How to Run a Footy Squares Fundraiser for Your Club
Footy squares is one of the most popular fundraising ideas for Australian football clubs. It's simple, fun, and brings your community together around the game you love. Whether you're fundraising for your AFL club or a local community football team, a squares grid can generate serious funds whilst keeping everyone entertained.
Here's everything you need to know to run a successful footy squares fundraiser.
What is Footy Squares and How Does It Work?
Footy squares is a grid-based game where supporters buy numbered squares and win prizes based on the final score of a match. It's straightforward: you create a 10x10 grid (100 squares total), each square gets a number, and people buy in for a chance to win.
When the game ends, the final score determines the winning square. If your team wins 87 to 64, you look at the last digit of each score (7 and 4) and find where row 7 meets column 4 on your grid. Whoever owns that square wins the prize.
It's easy to understand, creates genuine excitement during the match, and works brilliantly for fundraising.
Setting Up Your Footy Squares Grid
First, decide which match you're running your fundraiser around. Grand final day is popular, but any significant AFL game or local match works well.
Create your 10x10 grid with numbers 0-9 down one side and 0-9 across the top. You can do this on paper, a whiteboard, or use an online platform like Lucky Squares Australia, which handles everything digitally.
Digital grids have real advantages: they're easier to share with your club members and supporters, people can buy squares from home, and you've got a clear record of who owns what. No lost paperwork or confusion on game day.
Pricing Your Squares
Price each square based on what your community can afford and how much you want to raise. Common pricing includes:
- $5 per square (ideal for broad appeal)
- $10 per square (better for smaller supporter bases)
- $20 per square (premium option for dedicated supporters)
Some clubs offer discounts for buying multiple squares. You might say "buy 5 squares, get one free" to encourage larger purchases.
Remember: 100 squares at $10 each raises $1,000 before expenses. That's a solid fundraising effort for most clubs.
Sharing Your Footy Squares with Club Members
Get the word out early. Use your club's email list, Facebook page, and WhatsApp groups to tell members about your fundraiser. Explain the game simply and mention when the draw will happen.
If you're using an online platform, share the link directly. People can buy squares instantly without needing to track you down at training or the club rooms.
Personal asks work too. Committee members and volunteers should mention it to supporters they know. A quick chat often converts better than a generic post.
Running the Draw on Game Day
This is the fun part. As the match unfolds, build anticipation. When the final siren goes, gather your supporters and announce the winning square.
If you've used an online platform, the grid is already there for everyone to see. Simply call out the final score, identify the winning square, and announce the winner. It's quick, transparent, and exciting.
Make it a moment. Take a photo of the winner, share it on your club's socials, and celebrate together. It builds goodwill for next time.
Footy Squares for AFL and Community Clubs
Whether you're running this for your local footy league or an AFL club, the format works beautifully. Community clubs might run smaller grids (50 squares instead of 100) to match their supporter base. AFL club fundraisers can run multiple grids across different matches throughout the season.
The key is matching your grid size and pricing to what your community will support.
Get Started Today
Footy squares is a proven fundraiser that brings your club together. It's low-effort to run, high-engagement for supporters, and genuinely fun on game day.
Ready to launch your fundraiser? Lucky Squares Australia makes it easy to set up, manage, and run your grid online. Your supporters can buy squares anytime, and you'll have everything organised for the big draw.
Talk to your committee, pick your match, and get your grid live. Your club's next fundraising success is just one grid away.