Tips for Fundraising in High School

Many secondary schools participate in charitable causes and are concerned with social justice issues such as raising funds for humanitarian aid, women’s health and/or non-violence throughout the world. But first consider how you are raising funds. You would not want to raise funds by providing unhealthy foods to your peers; just like you would not want to fundraise by selling cigarettes.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Is your main criterion in finding a product to sell, how profitable it is?
• How do foods of minimal nutritional value (like candies and cookies) fit within your overall fundraising principles?
• Can your fundraiser be a learning opportunity to educate participants on the cause you are supporting?
• Would you consider using your fundraising activities to offer products that also promote the health and well-being of your school community? For example, using Fresh from the Farm or other nutritious food options.

Some examples:

• Raise your school’s spirit by having water bottles or refillable mugs with the school’s logo on it
• Make fundraising part of a school assignment for the Marketing/ Business Class. Make sure that there is a ‘no food’ rule and provide extra marks for ideas that have an educational component
• Have an Arts class make greeting cards, ceramic bowls and/or picture frames and sell them for a profit
• Organize a sporting event
• Look for items that everyone needs- like soap and toilet paper, and sell them!

Make sure to follow-up with those that contributed to your fundraiser, through a school newsletter article or e-blast, and let them know how their funds were used