Prom fundraising ideas
Prom is a high school tradition that many students look forward to all year long. But putting on a spectacular end-of-year event can be costly, which is why prom fundraising is key.
Fundraising not only guarantees that the prom will be memorable, but that it will be accessible for all students to attend. In this article, we’ll explore the most effective ways to fundraise, why students fundraise for prom, and offer creative fundraising ideas specifically tailored to prom.
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Who should fundraise for prom?
Fundraising for prom is truly a team effort. Students, family, and faculty all have their own roles to play in making prom a success. Working together to raise money provides young people with vital opportunities to develop communication skills, embrace responsibility, and build community.
- Prom committees — This group should take the lead in planning and creative decisions. Together, the prom committee should coordinate events, set fundraising goals, and lead communications.
- High school students – Fellow students have an invested interest in making prom the best it can be. This group can volunteer time, spread the word, bring creative energy, and offer support to their peers.
- Parents and guardians – While letting the students lead, those in a parental role can volunteer, offer guidance, donate, and tap into networks to support fundraising.
- School faculty and staff — Always on hand to supervise, provide guidance, secure school resources, and amplify the student efforts.
Top tip: Use the GoFundMe ‘Team’ feature to collaborate with ease.
Why fundraising for prom is important
Fundraising for prom is essential for elevating the experience and making it accessible for all students, regardless of their financial situation.
Prom expenses can add up fast. From venue and decoration to entertainment and refreshments, throwing a prom to remember can cost thousands. Prom fundraising helps to take the pressure off. By harnessing the generosity of friends, family, staff, and the local community, the students can have the prom they deserve.
By fundraising, the prom committee can dream big and create a prom experience to go down in the history books. Want a secret garden soiree with an artisanal mocktail bar? Fundraising can help you get there.
Most importantly, it keeps prom ticket prices affordable for all students. And ensures all students can be part of the ultimate send-off.
What do students need to fundraise for?
Students fundraise for a range of things that help transform prom from a dance into an elevated event that amazes your guests.
Costs include securing the venue and setting up the event, which includes any themed decorations to set the tone for the night. Entertainment costs often claim a significant share of the budget, whether it’s hiring a DJ or bringing in a live band, and while fireworks or pyrotechnics can deliver a true “wow” moment, they come with a hefty price tag. Food and beverages are expensive, as you’re catering for the entire year group and staff.
Before the event, you’ll also have to factor in promotional materials and any costs associated with fundraising (such as putting on additional fundraising events).
Where can you fundraise for prom?
Fundraising for prom can be done online and in-person, with a combination of the two being the most effective for covering all bases.
Your first port of call should be the school itself. There are plenty of moments to remind your fellow students to donate through on-campus fundraising. Seize every opportunity to nudge them, from shout-outs in assemblies and after class to donation buckets in the lunch room and at school sports games.
Next, reach out to the wider community by posting about your fundraiser and any related events in local community centers and event spaces. You could post flyers in grocery stores and parking lots, anywhere you think you’ll get noticed. Local businesses are great partners when it comes to fundraising; they can offer mutually beneficial sponsorships, in-kind donations, or the use of their space for fundraising events.
Online fundraising is fantastic for reaching beyond your immediate network and hitting your fundraising goals. GoFundMe is a safe and trusted online fundraising platform with a global charitable giving community of 150 million donors. Launching and managing a fundraiser on GoFundMe is not only easy but free to do, and our helpful blog and fundraising tools will help you accelerate your fundraising.
Harness social media to spread the word about your fundraising efforts. Share year highlights to tap into nostalgia, and post behind-the-scenes glimpses of prom planning and fundraising events to build excitement. School websites are a great place to get the word out, acting as a central hub of information. You can share the link to your fundraising page on social media and school websites to drive donations from students, alumni, family, and the wider community.
How to raise money successfully for prom
Raising money for prom is most successful when you combine clear goal setting, creative promotion, and community involvement.
- Set clear, achievable fundraising goals — This helps to keep the fundraising team focused, while motivating potential supporters to donate to your cause. Providing details in your fundraising page about what the money will be used for can help build trust and willingness to help. Remember to keep updating your supporters with fundraising progress, as this may motivate repeat donations.
- Promote fundraising events effectively — A creative and consistent promotional strategy is most effective in helping you reach your fundraising goals. Use every channel at your disposal, including social media, WhatsApp, email, in-school announcements, and physical posters. Read our guide on offline promotion to get ideas.
- Involve the community and local businesses – Reach beyond the school by engaging the local community, businesses, and alumni. Partnerships can provide donations, sponsorships, or in-kind contributions, while also building connections with the wider community.
- Offer incentives and creative promotions — You could offer promotions such as prizes or exclusive perks, such as early entry or mocktail vouchers. Incentivise people to book groups of tickets or buy earlybird with offers they can’t refuse. This will help you build up your fund for planning the actual event.
Creative prom fundraising ideas
Fundraising offers an opportunity to flex your creative muscles. Unique and imaginative ideas help your event stand out and encourage more donations.
Fundraising event ideas
- Sports-themed event – Engaging with the school sports teams will help generate more attention and donations for your event. Host mini-tournaments or launch pop-ups at school sports matches to raise money
- Thrift store prom – Sell vintage prom dresses and accessories to raise money for your fundraiser. Ask the local community, school alumni, and even local businesses to donate items to sell, with profits going towards the event itself.
- $5 Prom night — Host a budget-friendly mini-prom event. It could be hosted in the school gymnasium or another local business to keep costs down. Keep decorations and entertainment simple, maybe with a little nod to the theme of the main event. Tickets could be made available to the whole community to make it more exciting. Ask aspiring student musicians if they’d like to perform.
- Entertainment events — Talking of student talents, get your class to provide the entertainment to help raise money. A talent show, comedy night, or battle of the bands would make for great entertainment. If you’re looking for something more lowkey, how about hosting a karaoke night?
Merchandise and promotional Ideas
- Custom after-prom t-shirts — Merchandise is a great way to keep that school spirit strong long after prom is over. Get custom t-shirts with your graduating year, school name, and catchy prom phrases. After all, you can’t wear a tux or ballgown on your average Wednesday.
- Memorabilia — Merchandise marking your graduating year is a sweet way to mark a huge milestone and fundraise for prom. Whether it’s keychains, mugs, tote bags, or laptop stickers, they offer plenty of options so people can remember the good times.
Activity-based fundraisers
- Themed promposal contest — Get students to get creative with their promposal with a theme relating to the school or the overall prom theme. Students can take part for a fee, with winners announced on prom night, where they’ll receive a prize. Try and get the prize donated from a local business or alumni if possible to keep costs down.
- Funny promposal competition — Asking someone to the prom can feel like a big deal. Add a lighthearted twist by encouraging humour with a competition for the funniest promposal. You can get people to film themselves asking the question and submit them via email.
Unique fundraising events
- Prom countdown fundraiser — Plan a series of mini events and challenges in the lead up to prom to build excitement and get people together.
- Prom drive — Organize a car wash or donation drive as a way to get people together to raise money
Promotion and ticket ideas
While many prom tickets will sell themselves, a little smart promotion could help them sell faster and give you more money upfront to help pay for the event.
- Catchy prom phrases — Using prom puns or creating a unique prom slogan can help set the tone for the event and get people excited early on. Use it consistently across all of your promotional materials to create a sense of cohesion and maximize impact.
- Prom ticket sales strategies – You could tap into classic ticket sale strategies to help get sales moving. Why not release a set amount as earlybird tickets for a discounted price? You could also experiment with tiered ticket levels or offer add-ons, such as merchandise, VIP access, or photo packages.
- Innovative promotional strategies — Drive engagement with some creative promo across social media and beyond. Consider hosting a themed countdown on social media, creating short teaser videos revealing hints about the event, or running contests that tie into your prom theme. Encourage your followers to share posts for a chance at winning prizes, such as prom tickets or upgrades.
After-prom fundraising ideas
- Post-prom brunch — The morning after the night before is a great time to get together, reminisce, and continue to raise funds. Sell tickets and take food orders ahead of the event to raise money for the prom itself. Partner with a local restaurant and negotiate a mutually beneficial sponsorship deal that allows you to raise money. You could also tie in a bake sale, so people can take some delicious baked goods home to their friends and families.
- After-party fundraisers – Host an official after-party in collaboration with a local restaurant or business to keep the party going in a safe environment. Offer tickets ahead of the event, and make sure there are plenty at the door.
- Souvenir and memorabilia — While it’s best to have merchandise available well before the end of the year, it’s equally smart to remind people it’s still for sale after prom. Post-event nostalgia can often give sales a welcome boost as attendees rush to get a keepsake from an incredible night.
Conclusion
Prom fundraising is essential to guarantee an event that’s not only memorable, but accessible to all. GoFundMe makes it easy for students and prom committees to tell their story, share their fundraiser, and reach broad networks. Our helpful blog includes everything from fundraising event ideas to advice on asking for donations.
Plan early, promote creatively, and make your prom an unforgettable event.