Copied!
All fundraising ideas

High school fundraising ideas

From talent shows and tournaments to creative mystery dinners and comedy nights, we’ve crafted the ultimate list of fundraising ideas for high schools. Find the best activities to help you engage high school students and parents, teachers, and the entire community to raise money—and school spirit.

Filter
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Field day

Invite participants to register for a day of fun outdoor games and competitions, like relay races, a water balloon toss, and a good old-fashioned tug-of-war.

Make your fundraising event a success with sponsorships from local businesses to offset costs and bring in more participants.

Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/field-day
All
Events

Lemonade stand

Sell lemonade (and maybe some tasty treats, too!) to raise funds for your cause. Make purchases smooth as butter with scan-to-donate and donation forms that accept every payment method, including Venmo!

Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/lemonade-stand
All
Events
Donation forms

Haunted house

Create a spooky experience and raise funds by encouraging brave participants to enter—if they dare. Accept payments on the spot with scan-to-donate, Venmo, and more convenient options.

Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/haunted-house
All
Events
Donation forms

Student battle of the bands

Invite student-run bands to rock out for a prize! Charge entry fees and offer rad, donated prizes for the winners. Have each band create a team fundraising page, and encourage attendees to cast their votes for their favorites bands with a donation!

Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/student-battle-of-the-bands
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Discount cards

Create and sell discount card coupon books full of deals to local restaurants and businesses. Sell the coupon books on a custom donation form and share it far and wide!

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/discount-cards
All
Donation forms
Fundraising page

Cookie-decorating extravaganza

Volunteers bake batches of cookies to contribute to a decorating contest! Participants pay a small fee to enter and use frosting and other edible flare you provide to compete for the best cookie design.

To make your fundraising event even sweeter, bring in a cookie-decorating expert to show off some sweet tips and tricks.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/cookie-decorating-extravaganza
All
Events
Donation forms

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:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/raise-some-dough-with-cookie-dough
All
Events
Peer-to-peer
Donation forms

Tag Day

Invite students to post up outside local businesses and ask patrons for donations. Donors receive “tags” (stickers) when they give. Offer in-person payments using Venmo or scan-to-donate!

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/tag-day
All
Donation forms

No-talent show

Sell tickets to an all-but-traditional talent show where people make a fool of themselves for a good cause. Offer seamless event ticketing, sell food and drinks, and let the laughs begin!

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/no-talent-show
All
Events

Flower bouquets

Partner with a local florist to set up a stall where volunteers make, wrap, and sell flower bouquets for Mother's Day, Easter, or any other spring celebration.

Create a fundraising page with custom donation amounts featuring a photo of each kind of bouquet and the number available so donors can reserve bouquets online or purchase in person.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/flower-bouquets
All
Fundraising page
Donation forms

Fashion show

Host a fashion show that showcases talented local designers, fashion students, or both! Make it inclusive and invite people of all sizes and abilities to be your models.

At this fundraising event, you can bring in donations by charging entrance fees, selling food and drinks, and adding a silent auction.

Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/fashion-show
All
Events

Virtual food/wine tasting

Partner with local eateries and provide tasting kits for participants to enjoy at home for a small fee. Then, host a livestream tasting experience.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/virtual-food-wine-tasting
All
Events
Donation forms
Fundraising page

Teen film festival

Invite teens to showcase their own short films and charge admission to audience members. In order to cast a vote for their favorite films, supporters must give a donation to the film’s/filmmaker’s team fundraising page. Watch the results roll in on the live leaderboard and offer awards for the best film winners in various categories.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/teen-film-festival
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

Gift wrapping

Source donated paper, set up a gift wrapping station in a popular location, and charge for holiday gift-wrapping! Use scan-to-donate or Venmo to accept payments on the spot.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/gift-wrapping
All
Donation forms
Fundraising page
Events

Skate-a-thon

For a fun twist on a walk-a-thon, swap the walking shoes for a pair of rollerblades or quad skates and raise money for a good cause.

Leading up to your event, encourage your participants to create their own peer-to-peer fundraising pages, which they can personalize with their own stories and updates.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/skate-a-thon
All
Events
Peer-to-peer

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:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/gift-basket-showdown
All
Peer-to-peer
Fundraising page

Virtual bike-a-thon

Set a distance and have your bikers pay a registration fee to join in. Then, foster some friendly competition by encouraging supporters to start or join a team, raise funds, and set off wherever they are.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/virtual-bike-a-thon
All
Peer-to-peer
Events

Kids vs. grownups field day

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

Charge entrance fees for this fundraising event, offer for-sale hydration and snacks, and don’t forget prizes for the winners!

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/kids-vs-grownups-field-day
All
Events

Spring break t-shirt sale

Design your own spring break t-shirts and sell them in person and online to raise funds for your group or cause.

Use custom fields on your donation form to collect the details you need from buyers, such as their t-shirt size and color choice.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/spring-break-t-shirt-sale
All
Donation forms
Fundraising page

Maze for a cause

If you don’t have corn maze capabilities, find a large outdoor space where you can build a maze from hay bales!

Charge an entrance fee to walk the maze, and make transactions easy with scan-to-donate and Tap to Pay options.

Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/maze-for-a-cause
All
Events
Donation forms

Student art auction

Auction off students' art projects online, in-person, or both! Add photos and descriptions for each masterpiece using easy auction software.

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/student-art-auction
All
Auctions
Events
Fundraising page

Fall carnival

Host your very own fall-themed festival with live music, food and drink, local vendors, and carnival games.

Ask local businesses for supplies and prize donations and raise funds through refreshments, games, and stallholder fees.

Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/fall-carnival
All
Events
Donation forms
Fundraising page

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:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/farmer-s-market
All
Events
Donation forms

Book sale

Partner with a publisher or local book store and host a book sale to raise money. Sell books of all kinds or organize the event around a theme—romance novels, religious books, or children's literature—whatever will resonate with your community.

Make sure to spread the word about your sale and send reminders using free email marketing software!

Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/book-sale
All
Events

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
Share this idea
Copied!
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/lip-sync-competition
All
Events
Looks like we don’t have any fundraising ideas matching that criteria 🔎
We're always cooking up new ideas, so check back soon for fresh picks!
Dive into our list of best fundraising ideas in the meantime 

Frequently asked questions

First, determine a specific need for your fundraising efforts, like extracurricular activities or a senior trip. Next, get approval from school administrators, gather volunteers, and brainstorm ideas that will get both students and the community excited, like a walk-a-thon, open mic night, or trivia competition. 

Check out the step-by-step guide for how to start a fundraiser for more tips!

Some popular fundraising ideas for high school students include events like dances, talent shows, and tournaments. Other favorites add a bit of competition to the mix, like a battle of the bands, creative student presentations, scavenger hunts, or a principal challenge.

The amount of money a high school fundraiser can raise varies, but large events like comedy roast nights or fun runs have the potential to raise a lot. To attract extra support, you can also send out a sponsorship proposal to businesses like local restaurants.

Subscribe to
The Butter Brief

Get fundraising ideas, tips, and free resources right in your inbox

Subscribed! Your fundraising journey just got a whole lot butter. 🧈
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Givebutter helps you turn ideas into impact

Subscribe to
The Butter Brief

Get fundraising ideas, tips, and free resources right in your inbox

Subscribed! Your fundraising journey just got a whole lot butter. 🧈
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

The most-loved fundraising platform