End Donkey Basketball—Dunk With Dinosaurs Instead!

Pop quiz: Name a cruel, antiquated practice from nearly 100 years ago that many schools still take part in today. If your answer was holding “donkey basketball” events, give yourself a gold star!

Events Like Donkey Basketball Are Cruel

Donkey ball events, a cruel and potentially dangerous form of fundraising dating back to the Great Depression, are still being hosted by U.S. school communities today, especially in the Midwest and central South. They’re often based on basketball, baseball, or softball, and donkeys who are forced to participate endure tremendous amounts of unnecessary stress during the events as well as while being transported to and from them. Like all sentient beings, donkeys are individuals who deserve respect—not to be hauled like freight across the country from one noisy gym to the next, forced to bear riders too heavy for them to carry, and subjected to a barrage of beatings and other physical and verbal abuse.

Ready to join the modern world and upgrade to something that’s truly fun? Request our free Dino Basketball Fundraising Pack today.

Donkeys are affectionate individuals who love being surrounded by friends, playing, and frolicking on the grass. Although these intelligent animals are exceedingly patient, they’re wisely cautious and resist doing things that could harm them—and for that, selfish humans call them “stubborn.”

But do you know what’s really stubborn? Clinging to practices that harm others, calling them “traditions,” and claiming that they’re fun ways to build community.

Being open to change fosters a dynamic, forward-thinking society that respects its history but is not confined by it. As a superintendent in rural Ohio shared following a donkey basketball event in his district, “Sometimes we get caught up in tradition and don’t think past the moment.” After careful and compassionate consideration, his district enacted a ban on donkey basketball games. Integrating new ideas and practices keeps school cultures vibrant and relevant, ensuring that students have the skills they need to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing world.

Donkey Basketball Is Dangerous

At the heart of donkey basketball lies the clear and harmful message—even if it’s not explicitly stated—that it’s OK to assert dominance over others who are vulnerable and different from us without any regard for their feelings or needs and, even more concerning, that doing so is a cause for celebration.

Supporting students to succeed in our rapidly evolving world calls for routine reflection on the overt and underlying messages that school-sanctioned programs send. As bullying and youth violence are increasing at an alarming rate in our society, it’s vital that schools take every opportunity to set a positive example for their students by ensuring that activities promote kindness and respect for all sentient beings, not just their friends and loved ones.

Donkey Basketball Is Expensive

Because the companies that provide the donkeys used for these fundraisers typically charge a considerable fee—often 60% of ticket sales—hosting a donkey basketball game not only hurts animals but also significantly impacts potential earnings. Since a fundraiser’s goal is to raise funds, partnering with an organization that pockets most of the profits doesn’t make sense.

The proof is in the pudding: Following input from concerned students, Fleetwood Area School District in Pennsylvania opted to swap its usual donkey basketball events for dodgeball—and the superintendent reported that the school district raised more funds than it had previously done with donkey basketball, prompting dodgeball to become its official annual fundraising event. And his school district isn’t alone. Groups around the country are enacting change by hosting entertaining and profitable animal-free fundraisers instead of ones that use sensitive donkeys as unfeeling sports equipment. Forward-thinking schools are finding creative ways to raise funds and have fun, all without harming any animals, from animal-free Olympic-type games to pajama day celebrations and even hungry hippo tournaments in an homage to the beloved children’s game.

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If you’re reading this, we know you’re committed to setting a positive precedent and cultivating compassion in your community, so with that in mind, we encourage you to set a kind example by organizing a dino basketball game instead of a donkey basketball event. Playing basketball in a dinosaur costume makes for a laughter-filled spectacle that’s sure to entertain a crowd. You’ll inspire empathy and garner giggles among attendees and players as teams face off in a four-on-four basketball challenge with a twist.

If your school, FFA chapter, or community youth center has hosted a donkey basketball fundraiser, you may be eligible for our free Dino Basketball Fundraising Pack. It comes complete with eight inflatable dinosaur costumes, a referee whistle, eye-catching tickets, and plenty of advertising materials to spread the word, making it easy to raise cash for a great cause without hurting donkeys.