls for the need for efficiency in not only fundraising but in player registration.  These are real and necessary changes as the grip of recession tightens in our country.

--William High is a freelance writer.