The girls varsity field hockey team jogs onto the pitch sporting jackets emblazoned with a familiar logo, the Brookline Warrior mascot. These were provided not by the Athletic department, but rather the Friends of Brookline Field Hockey, a fundraising initiative to raise money for the high school’s field hockey program.
The athletic department’s budget, along with the money from student athletic fees cover the cost of uniforms, game equipment, facilities and the basic needs of a sport, according to Athletics Director Kyle Williams. In addition, many sports at the high school fundraise extra money on their own to pay for anything beyond what the athletics department provides.
Williams said that the goal of the department is to support its athletes with what they need to succeed, no matter what team they’re on.
“We are trying to provide everything that a program would need to be successful, and we can still also support a little bit beyond that with things that might enhance the experience,” Williams said.
According to Williams, due to a 25 percent increase in sports participation from 2013-14 to 2021-22, the athletics department added more sports and two new positions after advocating to the town for the growth of their department. Since 2022, team participation has again grown by around another 25 percent. In 2025, due to the district-wide budget cuts, there was a reduction in their requested budget for department growth. In response, the department increased the student athletic fee from $300 to $400 for all sports during the 2025-2026 school year.
“With that [fee increase], we are bringing in more revenue. The revenue is being brought in to offset a cut, which is part of the district-wide cuts.” Williams said.
While the athletics department covers any basic needs for sports, many teams are also fundraising extra money to pay for things like team merchandise and bonding activities. For many teams, groups of parents are the ones who are organizing fundraising.
Brookline parent Kate Thibault is in charge of team fundraising finances for the girls varsity field hockey team. According to Thibault, stepping up to play a bigger role on the team of parents came naturally to her.
“I’ve always helped my children’s teams in different ways, and had coached in the past and always enjoyed being part of the team. This was a need that was vocalized, so I just raised my hand,” Thibault said.
According to Thibault, requests for fundraising have been generally well received by
parents and the community. She says the fundraising is necessary to provide the team with bonding experiences, team merchandise and the team banquet at the end of the year.
“[Parents] should never feel pressured or forced to give anything beyond what’s comfortable for them. The giving part has always felt voluntary, and for the teams and the coaches, it really provides essential supplies they might need,” Thibault said.
The crew team also relies on fundraising. While the spring season is mostly funded by the school, there is a separate Brookline Rowing “club team” for the other 3 seasons.
According to Elana Braun-Jones, senior and captain of the girls varsity crew team, the “club team” is unique in that much of its funding relies on fundraising by team members and the rowing community.
Part of the fundraising spreads to the school season. Since crew team members pay the standard $400 in team athletic fees, according to Williams, the support from their fundraising is necessary to keep the school program running.
“[The Brookline Rowing program] is doing a lot of fundraising and funding of boats and facilities and coaches that bleed into our season. We certainly couldn’t have [crew] without support from non-district funds,” Williams said.
The team has multiple fundraisers throughout the year to raise the money needed to
support the seasons, including an ergathon and crew-a-thon in the spring. Braun-Jones says the fundraisers are a way to build team camaraderie and network.
“It’s a good way for the teams to [interact],” Braun-Jones said. “I’ve encountered a few women who used to be coxswain in college, and they invite you, and they tell you about their stories, or men who used to row for Head of the Charles. It’s actually a great way to engage with the community.”
Braun-Jones said that she tries to emphasize camaraderie during practice which has translated into the team’s approach to fundraising.
“There’s a pretty strong community around the crew that it feels like everyone is willing to put in the work to do what we need, to raise the money that we need,” she said. “I wouldn’t say I’ve ever felt that we really have to push people to show up and help out. People want to.”
