Fundraising Ideas for Schools

The Author Event That Sold Out in a Day and Raised $8,000

Mark Walker — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Kari Austin is the chief school finance officer at Mountain Brook Schools in Alabama, and this year her district tried something it had never done. Its two-day teacher conference always closes with a keynote, and this year's speaker was author Allen Levi, whose novel Theo of Golden had spread through the community by word of mouth. Instead of leaving the extra auditorium seats empty, the district opened them to the public at $25 a ticket. It sold out in under 24 hours and raised more than $8,000, on an event that had never made a dollar.

Kari walks through how a two-person team ran it with almost no extra work, why the seats moved so fast (book clubs bought eight at a time), and exactly what she'd change next time: release all your seats at once, state your refund policy up front, and keep a paper list at the door. A clear-eyed, low-risk playbook any school or district can copy.

Read the full playbook: https://www.successfund.com/resources/playbooks/author-event-fundraiser

Free school fundraising: successfund.com

The Serve-A-Thon: Funding a Whole Cheer Season by Giving Back

Mark Walker — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Morgan Fabrizio co-coaches cheer at Duchesne High in a small Utah town, where the program gets no district budget and she has to raise every dollar it costs to run. Her answer is a serve-a-thon: for every $250 the team raises, the squad performs an hour of community service, cleaning the bleachers, scrubbing Main Street, playing elves at the town Christmas. It raised over $5,000 this year with 16 cheerleaders, and it's only one piece of the puzzle. Morgan walks Mark through her whole funding portfolio: a tiered business-sponsorship program (ad packages from $100 to $1,000) that brings in around $20,000, junior clinics, concessions, and a per-family self-pay amount. Along the way she drops a season's worth of hard-won advice: build the budget first, tell parents the real number, keep the window short, and remember the money comes from asking people directly, not from posting and hoping. Read the full playbook: https://www.successfund.com/resources/playbooks/serve-a-thon-fundraiser

The $1,000 Uniform Sale: How a Free Exchange Grew a Fundraiser Instead of Killing It

Mark Walker — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Emile Gibson is the business administrator at Monticello Academy, a K-8 charter school where uniforms are required, and she runs one of the most efficient fundraisers we've come across: a used uniform sale. Families donate the uniforms their kids outgrow, the school stores them by size all year, and every summer they sell them back secondhand for a few dollars a piece. Two hours, about a thousand dollars, and a genuine service for a community where many families are stretching every dollar. In this episode, Emile walks Mark through the whole model: why you build the inventory before you plan the event, the free piece-for-piece exchange the board was sure would cut revenue in half (it did the opposite), the three-station floor that keeps checkout from turning to chaos, and why timing the sale before the big-box back-to-school rush matters. If your school has a dress code, this is a playbook you can copy.

The Orchestra Teacher Who Quit Selling Popcorn and Threw a Party Instead

Mark Walker — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:00:00 +0000

What if your fundraiser didn't sell a single thing? In this episode, Mark talks with Whitney Duncan, a twelve-year orchestra teacher at Bay Creek Middle School, about the "fundraiser party" she runs every spring for all six of her classes. Instead of pushing wrapping paper and cookie dough, she lets students raise money to earn their way into a four-hour after-school bash. A $30 raise gets you in, $80 earns you a can of silly string to spray her with, and the single top fundraiser gets to throw a pie in her face — one kid raised almost $1,000 chasing that prize. She set a $5,000 goal this year and brought in about $8,000, and runs the whole 150-kid party for basically the cost of the pizza because families donate everything else. Whitney breaks down the two-prize incentive design, the leaderboard trash talk, the three-week timeline, and the one operational lesson she learned the hard way: make every parent tag the kid they're supporting. If you run a band, orchestra, choir, or any program fundraiser, this is the no-product playbook.

Mini Drill Clinic | 100 Kids. $6,000 Raised.

Mark Walker — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 01:50:00 +0000

In this episode of Fundraising Ideas for Schools, Mark Walker sits down with Ashlee Scott, the first-year head coach of the Springville High School D'Velles Drill Team, to discuss how she revived the Junior D'Velles Drill Clinic and turned it into a major success.

Despite being brand new to coaching, Ashlee set an ambitious goal: enroll 100 participants, reintroduce a beloved community tradition, and raise funds to help rebuild the program. The result? Exactly 100 participants and more than $6,000 raised.

Ashlee shares:

• How she brought back the Junior D'Velles clinic after years of inactivity • Why partnering the clinic with a community parade created excitement and visibility • How she determined pricing and structured the event • The marketing tactics that helped fill the clinic • Lessons learned from managing 100 participants and their families • What she'd do differently next year • Why drill teams, cheer teams, and other school organizations should consider running a clinic of their own

Whether you're a coach, teacher, booster club leader, or school fundraiser, this episode is packed with practical ideas for building community engagement while raising money for your program.

Listen in to hear how one first-year coach turned a simple idea into a memorable event that strengthened her team, connected with the community, and created a tradition that will continue for years to come.

Cheers of Joy: Poinsettias, Pom-Poms, and Powerful Lessons

Mark Walker — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 17:40:00 -0100

In this episode of Fundraising Ideas for Schools, Kassie, a dedicated cheer coach, shares the story of her Jr. High Cheerleading team's successful Christmas fundraiser. She discusses the strategic steps she took to lead her cheerleaders in a Poinsettia sales campaign, incorporating essential life lessons.

Discover how a simple holiday fundraiser turned into a practical learning experience. Kassie's coaching, covering communication, sales, and time management, went beyond cheerleading. The girls not only reached their fundraising goal but also experienced personal growth.

If you're intrigued by holiday fundraisers, cheerleading, and real-life lessons, this episode offers practical insights from Kassie's successful experience in teamwork, leadership, and personal development.

Hot Dogs for a Cause: One Company's Fundraising Success for 4 Local High Schools

Mark Walker — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 22:19:00 +0000

In this episode of Fundraising Ideas for Schools, join host Mark Walker as he interviews Becca and Lauren, two remarkable women who organized a Hot Dog Palooza event hosted by their employer. Their event aimed to raise funds to support graduating seniors from two different high schools in covering their outstanding fee balances so they could fully participate in their high school graduations.

Their event was so successful that they ultimately supported over 400 students across 4 high schools allowing those seniors to fully participate and erase the burden for them and their families.

Becca and Lauren share their approach to fundraising, and how they orchestrated the event that not only satisfied appetites but also warmed the hearts of everyone involved.

For those considering engaging with local businesses to help support a need at their school this episode is a must listen. So many businesses are looking for ways to give back, and this example is definitely one to learn from.

8 Copper Hills film students use their talents to raise 20k for a once-in-a-lifetime trip

SuccessFund Inc. — Wed, 31 May 2023 18:20:00 +0000

Join host Mark Walker in this episode of Fundraising Ideas for Schools as he interviews Kamiko, the teacher of Copper Hills High School's production and TV broadcasting program. They discuss how eight talented film students raised $20,000 for an extraordinary trip to Long Beach through their standout approach—an impactful video featuring the students themselves.

Kamiko reveals their key strategy: creating a heartfelt video that showcased the students' passion and dedication, forging a personal connection with viewers and inspiring support. Their goal? Cover their costs to participate in the Student Television Network competition.

Throughout the episode, Kamiko shares insights into their planning process and effective tactics. By leveraging social media, they spread the heartfelt video, generating a buzz and garnering community support.

Kamiko also highlights the profound impact of the trip on the students' personal and creative growth. It elevated their filmmaking skills, broadened their horizons, and ignited their storytelling passion.

Join us for this inspiring episode of Fundraising Ideas for Schools. Discover how a heartfelt student-led video drove their fundraising success through the human connection.

Alta Football Raises $45k in 90 minutes

Mark Walker — Fri, 19 May 2023 21:20:00 +0000

In this episode of Fundraising Ideas for Schools, we sit down with Eyisha, the President of the Alta Football Booster Club, who shares their incredible success story of raising a staggering $45,000 in just 90 minutes through a Telethon fundraiser.

Throughtout the brief discussion, Eyisha sheds light on the strategies, tactics, and community engagement that contributed to their remarkable achievement. We delve into the planning process, highlighting the key elements that made this fundraiser such a resounding success.

From leveraging the power of social media to mobilizing a dedicated team of volunteers, our guest reveals the behind-the-scenes efforts that went into orchestrating this fundraising extravaganza. We discuss the importance of setting clear goals, fostering a sense of community, and creating a buzz around the event.

Beyond the financial impact, we also dive into the positive effects of this fundraiser on the football team, the school, and the wider community. Our guest emphasizes the importance of teamwork, school spirit, and the lasting relationships forged through this shared experience.

Whether you're a sports booster, a coach, or simply looking for innovative fundraising ideas, this episode is packed with practical advice, inspiration, and actionable tips. Learn how to replicate the success of the Alta Football and create a fundraising event that leaves a lasting impact on your school and community.

Tune in to this episode of Fundraising Ideas for Schools and discover the secrets behind the Alta Football fundraising success. Get ready to be inspired and equipped with the knowledge you need to take your own fundraising efforts to new heights!