Raise Money for School Events With These 10 Fundraising Tips

Published July 17, 2023

Diversify your fundraising efforts to support your school. For starters, you can raise money for school events with these 10 fundraising tips! These excellent strategies are effective, convenient, and beneficial to most campaigns. You don’t want to miss this advice!

Choose Profitable Fundraiser Ideas

Schools can get the most out of campaigns by choosing profitable fundraiser ideas. After all, impactful campaigns help organizations reach goals and gain support for upcoming events. They also raise awareness about school needs. Consider a few profitable ideas that might inspire you.

• Movie night—Host a movie night in the school auditorium or outdoor field. Participants purchase tickets and can buy snacks at the food stand. All proceeds go toward a school event.
• Bake sale—Students host an afterschool bake sale with homemade baked goods. It’s best to offer a variety of treats to accommodate dietary needs. For instance, offer dairy-free or gluten-free treats.
• Raffle tickets—Students sell raffle tickets to teachers, parents, and community members. The winner(s) receive prizes such as gift cards, baskets, or concert tickets. Reach out to local businesses to see if they can sponsor raffle prizes.
• Auctions—Auction products or services from local businesses. For instance, an artisan food supplier can offer a charcuterie board, while a beauty salon can offer hair treatments.
• Walk-a-thons—Schools can host a 5K event and charge each competitor an entrance fee. Students, staff, and community members can wear school gear during the event to show their school spirit.

Sell Interesting Products or Services

Some fundraisers become stale, especially when students sell the same products. After all, who wants to purchase cookie dough or popcorn every year? These items may be tasty, but the products are repetitive. Many schools don’t realize they can switch products and refresh fundraising efforts.

Consider adding new things to the fundraiser or offering a variety of products. For example, students can sell plants, dog collars, or faith-based items. The idea is to offer different things that might spark somebody’s interest. The added variety can lead to more sales and money for specific school events.

Involve Parents and Teachers

Parents and teachers offer more than financial support. They can also promote and track fundraisers to support students. Parents can ask their coworkers to donate money to the school, and teachers can oversee campaigns. Both strategies help schools reach their fundraising goals and offer additional support from adults. During PTO meetings, the administration should discuss upcoming campaigns and encourage parents to brainstorm ways to help events. Teachers can also think of campaign support ideas to enhance their students’ fundraisers.

Engage in Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

Peer-to-peer fundraisers include donors in the fundraising process. Of course, giving donations is the first way supporters help schools, but calls to action can help too. Encourage donors to spread the word about campaigns, share page links, and make social media posts about fundraisers. Think of it as telling “a friend of a friend” about something. This action expands the fundraiser’s reach and raises awareness about upcoming events.

Donors can relate to the campaign and discuss why support is important. For example, a student’s sibling may share the fundraiser link on their social media and say, “Support Addison’s High School Winter Formal Committee” to raise awareness within their social circle.

Limit the Number of Campaigns

Too many fundraisers can discourage people from supporting schools because communities may feel like students always ask for money. Questions like, “Isn’t it the district’s responsibility to fund events” may pop into people’s minds.

Therefore, you should avoid cluttering the academic calendar with several campaigns. Instead, combine efforts to support various events. For instance, a “Senior Year Fundraiser” can cover prom, class trips, and other relevant expenses. The fundraiser can last throughout the school year to ensure donors have adequate time to support the campaign.

Generally, schools have better results with fewer fundraisers and can significantly impact student events.

Set Up On-Site Giving Kiosks

Another fundraising tip to raise money for school events is to set up on-site giving kiosks at sports games, dances, and other occasions. A donation jar can catch someone’s eye and motivate them to support the school. This ongoing initiative can make a big difference for students and help fund different things. Who knows—the kiosk donation jars may raise enough money for a new theater prop or basketball net. Either way, these simple giving stations support students and are easy to implement at events.

Be Strategic About Fundraising Times

A lot of people choose the same time of year to host fundraisers. Typically, the holiday season is a popular time for campaigns. Given its popularity, various institutions and organizations ask for donations from communities. People may donate to one cause and not another, which can impact your school’s fundraising efforts. Be strategic about fundraising times and choose unique dates to launch campaigns. For instance, opt for spring campaigns rather than winter ones. The idea is to cut through the clutter of other fundraisers to direct the most attention to the school’s campaign.

Promote Matching Gifts

Typically, matching gifts are a form of corporate giving where employers match their worker’s donations. The program instantly increases revenue for charities and nonprofit organizations. Luckily, it’s also an easy way for schools to raise money!

Institutions can partner with businesses to create a matching gift program. After a fundraiser, the business can agree to match donations. Students can double funds and may exceed their expectations for campaigns. Imagine the theater club affording new costumes, sets, and lighting, or picture the senior prom at an upscale location. Gift matching can turn dreams into reality.

Use Online Donation Platforms

People want simple ways to donate money. Of course, cash and check donations are traditional, but there’s an easier way to raise funds. Schools should use online donation platforms to elevate their campaigns. Students send a donation link to people, and donors can give money through the website. It’s quick, simple, and remote! Schools can attract out-of-state donors with online pages and extend their reach among the community.

Additionally, students don’t have to track cash and checks or potentially lose donations. Everything is online in one convenient place!

Maintain Student Motivation

Campaigns often start strong and then plateau. Decreased support can affect student motivation and reduce excitement for fundraisers. It’s important to maintain student motivation so that they can attract donors to their campaigns. Staff can give morning shoutouts to students, remind everyone of the fundraiser’s goals, and offer positive words about school events.

Actively engage people with the campaign and encourage students to try unique promotion strategies. They may create cool social media posts or make flyers for community members. Show students that their efforts matter and how ongoing excitement makes a positive impact.

Use Vertical Raise for your next campaign. We’re great for JROTC fundraisers and other school-related programs. We simplify fundraisers with an easy-to-use donation platform. Start your journey with us soon.