How to run a cornhole fundraiser tournament

A planning timeline

6 to 8 weeks out

Pick a date and a venue, and set a goal for how much you want to raise. Ask a bar, brewery, park district or parish hall early: spring and summer weekends go fast. Start asking local businesses to sponsor.

4 weeks out

Decide the format, entry fee and player cap. Open sign-ups and start sharing the link through your school, church or club newsletter, social media and flyers.

1 to 2 weeks out

Line up boards and bags, volunteers for check-in and scorekeeping, and prizes. Print sponsor signs and a QR sign for the door.

The day before

Close online sign-ups or set aside room for walk-ups. Charge phones and test the TV you'll show the bracket on.

Pick a format

Blind draw or bring a partner. In a blind draw, people sign up on their own and are paired at random on the day. It's the friendliest choice for a fundraiser: nobody needs a partner to come, regulars mix with first-timers, and stacked teams can't form. If a few strong players worry you, a balanced (A/B) draw pairs each stronger player with a random newer one. Letting people bring their own partner works too, and sells well to couples and coworkers.

Single or double elimination. Single elimination is fastest, but half the field is out after one game. For a fundraiser, where people paid to play, double elimination is usually worth the extra time: every team plays at least twice, and only a second loss sends them home. Another option is a few pool games for everyone first, then a bracket seeded from the results.

How long it takes. A casual game to 21 usually takes 10 to 20 minutes. A single-elimination bracket for 16 teams is 15 games; on 4 sets of boards that's about 4 rounds, or roughly an hour and a half with breaks. Double elimination about doubles the game count, so plan for 3 hours or add boards.

Set prices and raise more

• Entry fee. Charge per player or per team, at a price that fits your crowd. Many fundraisers keep every dollar for the cause and play for a trophy or donated prizes; others pay a share back to the top teams to draw stronger players.
• Board sponsors. Each set of boards is a natural sponsor spot. Sell a sign on every set, plus a name on the flyer and a thank-you at the trophy.
• Food and drink. Venues often give back a share of sales on the day, and that can beat the entry fees. Ask when you book.
• Side events. A raffle, silent auction or longest-streak contest keeps people busy between games. Raffles and 50/50 drawings are regulated in many places, often needing a license, so check your state and local rules first.
• Walk-up donations. Put the donation link or QR code next to the bracket on the TV, where everyone looks between games.

Boards, bags and space

Plan on one set of boards (two boards and eight bags) for every four to six teams, so nobody waits too long between games. Borrow sets from members, or ask a local league to lend theirs in exchange for a mention. Regulation boards are 2 by 4 feet with their front edges 27 feet apart, but a backyard event can shorten that for kids and casual players. Leave a few feet of walking room between lanes, and mark each set with a number so players know where to go.

Sign-ups

Collecting names online before the day saves a long line at the door. Share one sign-up link everywhere, put a QR code on the flyer, and keep a few spots for walk-ups. A cap keeps the day on schedule: work back from your boards and your time slot using the numbers above. If you're taking payment online, collect it through your organization's usual donation page and check names off at check-in.

Running the day

1. Check players in as they arrive, and approve any walk-ups.
2. Draw the teams in front of everyone, so the pairings are visibly random.
3. Put the bracket on a TV so players can see who they play next and on which board.
4. Have one or two volunteers enter scores from their phones as games finish.
5. Thank your sponsors out loud before the final, while everyone is watching.

After the final

Announce the champions, take the photo with the trophy, and share the final bracket link with everyone who played. Post the total raised and thank the sponsors by name: it's the best advertising you'll have for next year's event.