Connacht Rugby has launched an imaginative fundraising campaign seeking to raise €50,000 over a six week period through crowd funding.
Individuals or groups of supporters are invited to make a contribution of as little as €10 to the ‘Grassroots to Green Shirts’ fund and will earn rewards depending on the size of the donation.  These range from an email thank you from Eric Elwood at the entry level up to signed team posters, commemorative bricks at the Sportsground, match tickets and signed team jerseys.
The campaign is backed by an emotive digital video (below) highlighting the ambition of the organisation in building success through talent development.
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[ismember]“This is a project we have been working on for about 5 months now,” said Eoin Banahan of Connacht Rugby speaking to Sport for Business at the launch of the initiative.
“We saw how crowd funding has been used effectively in areas such as the arts and business start up sectors. We thought  we could adapt it to help push us forward as we continue in our development.”
“Connacht Rugby have a large social network with over 27,000 Facebook fans and over 12,000 twitter followers. Our fans are tech savvy and were are constantly looking for ways to interact with them.”
“Connacht Rugby has a stable of very loyal and hardcore fans to which the club owes its existence.”
“Our academy and age grade teams have been producing many of our rising stars and we want to make sure this is maintained at as high a standard as is possible. It is important  that local youths can see that they are able to fulfil their playing ambitions here in Connacht while working and living in the region.”
“This campaign is one part of a strategic fundraising plan for Connacht Rugby which is ongoing both nationally and internationally.”
The campaign will run for between 4 and 6 weeks and will be promoted online and through social media as well as being supported though main commercial partners like Mazda, Aer Lingus and Elverys.
The project was developed internally with the help of Armour Interactive, a local web development agency in Galway who produced the video.
“We are constantly trying to add value for our sponsors and innovative campaigns like this will hopefully reflect onto our partners positively,” added Banahan. “Sponsorship is a two way street so the more we can do for our sponsors the better relationships we can build together.”
The campaign will also be boosted by a workplace initiative whereby groups who together raise €500 will be rewarded by our sending a player out for a visit with the staff and customers.

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