Copied!
All fundraising ideas

High school fundraising ideas

From talent shows and tournaments to creative mystery dinners and comedy nights, we’ve crafted the ultimate list of fundraising ideas for high schools. Find the best activities to help you engage high school students and parents, teachers, and the entire community to raise money—and school spirit.

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
Capital High School Volleyball team playing
Capital High School Volleyball Boosters Association
Support The Capital High School Volleyball Team
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

Home run derby

Have participants create personal peer-to-peer fundraising pages and collect pledges from friends and family based on the number of home runs they hit. Sell tickets to watch the game and award prizes to the winners. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/home-run-derby
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Baseball hit-a-thon

Collect pledges or donations from supporters based on the number of hits they make during a designated period of time. Have each participant create a personal peer-to-peer fundraising page and reach out to friends and family for donations!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/baseball-hit-a-thon
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

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

Alumni night

Sell tickets to an all-inclusive alumni dinner before a big game or event. During half-time or intermission, bring out the alumni for special recognition. Alternatively, you can livestream a special alumni message during a virtual event.
Cost:
3
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/alumni-night
All
Events

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

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

Autographed jersey auction

Connected to the right people? Procure and auction off autographed jerseys (or other memorabilia) to your supporters. You’d be surprised how willing athletes are to offer their signature for a good cause! Take advantage of intuitive auction software for simple and easy bidding, custom item descriptions, and more—no matter if your auction is in-person or completely virtual.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/autographed-jersey-auction
All
Auctions

Tailgate party

Invite a local restaurant to contribute or have volunteers create a menu for a tailgate. Sell entry tickets and offer some fun merch or special treats at an additional price to bring in extra dollars.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/tailgate-party
All
Events

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

Car wash

Gather volunteers, soap, and plenty of rags to wash cars in exchange for donations. Collect onsite donations easily by displaying a simple scan-to-donate QR code, which allows donors to select from a variety of payment methods. You can even offer different package options for those who are willing to donate more for a deeper clean.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/car-wash
All
Events

Pump-a-thon

Find out who can (safely) lift the most weight curling, deadlifting, or squatting. Charge entry fees for participants, sell tickets, and offer food and drink at an additional cost.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pump-a-thon
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Pop-up clothing shop

Ask community members to purge their wardrobes and donate sell-worthy items to your cause. Host a pop-up clothing shop at a local venue and sell tickets for entry!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pop-up-clothing-shop
All
Events
Donation forms

Social media challenge

Choose a theme and a hashtag, encourage supporters to post their video or picture, and then tag others to challenge them to do the same—and donate! 

Learn more social media fundraising tips to take your efforts to the next level.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
3
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/social-media-challenge
All
Donation forms
Fundraising page

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

Ugly sweater 5k

Get festive by encouraging supporters to wear their ugliest sweater for a fun run (and award the best dressed)! Use peer-to-peer fundraising to encourage participants to set a donation goal and spread the word about the cause, along with photos of them in their ugly regalia. 
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Inspiration
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/ugly-sweater-5k
All
Events

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
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, determine a specific need for your fundraising efforts, like extracurricular activities or a senior trip. Next, get approval from school administrators, gather volunteers, and brainstorm ideas that will get both students and the community excited, like a walk-a-thon, open mic night, or trivia competition. 

Check out the step-by-step guide for how to start a fundraiser for more tips!

Some popular fundraising ideas for high school students include events like dances, talent shows, and tournaments. Other favorites add a bit of competition to the mix, like a battle of the bands, scavenger hunt, or a principal challenge.

The amount of money a high school fundraiser can raise varies, but large events like comedy roast nights or fun runs have the potential to raise a lot. To attract extra support, you can also send out a sponsorship proposal to businesses like local restaurants.

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