The Duck Race Playbook: A First-Timer's Guide

Everything you need to know to plan and execute your first duck race fundraiser, from permits to prizes to the perfect duck drop.

Welcome to the Quackiest Guide in Fundraising

You’ve decided to host a duck race. Excellent decision. You’re joining thousands of organizations that have discovered the most fun, profitable, and community-building fundraiser on the planet. Here’s your complete first-timer’s playbook.

Step 1: Assemble Your Dream Team

• Event Chair, your fearless leader
• Sponsorship Lead, your smoothest talker
• Marketing/PR Lead, your social media guru
• Logistics Coordinator, your detail-oriented planner
• Volunteer Coordinator, your people person

Step 2: Pick Your Venue and Date

You need a waterway, river, creek, lake, or man-made course. Consider accessibility, permissions, water safety, and spectator space. Saturday mornings or early afternoons work best.

Step 3: Secure Your Ducks and Permits

Derby Duck Races provides numbered ducks, collection systems, and race management expertise. You’ll need event permits, liability insurance, and any waterway usage permits.

Step 4: Build Your Sponsor Package

Create 3-5 sponsorship tiers with clear benefits. Include logo placement, social media mentions, PA announcements, and VIP access. Start 4-6 months out.

Step 5: Launch Duck Adoption Sales

Go live 6-8 weeks before the race. Promote through:

• Your organization’s email list and social media
• Board members’ and volunteers’ personal networks
• Partner organizations and local businesses
• Local media, TV, radio, newspapers, community websites

Step 6: Plan Race Day Activities

The race itself takes 20-30 minutes, but your event should be 2-4 hours. Fill with food vendors, live music, games, sponsor booths, kids’ activities, and prize announcements.

Step 7: Execute and Celebrate

• Brief volunteers the day before with clear role assignments
• Set up early and do a complete walkthrough
• Create a dramatic duck drop moment, the crowd goes wild every time
• Announce winners with energy and excitement
• Thank sponsors publicly
• Capture photos and video for next year

That’s the playbook. Simple in concept, powerful in execution. Derby Duck Races has guided hundreds of first-timers to incredible results. You’ve got this.