11 Great Prom Fundraising Ideas

Prom is one of the most memorable experiences in high school, but raising money for such a major event can be a monumental task. Most schools start raising money in the fall and host several events throughout the school year. Below are some prom fundraising ideas that are easy to organize and execute.

Pancake Dinner

Host a pancake dinner in the school’s cafeteria and charge a fee for each plate. Reach out to local caterers and restaurants for donations. To really make this event successful, try hosting the dinner before a major school event, such as a basketball game. This will draw more attention to the event and encourage more people to participate.

Flower Bulb Sale

Spring is the perfect time to host a flower bulb sale. There are quite a few companies that sell bulbs at a discounted rate for fundraising purposes. When dealing with the right company, you have the potential to earn a 50% profit. In most cases, the company will supply you with an order form, a brochure describing each bulb and a collection envelope. All you have to do is sell the bulbs and place the final order.

50/50 Raffle

50/50 raffles are always a huge success and so easy to organize. Each person pays for a raffle ticket and whoever has the winning ticket will receive half of the jackpot. The other half will go to the prom. The biggest obstacle with this fundraising idea is making sure that you adhere to your state’s regulations. In many cases, you will need to obtain a special permit because this type of raffle is considered gaming. These permits are typically easy to acquire, but you should make sure that you apply at least one week before hosting the raffle.

Pizza Sale

Get in touch with local pizzerias and ask for donations. If they are unable to donate pizzas, they may be able to offer you them at a discounted rate. To raise money, sell slices of pizza in between classes, at games, or host a pizza luncheon. Pizzas are fairly inexpensive, and you can easily sell slices for $2 to $3 each. If you are able to secure a donation, this idea will generate a 100% profit.

Coffee Morning

It’s hard to resist the enticing smell of freshly brewed coffee. Use this to your advantage by selling gourmet coffees to students and faculty. Offer a variety of different flavors to maximize profits. Local merchants may be willing to donate the coffee, and you can easily sell a cup for $4 to $5 each.

Food Bazaar

Organize a food bazaar just before one of the school’s big games. Have each of the school’s clubs set up a booth in the cafeteria or gymnasium. Tailgaters can purchase food tickets from a booth and then trade their tickets for food items. Local caterers or restaurants may be willing to donate food and/or equipment to your cause.

School Basketball Tournament

Organize a basketball tournament, and encourage students and faculty to participate. This event can be held in the school’s gymnasium. Rather than charging an admission fee, sell concessions and place out a donation box for the prom. Concessions can earn you quite a bit of money. Food items can be purchased at a discounted rate from membership clubs like Sam’s Club or Costco.

Tailgating Tag Sale

Yard sales are a great way to raise money, but it can be difficult to advertise the event. Spice up this concept by hosting a tailgating tag sale in your gymnasium just before a big game at the school. Ask teachers, students and the local community for donations. You will be surprised by the number of donations you receive. Hand out flyers in school and make announcements about the sale.

Stadium Cup Sales

This idea will not only help you raise money for the prom, but cut back on waste as well. Order stadium cups with your school’s name and mascot imprinted on it. Sell the cups and offer some perks to encourage students to buy them. Make a deal with the school’s cafeteria and local restaurants to offer a discount to students who present their cups. This can be a discount on the purchase price of the drink, or a discount on a refill.

School Concert

Speak with the school band and/or choir to arrange a special concert. Seasonal concerts (i.e. Christmas concerts) are always a big hit, but you may also choose to host a themed event. Charge an admission fee and sell tickets to parents, faculty, students and the local community. If you have the means, you can host the concert outdoors. This will allow you to accommodate a much larger crowd and sell more tickets.

Gift Wrapping

Just before the holidays, set up a gift wrap table with wrapping paper, bows and ribbons. Students, faculty and staff can pay a small fee to have a gift wrapped. This is a great way to raise money and is sure to attract a large crowd.