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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.

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Raise some dough with cookie dough


Buy wholesale cookie dough for volunteers to sell during peak cookie-baking season. To gamify your efforts, use peer-to-peer fundraising so participants can compete to see who sold the most!

Cost:
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Impact:
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/raise-some-dough-with-cookie-dough
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Kids’ art calendar


Turn kids’ finger paintings and drawings into custom calendars—or transform them into keepsakes like photo books, mugs, or t-shirts. Sell the merch using a fun, eye-catching auction or fundraising page.
Cost:
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Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/kids-art-calendar
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Auctions
Pages & forms

Community service day

Organize volunteers to participate in a day of community care—tackling local projects and tasks in exchange for donations from your community members. 

Showcase every project or fundraiser you’re working on using a central giving hub, so supporters can see all your amazing work in one place.
Cost:
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Effort:
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Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/community-service-day
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Gift basket showdown

Using peer-to-peer fundraising, participants compete to raise the most money for your campaign. The winner gets the first pick from a selection of gift baskets.  
Cost:
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Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/gift-basket-showdown
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Peer-to-peer
Auctions
Pages & forms

Kids vs. grownups field day


Organize an afternoon of hilarious games and exciting dual-team events, like tug-of-war, that are sure to get the competitive spirit going.

Charge entrance fees for this fundraising event, sell snacks and drinks, and don’t forget prizes for the champs!
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/kids-vs-grownups-field-day
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Maze for a cause

Find a large outdoor space where you can build a corn maze from hay bales and turn it into a fundraiser!

Charge an entrance fee to walk the maze and make transactions simple with scan-to-donate and Tap to Pay options. 
Cost:
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Effort:
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Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/maze-for-a-cause
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Student art auction


Auction off student art projects online, in person, or both! Add photos and descriptions of each masterpiece using auction software for easy bidding and sharing.
Cost:
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Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/student-art-auction
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Auctions
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Pages & forms

Teacher “jail”


Challenge students to meet a fundraising goal. If they succeed, their teacher gets “locked in jail” (aka gets to relax in the teachers’ lounge) while students take over the classroom for fun and games. Use a custom fundraising page with a live goal bar to build excitement!
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/teacher-jail
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Events
Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms

Farmer’s market


Approach a local farmer’s market with a sponsorship proposal and see if they can host a special fundraising event for your cause or dedicate a certain percentage of their Saturday morning profits to your campaign. Be sure to outline all of the perks that vendors can expect from the collaboration, like free publicity.
Cost:
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Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/farmer-s-market
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That’s a wrap

Students make donations to buy sections of toilet paper. At the end of the fundraising period, they get to wrap their teacher with it! For a smoother process, set custom donation amounts and labels on your fundraising page or donation form.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/that-s-a-wrap
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Superhero run


Charge an entry fee to participate in a costumed fundraising run. Encourage runners to raise even more for your cause through their own peer-to-peer fundraising pages, and award prizes for race winners, best super hero costumes, and most donations raised!  
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/superhero-run
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Peer-to-peer

Lip sync competition


Invite community members to sign up and submit their songs for an unforgettable lip-sync battle. Recruit a volunteer panel of judges to select the winners—and don’t forget prizes for the winners!

Sell tickets for this fundraising event online, streamline check-in, and accept extra donations with the same easy platform.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/lip-sync-competition
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TikTok dance-off


Challenge participants to create a dance and post their video to social media. Each person must tag someone and donate once they’ve completed the challenge.

For easy and simple sharing, create a custom fundraising page that’s optimized for mobile!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/tiktok-dance-off
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Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms

Board game night


Host a pay-to-play fundraising event where participants can compete against their friends in games like UNO or Sorry. Sell goodies for competitors to snack on to make this event extra sweet.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/board-game-night
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One for one pledge


Whether you’re offering branded merch, boxed lunches, or other appealing products, incentivize even more donations for your cause by pledging to give away one “reward” item for each one purchased. (For example, for every pair of cozy socks sold, you’ll donate a pair to a local shelter.)

Showcase this cycle of generosity on your donation forms using custom labels and donation amounts to make it clear you’ll be making an in-kind donation for every monetary donation received.
Cost:
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Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/one-for-one-pledge
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Postcard drive


Handwritten messages can make a huge impact on your fundraising by helping donors feel seen and appreciated. During your next campaign, have volunteers write and mail postcards to your contacts asking for support. 

Add a modern twist by including a short URL that links directly to your fundraising page. 
Cost:
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Effort:
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Impact:
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Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/postcard-drive
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Flamingoed


Invite supporters to make a donation to have lawn flamingos placed on their friends’ yards. Volunteers will sneak them onto recipients’ lawns so they awake to a pink surprise!

To make pulling off this silly fundraiser a breeze, create custom fields on your donation form, like the address of the Flamingo recipient.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/flamingoed
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Used book sale


Reserve a space and ask your community to donate their gently used books for a cause. Set a price for each book and use scan-to-donate or Venmo to easily accept payments on the spot.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/used-book-sale
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Virtual scavenger hunt


For this totally remote fundraising event, charge a registration fee and ask participants to use their computer or mobile device to complete various challenges. Share instructions and updates and announce winners from a livestream hosted right on your event page.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/virtual-scavenger-hunt
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Virtual concert


Ask local musicians or bands to perform for a livestreaming audience and invite viewers to make donations or purchase tickets to attend virtually right on your event page.

Make sure to feature a donation thermometer on your page to encourage viewers to make extra donations and get you closer to your goal as they enjoy the music.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/virtual-concert
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Oozeball tourney

Turn the sand volleyball court into a temporary mud pit. Ask participants to pay an entrance fee and create team fundraising pages where friends and family can show their support with donations.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/oozeball-tourney
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Peer-to-peer

Karaoke night


Host an unforgettable night for your community to come belt out their favorite songs. Charge a small entry fee or accept donations for participation.

To encourage even more donations during the party, display mobile giving options and your progress toward your goal using live display.
Cost:
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Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/karaoke-night
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Pancake breakfast


There’s nothing like pancakes to bring a community together. Charge an entry fee for an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast, or ask a local restaurant to sponsor the event to make it even sweeter.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pancake-breakfast
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Reverse raffle

Unlike a traditional raffle, the last ticket holder gets the grand prize in a reverse raffle. Offer custom ticket types to feature various raffle items so participants have lots of options. 

Before you start planning, be sure to check for any state regulations on raffles where you live! 
Cost:
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Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/reverse-raffle
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Mystery art show


Invite local artists, students, and other enthusiastic community members to contribute small paintings or other works for an anonymous community art sale.

Charge an entrance fee and invite supporters to purchase pieces all at the same price—without knowing who their artist is until the end of the event!
Cost:
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Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Link copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/mystery-art-show
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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 walkathon.

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 dance-a-thons 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, read-a-thons, 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.

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