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.
Cold water plunge
Spring cleaning
Virtual auction
Use auction software that makes the bidding process smooth and simple for you and your donors.
Lend a helping hand
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).
Birthday fundraiser
Givebutter’s fundraising pages make it easy to get creative and express your personality. Add photos and videos, share your story, and leave comments and drawings for your supporters as they give.
Comedy night
Pet run/walk
Best seat in the house
With Givebutter you can also create unlimited kinds of event tickets—perfect for creating VIP packages.
Lip sync competition
Sell tickets for this fundraising event online, streamline check-in, and accept extra donations with the same easy platform.
Ugly sweater 5k
Reverse raffle
Before you start planning, be sure to check for any state regulations on raffles where you live!
Walkathon
Sell official charity gear, encourage supporters to share updates on their own personal donation pages, and award top fundraisers with exciting prizes.
Teacher spelling bee
To make this event virtual or hybrid, livestream it from your event page for attendees to watch from home.
Flamingoed
To make pulling off this silly fundraiser a breeze, create custom fields on your donation form, like the address of the Flamingo recipient.
Kids vs. grownups field day
Charge entrance fees for this fundraising event, offer for-sale hydration and snacks, and don’t forget prizes for the winners!
Food truck smorgasbord
Postcard drive
Add a modern twist to this old-school tactic and have volunteers include an easy-to-read, short URL that goes right to your fundraising page.
Virtual fun run
Earth Day
Charge an entrance fee and make your fundraising event move smoothly with mobile app check-in and easy scan-to-donate payment options.
Murder mystery night
Use easy event ticketing features to register guests online and check them in quickly with your mobile app to get the festivities started sooner!
Fantasy football draft festival
Give $5, grab 5 friends
This is a great social media fundraising idea that can spread quickly within your community, helping you raise funds fast.
Secret supper
Beach Games
Ask participants to pay a small fee to register and raise even more funds by selling cold drinks and ice cream.
Family dance
Choose a theme, sell tickets for your fundraising event online, and raise even more by setting up a photo booth with silly props!
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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