Running a sports team takes passion, teamwork, and dedication — but it also takes funding. Whether you’re managing a youth soccer club, a high school basketball team, or a community baseball league, you know that expenses like uniforms, travel, and equipment can add up quickly. The good news is, there are plenty of creative and effective ways to raise money. In this guide, we’ll share the best fundraising ideas for sports teams to help you reach your goals faster and strengthen team spirit along the way.

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Why Sports Teams Need Fundraising

Fundraising is the backbone of most local and youth sports programs. It ensures that all players — regardless of financial background — can participate. The best fundraising ideas for sports teams not only generate the funds needed but also bring players, families, and the community together.

Successful fundraising campaigns can cover everything from tournament fees and new gear to facility improvements and travel expenses, giving your athletes the resources they need to thrive.

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Top 10 Best Fundraising Ideas for Sports Teams

If you’re ready to make your next season a success, here are some of the most popular and profitable best fundraising ideas for sports teams that work in any community.

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1. Team Car Wash

A team car wash is one of the easiest and most classic best fundraising ideas for sports teams. All you need is a busy location, some supplies, and enthusiastic players. Promote the event on social media and set clear donation goals to make it a fun and productive day.

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2. Restaurant Fundraiser Nights

Partner with local restaurants that donate a percentage of sales to your team on a specific night. Places like Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, and Panera Bread regularly offer these programs. It’s one of the best fundraising ideas for sports teams because it’s easy to set up and enjoyable for supporters.

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3. Sell Custom Team Merchandise

Selling team-branded gear is both profitable and a great way to boost team pride. Offer T-shirts, hoodies, hats, and water bottles featuring your logo and colors. Online print-on-demand platforms make this one of the simplest best fundraising ideas for sports teams with minimal upfront costs.

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4. Host a Raffle or Silent Auction

A raffle or auction can generate excitement and big donations. Ask local businesses to donate items or services as prizes. This is one of the best fundraising ideas for sports teams to use during tournaments, banquets, or end-of-season celebrations.

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5. Sponsor-a-Player Program

Reach out to local businesses or supporters and invite them to sponsor individual players. Sponsors can help cover uniform or travel costs in exchange for recognition on social media, banners, or team shirts. It’s one of the most personal and long-lasting best fundraising ideas for sports teams.

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6. Community Fun Run or Fitness Challenge

Organize a community run, walkathon, or fitness challenge. Participants can pay an entry fee or collect pledges per mile completed. This family-friendly event is one of the healthiest best fundraising ideas for sports teams, promoting fitness and community involvement.

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7. Bake Sale or Snack Booth

Never underestimate the power of good food! Bake sales and snack booths at games or school events remain some of the most reliable best fundraising ideas for sports teams. Parents and players can contribute homemade treats, and the proceeds can go directly toward team needs.

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8. Crowdfunding Campaign

Digital fundraising has become one of the best fundraising ideas for sports teams today. Platforms like GoFundMe, Givebutter, and Snap! Raise make it easy to share your story, upload photos, and accept donations online. Social media helps expand your reach far beyond your local community.

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9. Skills Camp for Younger Athletes

Host a one-day camp or clinic where your players teach younger kids. This is not only a great fundraiser but also a way to build leadership skills and give back to your community. Among the best fundraising ideas for sports teams, this one is both educational and inspiring.

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10. Game Day Concessions

If your team regularly hosts home games, setting up a concession stand can bring in steady income throughout the season. Selling snacks, drinks, and merchandise is one of the most consistent best fundraising ideas for sports teams year after year.

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Tips for Fundraising Success

To make these best fundraising ideas for sports teams work effectively, follow these simple tips:

1. Set clear goals – Know exactly how much money you need and what it will fund.

2. Promote actively – Use social media, flyers, and word of mouth to spread the word.

3. Involve everyone – Encourage players, parents, and coaches to participate.

4. Thank your supporters – Always show appreciation through thank-you notes or social media shoutouts.

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Conclusion

The best fundraising ideas for sports teams combine creativity, teamwork, and community involvement. From car washes and raffles to crowdfunding and sponsorships, every idea on this list helps your team grow stronger — both financially and socially.

Start planning your next fundraiser today, and use these best fundraising ideas for sports teams to hit your goals, unite your community, and keep your team competing at its best!

Fundraising is a crucial part of every FFA chapter’s success. Whether you’re raising money for leadership trips, agricultural projects, or community service events, having creative and practical FFA fundraiser ideas can make a huge difference. With the right approach, your chapter can raise funds while promoting agricultural education and teamwork.

Here are 10 proven FFA fundraiser ideas that are fun, easy to organize, and highly effective for students and advisors alike.

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1. Plant and Flower Sales

Selling plants, flowers, and garden starters is one of the most popular FFA fundraiser ideas. It connects directly to agricultural learning and appeals to community members who love gardening. You can grow plants in your school greenhouse or partner with a local nursery for wholesale prices. Seasonal plant sales—like poinsettias in winter or hanging baskets in spring—always attract buyers.

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2. Farm-to-Table Dinner Events

Host a community dinner featuring local produce, meats, and dairy products. This is one of the most engaging FFA fundraiser ideas because it showcases agriculture while raising money. Students can help with cooking, serving, and educating guests about where their food comes from. Ticket sales and sponsorships from local farms can generate impressive profits.

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3. Farmers’ Market Booth

Set up an FFA booth at your local farmers’ market to sell fresh produce, baked goods, or handmade crafts. This hands-on FFA fundraiser idea helps members develop business and marketing skills while interacting with the community. You can even sell FFA-branded merchandise to spread awareness.

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4. Farm Equipment Wash

Similar to a car wash but with a country twist! Offering tractor, truck, or trailer washes is one of the most unique FFA fundraiser ideas for rural communities. It’s fun, practical, and directly tied to agriculture. Promote your event through social media and local radio stations for maximum turnout.

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5. Homemade Product Sales

Homemade goods such as jams, honey, soap, or candles make excellent FFA fundraiser ideas. They highlight agricultural skills while providing something tangible for supporters. Packaging items with your FFA logo adds a professional touch and boosts sales during holidays or school events.

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6. Agricultural Workshop or Petting Zoo

Teaching younger students or families about farm life can be both educational and profitable. Hosting a “Day on the Farm” or an agriculture workshop ranks high among fun FFA fundraiser ideas. Charge a small admission fee and include interactive stations like milking demos, planting lessons, or animal encounters.

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7. FFA Merchandise Sales

Selling T-shirts, hats, hoodies, and tote bags with your FFA chapter’s logo is one of the easiest FFA fundraiser ideas to manage. You can sell them during school events, fairs, or online. These items not only generate funds but also promote your chapter’s pride and visibility.

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8. Livestock Show or Auction

If your chapter has access to animals, hosting a small livestock show or auction is an authentic and rewarding FFA fundraiser idea. Participants and local farmers can showcase animals, while proceeds support chapter activities or scholarships. Sponsorships from agricultural businesses can help cover event costs.

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9. Farm-Themed Games and Competitions

Organize fun community events like hay bale tossing, corn hole tournaments, or pie-eating contests. These lighthearted FFA fundraiser ideas bring people together while celebrating agricultural life. You can charge entry fees, sell concessions, and even offer prizes donated by local sponsors.

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10. Crop or Garden Sponsorship Program

Create a sponsorship system where community members “adopt” a plant bed, crop row, or greenhouse section. This is one of the most sustainable FFA fundraiser ideas, promoting hands-on learning while raising consistent funds. Sponsors receive updates and photos of their sponsored crops throughout the growing season.

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Conclusion

Successful FFA fundraiser ideas combine creativity, teamwork, and agricultural pride. From plant sales to community dinners, every event helps your chapter grow—both financially and educationally. The key is to choose fundraisers that reflect your chapter’s strengths and engage your local community.

Start planning your next event today, and let these FFA fundraiser ideas inspire your team to raise funds, build leadership, and celebrate the spirit of FFA!

Introduction

For schools and charities, fundraising is an essential part of keeping programs running and communities thriving. Yet, the process of finding sponsors, reaching out to businesses, and managing donation requests can be complicated and time-consuming. This is where Shareway comes in—a game-changing tool designed to make corporate giving more accessible and efficient. By connecting organizations with verified companies that actively donate, Shareway helps schools and charities secure more donations in less time. Here’s how this innovative platform is transforming the fundraising landscape.

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1. Streamlining the Donation Search Process

Traditionally, schools and charities had to spend countless hours researching potential sponsors and tracking down donation request forms online. This manual process often led to frustration and wasted effort. Shareway eliminates that problem by compiling all donation opportunities in one easy-to-use database.

Users can search by donation type, industry, or location, instantly accessing hundreds of verified companies that already support nonprofit initiatives. Whether your organization is seeking items for a raffle, financial sponsorships, or in-kind contributions, Shareway provides a faster, more targeted way to find donors.

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2. Simplifying Corporate Outreach

Once potential sponsors are identified, Shareway makes outreach simple. Each company listing includes detailed information such as contact links, eligibility criteria, and submission forms. This means schools and charities can apply directly through official channels without needing to scour the web for contact information.

The platform’s organized layout ensures that fundraisers spend less time searching and more time connecting with the right businesses. In short, Shareway turns what used to be weeks of work into a few focused hours.

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3. Helping Schools Secure Classroom and Event Support

Many schools use Shareway to request donations for field trips, classroom supplies, sports programs, and community events. Because the platform features companies known for supporting education, it’s easier for schools to find partners that align with their goals.

From local restaurants donating gift cards for auctions to large corporations sponsoring technology upgrades, Shareway helps schools connect with a variety of contributors. These partnerships not only raise funds but also strengthen relationships between schools and their surrounding communities.

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4. Empowering Charities to Expand Their Reach

Charities often face similar challenges—limited time, small teams, and growing needs. Shareway empowers them to expand their donor base without increasing workload. By giving them access to an organized database of potential sponsors, charities can reach out to more companies efficiently and track all progress in one place.

With its clear structure and built-in tracking tools, Shareway makes it easier for charities to stay on top of applications, follow-ups, and acknowledgments. This level of organization improves both outreach and results.

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5. Building Long-Term Corporate Partnerships

The ultimate goal of any donation request isn’t just to receive one-time support—it’s to build lasting relationships. Shareway helps users achieve this by keeping detailed records of interactions and responses. Once a company donates, schools and charities can follow up with thank-you messages and updates about how their contributions were used.

This follow-up process, made simple through Shareway’s tracking system, lays the foundation for repeat partnerships and continued support year after year.

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6. Saving Time While Increasing Results

Perhaps the most significant benefit of Shareway is its ability to save time while increasing fundraising success. Instead of managing multiple spreadsheets or emails, users can access everything they need from one dashboard.

By reducing administrative burdens, Shareway allows schools and charities to focus on what truly matters—their mission, programs, and impact on the community. The platform’s efficiency leads to higher response rates, more completed requests, and ultimately, greater funding.

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Conclusion

Shareway is transforming how schools and charities approach fundraising. By offering a centralized, user-friendly database of verified donors, the platform makes it easier to connect with businesses that genuinely want to help. It simplifies every step of the process—from research to application to relationship management—ensuring that organizations can raise more money with less stress.

In a world where every donation counts, Shareway gives schools and charities the edge they need to grow and succeed. Whether you’re planning your next fundraiser or seeking long-term partnerships, Shareway is the key to unlocking new opportunities and securing the support your community deserves.

School Fundraising Ideas

A well-planned fundraising strategy creates excitement and pride for the school and gets the community to play a more active role in the student’s education. So, if you’re looking for new ways to reach a larger audience and boost your efforts, choose from these school fundraising ideas and make the most of your event.

    T-Shirt Fundraising

Bonfire – Design your own Shirt on Material you’ll Love

Don’t we all love a good T-shirt? What’s excellent about t-shirt fundraising is combining it with an in-person event. About a month before, have t-shirts made with the school’s name, logo, and event name, so all attending can wear their shirt on the big day.

Getting custom-made t-shirts is easier than you think. There are companies such as Bonfire and Printful that will boost your campaign, help you save money on printed shirts, and create custom print designs everyone will love. Both sites are free to use, have templates and a step-by-step guide to help you with the design process, and will fulfill and personal fundraising ideas ship the orders, so there is one less thing for you to worry about!

    Online Donations

Receiving online donations is one of the best ways to expand your reach. Create a fun donation landing page and express your school’s needs. What are the objectives of the online donations, the target amount, and how do you intend to use the money to improve the school?

Remember that spreading the word is the tricky part and requires attention. Create a Facebook page for the school if you haven’t got one already, and start promoting your donation requests. In addition, you can send a note home with each student and ask them to spread the word. The great thing about social media is how quickly word can spread. When people start to share your posts, you get more reach and increase funding. That leads us to the next fundraising idea for high schools – social media.

Social Media

Social media ranks as one of the best school fundraising ideas. You can utilize various social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Create an exciting post, express your needs, and use hashtags to further your reach.

You can spotlight your initiatives and get followers involved in the school’s fundraising events. Instagram lets you add a donation sticker to your posts. You can go live on social media platforms with a Livestream fundraising event with an easy-to-add donate button so viewers can donate throughout the live event. Lastly, don’t forget the Geotag. This allows your donation requests to be shown to people in your community and establishes your credibility.

    Text-to-Give

Who doesn’t have a cellphone these days? Texting-to-give is a great new way for schools to communicate financial needs to parents and guardians. The average donation for text-to-give fundraising is $107, which can significantly impact your bottom line.

Text-to-give helps you gain ongoing support from the community when school fundraising. Use a text-to-give platform, such as Snowball, that gives you unlimited text, personalized campaigns, and low-cost recurring gift options. Donors will text a word like “donate” to the school’s text-to-give phone number and confirm the donation amount. Their credit card information is saved for future donations, and a recurring donation option will help maximize the funds raised.

    Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is one of those valuable high school fundraising ideas that are a must for any money-raising initiative. An online crowdfunding campaign is conducted on various platforms such as Livingtree and DonorsChoose. Fundraising management software allows you to monitor the progress, tell your school’s story, and get the whole community involved in the efforts.

Here’s how online crowdfunding works:

• Develop a plan for your campaign and build the outline
• Create an account on your preferred crowdfunding site
• Set up the campaign with the fundraising goals and tell your story
• Make the campaign live and start sharing it on social media platforms
• Monitor the progress of the campaign and adjust if you are not on track to meeting your financial goals

    Corporate Philanthropy Programs

Corporate philanthropy is a different school fundraising idea many aren’t aware of, but it can be highly effective. You can contact parents or guardians to inquire whether they own or work for a company with philanthropy programs and find out how to apply.

Three corporate philanthropy programs could benefit a school fundraising program:

Matching gifts: Many companies will match an employee’s donation to a nonprofit. For example, if an employee gifts $100 to the school, the company will match the donation with $100. Each company is different, and some may have higher contributions than the traditional 1:1 ratio, such as 1:2 or 1:4 contribution ratios.

Volunteer grants are a great way to raise money and get the much-needed hands-on help many schools require. Employees volunteer their time to a nonprofit, and the company donates financially. Corporate sponsorships: Companies can sponsor events in exchange for favorable publicity. For example, a company can fund an event such as a bikeathon or fun run; the school can promote the business in return.

    Cookie Dough Fundraising Ideas for High Schools

Palmetto Fundraising Cookie Dough, Chocolate chip, cookies, and cream, or peanut butter – whatever your flavor, we all love cookie dough! Not only is cookie dough a comfort food that takes us back to the sweet memories of growing up, but it can also be added to your list of school fundraising ideas. Host a cookie dough fundraiser and get parents, guardians, students, and the community involved in this tasty idea.

So, how does a cookie dough fundraiser work? It’s simple. Use a company such as SavoryFoods or Palmetto Fundraising. You won’t have to pay any money upfront; they will fulfill the orders for the sale of cookie dough, and you get to keep most of the profits. Give customized catalogs of the various products for sale or host the sale online. This idea takes very little work, and you can raise money for your school in a fun way.

    Pledge Fundraising

Pledges and donations are different. Pledges are promises to donate. For example, you can plan a bike-a-thon, walk-a-thon, or fun run, and people can pledge donations for the distance the participant goes. The pledge is made and paid at a future date.

Pledge fundraising is a great way to raise money for schools and organizations. It is a volunteer-driven program that raises funds in an annual, one-time gift through a personal fundraising campaign. Through pledge fundraising, you collect donations from friends, family members, and neighbors who support your school financially before the event occurs.

The first step to organizing a successful pledge fundraiser is simply organizing the people who will participate. Second, you should decide on the goal of your campaign and how much money you want to raise during that period. Finally, set goals for the number of pledges you wish to receive and divide those tasks accordingly.

    Silent Auctions

Silent auctions are becoming increasingly popular for school fundraising because they offer a fun way for people to bid on items and raise money for the school at the same time. Proceeds from silent auctions help schools solicit more funding, provide more enrichment, and enable more learning. They’re a fun way to socialize and mingle with new people at the event.

Charity Safaris is an excellent company to help raise funds for your school. We can help with the entire process, including auction display, online bidding logistics, and catalog production. Sell one of our hunting trips in South Africa, Argentina, or New Zealand multiple times for the event and raise thousands of dollars for your school. Fill out an online donation request and sell the trip of a lifetime at your school fundraiser.

If you’re looking for other types of silent auction items, TheShareWay provides a guide on 400+ companies that donate hotel stays, beauty products, gift cards, and more.

Email Campaigns

More than 4 billion people use email, and 77% of marketers say they have seen an increased engagement with their email marketing campaigns over the last year. So, if marketing companies and businesses leverage emails to gain followers’ support, why not do the same for your school and community?

An email fundraising campaign is simple once you have an email list. You can send reminders to subscribers of fundraising events, express the school’s needs, and request help from the community. What’s great about email campaigns is that you aren’t just driving traffic to your fundraising page but can also gain ongoing financial support.

Fundraising Ideas for School

It’s no secret that public schools are underfunded, and there is a spending gap between wealthier districts and low-income areas. In fact, the wealthiest districts spend three times more per pupil than low-income district schools.

Spelling Bee High School Fundraising Ideas

There are many reasons why a spelling bee is a great fundraising idea for schools, including:

• Friendly competition among students
• Educating students
• Highly affordable to host the event
• Community involvement

You can combine a spelling bee fundraiser with a pledge campaign. Students can get family and friends to pledge funds accurately for every word they spell. You can print certificates online and request donations from local businesses for prizes for the winners.

Walk-a-thon

A walk-a-thon is an excellent event for students of all ages, and there are many ways to host one. Color runs have become highly popular over the years, and platforms such as MyFunRun are making it easier and easier to do. They offer all the digital materials, personal fundraising pages, and pre-registering participants.

Students are not the only ones who can participate. Family, friends, and community members can all participate in the walk-a-thon. You may even switch things up, do a zombie run, and see the community show up in their best outfits and spooky makeup. There are no limits to what you can do with this school fundraising idea – have fun with it.

Prom Dress Drive

The best way to host a prom dress drive is a couple of months before prom or homecoming season. Shopping for the perfect dress can be time-consuming, stressful, and expensive. Instead, reach out to the community through social media posts and send notes home with the students. Ask them if they have gently used dresses of all sizes to donate for the prom dress drive. You can also approach second-hand clothing stores and see if they can part with dresses!

Hand out pamphlets to local businesses and the community with information on the event, such as date, time, location, and whether it will be a cash or card-only event. Remember to have private facilities for students to try on the dresses and hanging racks for easy displays. To guarantee attendance, sell tickets to the event. This is also a great way to maximize profits and know how many volunteers you’ll need.

Cook-Off

What better way to get the students involved in the school fundraiser than a cook-off? Kids can pay a small fee to enter the competition, and attendees pay to be taste testers. In addition, tasters will make donations for the foods they love the most, and the winner will be crowned by the amount of money they raise.

Students can make simple but tasty meals such as chili, mini burgers, tacos, and baked goods for those with sweet teeth. These meals are easy to make and won’t need much kitchen space. These high school fundraising ideas don’t have to be the “typical” event. Spice things up with live music, host fundraising raffles, and sell drinks to get the most out of the event.

Lip Sync Showdown

Consider lip sync showdown if you’re looking for a unique high school fundraising idea. The kids have a lot of fun choosing a song, practicing, preparing dance moves, and performing their favorite songs. Friends, family, and the community will be privileged to see the lip-sync showdown by paying an entrance fee. The winner can be determined by how loud the applause is.

School Carnival

School carnivals require all hands to be on deck as they are involved in events. There are games to good fundraiser ideas create and run, lots of fair food to make, and entertainment to plan. Carnival games and booths to consider are:

• Cornhole
• Mini Golf
• Ring toss
• Picture booth
• Tattoo booth
• Face painting

A school carnival fundraiser will require student committees, parents, guardians, and volunteers to participate in planning the event. First, browse company websites such as Rode Island Novelty to find bulk carnival prizes that everyone will love at a low cost. Then, maximize profits by charging admission tickets and charges per activity. These are very popular Fundraising Ideas for School.

Pajama Day

Pajama Day is a simple and effective way to raise money for school fundraiser ideas. The costs are low because there is not much to organize. Have each student pay a small fee to come to school in their pajamas. This fee can be as low as $1 or $2.

Add more fun to the day by letting the students watch a movie during lunch in the cafeteria and having a prize for the class that participates the most.

Principal Challenge

Involving the principal is a fantastic and fun way to raise money for your school. Principals are typically known to have serious and authoritative reputations. While fundraising for your school, this exciting fundraiser will influence pupils’ perspectives and foster a sense of camaraderie.

Ideas for prizes include:

• Sliming the principal
• Principal kissing a pig
• The principal gets pied in the face
• Principal colors their hair in their school’s colors

Schools set fundraising goals that students must attempt to meet. The fundraising target must be realistic for the students to see the results.

A class wins the prize when they reach a certain amount. The school gets to watch the hilarious act of the principal facing their demise if they reach the specified target.

Prospect Research

Performing prospect research, you will better understand who in your school can donate and will most likely donate regularly. In addition, through research, you can find the parents or guardians who participate in philanthropic work and may see what you are doing in your school that is worth donating to.

Specific wealth indicators will help you determine who to approach:

• Profession
• Foundation affiliations
• Real-estate and assets

Prospect research is most effective in affluent communities and allows you to change your marketing tactics to target the right people.

Field Day

Field days are ideal for the spring semester, when the weather is warmer and kids want to enjoy themselves outdoors. They are perfect for younger elementary school children.

This fundraising opportunity can have several activities for the students and their families to enjoy.

• Tug-of-war
• Water games
• Dodgeball
• Bounce house
• Obstacle courses
• Potato sack race

To make money, charge for both general entrance and individual game participation. Concession stands and a donation booth can be set up for additional fundraising opportunities.

School Fundraising Ideas

A well-planned fundraising strategy creates excitement and pride for the school and gets the community to play a more active role in the student’s education. So, if you’re looking for new ways to reach a larger audience and boost your efforts, choose from these school fundraising ideas and make the most of your event.

    T-Shirt Fundraising

Bonfire – Design your own Shirt on Material you’ll Love

Don’t we all love a good T-shirt? What’s excellent about t-shirt fundraising is combining it with an in-person event. About a month before, have t-shirts made with the school’s name, logo, and event name, so all attending can wear their shirt on the big day.

Getting custom-made t-shirts is easier than you think. There are companies such as Bonfire ways to fundraise and Printful that will boost your campaign, help you save money on printed shirts, and create custom print designs everyone will love. Both sites are free to use, have templates and a step-by-step guide to help you with the design process, and will fulfill and ship the orders, so there is one less thing for you to worry about!

    Online Donations

Receiving online donations is one of the best ways to expand your reach. Create a fun donation landing page and express your school’s needs. What are the objectives of the online donations, the target amount, and how do you intend to use the money to improve the school?

Remember that spreading the word is the tricky part and requires attention. Create a Facebook page for the school if you haven’t got one already, and start promoting your donation requests. In addition, you can send a note home with each student and ask them to spread the word. The great thing about social media is how quickly word can spread. When people start to share your posts, you get more reach and increase funding. That leads us to the next fundraising idea for high schools – social media.

Social Media

Social media ranks as one of the best school fundraising ideas. You can utilize various social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Create an exciting post, express your needs, and use hashtags to further your reach.

You can spotlight your initiatives and get followers involved in the school’s fundraising events. Instagram lets you add a donation sticker to your posts. You can go live on social media platforms with a Livestream fundraising event with an easy-to-add donate button so viewers can donate throughout the live event. Lastly, don’t forget the Geotag. This allows your donation requests to be shown to people in your community and establishes your credibility.

    Text-to-Give

Who doesn’t have a cellphone these days? Texting-to-give is a great new way for schools to communicate financial needs to parents and guardians. The average donation for text-to-give fundraising is $107, which can significantly impact your bottom line.

Text-to-give helps you gain ongoing support from the community when school fundraising. Use a text-to-give platform, such as Snowball, that gives you unlimited text, personalized campaigns, and low-cost recurring gift options. Donors will text a word like “donate” to the school’s text-to-give phone number and confirm the donation amount. Their credit card information is saved for future donations, and a recurring donation option will help maximize the funds raised.

    Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is one of those valuable high school fundraising ideas that are a must for any money-raising initiative. An online crowdfunding campaign is conducted on various platforms such as Livingtree and DonorsChoose. Fundraising management software allows you to monitor the progress, tell your school’s story, and get the whole community involved in the efforts.

Here’s how online crowdfunding works:

• Develop a plan for your campaign and build the outline
• Create an account on your preferred crowdfunding site
• Set up the campaign with the fundraising goals and tell your story
• Make the campaign live and start sharing it on social media platforms
• Monitor the progress of the campaign and adjust if you are not on track to meeting your financial goals

    Corporate Philanthropy Programs

Corporate philanthropy is a different school fundraising idea many aren’t aware of, but it can be highly effective. You can contact parents or guardians to inquire whether they own or work for a company with philanthropy programs and find out how to apply.

Three corporate philanthropy programs could benefit a school fundraising program:

Matching gifts: Many companies will match an employee’s donation to a nonprofit. For example, if an employee gifts $100 to the school, the company will match the donation with $100. Each company is different, and some may have higher contributions than the traditional 1:1 ratio, such as 1:2 or 1:4 contribution ratios.

Volunteer grants are a great way to raise money and get the much-needed hands-on help many schools require. Employees volunteer their time to a nonprofit, and the company donates financially. Corporate sponsorships: Companies can sponsor events in exchange for favorable publicity. For example, a company can fund an event such as a bikeathon or fun run; the school can promote the business in return.

    Cookie Dough Fundraising Ideas for High Schools

Palmetto Fundraising Cookie Dough, Chocolate chip, cookies, and cream, or peanut butter – whatever your flavor, we all love cookie dough! Not only is cookie dough a comfort food that takes us back to the sweet memories of growing up, but it can also be added to your list of school fundraising ideas. Host a cookie dough fundraiser and get parents, guardians, students, and the community involved in this tasty idea.

So, how does a cookie dough fundraiser work? It’s simple. Use a company such as SavoryFoods or Palmetto Fundraising. You won’t have to pay any money upfront; they will fulfill the orders for the sale of cookie dough, and you get to keep most of the profits. Give customized catalogs of the various products for sale or host the sale online. This idea takes very little work, and you can raise money for your school in a fun way.

    Pledge Fundraising

Pledges and donations are different. Pledges are promises to donate. For example, you can plan a bike-a-thon, walk-a-thon, or fun run, and people can pledge donations for the distance the participant goes. The pledge is made and paid at a future date.

Pledge fundraising is a great way to raise money for schools and organizations. It is a volunteer-driven program that raises funds in an annual, one-time gift through a personal fundraising campaign. Through pledge fundraising, you collect donations from friends, family members, and neighbors who support your school financially before the event occurs.

The first step to organizing a successful pledge fundraiser is simply organizing the people who will participate. Second, you should decide on the goal of your campaign and how much money you want to raise during that period. Finally, set goals for the number of pledges you wish to receive and divide those tasks accordingly.

    Silent Auctions

Silent auctions are becoming increasingly popular for school fundraising because they offer a fun way for people to bid on items and raise money for the school at the same time. Proceeds from silent auctions help schools solicit more funding, provide more enrichment, and enable more learning. They’re a fun way to socialize and mingle with new people at the event.

Charity Safaris is an excellent company to help raise funds for your school. We can help with the entire process, including auction display, online bidding logistics, and catalog production. Sell one of our hunting trips in South Africa, Argentina, or New Zealand multiple times for the event and raise thousands of dollars for your school. Fill out an online donation request and sell the trip of a lifetime at your school fundraiser.

If you’re looking for other types of silent auction items, TheShareWay provides a guide on 400+ companies that donate hotel stays, beauty products, gift cards, and more.

Email Campaigns

More than 4 billion people use email, and 77% of marketers say they have seen an increased engagement with their email marketing campaigns over the last year. So, if marketing companies and businesses leverage emails to gain followers’ support, why not do the same for your school and community?

An email fundraising campaign is simple once you have an email list. You can send reminders to subscribers of fundraising events, express the school’s needs, and request help from the community. What’s great about email campaigns is that you aren’t just driving traffic to your fundraising page but can also gain ongoing financial support.

Fundraising Ideas for Schools

Whether you are a school looking to raise money or on a fundraising journey for a school you love, you’ll need to know the best fundraising ideas for schools in 2025 to maximize your funding. Hosting a fundraiser for schools is an excellent way for staff, parents, students, and teachers to come together for the good of the community and its school.

However, getting people excited about a fundraising event can be challenging when you have the same ideas each year. Since the pandemic swept through in 2020, fundraisers have had to think outside the box for unique ways to make money with exciting virtual fundraising ideas. This shift from in-person to virtual became a huge success, but you need the best fundraising ideas for schools to get the job done.

Explore the many profitable school fundraising ideas and why you need them!

1. Bake Sale
Who doesn’t love a bake sale? Bake sales are one of the most popular—and delicious—ways to raise much-needed funds for schools. They’re also a great opportunity to get the parents involved and to show off their baking skills.

To raise money for your cause, ask the parents at your school to prepare a yummy treat to sell. unique fundraising ideas Children can participate by helping their parents bake these treats or selling baked products at lunch or recess.

You can take it a step further with a raffle, where one prize winner can win a beautifully designed and baked cake of their choice from a local bakery willing to provide a voucher.

2. Talent Show
Showcase your school’s many talents with a talent show! Let there be various categories, such as singing, dancing, and comedy. Get local businesses to sponsor prizes for each category and the grand prize of the best winning act at the night’s end.

Prizes can range from:

A local pizza restaurant sponsored a pizza for the winner and 2 of their friends
Tickets to see a movie at the theater
Mall vouchers
Charge a small participation fee and a spectator entry fee. And don’t forget to put together a panel of judges!

3. Guessing Jar

Guessing jars is a cost-effective and easy fundraising idea for schools. All you need is a clear jar, which you can fill with candy, beads, marbles, paper clips, or anything else that will fit in the jar. To increase your potential fundraising opportunities, have several jars in various sizes and allow participants to pay to guess each jar’s contents.

Keep the jar in a busy school area like the primary office for a few weeks. Parents, teachers, and students should be encouraged to enter their estimates into the competition for a small cost.

Allow multiple entries per person, with each try costing them. Let participants pick up the jar and turn it around to look closer.

Ensure you have enough prizes for each winner and runners-up for each jar you have. When the fundraiser ends, the closest guesser receives the candy jar.

4. Virtual Parents Party
Sometimes, parents and guardians need adult time, too! A virtual parent’s party involves virtual cooking classes, happy hour, or live streaming of a local musician’s concert. In addition, you can host an art party, such as painting with a twist. These events are hosted online via Zoom, and parents purchase the tickets. You will mail the items to the attendees’ homes a couple of weeks before the event and have a scheduled itinerary.

To prevent the virtual parent party from getting too crowded, you can set up virtual rooms and divide the groups. After a specific time, switch up the people in the room and keep the entertainment going.

5. Battle of the Bands

Battle of the Bands takes high school fundraising ideas to the next level. There may be many talented students in your school who would love the opportunity to share their talents. This fundraising idea is easy because you have all the means to host the event: the PA system, venue, and teachers and volunteers who can help.

Charge a small fee for each band to enter and an admission fee for attendees. Involve local celebrities to be judges for the event, such as the local weatherman or radio host, to participate. In addition, you could ask local business owners to be judges and help sponsor the event. There are countless opportunities to reach your fundraising goals.

6. Dog Wash

Not everyone takes their pups to the groomers, and many find bathing their dogs tedious. So why not host a dog wash fundraiser? The kids will love spending time with your furry best friend, too. Post about the fundraiser to local groups and encourage parents, guardians, teachers, and community members to bring the pups for a good wash by student volunteers.

Purchase all the supplies and use the school’s parking lot as the venue. Ensure plenty of kiddie pools to bathe the dogs, hoses, towels, and tasty treats. To take your fundraiser a step further, have music, some food trucks, and sell drinks.

7. School Dance

School dances are just as exciting as prom or homecoming. Students get to go out and shop for new outfits and let loose with their friends. It’s a simple fundraising idea that everyone will love, and almost all the proceeds go back into the school. In addition, students pay a small attendance fee, and you can request donations for décor, food, and drinks from parents and guardians.

Put together a student committee for the dance and have them select a fun theme, such as a masquerade ball, under the ocean, or a Hollywood theme. There is no need to spend a fortune on expensive photo booths or décor. Instead, the committee should be tasked with finding an inexpensive solution.

8. Discount Card Fundraiser

A discount card fundraiser can involve the entire community. Students sell discount cards in their neighborhood, and the donors receive coupons or special offers from local businesses, such as restaurants. These discount cards cost around $10-$20 but can save the purchaser hundreds of dollars.

Making discount cards to sell for a school fundraiser is reasonably straightforward. In addition, it draws a lot of attention to small businesses, and many business owners are happy to get exposure.

9. Car Wash

Car wash fundraisers have proven to be excellent ways to raise funds for local charities, including schools. They are also a fantastic way to get the community involved while students have fun washing cars. The school’s parking lot can be used to set up the car wash.

Partner with local businesses to sponsor cleaning materials and supplies in exchange for free advertising on the day of the car wash.

Get your local radio station to advertise the school’s fundraising efforts. Have loud music for entertainment and snacks available for individuals to purchase while they wait for their cars to get cleaned.

Assign shifts to students to wash cars, and designate a few students to collect money for the car washes and any extra donations. Set up an online donation page on the school’s website to receive additional contributions.

10. Auction off Parking Spots

Ask every high school or college student what their worst nightmare is, and they will all say that parking at school or on campus is the worst! On a busy day, students are likely to circulate the parking lot in the hopes of a spot becoming available.

For a successful fundraising idea, select a few parking spots the school won’t mind reserving for the winning students. Host a live auction or an online bidding war, and see how far students are willing to go for a parking spot reserved for them for the semester or school year.

11. AmazonSmile

AmazonSmile is a minimum-effort way to raise funds for your school. The process is simple:

Register your school with AmazonSmile
Once your school has been accepted to the program, notify your student’s parents and the local community.
Shoppers can add your school as their chosen charitable organization and shop items that are eligible for AmazonSmile.
That’s it! Your school will then receive 0.5% of every eligible purchase they make. No fees or costs exist for your school and shoppers donating to you.

Fundraising Ideas for Sports Teams

1- BBQ Fundraiser

Who doesn’t love a summer barbeque? BBQ fundraisers are a great way to raise funds for your cause while bringing the community together. Your team can set up tables and yard games and help serve food, drinks, and other refreshments for supporters fundraising ideas for youth sports teams to enjoy. You can host a BBQ virtually anywhere, making it an affordable fundraising option.

2- Shaved Heads Fundraiser

Are you looking for a fundraiser that makes a statement? Shave your heads for donations! Your team can create an online campaign stating that all members will shave their heads if you reach your fundraising goal.

Supporters can donate, write an encouraging note, and share the campaign online to spread the word. This fundraiser can build camaraderie amongst teammates and build team spirit across your community.

3- Earth Day Cleanup
An Earth Day Cleanup fundraiser will boost your sports team’s and the community’s spirits. It allows community members to care for the earth while supporting their local sports team. While this fundraiser works best on Earth Day, you can host a thriving community cleanup at any time of the year.

4- Ice Skate Fundraiser
Are you looking for fundraising ideas for a hockey team? Consider hosting a fundraiser at your local ice skating rink! With permission from the rink, you can sell tickets for an evening of skating and refreshments. The community will love spending a night on the rink with family and friends while supporting their local team.

5- Community Hike
Sports teams can check cardio and fundraising off their to-do list with a community hike fundraiser. To host a hike, pick a location, advertise your fundraiser on social media, and require donations to sign up. Team members can also collect pledges to increase revenue. This provides a perfect opportunity for supporters to get outside and active and is an awesome fundraising idea for sports teams.

6- Rent-a-Mover Fundraiser
Perfect for college sports teams, offer to help students move into their dorms in exchange for donations. Your team can distribute flyers and hang out in drop-off parking lots for direct outreach. Parents will love the opportunity to hire helping hands while showing some school spirit.

7- Date Auction Fundraiser

Another excellent option for college sports teams is to auction off players for a date in exchange for donations.

The highest bidder wins a date with their favorite player, and your team keeps the proceeds. Date auctions can be a fun way to fundraise while spending one-on-one time with the community.

8- 10,000-Step Challenge
A 10,000-step challenge is a perfect fundraiser for busy sports teams as it is a virtual event. Your team can set up an online page advertising your 10,000-step challenge. From there, participants can sign up and collect pledges to increase motivation (and profits). Team members should also participate in the challenge to build camaraderie.

9- Host A Tournament
Tournaments are some of the most profitable fundraising ideas for sports teams. Your team could host different types of tournaments for a profitable fundraiser.

10- Wiffle Ball Tournament
Perfect for baseball or softball teams, a wiffle ball tournament is a fantastic way to raise funds and bring the community together. Advertise your wiffle ball tournament online and require a donation for teams to sign up. You can also sell refreshments and auction off raffle baskets to increase profits. The event will likely draw large crowds and be a memorable experience for guests.

Conclusion
Finding fundraiser ideas for sports does not have to be a challenge. With these fundraising ideas for sports teams, your team can organize an event that helps you meet your fundraising goals while creating an excellent experience for your supporters.

Fundraising Ideas for Sports Teams

1- BBQ Fundraiser

Who doesn’t love a summer barbeque? BBQ fundraisers are a great way to raise funds for your cause while bringing the community together. Your team can set up tables and yard games and help serve food, drinks, and other refreshments for supporters to enjoy. You can host a BBQ virtually anywhere, making it an affordable fundraising option.

2- Shaved Heads Fundraiser

Are you looking for a fundraiser that makes a statement? Shave your heads for donations! Your team can create an online campaign stating that all members will shave their heads if you reach your fundraising goal.

Supporters can donate, write an encouraging note, and share the campaign online to spread the word. This fundraiser can build camaraderie amongst teammates sports team fundraisers and build team spirit across your community.

3- Earth Day Cleanup
An Earth Day Cleanup fundraiser will boost your sports team’s and the community’s spirits. It allows community members to care for the earth while supporting their local sports team. While this fundraiser works best on Earth Day, you can host a thriving community cleanup at any time of the year.

4- Ice Skate Fundraiser
Are you looking for fundraising ideas for a hockey team? Consider hosting a fundraiser at your local ice skating rink! With permission from the rink, you can sell tickets for an evening of skating and refreshments. The community will love spending a night on the rink with family and friends while supporting their local team.

5- Community Hike
Sports teams can check cardio and fundraising off their to-do list with a community hike fundraiser. To host a hike, pick a location, advertise your fundraiser on social media, and require donations to sign up. Team members can also collect pledges to increase revenue. This provides a perfect opportunity for supporters to get outside and active and is an awesome fundraising idea for sports teams.

6- Rent-a-Mover Fundraiser
Perfect for college sports teams, offer to help students move into their dorms in exchange for donations. Your team can distribute flyers and hang out in drop-off parking lots for direct outreach. Parents will love the opportunity to hire helping hands while showing some school spirit.

7- Date Auction Fundraiser

Another excellent option for college sports teams is to auction off players for a date in exchange for donations.

The highest bidder wins a date with their favorite player, and your team keeps the proceeds. Date auctions can be a fun way to fundraise while spending one-on-one time with the community.

8- 10,000-Step Challenge
A 10,000-step challenge is a perfect fundraiser for busy sports teams as it is a virtual event. Your team can set up an online page advertising your 10,000-step challenge. From there, participants can sign up and collect pledges to increase motivation (and profits). Team members should also participate in the challenge to build camaraderie.

9- Host A Tournament
Tournaments are some of the most profitable fundraising ideas for sports teams. Your team could host different types of tournaments for a profitable fundraiser.

10- Wiffle Ball Tournament
Perfect for baseball or softball teams, a wiffle ball tournament is a fantastic way to raise funds and bring the community together. Advertise your wiffle ball tournament online and require a donation for teams to sign up. You can also sell refreshments and auction off raffle baskets to increase profits. The event will likely draw large crowds and be a memorable experience for guests.

Conclusion
Finding fundraiser ideas for sports does not have to be a challenge. With these fundraising ideas for sports teams, your team can organize an event that helps you meet your fundraising goals while creating an excellent experience for your supporters.

Fundraising Ideas for Schools

Whether you are a school looking to raise money or on a fundraising journey for a school you love, you’ll need to know the best fundraising ideas for schools in 2025 to maximize your funding. Hosting a fundraiser for schools is an excellent way for staff, parents, students, and teachers to come together for the good of the community and its school.

However, getting people excited about a fundraising event can be challenging when you have the same ideas each year. Since the pandemic swept through in 2020, fundraisers have had to think outside the box for unique ways to make money with exciting virtual fundraising ideas. This shift school fundraisers that make the most money from in-person to virtual became a huge success, but you need the best fundraising ideas for schools to get the job done.

Explore the many profitable school fundraising ideas and why you need them!

1. Bake Sale
Who doesn’t love a bake sale? Bake sales are one of the most popular—and delicious—ways to raise much-needed funds for schools. They’re also a great opportunity to get the parents involved and to show off their baking skills.

To raise money for your cause, ask the parents at your school to prepare a yummy treat to sell. Children can participate by helping their parents bake these treats or selling baked products at lunch or recess.

You can take it a step further with a raffle, where one prize winner can win a beautifully designed and baked cake of their choice from a local bakery willing to provide a voucher.

2. Talent Show
Showcase your school’s many talents with a talent show! Let there be various categories, such as singing, dancing, and comedy. Get local businesses to sponsor prizes for each category and the grand prize of the best winning act at the night’s end.

Prizes can range from:

A local pizza restaurant sponsored a pizza for the winner and 2 of their friends
Tickets to see a movie at the theater
Mall vouchers
Charge a small participation fee and a spectator entry fee. And don’t forget to put together a panel of judges!

3. Guessing Jar

Guessing jars is a cost-effective and easy fundraising idea for schools. All you need is a clear jar, which you can fill with candy, beads, marbles, paper clips, or anything else that will fit in the jar. To increase your potential fundraising opportunities, have several jars in various sizes and allow participants to pay to guess each jar’s contents.

Keep the jar in a busy school area like the primary office for a few weeks. Parents, teachers, and students should be encouraged to enter their estimates into the competition for a small cost.

Allow multiple entries per person, with each try costing them. Let participants pick up the jar and turn it around to look closer.

Ensure you have enough prizes for each winner and runners-up for each jar you have. When the fundraiser ends, the closest guesser receives the candy jar.

4. Virtual Parents Party
Sometimes, parents and guardians need adult time, too! A virtual parent’s party involves virtual cooking classes, happy hour, or live streaming of a local musician’s concert. In addition, you can host an art party, such as painting with a twist. These events are hosted online via Zoom, and parents purchase the tickets. You will mail the items to the attendees’ homes a couple of weeks before the event and have a scheduled itinerary.

To prevent the virtual parent party from getting too crowded, you can set up virtual rooms and divide the groups. After a specific time, switch up the people in the room and keep the entertainment going.

5. Battle of the Bands

Battle of the Bands takes high school fundraising ideas to the next level. There may be many talented students in your school who would love the opportunity to share their talents. This fundraising idea is easy because you have all the means to host the event: the PA system, venue, and teachers and volunteers who can help.

Charge a small fee for each band to enter and an admission fee for attendees. Involve local celebrities to be judges for the event, such as the local weatherman or radio host, to participate. In addition, you could ask local business owners to be judges and help sponsor the event. There are countless opportunities to reach your fundraising goals.

6. Dog Wash

Not everyone takes their pups to the groomers, and many find bathing their dogs tedious. So why not host a dog wash fundraiser? The kids will love spending time with your furry best friend, too. Post about the fundraiser to local groups and encourage parents, guardians, teachers, and community members to bring the pups for a good wash by student volunteers.

Purchase all the supplies and use the school’s parking lot as the venue. Ensure plenty of kiddie pools to bathe the dogs, hoses, towels, and tasty treats. To take your fundraiser a step further, have music, some food trucks, and sell drinks.

7. School Dance

School dances are just as exciting as prom or homecoming. Students get to go out and shop for new outfits and let loose with their friends. It’s a simple fundraising idea that everyone will love, and almost all the proceeds go back into the school. In addition, students pay a small attendance fee, and you can request donations for décor, food, and drinks from parents and guardians.

Put together a student committee for the dance and have them select a fun theme, such as a masquerade ball, under the ocean, or a Hollywood theme. There is no need to spend a fortune on expensive photo booths or décor. Instead, the committee should be tasked with finding an inexpensive solution.

8. Discount Card Fundraiser

A discount card fundraiser can involve the entire community. Students sell discount cards in their neighborhood, and the donors receive coupons or special offers from local businesses, such as restaurants. These discount cards cost around $10-$20 but can save the purchaser hundreds of dollars.

Making discount cards to sell for a school fundraiser is reasonably straightforward. In addition, it draws a lot of attention to small businesses, and many business owners are happy to get exposure.

9. Car Wash

Car wash fundraisers have proven to be excellent ways to raise funds for local charities, including schools. They are also a fantastic way to get the community involved while students have fun washing cars. The school’s parking lot can be used to set up the car wash.

Partner with local businesses to sponsor cleaning materials and supplies in exchange for free advertising on the day of the car wash.

Get your local radio station to advertise the school’s fundraising efforts. Have loud music for entertainment and snacks available for individuals to purchase while they wait for their cars to get cleaned.

Assign shifts to students to wash cars, and designate a few students to collect money for the car washes and any extra donations. Set up an online donation page on the school’s website to receive additional contributions.

10. Auction off Parking Spots

Ask every high school or college student what their worst nightmare is, and they will all say that parking at school or on campus is the worst! On a busy day, students are likely to circulate the parking lot in the hopes of a spot becoming available.

For a successful fundraising idea, select a few parking spots the school won’t mind reserving for the winning students. Host a live auction or an online bidding war, and see how far students are willing to go for a parking spot reserved for them for the semester or school year.

11. AmazonSmile

AmazonSmile is a minimum-effort way to raise funds for your school. The process is simple:

Register your school with AmazonSmile
Once your school has been accepted to the program, notify your student’s parents and the local community.
Shoppers can add your school as their chosen charitable organization and shop items that are eligible for AmazonSmile.
That’s it! Your school will then receive 0.5% of every eligible purchase they make. No fees or costs exist for your school and shoppers donating to you.