Planning a women’s disc golf event often comes with big dreams and tight budgets—and that’s exactly why creative fundraising matters. Whether you're aiming to elevate the player experience, cover player fees, have extra bathrooms, or simply cover rising event costs, the right fundraising ideas can transform what’s possible.

Over the years, tournament directors around the world have tested countless approaches, from classic raffles to community-driven partnerships, each one helping grow the sport in meaningful ways.

In this guide, we’ll walk through a collection of proven fundraising strategies designed specifically for women’s events—ideas that are practical, inclusive, and crafted to build both excitement and community.

1. The Classic Raffle

The gold standard of disc golf fundraising. Ask local businesses, sponsors, or generous players to donate items, then raffle them off. If there’s a pro shop on the course, chat with the owner or manager about placing a donation box near the counter—because let’s be honest, we all have something at home (disc golf-related or not) that could find a better life supporting a women’s event.

Making it as simple as possible for people to donate is the secret sauce here. A visible drop box + a clear ask = more items than you expect. Once it’s set up, spread the word with posts on local disc golf pages and social media groups so the community knows where to drop their treasures. The easier you make it, the faster that box fills up.

2. Partner Distance Competition

Let players bring their partners, spouses, friends, or that one coworker who insists they “totally played ultimate in college.” Whoever they bring—they’re the ones doing the throwing.

It’s funny. It’s chaotic. It raises money. Truly, what more could you ask for? You can structure it as a simple prize contest or crank up the excitement with a winner-takes-all format, sending half the pot to the champion and the other half straight back to your event.

3. The 50/50 Raffle

Simple, popular, and guaranteed to motivate anyone who loves both disc golf and money. Half the pot goes to the winner, and the other half supports your event—an arrangement that mysteriously turns even the most laid-back players into highly invested ticket buyers.

You might be surprised how competitive people get when actual dollars are on the line. It’s quick, easy, and consistently one of the most effective fundraisers you can run.

4. Closest to the Pin (CTP) Contest

The beauty of a CTP fundraiser is its flexibility. You can structure it in several ways:

• $1 per throw or 6 for $5 (because we all pretend bulk pricing is a financial life hack)
• Use a high-value donated prize like a ZÜCA cart or Bag
• Finish with a playoff between the top three
• Use separate starting spots for women and men to even the playing field

This is a great way to get players (and spectators!) involved between rounds.

5. Pre-Event Doubles Fundraiser

A doubles event is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Split the entry fee: half goes to payouts and half to your event. Add revenue boosters like:

• Selling mulligans
• Trading raffle items for extra mulligans
• Giving women a two-stroke advantage to encourage participation
• Setting a maximum mulligan limit (for fairness… and sanity)

This brings in funds and builds hype for the main event.

6. Tee Sign Sponsorships

A reliable classic that businesses, clubs, and individual supporters love. Offer the opportunity to sponsor tee signs, giving donors visibility throughout the event and helping you boost your budget with minimal effort. It’s simple to set up, easy to sell, and consistently delivers great returns.

As a bonus, you can offer sponsors the option to take home their tee sign after the event—a small gesture that makes the sponsorship feel even more personal and memorable.

7. T-Shirt Advertising

Give sponsors the chance to put their logo—or their name in bold, unmistakable lettering—on your event or volunteer shirts. It not only brings in valuable funding, but it also turns every player into a walking billboard for your supporters. And let’s be honest: disc golfers will wear these shirts for years.

You can make this even more effective by offering tiered donation levels based on logo size and placement. Front and center? Premium tier. Sleeve or back? Still great visibility.

8. Sell Player Packs to Caddies

Have leftover player packs? Extras from bulk orders? Give caddies and spectators a chance to buy them. Everyone loves exclusive merch—even the people who didn’t commit to actually playing.

You can add this on disc golf scene as another general entry option. Need help setting up your event? The PDGA's Event Support Team is here to help walk you through the process. Disc Golf Scene also has a searchable help / FAQ. 

9. Optional Donation Add-Ons in Registration

Never underestimate the power of a simple button that says, “Add $1 / $5 / $10 to support women’s disc golf?” You’d be amazed how many players happily click it—especially when they know their contribution directly supports growing the sport.

Be sure to thank donors publicly on a dedicated tee sign or banner—they’ve earned that moment of glory, and people love seeing their names celebrated.

This is super easy to set up on DiscGolfScene: just add it under the Registration Form as an Additional Item and make sure it’s marked as optional. It takes two minutes to add… and can bring in hundreds of dollars without any extra work.

10. Restaurant ‘Dine to Donate’ Nights

Partner with local eateries like Applebee’s or Panda Express. On a designated night, a portion of sales goes directly to your event.
Eat food → support women’s disc golf. Truly, a perfect system.

11. Trivia Night at a Local Bar or Brewery

Host a themed trivia night. Disc golf trivia? Women’s sports? Random categories like “Name That ’90s Cartoon” (a crowd favorite)?
Entry fees or a percentage of bar sales goes to your event. Bonus: lots of cross-promotion potential.

12. Flex Start C-Tier

Hosting a Flex Start C-Tier before your event is a great way to build momentum and boost your budget. You can run just one, or schedule multiple leading up to the big day—each one giving local players another chance to support the event while getting in a rated round.

Flex starts are popular because they’re convenient, low-pressure, and fit easily into busy schedules. For you as the TD, they’re a steady way to raise funds without reinventing the wheel. And bonus: they double as free promotion, keeping your upcoming women’s event in front of the community week after week.

13. Tourism Department Support

Many tourism boards love supporting community events—especially women-centered ones. Ask about:

• Grants
• Donations- Many will have local businesses gift certificates also
• Cross-promotion

The worst they can say is no. The best they can say is “Here’s a check.”

14. Ring of Fire

Always a crowd favorite. Charge a small entry fee or use donated prizes.
The chaos, the excitement, the primal thrill of thirty discs flying at the same basket—it’s fundraising magic.

15. PDGA Membership Renewal Raffle

Sell $10 tickets for a chance to win a PDGA renewal.
Players who renew every year anyway see this as a fun gamble but also a way to support your event. 

16. Caddie Auction

Recruit local players or volunteers, then auction their caddying skills to participants.
Hype personalities help. Costumes help more. Competitive bidding wars help the most.

Final Thoughts

Fundraising doesn’t have to feel like work—it can actually strengthen your event’s culture, build community, and create memorable moments long before the first disc is thrown. Mix and match these ideas to fit your vibe, your budget, and your local disc golf personality.

And remember: the more fun you make the fundraising, the more people want to support the mission—growing women’s disc golf and creating events where players feel celebrated, supported, and totally unstoppable.

Kristine King is a member of the PDGA Women's Committee and the chair of the 2026 WGE subcommittee of the PDGA Women's Committee.