12 Innovative Fundraising Ideas for Teen Nonprofit Founders
If you’re a high schooler with a social impact startup idea, consider launching a fundraiser to raise capital for your venture. Starting a fundraiser in high school might feel like a big task, but it is a great way to sustain your initiative. By planning a fundraising campaign, you’ll learn how to get people involved, keep track of donations, and adjust plans when things change. This experience lets you take on roles that most students don’t get, like leading, organizing, and making decisions that matter. Colleges value this because it shows you can move beyond schoolwork and take action for causes you care about.
High school is a good time to try running a fundraiser because you can launch one with very few resources. Online platforms like GoFundMe, Givebutter, or Canva let you set up campaigns quickly. There are also contests, grants, and youth incubators like Young Founders Lab that support high schoolers trying out new ideas. Being a student gives you an advantage because you understand what your peers or local community might respond to. That perspective can help you design a fundraiser that works.
To help you get started, here are 12 fundraising ideas for teen nonprofit founders!
12 Innovative Fundraising Ideas for Teen Nonprofit Founders
1. Virtual Talent Show Fundraiser
You can organize a virtual talent show to bring friends, classmates, and family together online. Performers can showcase singing, dancing, comedy, magic, or any talent. Viewers can donate to vote for their favorite acts, making it interactive. Stream the event on platforms like Zoom or YouTube Live and use social media to reach more people. This fundraiser works best if you have a school or community network to pull performers and viewers from. It is low-cost and flexible, so you can run it from your room.
Skills/Tools Needed: Zoom/YouTube Live, Canva for posters, Instagram/TikTok promotion, donor outreach via platforms like GoFundMe or Givebutter
Initial Costs: Minimal; could include optional costs like small prizes for winners or upgrading to premium streaming features
2. Themed Community 5K or Walkathon
You can turn a 5K run or walk into a themed community event, like a Color Run, Superhero Sprint, or Glow in the Dark walk. Participants pay a registration fee, and you can raise more by selling themed t-shirts, glow sticks, or water bottles. Local businesses may sponsor the event for visibility, helping cover costs. This fundraiser promotes school or community spirit, encourages exercise, and creates an event people want to return to. For teens, it’s a way to learn about planning, sponsorships, and engaging the community.
Skills/Tools Needed: Event planning, outreach to sponsors, Canva for flyers, volunteer coordination, payment collection system (Eventbrite, Google Forms + PayPal)
Initial Costs: Permits for public spaces, printing bibs/flyers, basic supplies (cones, water, glow powder, or color packets)
3. Online Art Auction
Host an online art auction by inviting students to contribute paintings, digital art, photos, or crafts. Display the pieces in a virtual gallery so people can browse and place bids. You can run it on an auction website or even on Instagram, with bids in the comments. To make it more interactive, hold a live event where items are shown and auctioned in real time. This fundraiser gives students a platform to share their work while raising money for a cause.
Skills/Tools Needed: Photography/scanning of artwork, online auction platforms (32Auctions, eBay), Canva for catalogs, Instagram promotion, donor outreach
Initial Costs: Minimal; costs may include shipping materials for physical art and optional printing of auction booklets
4. Crowdfunding Campaign with Storytelling Videos
Crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe or Givebutter allow you to reach donors far beyond your immediate network. By creating a compelling campaign page and supplementing it with short videos, you can share your nonprofit’s story in a personal way. Videos should highlight the problem, your mission, and the impact donations will have. Teens can use TikTok or Instagram Reels to spread the word, making it both affordable and scalable.
Skills/Tools Needed: Canva, video editing apps (CapCut, iMovie), social media promotion, storytelling
Initial Costs: Minimal; primarily time and effort
5. Pop-Up Bake Sale with a Twist
Bake sales are a classic fundraiser, but adding a creative twist can make them stand out. Consider themes like “International Desserts” or “DIY Cookie Kits” that encourage customers to try something new. Hosting the sale at school events, farmers’ markets, or community centers ensures visibility and foot traffic. You can also accept pre-orders online for pickup or delivery. This method combines entrepreneurship with fundraising, teaching you how to manage inventory, market a product, and engage with customers.
Skills/Tools Needed: Baking, Canva for signage, basic accounting, promotion via social media
Initial Costs: Ingredients, packaging, and optional permits for public sales
6. Social Media Challenge Fundraiser
Create a challenge that’s fun, shareable, and tied to your nonprofit’s cause. For example, a “7-Day Gratitude Post” or “One Gallon of Water for Awareness” challenge encourages participants to post daily updates while raising funds. Donations can be tied to completing the challenge or encouraging friends to join in. By designing something lighthearted and viral-friendly, you can reach audiences well beyond your local circle. This is especially effective if your nonprofit has a strong online presence or youth audience.
Skills/Tools Needed: Social media marketing, Canva for templates, video editing for challenge demos
Initial Costs: None — purely digital campaign
7. Virtual Gaming Tournament
Esports and gaming tournaments are increasingly popular among teens and young adults. You can host a tournament for popular games like Fortnite, Minecraft, or Rocket League, with participants paying an entry fee to participate. Prizes can be digital gift cards or sponsored items, keeping costs low. Livestreaming the event on Twitch or YouTube adds another layer of visibility. If gaming is popular at your school, organizing a tournament can engage peers while raising money for your cause.
Skills/Tools Needed: Gaming platforms, Twitch/YouTube streaming, Canva for promotion, Discord for communication
Initial Costs: Optional prizes, upgraded streaming software
8. Creative Workshop Series
You can organize a series of workshops where you or your peers teach skills like art, coding, or photography to younger students. Charge a small fee for each session, either in person or online. Running multiple sessions lets more people join and keeps participants coming back. This approach gives you hands-on experience planning lessons, managing registrations, and leading groups, while also sharing skills your community can use.
Skills/Tools Needed: Subject expertise, Canva for flyers, Zoom or in-person event setup, registration system
Initial Costs: Minimal; may include supplies for in-person workshops
9. Partner with Local Restaurants (Dine-to-Donate Nights)
Work with local restaurants or cafes that agree to donate a percentage of sales from a designated evening. You promote the event through social media and flyers, encouraging your community to dine out while supporting your nonprofit. Restaurants benefit from extra business, and you raise funds without managing an event yourself. This fundraiser strengthens community connections and teaches you about building partnerships with businesses.
Skills/Tools Needed: Outreach to restaurants, Canva for posters, social media promotion, basic event marketing
Initial Costs: None - businesses typically cover all setup
10. Eco-Friendly Product Drive
Sustainable products like reusable water bottles, tote bags, or eco-friendly kits are popular fundraisers, especially among socially conscious audiences. You can source items wholesale and sell them at school or community events, with profits going to your nonprofit. The fundraiser also aligns with environmental causes, making it mission-driven as well as practical. This approach works well for students passionate about sustainability and entrepreneurship.
Skills/Tools Needed: Supplier outreach, Canva for product labels, marketing via Instagram/TikTok
Initial Costs: Purchasing wholesale items, packaging
11. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Campaign
Instead of raising money alone, invite your peers to create their own mini-campaigns under your nonprofit’s banner. Each supporter sets a small fundraising goal and reaches out to their networks, multiplying your reach. This method works especially well for school clubs, sports teams, or friend groups. Many platforms like Classy or Givebutter make it easy to set up a central page with individual fundraising branches. It builds teamwork while raising significantly more than you could alone.
Skills/Tools Needed: Donor management, Canva for guides, social media communication
Initial Costs: None
12. Seasonal Pop-Up Shop
Seasonal pop-up shops tap into high-demand periods such as holidays, Valentine’s Day, or school openings. These pop-up shops can be run at schools, malls, or local community events. Adding an online preorder option expands your audience further. This idea teaches inventory management, customer service, and creative marketing while raising consistent funds during peak seasons.
Skills/Tools Needed: Product sourcing, Canva for flyers, social media promotion, payment collection systems
Initial Costs: Supplies or wholesale products, packaging materials
One more option - The Young Founders Lab
If you want to take these fundraising ideas further, consider the Young Founders Lab. It’s a start-up boot camp for high school students run by Harvard entrepreneurs.
In the program, you work on building a revenue-generating start-up that tackles a real-world problem. You also get mentorship from professionals and entrepreneurs from companies like Google and Microsoft. This is a way to scale your projects, learn business skills, and turn fundraising ideas into a more developed venture.
You can access the application link here!
Image Source - YFL logo