Besides classes and caffeine-fueled finals week, there is a lot more to college. On a serious note, whether it is to fill a tuition gap, fund a trip for study abroad, support a student group, or back a social purpose, fundraising allows students to take ideas and make something happen. Most colleges report modest average annual fundraising totals, with 35% averaging $0–$5,000 in fundraising.
But let’s be honest, fundraising in college isn’t always easy. Tight budgets matched with busy schedules and relationship prioritization, or all of the above, can necessitate creativity and a little elbow grease! We have compiled a list of college fundraisers that marry fun, strategy, and online tools to enable you to take action, whatever that looks like for you!
From bake sales to TikTok challenges to college crowdfunding campaigns, the opportunities are endless. We differentiate between fundraising ideas for college clubs and also explore our new strategies for digital involvement in taking action. Are you pumped to get started?
Turn your college project into a success story. Start raising funds online with WhyDonate now!
Table of Contents
Easy and Fun College Fundraising Ideas for Students
The simplest ideas with simple ideas can sometimes be the most meaningful, in terms of having fun and raising money. The below tried and true fundraisers allow work and play combined to create lasting memories while raising money for a worthwhile cause. Here are some fun, easy ideas that work on nearly any campus.
1. Bake Sale
Bake sales are still a classic staple on campus! You can recruit student volunteers to bake cookies, cupcakes, or vegan cookies, and then set up shop in high-traffic areas near lecture halls or dining areas. In order to maximize donations, allow students to “pay what they want” or offer bundle deals.
Pro Tip: Let students know ahead of time about themed days like “Pink Treats for Breast Cancer Awareness” or “Finals Fuel Kits” to get their attention.
2. Car Wash
Get together on a sunny afternoon with a few sponges and some soap and call on a few friends to join in, and that’s all you need. Set up in a parking lot in an area with good foot traffic, and watch, it wouldn’t take long for people to start giving donations as they watched you have fun.
3. Talent Show
Open mic night or student talent show! Charge for entry, live stream it, and allow viewers to donate funds directly to the cause if they can’t attend. You will be both entertaining and making money!
4. Carnival on Campus
Collaborate with clubs to put on a small-scale carnival with games, food stalls, raffles, and prizes. You will enhance your outreach ability, share the workload, and leave the campus with a new experience and school memory.
5. Trivia Night
Pick a theme- whether it’s pop culture, science, music, or 2000s nostalgia- a quiz Trivia night in the student union or on Zoom, is fun! Charge a small fee for each team and award some fun prizes. Make it competitive while having fun. There is added fun in decorating and dressing up as well!
Digital & Online Fundraising Ideas
Students are online, your fundraisers should be too! These digital-first ideas can increase your reach and are quick to scale and easily connect to a larger network. Ideal for students exploring innovative fundraisers as they start college:
6. Crowdfunding through WhyDonate
Create a campaign on WhyDonate to fundraise for anything from tuition to tech gear. Add pictures, tell your story, and promote it to friends, family, and alumni to support your cause.
7. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
Peer-to-peer fundraising is a method by which students raise funds by creating their own fundraising page, which they share with their networks of family, friends, classmates, and even social media followers. Instead of a single central fundraiser, you have dozens (or hundreds) of small fundraisers running in parallel, each of which reaches a different audience.
Have a cause worth supporting? Launch your fundraiser now and start receiving donations in minutes!
8. TikTok or Instagram Reels Challenges
Create an amusing challenge based around your cause (e.g., the “Flip-for-a-Book” challenge for literacy) and encourage people to donate or participate. Hashtags and trending audio can help the message spread quickly.
9. Virtual Workshops or Masterclasses
Have skills to share? Teach anything from yoga to coding to cooking or public speaking via Zoom and ask for a recommended donation.
Group Fundraising Ideas for College Clubs & Teams
Clubs and student groups can put their efforts together to fundraise massive amounts of money, especially when they can combine their creativity. Below are a few of the most successful fundraiser ideas for colleges to receive value from.
10. Team T-Shirt Sales
Karaoke nights are always good fundraising ideas for college clubs. Host a karaoke night with a specific theme (e.g., 80s music, movie soundtracks) and charge an entry fee for participants. You can also sell tickets for food and drink, and offer a prize for the best performance. This idea works well for college clubs or sports teams looking for a fun, interactive fundraising event.
11. Funding from Local Businesses
Providing some brand visibility for companies in your neighborhood in exchange for funding something as simple as a logo on your event fliers, shirts, or social media accounts could have your entire event budget covered!
12. Donations from Alumni
Reach out to former graduates who were once in an echoing place and describe how their donation can help continue the legacy.
13. Charity Tournaments
Fundraise through a volleyball, football, or ultimate frisbee tournament. Charge the teams an entry fee and encourage the teams to fundraise together as a team.
Academics or Cause Fundraiser Ideas
Not every educational fundraising endeavor can be whimsical or strictly for entertainment. Some fundraiser projects are serious, serious goals aimed at a long-term impact, supporting causes that could change lives, knowledge, or forge change. If you are looking to fund, for instance, a study abroad program or an academic mission or project that is meaningful to you, below are a couple of concepts to fund and simultaneously engage the community.
14. College Research and/or Study Abroad donations
Crowdfunding for research fieldwork, conferences, or similar will connect you directly and personally with the project. Your supporters will see what you are attempting to do, why you think it is important, and believe it can contribute in some way to your academic or professional growth. Many will feel more directly and personally involved in the outcome of their donation (i.e., published research, completed thesis, endowed with cultural experiences, etc.).
15. Department-Based Fundraising Campaigns
You can work with your college or academic department to fundraise for specific needs (e.g., specialized equipment, scholarships for students, guest lectures, academic events). Fundraising campaigns with the endorsement or support of your department have the added credibility of being backed by a department (ex, professors, previous alumni colleagues in the industry, etc.) and will often reach a bigger audience simply because professors and alumni, and the industry or companies are more likely to contribute if they see some benefit directly in the department.
16. College Startup or Innovation Fund
If you have identified a startup idea, innovative project, or are starting your own social enterprise idea, you might want to consider raising funds through a crowdfunding campaign. You will need to pitch your suggestion to your classmates, alumni, and mentors. Use this opportunity to share your idea in a compelling way with a combination of story and visuals of your prototype. Describe how your idea might generate social or economic impact. Be creative when it comes to giving backers awards, for example, a founder supporter” badge or priority access to your offering. This will also encourage your backers to consider making an investment in you!
Ready to bring your college fundraising idea to life? Start your free WhyDonate fundraiser today!
Pro Tips for Hosting a Successful College Fundraiser
Regardless of the fundraiser type, these best practices can set you up for success (or failure):
- Set a transparent and specific goal – be clear on what you are raising money for and how much you need!
- Promote in various mediums – flyers, group chats, campus radio, and especially Instagram or TikTok.
- Engage your networks – solicit help from professors, clubs, organizations, and even local businesses.
- Provide a reward or recognition – rewards can keep people energized and motivated to donate; money or gift cards are pretty good motivations.
These tips apply across all college fundraising ideas, from bake sales to digital campaigns.
Conclusion
Finding your passion, getting involved in your community, and making a difference is what college is all about, and fundraising helps make those experiences possible. Whether it’s supporting a personal cause, raising money for your club, or planning a campus-wide event, your approach to fundraising will determine which experience will work best.
With such a variety of college fundraiser ideas and fundraising for colleges ideas, you can see that no matter the timeframe or your budget, as long as you work creatively and collaboratively, you can fundraise and enjoy it while doing it.
So what are you waiting for? Share your cause, engage your peers, and start your college fundraiser today.
FAQs about College Fundraising
What are the best fundraiser ideas for colleges??
Bake sales, trivia nights, and car washes are all super easy and have very little setup required. Generally speaking, they are inexpensive, fun, and bring people together on campus.
Can I fundraise for personal college expenses?
Yes! Through services like WhyDonate, students can start a personal crowdfunding campaign for tuition, textbooks, rent, or anything else that is needed.
How do I promote a college fundraiser online?
Use social media like Instagram stories, TikTok, or even Facebook groups, but don’t forget about email. Share stories about yourself and come back with updates to keep people interested.
Do digital fundraisers for college students work?
Yes! College students are digital natives, and online platforms like WhyDonate will allow fundraisers to be shared well beyond campus and secure donations from further away.
How do I engage others in my fundraiser?
Ask friends to join in on the planning, promotion, and participation of the event. Offer peer-to-peer options, get wild with the roles assigned, and keep it collaborative.
Can international students use crowdfunding for college fundraising?
Yes, international students can use crowdfunding platforms to raise money for their college tuition, living expenses, or study-related projects. Many students create campaigns on global fundraising platforms to share their story, reach a wider audience, and receive support from friends, family, and even strangers.
