Top Big Fundraising Ideas for Students To Ensure Fundraising Success

Blog Summary: Looking to raise significant funds for school projects or events? From college to high school fundraisers, this post covers creative ways to organize large-scale events like galas, fun runs, and food truck festivals. Get practical tips for running successful fundraisers and engaging your community to meet your financial goals.

Looking to fund a major school event, club activity, or sports team? Avoid relying on small-scale fundraising events that barely make a difference. It's time to think big! Fundraising doesn't have to feel like a daunting task, especially when you can tap into exciting and high-impact fundraising ideas. These ideas go beyond the bake sale and raffle—creating experiences that not only raise money but also engage your community in unforgettable ways.

If you're ready to raise significant funds for your school activities, you'll want to take notes on these powerful fundraising ideas that work—whether you're a college student, high school student, or part of your student council. Get ready to bring in big bucks with these impactful strategies!

Key Highlights

• Think Big: Large, creative fundraising events like galas, talent shows, and festivals generate major impact and community buzz.
• Engage Everyone: Involve students, faculty, families, and local businesses to boost participation and donations.
• Leverage Social Media: Utilize crowdfunding and online promotion to expand your reach and maximize support.
• Offer Memorable Experiences: Unique fundraising events—like themed dances or celebrity meet-and-greets—drive excitement and higher ticket sales.
• Match Ideas to Your Audience: Choose fundraisers that align with your community's interests and resources for the best results.

Big Fundraising Ideas for College Students

College students often need funds for various events, clubs, or community service projects. Fundraisers for college campuses should be both engaging and effective, with high potential to generate larger sums. Wondering “what are good fundraising ideas for college students?” Here are some of the best big fundraising ideas for college students:

1. Charity Gala or Formal Event
   A glamorous fundraising gala or formal event can bring in substantial donations. Consider charging an entrance fee, selling tickets for a silent auction, or including a donation request with the price of dinner. Entertaining, such as live music, guest speakers, or performances, can elevate the experience and motivate more people to attend. It's an event that will be remembered long after, and the funds raised can significantly contribute to your cause.
    
2. Celebrity Meet-and-Greets or Speaker Events
   Securing a celebrity, influencer, or high-profile speaker to visit your college can be an extraordinary fundraising opportunity. Offer tickets to attend the event, or host VIP meet-and-greet sessions where attendees can pay extra for a more personal experience. College students are often drawn to these unique experiences, and they are willing to spend on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
    
3. Outdoor Concert or Festival
   Nothing captures the college spirit like an outdoor concert or festival. Organize an event featuring local bands, food trucks, and student performances. Charge for entry, sell food, and host raffles to bring in additional funds. By creating a fun, festive environment, you can engage a large audience while raising funds for your cause.
    
4. Crowdfunding Campaigns with a Social Media Push
   In today's digital world, crowdfunding is a powerful tool. Create a campaign on platforms like GoFundMe or Kickstarter, and promote it across your college's social media channels. Encourage students, alumni, and faculty to donate. By reaching out to your community in a compelling and personalized way, you can garner significant support online. Don't forget to offer perks or incentives to donors—such as shout-outs or exclusive access to the fundraising events—to encourage contributions.
    
5. Talent Show Extravaganza
   Host a large-scale talent show showcasing students' musical, theatrical, or artistic talents. Charge an entry fee for performers and audience members alike. Consider adding prizes for top performers, donating a portion of the proceeds to charity, and offering concessions for sale to boost your fundraising further.

Fundraising Ideas for Student Councils: Scale Up Your Efforts

Student councils play a major role in organizing fundraising events for their school. When it comes to raising significant funds, they often need a strategy that can rally the entire school. Here, we answer the common question “What are some good fundraising ideas for student council?” with our big ideas, which are perfect for school-wide engagement and fundraising:

1. Fun Run/Walkathon
   One of the best ways to raise money as a student council is through a fun run or walkathon. Get students, teachers, and even local businesses involved by having them pledge donations per lap or mile completed. Offering themed runs—such as a color run, glow run, or costume walkathon—will draw larger crowds and keep the energy high. You can also sell event-specific merchandise, like t-shirts or water bottles, to raise even more.
    
2. Carnival or Festival
   A carnival or festival offers endless opportunities to raise money. Set up booths with games, prizes, and snacks. You can also invite local businesses to sponsor booths or donate items for raffles. By hosting an event with music, games, and food, you can guarantee a great time for all attendees, making it easier to raise substantial funds through entry fees and in-event purchases.
    
3. Silent Auction with Local Businesses
   Partner with local businesses to gather valuable items or experiences for a silent auction. Students, parents, and teachers can bid on a wide range of items, including concert tickets, gift certificates, and local experiences such as cooking classes or spa days. Hosting the auction online or during a big school event can drive more engagement and bring in substantial funds.
    
4. Themed Dances and Parties
   Host a themed dance or party, such as a “Masquerade Ball” or “Roaring '20s Dance,” where students pay for tickets to attend. Offer food, a DJ, and fun activities like photo booths to add value. By adding a unique theme, you make the event memorable and increase ticket sales.
    
5. Car Wash Extravaganza
   Coordinate a large car wash event, where students offer to wash cars in exchange for donations. To increase funds, partner with local businesses to sponsor the event or donate supplies. Additionally, you can offer extra services, like interior cleaning or waxing, to boost donations.

Fundraising Ideas for High Schools: Go Big or Go Home

High schools can host large, exciting fundraisers that not only raise money but also bring students and the community together. Here are fundraising ideas for high school students that can make a significant impact:

1. Outdoor Movie Night or Drive-in Theater
   Transform the school parking lot into an outdoor movie theater with a large screen and project a popular film. Offering refreshments like popcorn, candy, and drinks for sale is a fun, low-cost way to engage the community. With the right marketing, it can also be a major fundraising event.
    
2. School Talent Show with a Twist
   Make your school talent show a bigger, more exciting event by including professional judges, guest performances, or a live-stream option for students who can't attend in person. Charge for entry and offer additional fundraising opportunities, such as voting for favorites or purchasing backstage passes.
    
3. Penny Wars
   Set up a friendly competition between grades or classes by collecting pennies. Use different colored containers for each group and offer incentives for the grade that raises the most money. The competitive aspect will get students excited to participate, and you can easily raise a significant amount of money with minimal costs involved.
    
4. Food Truck Festival
   Collaborate with local food trucks to host a food truck festival at your school. Charge entry fees and allow food trucks to donate a portion of their earnings to the fundraiser. Promote the event as a community-wide gathering, inviting families, students, and teachers to join.
    
5. Holiday Market or Craft Fair
   Host a holiday market or craft fair where students, parents, and local artisans can sell handmade goods. Charge for booth space and provide an area for food vendors to set up. The market creates a festive atmosphere and helps raise funds while promoting local artists and creators.

Easy Fundraising Ideas for Schools: Keep It Simple, but Big

Not every fundraiser needs to be a large-scale event. These simpler ideas can still make a big impact and bring in large donations:

1. “Change for Change” Coin Drive
   While it may seem like a small idea, a well-executed coin drive can add up quickly. Set up collection jars throughout the school, with friendly competition between classes or grades. The simplicity of this fundraiser makes it easy to implement, and it's a great way to involve everyone in a community effort.
    
2. Popcorn Sales
   Selling flavored popcorn during lunch periods or after school is an easy, profitable fundraiser. Students will love the snack, and the low overhead costs make it a high-return fundraiser. You can even sell popcorn at sports events or school performances to increase sales.
    
3. Online Auction
   Create an online auction where students and parents can bid on donated items or services. Partner with local businesses to gather donations and promote the auction through social media. It's a straightforward yet effective way to raise funds from a wider audience.

FAQs

What's the most effective way to promote a fundraiser?

Social media is your best friend! Use platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to create event pages, share sneak peeks, and post engaging content leading up to the fundraiser. Don't forget about posters and flyers around the school and community to raise awareness.

How can I engage the community in my fundraiser?

Reach out to local businesses, organizations, and families to collaborate. Offer sponsorships, where businesses can donate in exchange for advertising. Encourage students and parents to spread the word and offer incentives for larger donations or volunteer efforts.

What do I do if my fundraiser doesn't meet its goals?

It's essential to have a backup plan and multiple ways to generate funds. If one part of your fundraiser doesn't meet expectations, try ramping up sales through raffles, additional donations, or an extended campaign. Keep the momentum going with follow-ups and new creative ideas.

With Big Fundraising Ideas, you're now equipped to take on any fundraising challenge and raise the funds necessary for your school's next big event or project. Think outside the box, engage your community, and make your fundraiser something everyone will remember. Good luck, and happy fundraising!

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.