Winning a championship is exciting. Figuring out how to pay for championship rings? That can feel a little more complicated.

For coaches and athletic directors, questions about championship ring costs and funding can quickly become part of the post-season conversation. But paying for rings doesn’t have to put a damper on the celebration.

Designing championship rings should be a joyful experience. It’s a chance to relive the season’s biggest moments, recognize the people who made it happen, and turn a team’s story into something athletes can keep forever. We’ve written about this before, recently highlighting a great example of how to tell a story in a championship ring through this baseball club.

And when it comes to paying for custom championship rings, schools and teams have more options than they might think.

Here are seven common ways to fund championship rings.

Photo credit to Hardin-Simmons Football Instagram

Tips for Funding Championship Rings

1. Get Them Into the Budget

Depending on the size of the school program, an AD will often designate a line item in the athletic budget for championship rings. Especially if the school traditionally wins across its sports programs, the school will plan and budget for rings, just as they do trophies, banners, or letterman jackets. This is the most common way to secure financing for a ring, but it’s not always this simple.

2. Turn to the Boosters

Schools that don’t have a dedicated budget tend to look to boosters next. Many booster organizations, or “friends of” groups, set aside a portion of their annual funds for post-season recognition, like banners to hang in the school gym or championship rings. If your boosters don’t have a standing policy to raise money for custom championship rings, etc., it’s important to bring it to their attention so this becomes an ongoing source of funding.

3. Host Fundraising Events

The championship football team can have a car wash, too! Many school clubs and groups host events to raise funds, and teams can do the same. Coaches and ADs can get creative with events, but here are common activities:

• Restaurant nights (a local restaurant donates a percentage of sales to the cause)
• Golf tournaments (local businesses like to sponsor these events, and alumni like to join) 
• Spirit wear and merchandise sales (get school kids to test their design chops by making championship gear to sell)
• Banquets or championship dinners with a silent auction
• 5K run
• Youth skills camps and clinics
• Pancake breakfast
• Trivia night
• Alumni game

The key with any of these events: present them to ticket buyers or participants as a way to join the celebration and be part of the championship victory. This personal approach feels more inclusive than just asking for money.

4. Have Parents Purchase Rings

A simple approach is to ask parents of kids to pay for state championship rings. And schools can present a tiered option, so it fits families at different budget levels. Schools don’t want to leave any kid behind in getting a ring, so finding out what parents are able and willing to pay can cover a big portion of the budget. Schools can backfill in other ways. They can also allow some parents to anonymously “pay it forward” and cover the cost of a custom championship ring for someone else on the team.

5. Split the Costs

Championship ring costs also don’t need to entirely fall onto families or school organizations. Schools can create models where schools pay 50%, and families pay 50%, for example. Or, perhaps the booster club covers a percentage, then the school, and then families. The more sources involved, the easier it becomes to pool funds. 

6. Find Local Sponsors

We’ve all gone to the local pizzeria and seen team photos on the wall. Getting local businesses to support teams by posting schedules, becoming designated hangouts or headquarters for post-game activities, can even extend to celebrating a championship. Local businesses, especially ones already connected to athletes on the team, tend to happily support. Think of the local pizzeria or café, but also insurance agencies, real estate agents, car dealerships, and law and medical practices are common sponsors. Offer these sponsors a direct ask: “We need $2,000 to cover championship rings for all 24 athletes. Would your business like to sponsor a portion of the cost?”

7. Crowdfund

In the same way a school can pitch a local sponsor, teams can use crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe or DonorsChoose to reach a specific target goal and enable contributions to come from anywhere and at a range of sizes. Going this route does require the school to put together assets like a short video that talks about the championship season and arrange images and copy for the crowdfunding platform.

Tips When Buying Rings

Remember, when reviewing the options above, coaches and ADs can mix and match ways to pay for championship rings. It’s not an either/or proposition. Coaches can use local sponsors, boosters, a pickleball tournament, and whatever else to help generate funding. 

Other tips:

• Start the conversation early. The sooner you know your funding plan, the easier it will be to act fast on raising money. You’ll also earn extra time when designing the rings.
• Check your district’s fundraising and raffle policies. Rules can vary between schools and regions, so you don’t want to commit to an event if it’s not allowed.
• Get a championship ring cost estimate before you fundraise. Talk with a Signature Championship Ring Client Guide to get an accurate budget number for rings, as costs can scale with the size of the order and design expectations.
• Loop in the AD. Whether money’s coming from families, coaches, or boosters, ensure the AD knows where the money is coming from in order to approve the purchase.

Ready to Start Designing Your Championship Rings?

Paying for championship rings doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether your funding comes from boosters, sponsors, fundraising events, or a combination of sources, Signature Championship Rings is here to help you explore your options and create a custom team ring your athletes will cherish forever.

From answering questions about championship ring costs to guiding you through the championship ring ordering process, our team is here to make designing your rings a simple, stress-free experience.

Time to take the first step? Get started with Signature Championship Rings to connect with our team, explore your options, and begin designing a ring that celebrates your team’s championship story.

For more FAQ’s visit: https://signaturechampions.com/faqs/