Lake City grads start fundraising business to cater to prep sports teams

It’s not a newfangled idea, but Alex Hamill believes he can help high school and club athletic teams raise funds to meet needs where traditional fundraising falls short or takes more time.

Hamill and a high school buddy have started a company specifically focused on raising money quickly for athletics. While schools in the past have relied on candy sales, discount card sales or coupon books, Hamill said he can raise money in a speedier, less invasive way.

“This is the sum of all my experiences growing up,” said Hamill, a 2004 Lake City High graduate and business sports management major at Washington State University.

After earning a master’s degree at Arizona State, Hamill started selling medical devices.

With his background in sales, Hamill decided to take everything he learned and apply it to his latest venture. The business is called WeFund4u.com. It’s a different take on crowd funding.

“I don’t believe the traditional forms of fundraising are efficient,” Hamill said.

As an example, Hamill asked Lake City track coach Kelly Reed if he could help him raise some money. In a month’s time, Hamill helped Reed raise $7,500.

“From a coaching aspect, one of the worst parts of our job is fundraising,” Reed said. “Anytime you get a chance to do something that’s hands off and saves us time, because we’re so busy, is fantastic. WeFund4u does that. It’s quick, very easy and effective.”

Hamill has a project planned for Coeur d’Alene High’s football team this fall with an ambitious goal of raising $20,000 or more. He also has been contacted by St. Maries High, and projects are in the work in Tennessee.

The approach is simple. Every athlete knows people – from the contacts in their phones, through social media, family and friends.

“We take all of their contacts and send each a letter (via email) about the fundraising project,” Hamill said. “It’s a way to send a tidal wave of information to a lot of people as quickly as hitting a button.”

The way Hamill sees it, it’s a way to put the fun back into fundraising.

Hamill doesn’t see his company with a solely a regional focus.

“We’ve hired a couple guys across the country to be sales reps,” Hamill said.

Hamill’s company takes a percentage of the funds raised for its fee.

“There’s nothing proprietary about this. There are other companies that use this idea,” Hamill said.

It’s Hamill’s hope to get in front of as many eastern Washington and North Idaho schools as possible.

“Having done what I’ve done and seen what I’ve seen, I want to be able to raise funds for sports teams and help kids have opportunities,” Hamill said. “This takes away from the door-to-door fund raising. And the teams will get back (a higher percentage) of the money they raise.”

Hamill said other fundraising methods take a higher percentage of funds raised than their company will take.

“When you think about it, you might buy a coupon book or a punch card and you will never use it. But you do it to support the team,” Hamill said. “Now instead of having to sell 10 punch cards and bring the money back to their coaches in a week, the kids can spend their time practicing and getting better and leave the fundraising to us.”