Cheerleading is more than spirit and stunts: it’s a serious commitment of time, energy, and money. Between uniforms, travel, competitions, camps, and equipment, expenses can add up fast. With families responsible for covering many of these hefty out-of-pocket costs, fundraising for cheerleading is all the more necessary.
Most teams are familiar with the tried-and-true classic cheerleading fundraiser formats – product sales, traditional donation requests, ticketed events. But with so many fundraising ideas to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. To help you out, we’ll take a look at 12 cheerleading fundraising ideas, ranging from classic to more unique!
The Importance of Fundraising for Cheer Teams and Varsity Cheer Squads
Fundraising is a fundamental aspect of running any successful sports program – but, in cheerleading, the type of squad that you’re fundraising for can make a difference. For example, varsity cheer fundraising for a school team may need to support larger expenses than fundraising for youth or recreational teams.
Regardless of whether you (or your cheerleading booster club) are fundraising for a varsity cheer squad or a youth cheerleading team, you’re likely to need funding for expenses like:
- Competition fees
- Hotels
- Travel
- Uniforms
- Camps
- Equipment
When you’re looking for fundraising ideas for your cheerleading team, you should look for fundraisers that involve families, alumni, students, local businesses, and, of course, supporters! Broader participation can reduce pressure on your team families, which can, in turn, reduce their financial burden. Plus, reaching a wider audience means more fundraising potential!
Pro-Tip: If you’re raising money for a more financially demanding program (like a varsity cheerleading team), consider combining multiple fundraising approaches rather than relying entirely on one event.
How to Choose the Right Cheerleading Fundraiser
Now that you know what you need to raise money for, you may be wondering how to choose the right way to go about it. Here are a few considerations for your cheerleading fundraiser selection process:
- Consider your fundraising goal. Are you raising money for a small and immediate expense, or a large, season-long goal?
- Consider your team and volunteer size. How many parents, athletes, and volunteers can realistically help? Can your fundraiser fit into your competition and practice schedule?
- Consider whether you want a sales-based fundraiser. Fundraising for cheerleading doesn’t have to mean selling products.
- Consider your community. When selecting your fundraiser, you should think about your school size, local business network, and general community engagement.
Ultimately, you should choose a fundraising idea that realistically fits the goals and capacity of your team, school, and community.
Our Favorite Cheerleading Fundraiser Idea: A Shoe Drive Fundraiser
Cost: $
Team Effort: Low-Medium
Classic cheerleading fundraiser ideas can be profitable, but sometimes require significant time, energy, and effort from your team. From product-based fundraisers to larger-scale events, raising money for your cheerleading squad’s expenses can require a lot of planning and selling.
If your cheer team is looking for something fresh, easy, and impactful, there’s one fundraising idea that really stands out: a Funds2Orgs shoe drive fundraiser! The best part? It doesn’t require any buying or selling.
So, what exactly is a shoe drive fundraiser? A shoe drive fundraiser consists of your team collecting your community’s gently worn, used and new shoes. After signing up, a Starter Kit arrives with all the shoe collection materials, including bags and rubber bands, and a dedicated fundraising team guides your group from start to finish.
Once the collection is complete, Funds2Orgs will pick up the shoes and issue payment to your cheer squad based on the total pounds collected. It’s that easy!
Benefits of Shoe Drive Fundraisers
A Funds2Orgs shoe drive fundraiser is not only easy; it also offers a wide range of benefits. Beyond raising money, this type of fundraising campaign brings real value to your team, your community, and people all around the world. Here’s why so many cheer squads have found success with it:
- No Selling Required: Families don’t have to spend money to get involved, just clean out their closets.
- Eco-Friendly: Shoes are kept out of landfills, where they can take decades to decompose.
- Global Impact: Collected shoes are repurposed and distributed to micro-entrepreneurs in developing countries, helping create small business opportunities.
- Community Involvement: Local businesses, schools, and organizations can serve as drop-off locations, turning the fundraiser into a town-wide effort.
Testimonial: How One Cheer Squad Collected Shoes for Funds
When the Forest Hills cheerleading team in Pennsylvania needed to raise money, parent coordinator Kristen Turner went searching for cheerleading fundraiser ideas. After coming across shoe drive fundraisers online, she knew it was the perfect fit.
As Kristen shared, the fundraiser was “to raise funds for our varsity and our junior high girls,” and it was slow at first. The team started small by asking for shoes at a basket social and sharing posts on Facebook. But once they gained momentum, things took off:
- They created a dedicated Facebook page to spread the word.
- Parents and coaches rallied behind the effort and boosted posts locally.
- Nine local businesses, two fire stations, and several schools served as drop-off locations.
- The fundraiser even got media coverage in local newspapers and radio stations.
In the end, the Forest Hills cheer squad not only met their fundraising goals, but also made a meaningful impact in their community and beyond.
A Funds2Orgs shoe drive fundraiser is a fresh and engaging way to engage your squad, supporters, and the broader community. Ready to get a shoe drive fundraiser of your own up and running? Schedule a consultation today.
10 More Cheerleader Fundraisers That Actually Work
In case you’re still on the lookout for more options, we’ve rounded up a few tried-and-true fundraisers cheer squads have used for years. Each can bring in extra dollars while giving your team members a chance to connect with the community.
1. Bake Sale
Cost: $$
Team Effort: Medium
Few things are as classic as a table full of homemade cookies and brownies. A bake sale works especially well when paired with a busy school event or set up outside a local grocery store. Just keep in mind that it often relies on parents donating goodies to sell and neighbors being willing to spend a few dollars on sweet treats.
2. Car Wash Fundraiser
Cost: $
Team Effort: High
A weekend car wash is a great way to get your cheer squad working together while raising money. It’s a visible event that brings attention to your team, especially with some colorful signs and flyers. However, it depends a lot on the weather and needs a steady flow of cars to succeed.
3. 50/50 Raffle at a Football Game
Cost: $
Team Effort: Medium
Fans love raffles, and a packed football game is the perfect venue to host one. The crowd is already excited, and splitting the pot with the winner can make the prize feel more appealing. The only drawback is that your earnings are limited by the size of the audience.
4. Spirit Night at a Local Restaurant
Cost: $
Team Effort: Low
Many restaurants will partner with community teams for a “spirit night,” where a percentage of sales from one evening is donated back to your cheer squad. This option is low-effort for team members, boosts community visibility, and gives local businesses extra support—a true win-win!
5. Sponsorships
Cost: $
Team Effort: Medium
Local businesses are often happy to support local cheerleading teams. In exchange for their support, consider offering them promotional opportunities like recognition at team events or social media shoutouts.
6. Cheer Clinic
Cost: $-$$
Team Effort: High
Put your team’s skills to the test by hosting a cheer clinic for younger children in your community! Charge a registration fee and teach participants basic skills like cheers, dance moves, or jumps.
7. Online Fundraiser
Cost: Varies
Team Effort: Low-Medium
Take your cheer fundraiser online with a digital campaign! This option can make it easier for your fundraiser to broaden its reach by allowing supporters to donate from anywhere! Set a specific goal, clearly explain what donations will support, and then promote the fundraiser both online and in-person.
8. Spirit Wear Sale
Cost: $$
Team Effort: Medium
Give your supporters a new way to show off their team spirit with a spirit wear sale! Sell custom merchandise like hats, branded T-shirts, sweatshirts, and more.
Pro-Tip: Consider requiring pre-orders rather than ordering in bulk. Doing so can help your team limit upfront costs and avoid being stuck with unsold inventory.
9. Sponsor-a-Cheerleader Fundraiser
Cost: $
Team Effort: Low-Medium
Encourage your team members to rally support among their families and friends with a sponsor-a-cheerleader fundraiser! In this fundraiser, you’ll have each cheerleader reach out to their family, friends, and community members for donations toward the season. This can help supporters feel connected to the athletes they support, but also give them an opportunity to contribute to the team at large!
10. Cheer-a-Thon Fundraiser
Cost: $-$$
Team Effort: Medium-High
Turn cheerleading into a fundraising event! In this fundraiser, you’ll gather donations or pledges from supporters, and then challenge your team to complete a set number of cheers, dances, jumps, or other skills. This fun, team-focused event can bring the entire community together around your cause!
Ready to Start Your Cheerleading Fundraiser?
Every cheer team knows fundraising is essential, but it doesn’t have to mean constant selling or asking for monetary donations. Teams have plenty of fundraising options, from sponsorships to community collection drives.
If you’re looking for something easy, new, and engaging, a Funds2Orgs shoe drive fundraiser may be the perfect cheerleading fundraiser for you! With Funds2Orgs, your team gets everything they need for success.
If your cheer team is ready to try one of the easiest and most impactful cheerleading fundraiser ideas out there, Funds2Orgs can help you get started.
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