How to Make High School Fundraising Successful

3 Easy-to-implement sales tips for high school sponsors.

Many sponsors assume high school students won't sell as well as younger students do. When students reach high school, they're no longer as excited about winning prizes.

As a result, it will take a lot more to motivate them to sell for various reasons. They could be tired of the fundraising process, distracted with other obligations, or lazy and don't care.

This age group can perform poorly in selling, yet it doesn't have to be that way.

Several things can be done to motivate high school students to fundraise successfully and experience a sense of purpose and fulfillment in the process.

Give Them a Purpose for Fundraising

Nothing is more important than communicating your purpose. What is it, and why is it important to them? How will they benefit from the money that's raised? This is one advantage you have with this group that you don't have with younger audiences. High school students will understand the benefits that come from achieving your purpose.

See our high school fundraising ideas.

Offer High School Prize Programs

When it comes to winning prizes, most high school students no longer want the same prizes they won when they were younger. You may need to get their attention with more creative prize programs. We offer sportswear or cash to our high school groups. For example, coaches can offer students customized sportswear with the school's colors, name, and mascot. This will promote team spirit and unity and is much more desirable because it is associated with the team.

Use Additional Fundraising Incentives

Using additional incentives to make selling fun and interesting is also important. What follows are two ideas to consider:

• Money Game
• Mystery Person Game

What ideas have you found that work well to motivate high school students to fundraise?

For an additional resource on planning ideas for your next campaign, download our free fundraising tips eBook from our school fundraising tips page.

Author Bio

Clay Boggess has been designing fundraising programs for schools and various nonprofit organizations throughout the US since 1999. He’s helped administrators, teachers, and outside support entities such as PTAs and PTOs raise millions of dollars. Clay is an owner and partner at Big Fundraising Ideas.