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.
LGBTQ+ workshop series
Spread the word and follow up with attendees using free email marketing software.
Annual holiday party
With Givebutter you can create unlimited custom event ticket types—allowing you to create fun VIP packages to offer to your partygoers.
CEO challenge
Box Top fundraiser
Community cookbook
Plant sale
Text-to-donate
See for yourself how easy it is — text “DEMO” to 53-555.
Pay you not to ask me again
24-hour marathon
Great livestream activity ideas include a poetry slam, gaming tournament, or virtual concert.
Multicultural fair
Ale tasting
Teacher “jail”
Virtual book club
Be sure to set up recurring donations as a simple way to collect membership fees for ongoing gatherings.
Virtual scavenger hunt
Battle of the bands
Raise even more money by livestreaming the show. Encourage your supporters to tune in, support the event, and donate what they can towards your goal.
Telethon
Concert for a cause
Want to make sure everyone can listen in and donate, no matter where they are? Livestream your concert to the masses and enable people to contribute to your campaign without leaving the stream.
Used book sale
Swim-a-thon
Street clean up
Work with local businesses to sponsor the day and encourage donations towards your charity or group.
Build-a-thon
Participants create personal peer-to-peer fundraising pages where they can share their commitment to this cause with their friends and family, encouraging them to donate and support the initiative.
Summer project sale
Use email marketing software to spread the word about the upcoming sale and share a printable map, so attendees know what kinds of booths will be there.
Crafts night
Recycling drive
Recycling drives work as great long-term fundraising activities. Keep your supporters engaged and remind them where and when they can drop off materials with your email marketing software.
Culture day
Frequently asked questions
How do I start a fundraiser for my high school?
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!
What are the most popular high school fundraisers?
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.
What is the most profitable high school fundraiser?
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.
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