Changing Your Mascot

According to Spindel (2005), implementing change may cause you to lose past sponsors, alumni contributions and other contributors, but you cannot let this stop your move towards change. Fundraising for the changes will be your biggest challenge once you have gotten the change approved. Jerseys, banners, practice equipment and everything else will need to be updated. Your athletic budget may not be ready to replace everything, but you will need to find creative ways to finance these expenses.

 

Logo and mascot contests are a great way to generate revenue and involve the community in the process of change. $20 entry fee for a $500 prize will garner a lot of entrants and also get you a mix of creative artists who are giving you free artwork to use or possibly embellish into something totally different.

 

Corporate and business sponsorships and partnerships should be the easiest thing to pitch at the moment. All ad space, signage and sponsor patches are up for grabs. You have the chance to legitimize your sponsorship package and offer inaugural benefits and placement. You can also look at grandfathering in older sponsors and having a legitimate reason to inquire about larger contributions or different sponsorship pricing.

 

Local levies and funding are always an option if you can get them voted for by your community. According to Price (2002), alumni at Miami (Ohio) University gave a record $25 million to the school after they changed their name from Redskins to Redhawks. Since you have the support of your community asking for change, you can turn to them for support and ask them for help in raising funds for the change. Alumni, community members and businesses may all be good resources for funding your change.