Benefits of Membership

Welcome to IGBO Member Benefits!

Our mission is to provide educational services, communication avenues, and social opportunities to promote the sport of bowling and enrich lives through leagues and tournaments worldwide. For over 43 years, IGBO has been a cornerstone in the gay community, strengthening the sport of bowling and creating a vast network that connects gay leagues and tournaments. Throughout these years, IGBO has supported over 130 gay leagues and 50 tournaments, reaching out to more than 7,200 members, helping them find leagues and tournaments to participate in. As a not-for-profit organization, our board members are 100% volunteers, receiving no salary. We operate on a very small budget, relying on league and membership dues to keep us going year after year. Here’s what we offer to our members, leagues, and tournaments.

Advertising

Every member league and tournament enjoys the fantastic benefit of free listings on the IGBO website. This means when someone searches for leagues or tournaments, they can easily find your league, complete with contact details, essential information, location of your bowling house, and links to your website or Facebook pages. Additionally, when someone emails a Board member about joining a league in their area, we promptly forward their inquiry to your league or tournament representatives, ensuring you never miss an opportunity to welcome new members.

storm bowling

As an IGBO member, you gain exclusive access to our incredible Storm Sponsorship benefits! This partnership ensures you receive the latest communications from Storm, keeping you informed about the newest products and innovations in bowling. Additionally, Storm generously donates to IGBO, directly supporting our community and events. Your tournaments can order Storm bowling balls at a discounted rate, perfect for raffles and prizes, adding excitement and value to your events. Plus, enjoy occasional giveaways from Storm, providing even more opportunities to enhance your bowling experience. Join us and take advantage of these fantastic benefits today.

Awards

Leagues
Every member league annually receives IGBO awards, recognizing the achievements of league champions, runners-up, and the two most improved bowlers.

In addition we provide decorative pins, celebrating bowlers who achieve specific goals with our special bowling pin awards. IGBO offers nine Individual PIN awards for all registered bowlers. These awards include Triplicate, Big Split, All Spare Game, 50 Pins Over <140 Avg, 75 Pins Over Avg, and 100 Pins Over Avg. Each bowler can earn one of each award per year. Additionally, 500, 600, and 700 series awards were introduced in the fall of 2023. These awards not only honor individual accomplishments but also enhance the sense of community and competition within our leagues.

Tournaments
Tournaments can celebrate their bowlers’ extraordinary achievements with special pin awards for specific goals. Each tournament receives a supply of these pins to distribute during their event. If you run out, simply contact us to request more.
Pins are awarded for Triplicate, Big Split, All Spare Game, as well our New Award, The Congeniality Award. This is a fantastic way to honor and motivate your bowlers, making their accomplishments even more memorable!

The Michael O’Brien Sponsorship Award

This sponsorship is made possible by the generosity of Michael O’Brien, a former IGBO Fellowship Award winner. Anyone who knew Michael was aware of his love and devotion to IGBO. Although he did not specify how to use the money he bequeathed to IGBO, after speaking with several people about Michael, we believe we have come up with an idea he would appreciate.

This sponsorship will benefit two individuals who are current IGBO league members and are attending their first IGBO Annual Tournament and Conference. The sponsorship includes $500, an IGBO shirt, and free entry to the next IGBO Annual Tournament and Conference. Winners will be chosen at the Banquet in Reno.

This is an ongoing yearly award and an open-ended sponsorship fund, always accepting donations to help bring new bowlers to our annual national event.

You may contribute to this endeavor. 




 

Presidential Scholarship Award

This scholarship was created to honor all past and future presidents of IGBO. IGBO is an international organization that strives for equal representation for all LGBTQIA+ individuals in the sport of bowling.

This scholarship is a one-time $1000 scholarship provided to any LGBTQIA+ athlete who wishes to further their bowling career into Collegiate bowling.

Requirements:

  •  Between the ages of 16 - 21.
  • Maintained a minimum of a "B" or 3.0 average throughout your education.
  • Must provide proof and references of bowling participating in high school/college.
  • Be an active member of the LGBTQIA+ community with volunteer references.

Learn more and apply today.

IGBO 300/800 Awards

Every bowler who achieves a perfect 300 game or an 800 series during IGBO league or tournament play will be honored with a specially embroidered IGBO 300 Game or 800 Series Shirt. This unique award is limited to one shirt per achievement each year, making it a truly special recognition of your incredible accomplishment!

Order a shirt for one of your bowlers today!

DISCOUNT PROGRAMS

IGBO offers discounts at Red Roof and Best Western hotels. Our clothing and merchandise partners, H5G, ST4L. IB Embroidery also offer discounts for IGBO members. And we are always searching for new opportunities for our members.

MEMBERSHIP POSTERS

Every year, IGBO produces the Join a League posters to help you recruit bowlers.

fELLOWSHIP

The greatest benefit IGBO offers is the friendship and fellowship that come with being part of our community. When you join an IGBO league, you are welcomed with open arms and no pretense. You’ll meet new people and have a lot of fun along the way. Since 1980, IGBO has provided a wonderful alternative to meeting people outside of bars.

Participating in an IGBO tournament takes this experience to the next level, allowing you to connect with people from all over the country and the world. These connections will enrich your life in ways you can’t even imagine.

As our former President once said when asked, “What does IGBO do for me?” she replied, “If you go, you know.”