The Tidy Blog

Black and White from the series Line Form Color by Ellsworth Kelly, illustrating Sustainability Is Not a Committee Agenda Ite

Guides – 16 min read

Sustainability Is Not a Committee Agenda Item

Isaak DuryCEO & Founder

Guides – 16 min read

Sustainability Is Not a Committee Agenda Item

Isaak DuryCEO & Founder

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Thought Leadership Governance Club Operations Volunteer Management AI Guides Comparisons UK Sport Product Events Non-Profit Management Integrations Sport-Specific Grants & Funding Recently published

Thought Leadership

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Brou de noix sur papier 48 x 62,5 cm, 1946 by Pierre Soulages, illustrating Sport Bodies as Strategic Partners, Not Grant Rec

Thought Leadership – 15 min read

Sport Bodies as Strategic Partners, Not Grant Recipients

A Harvard Business Review article asked companies to rethink nonprofits. We asked sport administrators in Australia and the UK: does this apply to us?

Brou de noix 65 x 50 cm, 1948 by Pierre Soulages, illustrating Signal-to-Noise in 2026: How Sports Organisations Fight Inform

Thought Leadership – 14 min read

Signal-to-Noise in 2026: How Sports Organisations Fight Information Overload

Volunteers are drowning in communication. Here's why 'send more reminders' makes it worse and what actually works instead.

Untitled D11 by Morris Louis, illustrating The McDonald's Model: Why Sporting Clubs Are Franchises (And Should Be Treated Lik

Thought Leadership – 10 min read

The McDonald's Model: Why Sporting Clubs Are Franchises (And Should Be Treated Like It)

Local governments don't fund every club directly. They use volunteers. That's a franchise model. Here's what changes when you recognise it.

Thought Leadership – 10 min read

What We're Hearing: The Cross-Pollination Crisis in Australian Sport

Hockey and basketball face identical challenges. They never talk. Here's why Australian sport is reinventing the wheel, over and over.

Thought Leadership – 9 min read

What We're Hearing: 'Everyone's Just Doing Their Best'

Across hundreds of conversations with peak bodies and local governments, one insight keeps surfacing: volunteers aren't the problem.

Thought Leadership – 7 min read

Why Competition Management Software Won't Save Your Clubs

You've digitised registrations and fixtures. The off-field side - governance, compliance, committee operations - is still spreadsheets and hope.

Thought Leadership – 7 min read

The Club Website Question: Do You Even Need One?

Most clubs waste hundreds of hours maintaining websites nobody visits. Members are on their phones. Think about where people actually look.

Thought Leadership – 7 min read

The Death of the Intranet

Every governing body builds a club portal. Every portal eventually dies. Push beats pull for governance communication. Here's why.

Thought Leadership – 8 min read

Sport Administration Is Broken: Here's How to Fix It

The admin burden on community sport is unsustainable. Technology is fragmented. And we keep solving communication problems by sending more emails.

Thought Leadership – 9 min read

Your Volunteers Are Competent

The stereotype of the bumbling volunteer is wrong. These people run businesses and use enterprise tools at work. They don't need training. They need time.

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Governance

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Governance – 8 min read

Digital Readiness Guide for Canadian Sports Clubs

Your club is running on spreadsheets, a Facebook group, and one person's Gmail. Here's how to move to a system that doesn't depend on any single volunteer.

Governance – 12 min read

Stakeholder Democracy in Sport: Your Members Deserve More Than an AGM

An AGM once a year is not democracy. Real participation means members can access information, shape decisions, and see the results.

Suprematist Composition: Aeroplane Flying by Kazimir Malevich, illustrating Volunteer Management Guide for Canadian Sports Cl

Governance – 9 min read

Volunteer Management Guide for Canadian Sports Clubs

Your club runs on volunteers. Most of them are overworked, under-thanked, and one bad AGM away from walking out. Here's how to manage them properly.

Governance – 8 min read

Game Day Planning Guide for Canadian Sports Clubs

A well-run game day doesn't happen by accident. Here's the complete operations checklist - from setup to teardown, including weather contingencies.

Governance – 8 min read

Facility Plan and Usage Schedule for Canadian Sports Clubs

Your facility allocation is your club's most valuable asset - and the one most at risk. Here's how to plan, schedule, and protect it.

Governance – 15 min read

District Governor's Guide: Tracking Club Health Across Your Territory

For incoming district governors: what to measure across your clubs, how to intervene early, and how to support struggling clubs during your one-year term.

Governance – 6 min read

How to Find Sponsors for Your Canadian Sports Club

Local businesses sponsor sports clubs because it works as marketing. Here's how to build a target list, pitch properly, and keep sponsors renewing.

Governance – 8 min read

Income Generation Ideas for Canadian Community Sports Clubs

Beyond the bottle drive: 15 revenue streams your Canadian sports club could be using, with practical advice on which actually work.

Governance – 7 min read

Social Events Planning Guide for Canadian Sports Clubs

Social events keep members connected beyond the field. Here's how to plan them - trivia nights, end-of-season awards, family days, and everything in between.

Governance – 7 min read

Website Assessment Checklist for Canadian Sports Clubs

Your website is the first thing a new family checks. If it's outdated, broken, or confusing, they'll register with someone else. Here's the assessment checklist.

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Club Operations

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The First Step (1913) by František Kupka — an abstract composition of connected circular forms

Club Operations – 16 min read

How District Leaders Manage Service Club Networks

District governors oversee dozens of service clubs with per-capita dues, attendance tracking, and service hour reporting. Here's how the best districts manage it.

Club Operations – 7 min read

What Grassroots Clubs Actually Do All Week

Most people think running a sports club is about training and finals. The committee knows it's mostly admin. Here's what the work really involves.

Club Operations – 16 min read

How Sports Federations Use TidyConnect to See Every Club in Real Time

State sporting bodies with 200+ clubs can't wait for quarterly reports. TidyConnect gives federations live dashboards across membership, compliance, and events.

Club Operations – 16 min read

Chapter Leader Onboarding: The 30-Day Checklist for New Volunteers

New chapter leaders inherit systems, relationships, and obligations they were never briefed on. This 30-day checklist fixes that.

Club Operations – 4 min read

Membership Coordinator: Renewals, Onboarding, and Keeping People

The membership coordinator is the front door of the club. Here is how to handle renewals, onboard new members, and track engagement.

Club Operations – 3 min read

Alumni Associations: Keeping Graduates Connected for Decades

Alumni associations manage relationships that span decades. Here is how to keep graduates engaged long after they leave campus.

Club Operations – 3 min read

Arts, Theatre, and Museum Societies: Managing Creative Communities

Creative organisations have unique rhythms - production seasons, exhibition cycles, performance schedules. But the governance underneath is the same.

Club Operations – 4 min read

University Club Management: Why Student Unions Need a Different Approach

Universities own their clubs. That changes the funding model, oversight, and technology. Here is what university club management actually requires.

Club Operations – 3 min read

Church and Faith-Based Administration: Committees All the Way Down

Churches and faith organisations run on committees, volunteers, and donations. The admin challenges are the same as any membership body.

Club Operations – 3 min read

Pre-Season Checklist: Everything Your Club Needs Before Round 1

The pre-season scramble is predictable. Use this checklist to get everything done before the first game, not during it.

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Volunteer Management

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Sparse Foliage (1934) by Paul Klee — an abstract composition of branching stems and leaves

Volunteer Management – 18 min read

Dual-Tier Membership Management: When Members Belong to Both National and Local Chapters

When members belong to both a national body and a local chapter, data sync, dues allocation, and communication preferences become surprisingly complex.

Volunteer Management – 7 min read

The Volunteer Handover Problem

Three Dropbox accounts. A Gmail with a forgotten recovery number. A filing cabinet at the old treasurer's house. The hidden cost of every committee turnover.

Volunteer Management – 16 min read

How Professional Associations Manage Chapter Dues, Events, and Compliance

Professional associations face a dual-tier dues challenge, chapter event coordination, and CPD tracking across chapters. Here's how the best ones manage it.

Volunteer Management – 7 min read

The Complete Guide to Managing Alumni Association Chapters

The advancement office has Blackbaud. The chapters have spreadsheets and Venmo. Here's how to close the gap without a seven-figure integration project.

Volunteer Management – 20 min read

Multi-Chapter Nonprofit Management: From HQ Oversight to Local Autonomy

The tension between centralized control and chapter independence isn't a management problem - it's a structural one. Here's the framework to resolve it.

Volunteer Management – 18 min read

Chapter Management Software for US Professional Associations

48% of US associations use chapters to deliver local value. Most manage them with spreadsheets and email chains. Here's a better approach.

Volunteer Management – 8 min read

Why New Zealand's Sports Volunteers Are Walking Away

New Zealand's 7,500 community sport clubs run on volunteer labour worth over $1 billion a year. The volunteer pool has shrunk by 45% since 2019. Something has to give.

Volunteer Management – 18 min read

5 Data Silos Killing Your Multi-Chapter Organisation (And How to Fix Them)

Five data silos that cost multi-chapter organisations money, members, and compliance - and the practical fixes for each.

Volunteer Management – 20 min read

Chapter vs Branch vs Affiliate: Understanding Multi-Unit Organisation Structures

Chapters, branches, affiliates, locals, sections - every multi-unit organisation uses different terms. Here's what they actually mean.

Volunteer Management – 17 min read

What Is Federated Membership Management? A Complete Guide

Federated membership management lets governing bodies see across all chapters without forcing a single system. Here's how it works.

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AI

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Wolfeboro I by Frank Stella, illustrating Breaking Setup Inertia: How AI Suggestions Get Clubs From Zero to Configured in 30

AI – 10 min read

Breaking Setup Inertia: How AI Suggestions Get Clubs From Zero to Configured in 30 Seconds

Clubs abandon setup when faced with 48 subscription decisions. AI-powered suggestions turn decision paralysis into done-in-30-seconds.

Cover materials of folder of the Congress Committees of Poor Peasants by Kazimir Malevich, illustrating AI and Volunteer Mana

AI – 4 min read

AI and Volunteer Management: What Is Practical

AI will not replace volunteers. But it can handle the admin that makes volunteers quit. Here is what is practical right now.

AI – 4 min read

AI for Governing Bodies: Lead, Follow, or Get Left Behind

Your clubs are already using AI. The question for governing bodies is whether you lead the adoption or react to the chaos.

AI – 13 min read

Why Middle Management Will Lead the AI Revolution in Australian Sport

State bodies have budget and ambition. National bodies move slowly. Clubs lack capacity. The AI transformation in sport will come from the middle.

AI – 5 min read

AI for Sports Clubs: What Actually Works Right Now

Clubs are already using AI for social posts, grant applications, and policy documents. Here is what is practical today and what is hype.

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Guides

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Guides – 16 min read

Sustainability Is Not a Committee Agenda Item

Most clubs treat sustainability as a box to tick. A Harvard Business Review conversation and three governance leaders from different continents suggest it should be treated as something else entirely.

Suprematic track by Kazimir Malevich, illustrating Modernising Your Service Club: From Paper Ledgers to Digital-First Operati

Guides – 16 min read

Modernising Your Service Club: From Paper Ledgers to Digital-First Operations

Older members prefer paper. Younger members expect apps. Here's how to bridge the generational technology gap in your service club without alienating anyone.

Practical guide — Choose the Right Community Organisation Software

Guides – 7 min read

How to Choose the Right Community Organisation Software

Choosing the right community organisation software is key for managing members, events, and finances efficiently.

Leading a Grassroots Sports Club by Geoff Wilson — book cover

Guides – 11 min read

The Handbook Every Grassroots Club Committee Needs on Their Shelf

Geoff Wilson's new Routledge handbook covers governance, game day, income and everything in between. Here's what club committees will actually use.

Guides – 14 min read

How to Write a Sponsorship Letter for Non-Profit Organisations

A sponsorship letter is not a begging letter. It is a business proposal. Here is how grant writers, commercial managers, and sponsorship advisors would actually write one.

Guides – 18 min read

Why Off-Field Operations Are the Missing Piece in Sports Federation Software

Sports tech focuses on registrations and fixtures. But clubs fold because of governance failures, not fixture problems. That gap matters.

Guides – 8 min read

How to Value Volunteer Time for Grant Applications

Grant assessors want numbers, not narratives. Here is how to calculate and present the economic value of your club's volunteer labour using the ABS replacement cost method.

Reciprocal Accords by Wassily Kandinsky, illustrating £24.7 Billion and Falling: What the UK's New Volunteering Report Means

Guides – 7 min read

£24.7 Billion and Falling: What the UK's New Volunteering Report Means for Sports Clubs

DCMS just put a price tag on volunteering in England: £24.7 billion a year. The problem is the number is based on 2021/22 data, and volunteering rates have been dropping ever since.

Guides – 7 min read

The Economic Value of Volunteering in Australian Sport

Australian sport runs on volunteers. The ABS says their labour is worth $47 an hour. Most clubs have never done the maths on what that means for their organisation.

Guides – 7 min read

10.5 Million Sport Volunteers and a £6.3 Billion Problem

Sport England's latest data shows sport volunteering is recovering - but still 1.7 million below pre-pandemic levels. The £6.3 billion question: what happens when those volunteers don't come back?

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Comparisons

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City Landscape by Joan Mitchell, illustrating Service Club Software: Managing Dues, Meetings, and Service Hours Across Chapte

Comparisons – 17 min read

Service Club Software: Managing Dues, Meetings, and Service Hours Across Chapters

Service clubs need weekly attendance tracking, per-capita dues management, and service hour reporting. Most generic membership software doesn't cover these needs.

Comparisons – 17 min read

The Federation Playbook: Connecting 50+ Clubs Without Forcing Software Migration

You can't force 200 clubs to adopt new software. The TidyConnect model works bottom-up: clubs choose TidyHQ, and the federation layer connects them automatically.

Vertical Lines from the series Line Form Color by Ellsworth Kelly, illustrating TidyHQ vs Sport80: Membership System vs Gover

Comparisons – 3 min read

TidyHQ vs Sport80: Membership System vs Governance Platform

Sport80 handles registration and membership well. TidyHQ handles governance execution. They solve different problems.

Comparisons – 3 min read

TidyHQ vs Membes: Both Australian, Very Different

Both Australian-built. Both integrate with Xero. But TidyHQ and Membes serve different sized organisations at very different price points.

Comparisons – 4 min read

TidyHQ vs GameDay: Why You Probably Need Both

GameDay runs your competition. TidyHQ runs your organisation. Here is why they are complementary, not competing.

Comparisons – 3 min read

TidyHQ vs Humanitix: When to Use Which

Humanitix is brilliant for public ticketing. TidyHQ is built for member events. Here is when each one makes sense.

Comparisons – 5 min read

TidyHQ vs Wild Apricot: Which Membership Software Fits?

An honest comparison of TidyHQ and Wild Apricot for Australian clubs. Pricing, support, Xero integration, and where each platform wins.

Comparisons – 3 min read

TidyHQ vs Spond: Genuinely Different Tools

Spond manages your team. TidyHQ manages your club. They solve different problems for different people.

Comparisons – 3 min read

TidyHQ vs TryBooking: Event Ticketing for Clubs

TryBooking is great for public events. TidyHQ connects events to your membership data. Here is how to choose.

Comparisons – 3 min read

TidyHQ vs ClubRunner: Federation Features Compared

ClubRunner serves Rotary and service clubs with deep chapter management. TidyHQ serves a broader range of clubs at a fraction of the cost.

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UK Sport

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UK Sport – 7 min read

The Nine-Year Rule: Board Diversity and Term Limits in UK Sport

The Code for Sports Governance has specific requirements on board diversity, term limits, and audits. Here's what they actually mean for your organisation and why most boards are struggling to comply.

UK Sport – 14 min read

Your Membership Database Just Disappeared. Now What?

Your membership database just disappeared. Your website's been hacked. Your treasurer's laptop died with the only copy of the accounts. Here's how to make sure that scenario stays hypothetical.

UK Sport – 11 min read

What Happens to Your Sport When Everything Goes Wrong?

UK Sport's Code for Sports Governance now requires business continuity plans. Most sports organisations don't have one. Here's how to build yours without hiring a consultant.

UK Sport – 4 min read

What UK Sports Bodies Can Learn from Australian Governance

Australia has been through the governance technology journey. Here is what worked, what did not, and what UK sport can shortcut.

UK Sport – 4 min read

The Code for Sports Governance: What It Means for Your NGB

UK Sport and Sport England governance requirements are tightening. Most NGBs have compliance frameworks but no visibility into whether clubs follow them.

UK Sport – 8 min read

Lessons from Australian Sport: What UK Bodies Can Learn

Australia has been through the governance technology journey. Here's what UK sport can shortcut - and the mistakes worth avoiding.

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Product

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Product – 19 min read

Best Chapter Management Software (2026): An Honest Comparison

An honest comparison of 8 chapter management platforms - what each does best, who it's built for, and where it falls short.

Product – 10 min read

Magic Links: One-Click Acknowledgements Without the Login Friction

95%+ of announcements don't need discussion. They need one thing: confirmation the club received it. Here's how to make that frictionless.

Product – 9 min read

Role-Based Filtering: Why 'My Role' Should Be the Default View

Volunteers don't need to see everything. They need to see what matters to them. Here's why role-based filtering changes club engagement completely.

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Events

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Events – 4 min read

The Event Coordinator's Playbook

You have been asked to organise the club event. Here is how to handle registration, ticketing, catering, and check-in without a meltdown.

Events – 4 min read

How to Plan Club Events That People Actually Attend

Most club events fail because of logistics, not the idea. Fix the friction and attendance follows.

Events – 7 min read

Events, Ticketing, and RSVPs: What Clubs Actually Need

You don't need Eventbrite's feature set. You need something tied to your membership data that doesn't eat your sausage sizzle profits.

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Non-Profit Management

Non-Profit Management – 4 min read

Nonprofit Management Without the Enterprise Price Tag

Most nonprofit software is priced for organisations with paid staff and six-figure budgets. Here is what to do when you are volunteer-run.

Integrations

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Integrations – 3 min read

TidyHQ + Google Workspace: Connecting Your Club's Tools

Most clubs already use Google Workspace. Here is how to connect it with TidyHQ for a joined-up experience.

Integrations – 3 min read

TidyHQ + Zapier: Automate Your Club's Workflows

Connect TidyHQ to 5,000+ apps with Zapier. Automate new member notifications, event reminders, and data sync without code.

Integrations – 3 min read

TidyHQ + Mailchimp: Better Email Campaigns for Clubs

Sync your TidyHQ member data to Mailchimp for targeted email campaigns. Keep your lists current automatically.

Integrations – 4 min read

TidyHQ + Xero: The Complete Integration Guide

Connect TidyHQ with Xero in 15 minutes. Automatic invoice sync, payment reconciliation, and GST-compliant reporting for your treasurer.

Integrations – 3 min read

TidyHQ + Zoom: Running Virtual Committee Meetings

Virtual meetings are here to stay. Here is how to connect Zoom with your club's governance workflow.

Integrations – 3 min read

TidyHQ + Stripe: Accepting Online Payments for Your Club

Accept credit card payments for memberships and events through Stripe. Setup takes 10 minutes and fees are 1.75% + 30c per transaction.

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Sport-Specific

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Sport-Specific – 9 min read

Martial Arts Tournament Planning Guide for Community Schools

A complete operational guide to planning a martial arts tournament - venue setup, bracket management, official coordination, safety protocols, and the weeks-of preparation that turns a gym into a competition venue.

Sport-Specific – 8 min read

Tournament Day at Your Community Martial Arts School

The mats are down, the brackets are posted, and your students are warming up in the hallway. Here's how to run a martial arts tournament that does justice to months of training and keeps families engaged with your school.

Sport-Specific – 6 min read

Pickleball Tournament Planning Guide for Community Clubs

A complete operational guide to planning a pickleball tournament - court setup, bracket management, registration logistics, and the weeks-of preparation that makes your club's event the one everyone wants to enter.

Sport-Specific – 12 min read

Gymnastics Competition Planning Guide

A gymnastics meet rotates athletes through four to six apparatus stations in precise intervals. Planning the rotation, judging assignments, and warm-up schedule is where the day is won or lost.

Sport-Specific – 8 min read

Tournament Day at Your Community Pickleball Club

The courts are lined, the bracket is posted, and the parking lot is already full. Here's how to run a pickleball tournament that keeps players coming back and puts your club on the map.

Sport-Specific – 16 min read

Competition Day at Your Gymnastics Club

Gymnastics competitions are emotional, all-day events with anxious parents, rotation logistics, and athletes who've trained for months for a 90-second routine. Here's how to run one that works.

Sport-Specific – 4 min read

Swim Meet Planning Guide for Community Clubs

A complete operational guide to planning a swim meet - pool logistics, electronic timing, official requirements, heat sheet management, and the preparation that keeps a complex program running on time.

Sport-Specific – 18 min read

Swim Meet Day at Your Community Swim Club

Swim meet day is a six-hour, hundred-event production that depends on volunteer timers, lane assignments, and a PA announcer who can pronounce every swimmer's name. Here's how to run it well.

Sport-Specific – 3 min read

Tennis Match Day Planning Guide for Community Clubs

A practical guide to planning tennis match days and USTA league fixtures - court preparation, team lineups, ball management, and the midweek work that keeps Saturday's matches running smoothly.

Sport-Specific – 14 min read

Match Day at Your Community Tennis Program

Match day at your community tennis program is the one time each week when players, families, and prospective members see what your program actually is. Here's how to make it count.

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Grants & Funding

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Grants & Funding – 12 min read

Sports Club Grants in Michigan: Complete Funding Guide

Michigan's Natural Resources Trust Fund has distributed hundreds of millions for recreation. Here's that and every other grant program worth pursuing for youth sports.

Grants & Funding – 11 min read

Sports Club Grants in North Carolina: Complete Funding Guide

North Carolina's PARTF program is one of the best-funded state recreation grant programs in the Southeast. Here's that and every other fund worth applying for.

Grants & Funding – 12 min read

Sports Club Grants in Georgia: Complete Funding Guide

Georgia has significant funding for youth sports - from DNR grants to major Atlanta foundations. Here's every program worth applying for, with specifics.

Grants & Funding – 13 min read

Sports Club Grants in Ohio: Complete Funding Guide

Ohio has real grant money for youth sports - from NatureWorks and LWCF to statewide foundations. Here's every program worth applying for, with specifics.

Grants & Funding – 14 min read

Sports Club Grants in Illinois: Complete Funding Guide

Illinois runs two of the strongest recreation grant programs in the Midwest - OSLAD and PARC. Here's every fund available to youth sports clubs in the state.

Grants & Funding – 9 min read

Why Grants Made Clubs Fragile

Small recurring grants for ongoing costs have produced a generation of clubs that depend on government for the costs of being a small business. Here's why that matters.

Grants & Funding – 14 min read

Sports Club Grants in Pennsylvania: Complete Funding Guide

Pennsylvania's DCNR runs some of the best-funded recreation grant programs in the country. Here's every fund available to youth sports clubs in the state.

Grants & Funding – 6 min read

Sports Club Grants in the Greater Toronto Area: Complete Funding Guide

The GTA has more grant money for community sport than any other region in Canada. Here's how to find it - Toronto Foundation, municipal programmes, and regional funds.

Grants & Funding – 6 min read

Rural Recreation Grants in the Canadian Prairies

Rural prairie communities keep sport alive through municipal recreation boards, provincial programmes, and the kind of community funding that doesn't make the news.

Grants & Funding – 14 min read

Sports Club Grants in New York: Complete Funding Guide

New York has some of the deepest public and philanthropic funding for youth sports in the country. Here's every grant program worth applying for.

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Recently published

Digital Readiness Guide for Canadian Sports Clubs

Your club is running on spreadsheets, a Facebook group, and one person's Gmail. Here's how to move to a system that doesn't depend on any single volunteer.

Jul 22

Stakeholder Democracy in Sport: Your Members Deserve More Than an AGM

An AGM once a year is not democracy. Real participation means members can access information, shape decisions, and see the results.

Jul 19

Volunteer Management Guide for Canadian Sports Clubs

Your club runs on volunteers. Most of them are overworked, under-thanked, and one bad AGM away from walking out. Here's how to manage them properly.

Jul 18

Game Day Planning Guide for Canadian Sports Clubs

A well-run game day doesn't happen by accident. Here's the complete operations checklist - from setup to teardown, including weather contingencies.

Jul 16

Facility Plan and Usage Schedule for Canadian Sports Clubs

Your facility allocation is your club's most valuable asset - and the one most at risk. Here's how to plan, schedule, and protect it.

Jul 9

Sustainability Is Not a Committee Agenda Item

Jul 9