Fundraising is an essential way for middle schools to raise money to support valuable programs, special projects, equipment needs, field trips and more. But gone are the days of selling chocolate bars or cookie dough. Today’s middle school students, parents and communities are looking for more unique, engaging fundraisers that are fun and bring people together.
The good news is that with online fundraising platforms, middle schools have many great options for creative fundraisers that are perfect for this age group. In this blog, we’ll explore the top 10 middle school fundraising ideas to inspire your next successful campaign.
10 Great online fundraising ideas for middle schools
1. Walk/Bike/Skate-A-Thons
A-Thons are a popular way to get middle schoolers moving while raising money. Students collect pledges for walking, biking, skating or other activities. Promote on social media and livestream parts of the event.
2. Online Stores
Sell spirit wear, school swag, gear and more through an easy online school Store. Students love showing their school pride through cool merch.
3. Livestreamed Events
Host fundraiser Events like talent shows, science fairs, or game nights and livestream online. Charge “tickets” and solicit donations.
4. Peer-to-Peer fundraising
Rally a team of students, parents and teachers to fundraise together towards a goal through a Peer-to-Peer campaign. Great for school trips!
5. Crowdfunding campaigns
Teachers create project fundraisers for specific needs like classroom supplies, books, or field trips. Then share online and across social media.
6. Raffles and Sweepstakes
Sell tickets for chances to win fun prizes like gift cards, signed gear from sports teams, movie passes and more.
7. Food truck and restaurant nights
Coordinate food trucks or restaurants to host school community nights where a portion of proceeds go back to the school.
8. Online Auctions
Auction off baskets, tickets, experiences, services, and items donated by the community. Simple to set up and promote online.
9. Virtual Events
If you can’t do it in-person, go virtual! Ideas include game nights, escape rooms, movie screenings, concerts, dance parties, and crafting sessions.
10. Math and reading challenges
Students get sponsored to complete math games, reading goals, or other academic challenges. Great for skill-building.
7 Tips for middle school fundraising success
- Get students involved in planning and promoting fundraising activities. This builds leadership skills too.
- Make it easy for out-of-town family and friends to participate and donate through online fundraising.
- Consider timing around holidays for themed fundraisers or when families have vacation time.
- Offer fun incentives and prizes for top fundraisers. Local tech gear, sports merch and food deals work well.
- Have students make short social media videos to promote the fundraiser and share why it’s important.
- Send email updates to show progress towards goals and keep momentum going.
- Share photos and videos during and after fundraisers to showcase all the fun!
When it comes to running successful school fundraisers – there are many ways to help you reach your fundraising goals. Online school fundraising for your middle school is made easy, here.
7 Things to look for in a top online fundraising platform
While you may have great middle school fundraising ideas, you need the right tools to bring them to life. RallyUp Schools provides everything middle schools need for online fundraising all in one single platform.
RallyUp Schools makes fundraising easy by providing:
- Branded, customizable campaign websites
- Simple setup for all types of fundraisers
- Integrated tools for promotion and sharing
- Collecting online donations, pledges, ticket sales
- Tracking fundraising progress
- Management for admins and coordinators
- Friendly customer support
The RallyUp Schools site and tools are designed just for schools to help you manage the technology so you can focus on creating an amazing fundraiser. RallyUp Schools is also more affordable than other platforms – no long-term commitments required.
Rally student and community support
The key to any successful middle school fundraiser is engaging your students, parents and community. With RallyUp Schools, you can leverage the power of online fundraising to connect your community and achieve your fundraising goals.
Brainstorm fun themes and activities students will get excited about. Empower them to rally their networks through social fundraising. Use the site tools to easily promote and manage the event from start to finish.
Start planning your next fundraiser!
Hopefully these middle school fundraising ideas have sparked inspiration for your next campaign. The options are limitless when you utilize the power of online fundraising and tools like RallyUp Schools. Visit RallyUp Schools today to start planning your next online fundraiser!