25+ Booster Club Fundraising Ideas for Your School Programs
Your booster club is full of parents and community members who care about your school’s kids. It’s your job to make sure kids get a well-rounded education, which means adding programs, sports, and other activities.Â
At Funds2Orgs, we know how hard you work to provide the resources your kids need to succeed. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the top booster club fundraising ideas:
- Our Favorite Booster Club Fundraising Idea: Shoe Drive Fundraisers
- Product-Focused Booster Club Fundraising Ideas
- Booster Club Fundraising Events
- Easy Booster Club Fundraising Ideas
- Competitive Booster Club Fundraising Ideas
- Creative Booster Club Fundraising Ideas
Use these ideas to help plan and energize your next fundraiser.
Let’s face it—fundraising is hard! Fortunately, effective ideas can kick things off and make all the difference.
Why Booster Club Fundraising Matters More Than Ever
Let’s be honest—running a successful booster club isn’t easy. As parents, alumni, and community members, we all know that feeling when budget cuts hit our kids’ programs first. That’s where booster clubs step in, and frankly, we’re often the difference between a thriving program and one that’s barely hanging on.
When we think about what drives us as booster club members, it’s simple: we want our students to have the same opportunities we had (or better). Whether it’s new uniforms for the marching band, updated equipment for the robotics team, or funding that senior trip, we’re the ones who make it happen when school budgets fall short.
What Makes Booster Club Fundraising Actually Work?
Here’s what we’ve learned after years of organizing fundraisers: it’s not just about the money. Sure, we need those funds desperately, but the real magic happens when our entire school community comes together around a common goal.
The most successful booster clubs we know don’t just throw spaghetti at the wall hoping something sticks. They understand their community. They know Mrs. Johnson always buys ten raffle tickets, that the local pizza shop owner went to the school and loves supporting alumni events, and that parents are more likely to volunteer when their kids are directly involved.
Every dollar we raise goes directly back to our students. Unlike some fundraising organizations, booster clubs operate with complete transparency—parents can literally see where their money goes, whether it’s new jerseys, updated sound equipment, or scholarships for students who need financial assistance.
Building Community Through Creative Fundraising
The best fundraising ideas, including for back-to-school and booster clubs, we’ve seen aren’t just about raising money. They’re about creating experiences that bring families together. Take our annual chili cook-off, for example. What started as a simple fundraiser has become the event everyone looks forward to. Parents compete fiercely (but friendly) for the “best chili” trophy, kids run around with their friends, and we usually clear $3,000-$4,000 for our programs.
Local businesses love getting involved too, especially when we approach them as community partners rather than just asking for donations. Our hardware store sponsors our tool drive, the bakery provides desserts for events at cost, and the car dealership lets us hold car washes in their lot. It’s a win-win: they get positive community exposure, and we get the support we desperately need.
Making Every Event Count
Community events have become our secret weapon. Instead of constantly asking people for money, we create reasons for families to come together and have fun – while supporting our programs naturally.
Our spring carnival raises more money than any other single event, but ask any parent what they remember most, and they’ll tell you about watching their kindergartener win a prize at the ring toss or seeing the high school students volunteer at the face painting booth. These moments build the kind of school spirit you can’t manufacture – and they keep people coming back year after year.
The key is making every event feel special and worthwhile, even if someone doesn’t donate a dime. When people feel good about being there, when their kids are having fun, when they’re connecting with other families – that’s when real community happens. And that community is what sustains our fundraising efforts long-term.
At the end of the day, we’re not just raising funds. We’re raising a generation of students who know their community believes in them, supports them, and wants to see them succeed. That’s worth every bake sale, car wash, and late-night planning meeting we put in.
Our Favorite Booster Club Fundraising Idea: Shoe Drive Fundraisers
Shoe drive fundraisers are a top fundraising idea for any school program or project. Why? Because anyone can do it! They’re unique, engaging, and easy. And even better, your booster club will have no out-of-pocket costs and can raise tons of money! All you need to complete this fundraiser is a shoe drive provider like Funds2Orgs and the support of your community.
Here’s what working with Funds2Orgs looks like:
- After partnering with Funds2Orgs, you’ll receive a welcome kit filled with instructions and templates for marketing materials.
- Set out the provided shoe collection materials, such as boxes and bins, and send marketing materials through your usual channels.
- Collect gently worn, used and new shoes from your community.
- After your fundraiser ends or your bins are filled, coordinate a shoe pick-up with the Funds2Orgs logistics team.
- Receive a check from Funds2Orgs to put toward your booster club!
Check out this explainer video to learn more:
After you start your shoe drive fundraiser, spread the word about the opportunity to your school, your community, and other parents. Put out collection boxes at the next football game or in the gym. You’ll reach your goal in no time!Â
Product-Focused Booster Club Fundraising Ideas
T-Shirt Fundraising
What spreads school spirit better than a custom t-shirt? Your booster club can build excitement while raising funds by creating and selling custom t-shirts representing your school, club, or program.
Order the shirts through a t-shirt fundraising provider like Bonfire. You can choose to either sell online or order the shirts in bulk ahead of time. Either way, you’ll spread school spirit and promote your project while raising money.
Cookie Dough Fundraiser
Who doesn’t love fresh-baked cookies? Cookie dough fundraisers are among the most delicious booster club fundraising ideas.
Wholesale product fundraising services provide cookie dough in bulk that you can purchase and sell to your community. Give your booster club members and students an order form to fill out so they can ask their friends, family, and neighbors to buy this delicious treat to support the school.
Lollipop Fundraiser
Successful booster clubs all over the nation love lollipop fundraisers. This product fundraising idea is a great way to get kids involved with raising money.
Purchase specialty lollipops from a bulk provider and send them to school with your kids to sell to their classmates. By charging just $1 per pop, reaching your goal will be more manageable than ever. You can also sell these fantastic treats at concession stands for various school events!
Coffee Bean Fundraiser
Coffee bean fundraisers are a popular booster club fundraising idea among parents. After all, many parents drink coffee to keep up with their spirited kids!
Contact your wholesale provider and look for various types of beans. To spark interest, purchase different flavors or beans from all over the world. Then, reach out to the other parents at the school to sell your beans.
Coupon Book Fundraiser
Coupon book fundraisers have historically been very successful with booster clubs everywhere. This fundraiser helps your neighbors save money while you raise money for your project.
Contact local businesses and ask them if they would collaborate with your booster club to support the school. Compile exclusive discounts and offers in a single book to sell to interested buyers. You raise money for your cause, local companies get more business, and your community members save money. Everyone wins!
Gift Wrap Fundraiser
As the holidays approach, your booster club should focus on year-end fundraising opportunities. Selling wrapping paper will kickstart this year-end push while boosting the holiday spirit.
As a bonus idea, try hosting a gift-wrapping event where people can bring gifts to a central location, purchase wrapping paper, and wrap gifts with friends. All you need to provide is gift wrap, tape, scissors, and maybe holiday snacks to get people in a festive mood.
Why Event-Based Fundraising Never Goes Out of Style
Next up: event-based fundraising! We’ve been part of this booster club game for more than a decade now, and we’ve seen fundraising trends come and go. Online campaigns, product sales, crowdfunding—they all have their place. But there’s something irreplaceable about getting people together in person.
When families show up to your car wash, they’re not just paying for a clean car. They’re watching their kids work alongside classmates, chatting with other parents while they wait, and seeing firsthand where their money goes. That high school student soaping up their windshield? That’s who their donation is supporting.
Booster Club Fundraising Events
Golf Tournament
A golf tournament is a great booster club fundraising idea to spark some friendly competition in the community.
There are several opportunities to raise money with a golf tournament fundraiser. You can charge a registration fee, or offer additional fun games and opportunities to raise more funds. For instance, you may ask local businesses to sponsor holes, host a hole-in-one contest, set up a putting contest, and more.
Auction
An auction is a popular fundraising idea for any organization. However, there are many ways to tailor an auction for your booster club.
Create a themed auction based on the project your booster club is working on. For instance, if you’re raising money for the football team, make the theme sports. Or, if you prefer versatility, create a different theme for each prize.
An auction can be hosted in-person or online with mobile bidding software, depending on which option is better for your organization. If you’re interested in an online auction, check out Handbid’s list of top providers.
Yard Sale
Yard sales are great community events. You’ll see incredible fundraising success if your booster club works together to create a single blow-out yard sale.
Ask your booster club members to do some spring cleaning to find items for the sale. When everyone pitches in, you’ll be amazed by the great items people provide.
Ask members to clean out their shoes, too! Include a shoe collection box in your event checklist and advertise the opportunity to donate. To make the opportunity even more enticing, offer a sale discount for individuals who donate shoes.
Booster Club Happy Hour
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere! Booster club happy hour is a great way to bond with your community while raising money.
Charge a small admission fee to attend. If you partner with a local restaurant to host the event, you can also ask if they’ll share a portion of the night’s profits with your booster club. While everyone is chatting and having a good time, try recruiting new booster club members!
Remember, happy hour is a great place to garner interest for your next fundraising opportunity. For instance, you could tell everyone about your next shoe drive fundraiser.
Bake Sale
Who doesn’t love a sweet treat? A bake sale leverages your community’s sweet tooth to generate funds for your booster club.
Enlist other booster club members and volunteers to bake sweet treats for your event. Send a sign-up sheet in advance and ask participants to declare what items they’ll make. That way, you can guarantee a good variety of items for buyers.
On the day of the sale, set up your table in an aesthetically pleasing way and sell your sweets! You can sell to students, teachers, school staff, and other community members. Pair this idea with another event to maximize foot traffic and sales for best results.
Easy Booster Club Fundraising Ideas
Booster Club Letter Writing Campaign
Booster club letter writing is a great way to raise money from interested supporters.
Make a list of community members who might be interested in supporting your efforts. Then, recruit other booster club members to write donation request letters to potential donors. For instance, you can contact other parents, school administration staff, and involved community members. Don’t forget to send thank you notes once someone has donated!
If you or your other members need a guide on how to format these letters, Fundraising Letters has templates for all occasions to guide your writing.
Custom Booster Club Website
Custom websites are a great place to set up an online donation page and a perfect platform to announce upcoming booster club fundraisers.
A custom website is also ideal for launching online fundraising campaigns, allowing your club to reach a wider audience through virtual events, social media, and online donation platforms.
You don’t need to be a web designer to develop an attractive online presence. Plenty of website builders enable 501(c)3 organizations to create and maintain their sites easily. Look for a platform with drag-and-drop features to ensure simplicity. Start with an attractive template, then customize it for your booster club!
Peer-to-Peer Fundraiser
Peer-to-peer fundraising takes advantage of your community connections to boost your fundraising efforts.
Allow your supporter to create individual fundraising pages they can promote to their respective networks to raise money for your booster club. Supporters can also form teams to compete in raising the most funds, making the campaign more engaging. This is a particularly great fundraising idea during the lead-up to an event, as you’ll raise money and awareness for your event!
Matching Gifts
Matching gifts are a corporate philanthropy program that allows donors to maximize their donations’ impact on an organization. You never know who might be eligible for these gifts. Chances are, your donors may not even know! That’s why you need access to a matching gift database to identify eligible donors.
A donor database can help your booster club launch a matching gift drive. Encourage donors to enter their employer information into the database to see their eligibility status to give more without spending more.
50/50 Raffle
A 50/50 raffle is a great booster club fundraising idea that rewards the club and donors.
Sell raffle tickets to supporters, families, and community members. At the end of this selling period, count the profits made from the ticket sales. Then, choose a single winning ticket to take home half of the profits. The other half of the revenue goes to the booster club.
A 50/50 raffle can easily be combined with other fundraising ideas to maximize your club’s overall revenue generation.
Competitive Booster Club Fundraising Ideas
Marathon
Running is a popular hobby—why not leverage that popularity with a marathon fundraiser?
To convert your run into a revenue-generating event, charge a participation fee. To attract avid runners who aren’t prepared to run a whole marathon, you can also offer a 5K or 10K run and charge smaller fees for the shorter runs. You can also sell tickets to spectators.
This idea also pairs well with other fundraising activities. Imagine selling branded merchandise like t-shirts or water bottles, hosting concession stands, or incorporating a raffle. Plus, you can ask runners to donate any gently worn, used and new shoes to a shoe drive fundraiser!
Step Challenge
Inspire your community to get fit while supporting your booster club!
Participants will pay a small fee to participate in the step challenge. They’ll track the number of steps they take over the fundraiser’s time period, and the person with the most steps at the end wins the challenge! Each participant can also set a donation goal for themselves and ask their peers to sponsor their steps or donate for every milestone they hit.
Fitness Challenge
A fitness challenge is a great way for booster clubs to raise money and promote healthy habits in the community. Participants pay an entry fee to participate in activities like a 5K run, cycling event, or step challenge. Booster clubs can boost fundraising by partnering with local businesses for sponsorships, selling branded merchandise like t-shirts, and setting up donation stations at the event.
Not only does a fitness challenge raise money, but it also promotes physical activity, school spirit, and brings students, parents, and community members together for a common goal. By collecting donations and engaging the community, a fitness challenge can be the highlight of your booster club’s fundraising calendar.
Battle of the Bands
If your booster club supports arts and performance-related programs, a battle of the bands is the perfect fundraising idea!
Ask student bands to sign up to perform in your event. Then, sell tickets to spectators. On the event night, sell concessions and merchandise to raise even more funds. You can also have spectators pay a small fee to vote for their favorite band to win.
This event is also a great way to show off your impact on your school. After all, without your booster club, students might not get the same value out of the school’s arts and music programs.
Sports Tournament
Community sports tournaments are the perfect way to fundraise and bring everyone together. Student athletes playing alongside community members creates real excitement that draws bigger crowds and more support. Basketball, soccer, volleyball or kickball work depending on your facilities and season. Team entry fees are your base funding and prizes keep the competition going for the participants.
Beyond the games themselves, tournaments offer multiple revenue streams to maximize your fundraising. Concession stands selling food and drinks always do well at sporting events and raffles between games keep spectators entertained and donating. For communities that don’t want to get too competitive, capture the flag or dodgeball tournaments work just as well. Make sure to communicate your tournament format beforehand – single elimination or round robin – so teams know what to expect and can plan accordingly.
Creative Booster Club Fundraising Ideas
Babysitters Club
Were you a babysitter when you were growing up? Do your kids babysit now? If so, you know how effective babysitting can be for raising money.
Recruit volunteers to work as babysitters for the evening. Then, advertise to parents the opportunity to have a night out. They can drop off their kids and spend some time on a date night, shopping, or relaxing. The parents can pay the babysitters by the hour, and all the money from this unique fundraising idea goes toward your next booster club project!
Sports Camp
Sports camps are an excellent way to get kids and teenagers involved in your booster club fundraising ideas.
Funds raised from sports camps can help cover important costs like travel expenses for sports teams, in addition to uniforms and equipment.
Recruit teenagers and young adults to become coaches for a sports day camp for kids. Once you have the coaches, start planning the activities in depth. Advertise the camp registration and encourage parents to sign up their kids. Everyone will have a great time playing sports and enjoying the sunshine for a good cause.
After the camp is over, ask parents to donate their kids’ used shoes to make some additional profit with your shoe drive fundraiser.
Scavenger Hunt
Everyone loves a good scavenger hunt!
Enlist other booster club members and volunteers to create a custom scavenger hunt tailored to your community. It can feature everything from key city landmarks to specific areas around your school. If your scavenger hunt is aimed at kids, you should keep your clues to a single building or facility (like your school). For adult scavenger hunts, leave clues further away to give them a challenge.
To raise more money during the scavenger hunt, consider offering bonus challenges or special incentives that encourage participants to contribute additional funds.
Participants can pay a small fee to participate in your scavenger hunt. To encourage more attendees, offer a prize to the fastest team!
School Carnival
School carnivals are a highlight for students, parents, and community members. What’s great about this booster club fundraising idea is that you won’t need to host the entire carnival alone—you can just set up a booth during it!
If the weather doesn’t cooperate, the school gym can be used to host indoor carnival games or booths, ensuring the event goes on as planned.
Since the school generally hosts carnivals, your booster club can focus on creating a booth that people want to visit and asking them for donations there. You might lean into merchandise sales, such as baked goodies or branded merchandise. Or, you could ignite the competitive spirit with a booth focused on carnival games, like balloon darts or ring tosses.
Pay Us to Go Away
With so many nonprofits vying for your community members’ funds, a “pay us to go away” fundraiser is a refreshing booster club idea that draws people’s interest.
Essentially, you’ll set a fundraising goal, let your community know your goal, and say that if you raise that amount before a certain date, you won’t need to hold a fundraiser. For booster club and community members tired of being asked to participate and volunteer, this fundraiser might be what you need to inspire them to give.
The most crucial aspect of this fundraiser is how you frame your ask. This type of appeal is generally framed to help the recipient save time and focus on what matters most to them, such as their family or hobbies. Tread a fine line between acknowledging that your previous appeals may be annoying while encouraging the recipient to stay involved with your booster club.
Additional Resources
Running a booster club requires fundraising to support your school’s programs. Many booster clubs use a variety of fundraisers to support their schools and student activities. Although finding the right fundraising ideas might feel intimidating, once you’ve nailed down a few events, you’ll get a sense of what your audience enjoys and what makes them give.
Tracking your fundraising progress is essential to measure success and motivate supporters. Monitoring donations and engagement levels helps you adjust your strategies and boost support throughout your campaign.
If you want to learn more about fundraising, check out these resources:
- 55+ School Fundraising Ideas to Reach Your Goals. Explore more fundraising ideas that are sure to generate revenue for schools.
- 15 Creative Back-to-School Fundraisers For Any School. Back-to-school is a very special time of year. Discover creative fundraisers you can host during this period.
- Fundraising Event Planning: 10 Steps for Event Success. Picking a fundraising idea is the easy part. Learn what comes after and the steps you must take for event success.
