Clubs and associations are a wonderful way to connect with like-minded people. Many of these groups rely on funds from members and their extended network to finance club activities or the impact they hope to achieve. This is where a simple fundraising strategy comes into play. From big-name sponsors to small donations individuals can give, it all adds up.
The best type of fundraiser brings people together — whether it’s students and parents, employees and local businesses, or the entire community. Not only do campaigns raise money, they often raise awareness for your club or good cause.
We’ve brainstormed some creative fundraising ideas for clubs, from local schools to universities to sports organizations. Feel free to mix and match or come up with your own million-dollar idea!
Raise Funds for School Clubs
Kids today are more involved in extracurricular activities than ever. Besides that added time commitment, students are often required to raise money for their clubs. When it comes to fundraising efforts in school settings, make it fun.
In-School Activities
A school lock-in is a fun way for kids to get some supervised independence. Each student should have an attainable fundraising goal to meet, which allows them to participate. Be sure both the students and families are informed in order to get momentum going.
Of course, you’ll need to collect permission slips from guardians, schedule chaperones, and have plenty of activities — like a scavenger hunt or talent show — planned to pass the time.
Host a cultural day to provide an outlet for kids to celebrate their families’ origins and appreciate the background of others. With opportunities for music, food, art, and play, a cultural day can be educational, interactive, and lucrative. Either charge admission or have items available for purchase, such as homemade food or dishes catered from a local restaurant, cultural trinkets, etc.
There’s something classic about a school dance, especially for a high school. Have the students choose a theme, help with decor, and be hands-on with the planning. This will make it easier to sell tickets and encourage more attendees when the big day arrives.
Kids like to give back. Holding an item drive allows students to feel involved and see the tangible results of their work. Consider collecting food, warm clothes for the holiday season, toiletries, or whatever items are needed locally. While this isn’t direct fundraising, if your club needs cash, you could also try to sell items collected for a small fee and use the profits toward your club’s future activities.
Family Fun
Offer face painting as a standalone event, or as part of a larger gathering. Many local artists will volunteer their time or offer a reduced rate if they know it’s for a fundraiser.
Can you beat a bake sale? It allows for participation as both baker and buyer. Baked goods are also one of the most affordable things you can sell, so it makes your fundraiser more accessible than ones involving high-ticket items. (Be sure to be accommodating to people’s food allergies.)
Hold a high-stakes auction. You can sell around a theme, or simply source crowd-pleasers. For an added level of authenticity have a dynamic announcer and paddles to bid. If that’s too much fanfare to manage, consider a silent auction. Regardless, you might even be able to charge an entry fee if the auction items are high-quality.
Fundraising Ideas for Clubs at Universities
For many college students, joining clubs and associations is a key part of their socialization and overall university experience. Many Greek organizations, academic clubs, and other interest groups host fundraisers throughout the year as a way to give back or support their own activities.
Parties
Halloween is a big deal on most college campuses. If a club wants to attract a lot of attention, they could host a haunted house. This could work well for fraternity or sorority houses, as well as dorms. If a haunted house is too daunting, any themed party could be a starting point.
Dance-a-thons are popular for good reason. Do college kids really need an excuse to stay up all night and dance? Participants fundraise to attend, often as part of teams with their friends or fellow club members. Offer small prizes, a photo contest, and other perks to draw people to the event and keep them there.
Throw a Puppy Party on the quad. For college students living far from home, they miss their family dogs and would pay to cuddle and play with some pooches between classes. You’ll create quite the buzz with your puppies on display and can raise a lot of money in a short amount of time.
Positive Peer Pressure
Design and sell some custom merch. T-shirts are a standard go-to, but think about what your university community needs or loves and consider selling that. Metal water bottles have been popular in recent years, as have PopSockets, hats, dorm decor, and more. Because of the many platforms available, this strategy can work both in-person and with online fundraising through a third-party donation page.
Peer-to-peer fundraising is useful if you want to extend your reach. Students can call on loved ones from home or acquaintances via social media to raise money for your cause. Often, they use a specialized link or personalized fundraising page so you’re able to track each person’s progress and contributions.
There may be nothing more appealing to a college student than the prospect of snacks. Sell donuts, ice cream, pizza, or any other treat that students will want to dig into. Word of mouth travels quickly on a college campus. If loads of students are suddenly walking around the quad or dorm with a certain snack item, chances are everyone else will want to snag one, too.
How Sports Organizations Can Raise Money
Plan your fundraising activities according to the playful nature of sports. Leverage movement and competition to raise the money you need from community members. Even something as simple as a car wash could be a competition, so explore all your options depending on the age level involved, the weather, and the fundraising goals.
Movement Challenges
Host a “Steps Challenge” where people pledge to walk or run a certain number of steps. Maybe participants commit to paying for any steps they didn’t take. Maybe a company will match funds for any excess steps over participants’ goals. Maybe you turn it into a crowdfunding opportunity where co-workers and family members sponsor people’s participation. However you structure it, challenging people to move more is a win all around.
Walk-a-thons have traditionally been used for health-related charities, such as March of Dimes, Relay for Life, and St. Jude’s Walk/Run. Events like these encourage personal well-being and awareness for your organization. Besides pre-event fundraising, many opportunities remain to earn more money, such as concessions, raffle tickets, and activities.
A great indoor sporting event is a bowl-a-thon. This is one of the most accessible sports, both in terms of age and ability. Just like the walk-a-thon, let your imagination run wild regarding revenue-generating activities before and during the event.
Competitions
As a double whammy, consider a trash collection contest or other “serve-a-thon” event. As you clean up your community, ask for donations per item of trash you pick up (or per manicure you give, per yard you rake, or whatever else fits the season and your club). You could seek out individual donors or larger sponsors.
Create an obstacle course in a large gym, field, or parking lot. Your sports team can rent inflatables, rock climbing walls, and other professional obstacles. Or go the DIY route with found items, homemade Slip ‘N Slides, and other makeshift course additions. Charge an entrance fee or have contestants fundraise beforehand to become eligible for the race.
To attract the business sector or high net worth donors, consider a golf tournament. Especially if you have a relationship with the golf course or country club, this can be a big-ticket way to fill an entire day. Many venues and businesses will consider donating their space or even matching gifts in exchange for visibility.
Grow Your Club Through Fundraising
Raising money doesn’t have to be exhausting or boring. With a little planning and teamwork, you can get a fundraising event off the ground. Talk to your club members and supporters to see if they have any event ideas. Get creative, and more importantly, just get started.
Not only will these events raise funds now, but potential donors can also opt in to your mailing list if you set up the proper systems. It can be on a smartphone at the door, handwritten on a clipboard passed around during the event, or via online registration. Regardless, this will help you reach more people for future events.
If you try any of the above ideas, you’ll reach your fundraising goal before you know it. Once you finish your fundraising campaign, consider how you’ll thank all your generous participants and donors.
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