Does Anyone Know How to Go About Finding Sponsorship for a Gymnast?

USAG has a scholarship program called TAPS. I don't know how it works for boys (I had a girl), or if your gym participates, but here is their site.

http://usagym.org/pages/men/pages/scholarship_program.html

Your local YMCA may have a program and tuition may be based on ability to pay.

Meanwhile, I would talk to your gym owner about your situation, there maybe some help for you that way. We've had a trillion different fundraisers at our various gyms, but it was never for tuition, mostly for travel expenses.

Good Luck!

:)

I am on the board for my girl's team (I have 2 girls that do competitive gymnastics) We have some money set aside to help parents. I know we've helped quite a few people in the last few years, so I would definitley check with the gym and the parent group that takes care of the coaches fees to see if they have anything.

That being said, be VERY careful taking on a sponsorship. If you child takes money from a sponser for his sport, they are then uneligable to get a scholardhip to college. I understand that you are looking towards the Olympics, but you have to be realistic that only 5 people make the team every 4 years. Do you want to jeapordize the opportunity of a full ride to college? I would definitely talk to a lawyer before taking any money from anyone to make sure you have everything covered.

Good luck!

At this age level, you will never get a sponsor. In his later teenage years,
if he is still doing this and is really olympic material, word would get around
and someone would step up to the plate.(a wealthy person.) Just keep in
mind that at 10 years old, every gymnist, equestrian, etc. wants to go to the
olympics. Let him take classes and see what happens. Right now he
is focused on the gym, but wait until the girls start looking attractive. Many a
male have swayed when they get into their later teenage years.

I work for the owners of our studio/gym. They want the kids in classes so they let me work off part of the fees.

Sometimes we have to choose. I know how hard it is. We're on SSDI and barely have enough money for food. If it came down to it the kids would have to drop some classes or I would have to go to work full time.

Going to work full time would be hard for me but I would qualify for reduced child care so it would be do-able.

If it comes down to it you may have to work on a form letter and just mail it to a bunch of businesses. But I would be leery of ever giving money to an individual. If you have them make donations to the gym studio then they might actually do more.

Competition is expensive. If our granddaughter was going to be able to go to OKLA and some other competitions this fall we'd have to pay hotel, travel expenses, entry fees for each group, etc...plus food, costumes, hair styling supplies, all kinds of extras. So I know how expensive it can get.

I think the best way to do some fund raisers is to get the gym on board. If they approve of a fund raiser all the kids can participate and the money could go into a scholarship program that all can apply for.

We did a fund raiser for new pads a couple of years ago and the kids who wanted to participate came with pledges and they they flipped and flipped and flipped. A lot of them only got a dime for each flip from some but if they had 100 people signed up that adds up quickly.

So get the gym on board, organize some formal fund raisers, plan some activities that you can do and just put the hat out, so to speak, let people just drop money in a jar or can.

And do a plea letter that will be sent to numerous businesses. Ask them to make a $10-20 donation to help your son do gymnastics classes, sent to the gym in your son's name.

If you want donations from corporations, etc, you need to talk to tax and legal counsel regarding getting set up with a 501c3, tax id's, etc.

Don't expect individuals to fund this effort of your child. Individuals have their own children's college funds and obligations.

You have to convince an investor WHY they should give you money and be ready to account for every dollar you receive in order to avoid IRS issues, etc.

I'm sorry but it does not make sense to me that your would sacrifice the family income in order to fund a dream. Hes 10!! Weigh all the pros and cons carefully. Beware of issues you may face with IRS, etc. talk to tax and legal counsel.

It's unlikely someone will just give you a blank check at this level.

Good luck

ETA: Per your SWH "no more negative comments??? I didn't see any negative comments.. I saw realistic comments that you may have construed as negative. Everyone will not have the buttery smooth answer you are looking for, some of us are realistic. Best wishes to your son.