Copied!
All fundraising ideas

Middle school fundraising ideas

If you're tired of the same old fundraiser ideas for middle school, you’ve come to the right place. Find inspiration in our ultimate list of junior high fundraising ideas, from movie nights to pajama runs and everything in between.

Get fundraising ideas, tips, and best practices right to your inbox

Subscribed! Your fundraising journey just got a whole lot butter. 🧈
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Featured campaign
Marlboro Middle School Walkathon FUNdraiser Flyer
Filter
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Grants

Research grants that you can apply for to fund your nonprofit organization or project. Be sure to create a stand-out grant proposal in order to impress grantmakers! 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/grants
All
Donation forms

Pajama party

Raise money for a good cause and create an unforgettable, cozy experience by turning any fundraising event into a pajama party.  
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pajama-party
All
Events
Donation forms

Costume contest

Throw a themed costume party to match the season or holiday and award prizes for the best costumes! Sell tickets to your fundraising event online and work with local sponsors to offset costs and spread the word.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/costume-contest
All
Events
Donation forms

Field goal derby

Invite fans to donate to see how many field goals they can make in a minute (make a smaller goalpost for kids, too!).  Have each participant create a personal peer-to-peer fundraising page and reach out to friends and family for for their support!
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/field-goal-derby
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

More money, no problems

Instead of hosting an event, ask your supporters to donate a specific amount for the entire year. Create a fundraising page with photos, videos, and a compelling story in order to encourage gifts. Be sure to customize your donation amounts and add descriptions that are specific to your needs and impact.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/more-money-no-problems
All
Fundraising page
Donation forms

Candy bar sale

Sell wholesale candy bars and sweet treats to your supporters, bring them to events, or have them out anywhere people might need a snack! Use peer-to-peer fundraising to foster a bit of friendly competition and easily keep track of supporters who have sold the most.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/candy-bar-sale
All
Peer-to-peer
Fundraising page
Donation forms

Flag football tournament

Bring fans onto the field for some football fun! Teams register and pay to play and fans buy tickets to cheer them on. 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/flag-football-tournament
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Lend a helping hand

Let donors "purchase" 2-5 hours of extra help from students or volunteers (think raking leaves or mowing the lawn). 

In order to streamline the process and keep track of contributions, create custom labels for different donation amounts on a special fundraising page or donation form (e.g. $50 = 2 volunteer hours).
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/lend-a-helping-hand
All
Fundraising page
Donation forms
Auctions

You name it

Come up with a creative fundraiser with a cathy name like “Pancakes for Parents” brunch or a “Chicken Wings for Cheerleaders.” To get supporters excited, create a custom fundraising page full of on-theme photos, videos, ands more! 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/you-name-it
All
Events

Family fun run

Encourage families to run, walk, or jog for a cause by featuring kid-friendly activities, prizes, and course options. 

Use peer-to-peer fundraising to encourage participants to set a donation goal and spread the word about the cause. 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/family-fun-run
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Pajama run

Ask participants to don their favorite PJs while tackling a walk, jog, roll, or run for the cause. Encourage everyone to set a donation goal and spread the word about the fundraiser with peer-to-peer fundraising. Don’t forget to award prizes to the coziest runners! 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pajama-run
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Shoot-a-thon

In this basketball fundraiser, each contestant pays a small entry fee to see how many baskets they can make in a short amount of time. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/shoot-a-thon
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
Donation forms

Raffle

Ask your sponsors and community members to donate items or experiences, then raffle them off! The sky is the limit when it comes to raffle ticket prizes: gift baskets, movie tickets, artwork—anything that will appeal to your community members. 

Just be sure to check your state laws regarding raffles before you start planning!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/raffle
All
Events
Fundraising page
Donation forms

Sports clinic

Host a sports clinic or skills camp for participants to learn from top coaches, pro players, or other notable experts. Depending on the scale of your clinic, you can sell several tickets to the public or offer just a few spots as a big-ticket silent auction item at a fundraising event. 
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/sports-clinic
All
Events
Auctions

Obstacle course

Challenge supporters to complete a course of obstacles like walls, mud pits, and rope climbs. To amplify your impact, and spark some friendly competition, encourage team fundraising: all supporters can join an existing team or create their own to compete! 
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/obstacle-course
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Walkathon

Ask supporters to lace up their shoes and gather pledges or donations for every mile they walk. 

Sell official charity gear, encourage supporters to share updates on their own personal donation pages, and award top fundraisers with exciting prizes.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/walkathon
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

5k walk/run

Map out your fundraising run route and have supporters donate to participate. Then, use peer-to-peer fundraising tools that allow supporters to make their own donation pages, set their own goals, and ask friends and family to contribute!
Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/5k-walk-run
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Halloween costume run

Ask supporters to wear their spookiest Halloween costume during this fun run, walk, or roll. Be sure to use peer-to-peer fundraising to encourage participants to set a donation goal and spread the word. 

At the end, award the winners of the race, the teams or individuals who raised the most, and, of course, the best dressed with special prizes. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/halloween-costume-run
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

T-shirt design contest

Encourage supporters to submit their best t-shirt designs to enter them into a competition. Set up team fundraising pages for each design and have supporters donate in order to cast their vote for for their favorite design. Each donation will appear on a leaderboard so everyone can watch the votes (and donations!) come in.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/t-shirt-design-contest
All
Fundraising page
Peer-to-peer

Cheer off

Invite dance, cheer, or pom squads to pay a small entry fee and battle it out for top spots like “Most Spirited” and “Best Routine.” Take this event to the next level by asking attendees to consider adding a donation to their ticket purchase, offering concessions, or even livestreaming the event. 
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/cheer-off
All
Events

Coach dare

Challenge your coach to do something wild (like shaving their head!) if your team reaches their fundraising goal. Have supporters watch the fundraiser’s progress—and create some exciting anticipation—with an engaging fundraising page that features a live goal bar.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/coach-dare
All
Fundraising page
Donation forms

Fan Combine

Invite family, friends, and fans to this ultimate sports fundraising event. Participants join in a series of challenges, such as football tosses, 50-yard dashes, and obstacle courses.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/fan-combine
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Players vs. parents game

It’s kids vs. grownups in this ultimate showdown. Ask for a small donation per participant or family or charge a small fee for supporters to come watch it all go down.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/players-vs-parents-game
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Dance-a-thon

Using individual peer-to-peer fundraising pages connected to your central event page, participants gather donations and pledges based on how long they aim to dance—without taking a break! 

Supporters can donate, leave messages of support for the dancers, and purchase tickets to join in the fun all in one place. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/dance-a-thon
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Mascot showdown

Join forces with your rival team for a good cause. Organize a race or other competition between your mascots during halftime at a big game, and ask supporters to vote for their mascot by donating on a team fundraising page. Use text-to-donate or a QR code to bring in even more funds from the stands during the event. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/mascot-showdown
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
Looks like we don’t have any fundraising ideas matching that criteria 🔎
We're always cooking up new ideas, so check back soon for fresh picks!
Dive into our list of best fundraising ideas in the meantime 

Frequently asked questions

First, identify a cause or project to support, whether it’s a new program or necessary school supplies. Next, brainstorm fundraiser ideas for middle schoolers to find the right fit for your community, like a scavenger hunt, car wash, or walk-a-thon.

Get approval from school administrators, recruit volunteers to help with your fundraising efforts, and promote the campaign far and wide. Then, launch your event, collect donations, and thank everyone for their support!

Large-scale events like dances and competitions are among the most popular junior high fundraising ideas. These types of fundraisers actively involve the community in supporting your cause and create memorable experiences for students and their families. 

How much money your middle school fundraiser will make will vary based on your expenses, community support, and fundraising goal. However, fundraising ideas for middle school students—such as themed runs/walks or movie nights—can potentially bring in a hefty amount of funding. These events can often be hosted throughout the school year and only require a small donation from each supporter.

Subscribe to
The Butter Brief

Get fundraising ideas, tips, and free resources right in your inbox

Subscribed! Your fundraising journey just got a whole lot butter. 🧈
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Givebutter helps you turn ideas into impact

Subscribe to
The Butter Brief

Get fundraising ideas, tips, and free resources right in your inbox

Subscribed! Your fundraising journey just got a whole lot butter. 🧈
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

The most-loved fundraising platform