FUNDRAISING & EVENTS
Cornhole Tournaments
Low cost, easy to run, and anyone can play — from junior enlisted to retirees and their families. Here's how to plan a cornhole tournament that raises real money for your association.
Timeline · Format · Making Money · Day-Of
WHY CORNHOLE
A fundraiser almost anyone can host
Low startup cost
A parking lot, a pavilion or a unit's back lot is enough. Boards can be borrowed from members or donated by a sponsor, so most of the money you take in is profit.
Everyone can play
No skill level, age or fitness requirement. Social players and serious throwers can play in the same event with a recreational and a competitive bracket.
Pairs with other events
Run it alongside a crawfish boil, a family day, a unit picnic or your state conference. It keeps a crowd around your food, raffle and auction tables all afternoon.
PLANNING TIMELINE
Eight weeks to game day
A local tournament for 16 to 48 teams can come together in about two months. Give yourself longer if it's part of a bigger event.
- 8 weeks outPick a date, venue and rain plan. Set your fundraising goal, team cap and entry fee. Name a tournament director, and confirm the venue's rules on alcohol, tents, music and parking.
- 6 weeks outLine up boards and bags — borrow, rent or get a sponsor to donate them. Build your sponsor list and start asking. Request donated prizes and raffle items.
- 5 weeks outOpen online registration and take payment up front. Publish a flyer with the date, format, entry fee, prizes and registration link.
- 3 weeks outRecruit volunteers and assign roles. Order shirts or giveaways if you're using them. Confirm food and drink vendors.
- 1 week outClose or cap registration. Build the bracket. Print scorecards, signs and sponsor banners. Brief volunteers on rules and their jobs.
- Day beforeConfirm head count, weather and setup time. Charge the PA, tablets and card readers. Load boards, bags, tents and supplies.
- After the eventThank sponsors, volunteers and players. Post photos and winners. Report the money raised, expenses and net to your board.
FORMAT & RULES
Set up a fair, fast tournament
Publish the format and rules with registration so there are no surprises on game day.
Bracket format
- Teams of two are the standard for fundraisers
- Double elimination guarantees every team at least two games — players feel they got their money's worth
- For a big field, run pool play first, then a single- or double-elimination bracket
- Offer a recreational and a competitive division if you expect both
Courts and timing
- Plan one court (a pair of boards) for every 4 to 6 teams
- A game to 21 usually takes 15 to 20 minutes
- Set a time cap or play to a set number of rounds to keep the bracket moving
- Use free bracket software or a cornhole app so players can see when they're up
Official setup
- Boards: 2 feet by 4 feet, with a 6-inch hole
- Boards 27 feet apart, front edge to front edge
- Each player throws 4 bags
- Mark foul lines with tape or chalk at the front of each board
Scoring
- Bag in the hole: 3 points
- Bag on the board: 1 point
- Cancellation scoring: only the difference between the two teams' points counts each round
- First team to 21 or more at the end of a round wins
House rules to publish
- Whether 21 is a hard win or a bust-back-to-15 rule
- Foot-fault and dropped-bag rules
- Arrival time and forfeit time
- Who settles disputes — the tournament director's call is final
Prizes
- Use donated prizes so entry fees stay in the fundraiser
- Top-3 trophies, gift cards or sponsor merchandise
- A set of custom-painted boards with your association's logo makes a great first-place prize
MAKING MONEY
Revenue beyond the entry fee
Entry fees cover the basics. The add-ons are where a cornhole tournament really raises money.
Team entry fees
Per team
Price for your crowd and include something tangible, like a shirt or a meal ticket. Take payment at registration so you know your numbers in advance.
Court sponsors
Per court
Sell each court to a sponsor: their banner at the boards and their name on the bracket. Sell a top-tier sponsor the championship court.
Board sponsors
Per set
A local business pays to have its logo printed on a set of boards. After the event, the boards can be raffled or auctioned for a second round of money.
Bracket buy-back
Per team
Teams knocked out early can pay to re-enter a consolation bracket. Players who came to play are glad to pay to keep going.
Skills challenges
$5 a try
Side games between rounds: sink 3 of 4 bags in the hole to win a prize, or a longest-streak contest. Small entry, quick turnover.
Food and drink
Concessions
Sell plates, drinks and snacks, or partner with a food truck or a crawfish boil team for a share of sales. Check the venue's rules on alcohol.
50/50 raffle
Half the pot
Sell tickets all day; the winner takes half the pot. Check your state's charitable gaming rules first.
Prize raffle and auction
Donated items
Donated items mean nearly pure profit. See our silent auction service →
Merchandise
Apparel
Sell event shirts and hats at the check-in table, or point players to your online store. See our apparel store service →
SAMPLE BUDGET
How the numbers add up
An illustrative example for a 32-team tournament. Your numbers will vary with your crowd and your sponsors — the point is that sponsors and add-ons often bring in more than the entry fees.
Keep costs low by borrowing boards, getting the venue donated, and using donated prizes. Track every dollar in and out so your event POC can brief the results to the board.
| 32 teams × $50 entry | $1,600 |
| 8 court sponsors × $150 | $1,200 |
| Bracket buy-backs, 10 × $20 | $200 |
| 50/50 raffle (association's half) | $300 |
| Prize raffle | $500 |
| Food and drink, net | $400 |
| Total raised | $4,200 |
| Less: shirts, trophies, supplies | – $700 |
| Net to the association | $3,500 |
Example figures only.
VOLUNTEERS
Who you need
- Tournament director: runs the event and makes final calls on disputes
- Bracket manager: updates the bracket and calls teams to courts
- Check-in team (2–3): registration, waivers, shirts and wristbands
- Court monitors: one for every 2 to 3 courts to confirm scores
- Sales table (2): 50/50, raffle, buy-backs and merchandise
- Setup and teardown crew: boards, tents, banners and trash
DAY-OF CHECKLIST
What to bring
- Boards and bags, plus a spare set or two
- Tape measure, plus tape or chalk for foul lines
- Bracket board or tablet, scorecards and pens
- PA system or bullhorn
- Tents, tables, chairs and water for players
- Sponsor banners and signs
- Cash box with change, plus a card reader or phone payment
- First aid kit, sunscreen, trash bags and coolers
PRO TIPS
Make it a success
Sell a player package
Bundle entry, a shirt, a meal and a raffle ticket at one price. Like at golf tournaments, bundling raises the total because players stop deciding item by item.
Take every kind of payment
Many players don't carry cash. Accept cards and phone payments at registration, the sales table and the concession stand, or you'll lose sales.
Have a weather plan
Reserve a pavilion, gym or hangar as a backup, and set a decision time the day before. Post any change on your website and social media.
Ready to plan your cornhole tournament?
From the bracket to the sponsors, let's build an event that raises real money for your members. Planning a golf tournament too? →