On average, it costs $1,000 to train an injured veteran to scuba dive. Yet, the average American donates just over $700 to charity annually. That number fluctuates depending on several factors, such as socio-economic status, and it doesn’t consider volunteer hours or donated goods. However, a desire to improve the lives of our injured veterans is not limited to those with heaps of disposable income. So, we are often asked how someone can support Patriots for Disabled Divers while on a budget. Read on to learn 10 DIY fundraisers you can run to support adaptive diving for veterans in your community.
Adaptive Diving Fundraiser Ideas
The easiest way to support PFDD’s adaptive diving programs is to make a financial donation. Even a donation of $5 gets us closer to changing the life of an injured veteran. But clicking the $5 donation button online doesn’t feel like you’re making a difference. What can you do to support the mission without busting your budget? One way is to run your own PFDD fundraiser. To help you get started, here are 10 DIY fundraiser ideas to support your local chapter of Patriots for Disabled Divers:
- Scuba Dive-a-Thon. Remember walk-a-thons, dance-a-thons, and read-a-thons from when you were a kid? This is just like that. Challenge participants to set a personal diving goal (e.g., number of dives or hours spent underwater) and collect pledges from friends and family for each benchmark completed.
- Underwater Photo Challenge. There are tons of talented amateur underwater photographers out there whose work never gets farther than Instagram. Leverage that community by hosting a photo competition where participants can submit videos of their best underwater shots. Charge an entry fee and have judges or online voting to determine winners. This works best when there are prizes to win. These don’t have to be big-ticket items, though. Reach out to retailers to get some donated swag for prizes.
- Scuba Gear Swap. One only has to jump on Craig’s List to see all kinds of dive gear for sale, but buyer beware. A lot of that dive gear is of dubious quality. Instead, organize a scuba gear swap event where divers can buy, sell, or trade equipment in person. This lets participants handle the equipment before they put their hard-earned money on the barrel. Charge a small fee for entry to raise funds for PFDD.
- Scuba-Themed Bake Sale. Bake sales are a tried and true classic fundraiser. They appeal to a broad audience, and nearly everyone can participate. Create scuba-themed treats like ocean-scene cupcakes, gummy shark candies, or fish-shaped cookies, and sell them at a local event. Just be sure to check your local regulations for selling baked goods before you get started.
- Dive Shop Fundraiser Day. There are more than 6,600 PADI dive centers worldwide. Many of them are passionate about supporting adaptive diving programs. Tap into that passion. Partner with your local dive shop to host a fundraiser day where a percentage of sales or all proceeds from a specific product line are donated to PFDD.
- Virtual Dive Event. Virtual events became common during the pandemic and have not diminished in popularity. They allow people from all over the world to participate without the expense of travel. To lower the barrier to entry, consider an online event. Host a virtual dive event on a platform like Zoom or Facebook Live. Charge an admission fee, and include diving tutorials, Q&A sessions with experienced divers, interactive games, travelogue presentations, or anything else you find exciting.
- Dive-a-Thon Costume Contest. With spooky season upon us, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention costume contests. Diving in costume is a Halloween classic for many dive clubs. Turn yours into a fundraising event to support adaptive diving. Host a themed dive-a-thon where participants dress up in fun costumes for their dives and compete in categories. Charge an admission fee to participate and offer prizes for the winners.
- Scuba Diving Merchandise Sales. This is an excellent option for artists and creatives who want to promote their work while supporting a worthy cause. Create and sell scuba-themed merchandise like T-shirts, stickers, or custom dive logbooks, with a portion of the proceeds going to PFDD. You can even get into the action without being a graphic designer by using programs like Cava that allow you to easily create your own custom content and sell the results.
- Underwater Treasure Hunt. This is another diver classic. Organize an underwater treasure hunt where participants search for hidden objects in a designated area. Charge an entry fee and award prizes to successful treasure hunters. This one is especially fun if you combine it with a night dive.
- Scuba Equipment Maintenance Workshops. If you’re a PADI Equipment Specialist Instructor or qualified repair technician, this is a great option that both supports the cause and increases your certifications. Offer workshops on how to clean and maintain scuba gear. Charge a participation fee and use the funds to support PFDD’s adaptive diving programs.
Get the Word Out
Unfortunately, the old adage “build it and they will come” doesn’t quite work with fundraising events. So remember to promote your DIY fundraiser through social media and your local community networks to maximize its impact. Let us know about your fundraiser in advance, and we’ll happily plug it on our social media accounts. If you send us success stories from your fundraiser, we’ll publish them in our blog and newsletter.
Your support makes all the difference in the lives of injured veterans. We couldn’t offer our participants adaptive diving’s therapeutic benefits without your help. So, if you’re ready to change a life, start your PFDD fundraiser today. To learn more or donate, contact us online or email us at jeff@patriotsfordisableddivers.org.