Fundraising ideas for theaters, theater production groups, and drama clubs
Fundraising is the heartbeat of a thriving arts community. Whether you’re part of a high school drama club, a local theater group, or a professional production company, raising funds is vital to keep the curtain rising.
This article explores everything you need to know about theater fundraising before diving into a curated list of creative and effective fundraising ideas for theater groups. You’ll also learn how to harness online fundraising platforms like GoFundMe to maximize support for your next big production and bring down the house.
Who needs theater fundraising and why it matters
Theater fundraising is crucial to keep the performing arts not just surviving, but thriving. It provides essential financial resources to cover venue, staffing, and performance costs, but it also allows the theater to contribute to culture, creative expression, and community.
Who benefits from theater fundraising?
- Local theater companies and non-profits – Theater fundraising is a lifeline for these organizations. They rely on the generosity of supporters to cover production costs, pay artists, and maintain venues. Fundraising also allows them to offer cheaper tickets to underserved communities or low-income individuals, making the arts accessible to all.
- High school and college drama clubs – Drama clubs foster the talent of the future, allowing students to develop acting skills, creativity, and confidence. They often cooperate on a light budget, meaning fundraising is essential.
- Community theater clubs — While these might be largely powered by the local community and volunteers, these clubs still cost money to run. Recruiting volunteers, producing shows, managing technical needs, and venue hire can all add up.
- Independent theater production groups — With rising costs and few resources, independent theater groups rely on fundraising to level up their productions. Funds raised can contribute to a lot of expenses, including paying performers, renting theater spaces, and marketing their work.
- Arts programs and music departments — Behind the curtain of theater productions are arts programs and music departments doing the work. Fundraising helps them to maintain and up-level the quality of arts education within their own environment. This could include purchasing (and maintaining) equipment, such as props and instruments, and bringing in guest instructors or performers to inspire students.
- Clubs for theater lovers and fans of the performing arts — Theater is nothing without its fans. Theater lovers gather in many forms, fundraising to support arts organizations and offering exclusive experiences for their members.
Why fundraising is crucial for the arts
Reduced arts funding and cuts to school budgets are threatening theaters across the US and impacting the talent of tomorrow. Theater fundraising helps to bridge these gaps and provide funding for students to continue to develop and explore the arts within school environments. This strengthens creativity, youth engagement, and arts education.
Lack of funding also impacts independent drama clubs and theater groups, who struggle to make ends meet. Fundraising not only helps keep the lights on, but also ensures that staff are properly compensated, productions are funded, and that clubs are accessible for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Fundraising ensures that theater performances and workshops remain accessible through community access. This might mean discounted or free tickets to shows or workshop places.
What do theaters and drama clubs fundraise for?
Fundraising is about more than simply putting on a good show. There is a ton of work that goes on behind the scenes to foster talent, provide education, and maintain creative spaces. And then, yes, there are the productions themselves, where everything from script rights to set design costs money. Here are some common expenses that theater and drama clubs might need to fundraise for.
Common fundraising needs
- Costumes, props, and set design — You can have the best acting talent in the world on stage, but it’s nothing without decent costumes, props, and set design. The cost will depend on the scale of the production, but it can cost thousands of dollars. It’s expensive due to the need for quality materials, period-specific accuracy, and health and safety. Fundraising through generous supporters can alleviate the financial pressure that theater groups face to put on as best performance possible.
- Stage money, lighting, and tech equipment — Technical support is essential for theater productions in creating the right atmosphere for each scene, and making sure the audience can see and hear the performance. Technical equipment, qualified technicians, and appropriate insurance can be expensive.
- Venue rental fees and performance rights — It’s rare for a theater group to own its own venue, so rental fees are part of many productions. Even if a school has an auditorium, additional needs such as lighting technicians and security can mean it gets expensive. What’s more, producing a play usually requires purchasing performance rights. These fees are paid to copyright holders and can vary widely.
- Travel costs for competitions or regional shows — Expanding beyond the local area is an exciting time for any theater group, but it comes at a cost. Travel, accommodation, and meals are expensive, especially for a full theater group. Typically, performers and their families might contribute to these costs, but fundraising helps bolster the money for unexpected expenses—and ensures all can attend regardless of income.
- Marketing materials like playbills, posters, and digital promotions — It’s important to get the word out about productions to ensure each show is widely appreciated and supported, which in turn can fund the future of the theater group. Digital promotions, physical posters, promotional flyers, and playbills can run into high costs. Digital may seem free, but any targeted promotion will need to be paid for.
- Drama club activities — It’s important for drama clubs to offer a range of educational opportunities to challenge and inspire students. These could take the form of guest workshops and masterclasses, or educational trips to see a performance.
- Maintenance theater spaces — Theater spaces require regular maintenance and upgrading to stay fully functional. Fundraising can help pay for materials, tools, and technicians to carry out this work. Rehearsal spaces are increasingly becoming more playground-like to encourage creativity and movement; these spaces need to be designed, built, and funded.
Specific projects and campaigns
- Launching new theater play ideas – Developing a new production takes time and resources; fundraising helps carve out this time to create innovative and creative work.
- Annual productions — Seasonal productions can be a mainstay of the cultural community calendar, offering key moments where even non-regular theater goers attend shows. Think Christmas productions.
- Specialized music fundraisers and art fundraising ideas — Arts departments often collaborate to help fundraise together through unique performances, shows, and concerts that benefit all areas.
- Entertainment fundraising for charity-linked events — Some events will double as a charity fundraiser, so it’s essential to fundraise before the event to keep overhead costs down.
Where can you donate to theater fundraisers?
Supporting theater fundraisers is easier than ever. There are multiple ways to donate and show your support for the arts.
Supporting local and school-based theater
- Directly through school portals or local arts councils — Many schools will have online donation or fundraising pages. Check their official website, social media, or search GoFundMe.
- Donation booths at performances and events — Buying a ticket to a show is a brilliant way to support a local theater. While you’re there, see if there are physical donation tables where you can donate more to support their efforts.
- Community bulletin boards and business sponsorships — Keep an eye out in the local community to spot opportunities to support theater. Partnerships and community news will also be shared on social media, so make sure you’re following the relevant accounts to stay in the know.
Donating online through GoFundMe
Thousands of people have launched GoFundMe fundraisers to raise money for theater projects and initiatives. You can donate to support them easily by exploring fundraisers by category (e.g., arts, education, music programs).
GoFundMe is a safe, trusted platform for you to donate with confidence. With the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee, you can be certain your donations are protected.
Where can you fundraise for theaters and drama clubs?
There are many opportunities to fundraise for theater and drama clubs, both in person and online. Here are some effective options.
Local opportunities
- Partnering with local businesses for sponsorships — Local businesses will be willing to support arts organizations, especially if the partnership is mutually beneficial. Reach out to local restaurants, cafes, shops, and companies to sponsor the production. In exchange, you could offer them a mention in your marketing materials, such as posters or social media, or free tickets to give away in a competition. Be sure to highlight any opportunities for them, such as access to their target audience, positive press, or the halo effect.
- Hosting community events, markets, and showcases — Show your support for the arts by organizing creative initiatives and supporting artists. This could be a community theater night, seasonal performance, market, or fair. These events are great at building local support and show your commitment to the creative community.
- Collaborations with schools, libraries, and art centers — Collaborate with like-minded organizations with similar goals. You can co-host events and workshops together and split the profits for your fundraising. By working together, you double your reach and fundraising opportunity.
Online fundraising platforms
- Use GoFundMe to start a drama club or launch a specific theater project
GoFundMe is a safe, trusted platform used by thousands to fundraise for performance arts initiatives and extracurricular clubs. It’s free to set up and manage a fundraiser, maximizing the amount of money that reaches your good cause.
When it comes to creating a compelling fundraiser story that drives donations, we’ve got you. Start by telling your story, explaining why your theater group needs fundraising, what the money will be spent on, and your personal connection to the fundraiser.
Make sure you prioritize strong images and video to help potential supporters connect to your cause. Posting content from rehearsals and previous shows can help people see what their donations will be supporting.
It’s easy to share the fundraiser with your network using our fundraising tools for social media and email.
Remember to post regular updates about your fundraiser and the project it’s supporting. It’s smart to plan your outreach in line with milestones to give followers more of a reason to donate. For example, consider resharing the fundraiser when you reach 50% of your goal or when you’re three months away from your performance. This will help drive urgency.
How to run a successful theater fundraiser
Running a successful theater fundraiser is no mean feat. It takes planning, teamwork, and community support. Here is our step-by-step guide to help you meet your fundraising goals.
Step-by-step planning
- Set clear goals — Before you do anything, set out what you want to achieve. Establish a budget, set a timeline, and work out what materials or resources you’ll need. Setting clear objectives—such as fundraising goals and what the money will fund—will keep everyone focused.
- Involve cast, crew, families, and alumni — Fundraising is most effective when we work together. Gather a team of cast members, crew, loved ones, and alumni to get involved and support your good cause. They could help sell tickets, spread the word, help out during events, and volunteer their skills. Use GoFundMe’s Team feature to split responsibilities, such as posting updates, thanking donors, and promoting the fundraising page.
- Promote the fundraiser – Use every channel you can to spread the word about your fundraiser. Whether it’s newsletters, social media platforms, or local community boards, you never know where your supporters might spot your cause. Ask your followers to share social media posts with their own networks to reach as many people as possible. Not sure how to ask for donations? Check out our blog post.
Collaborate and engage
Collaboration is a powerful and effective way to bolster any theater fundraiser. If you’re wondering, “What is the main benefit of collaborating on fundraising ideas?” There are many; collaboration leads to better outreach, diverse idea generation, and shared resources.
- Better outreach — partnering with other school clubs, local businesses, or arts groups allows you to tap into their networks and amplify your message.
- Diverse idea generation — You know the phrase two heads are better than one? Well, the same can be said of organizations. When people work together, they have access to more ideas and perspectives—and that can only make your fundraiser stronger.
- Shared resources and audiences — There’s power in numbers, especially when it comes to audience reach and resources. From equipment and software to mailing lists and social media followers, working together can supercharge your effectiveness.
Creative fundraising ideas for theaters, drama clubs, and production groups
Fundraising doesn’t have to be run-of-the-mill. Tap into your team’s creativity to make your fundraiser stand out and attract supporters. Try some of these ideas:
Performance-based fundraisers
- Talent shows, monologue nights, or improv battles — You’ve got access to a wealth of talent, so use it! Creating satellite performances around a key show can help build excitement and drum up support. It’ll also provide you with plenty of social content to share so that you can remind your followers about your online fundraiser.
- Dinner theater or musical café nights — Who doesn’t love dinner and a show? Partner up with a local restaurant and split the profits with them.
- Host entertainment for events — Whether it’s a corporate or charity event, performances can be lucrative and help contribute to your fundraiser.
Interactive and seasonal fundraisers
- Valentine’s booth ideas for school — Go all-in around Valentine’s Day with a romantic, Insta-worthy photo booth for students to take snaps with loved ones. Rather than buying new decorations, see if you can reuse and upcycle old production props. This will not only be a great way to raise money, but a creative challenge for students.
- Spring fling proposal ideas — For this semi-formal dance event, proposals are a key feature. Tie in your performance by having cast members create custom script deliveries in character for a proposal to remember.
- Haunted theater tours — Immersive haunted experiences are becoming more popular, especially around Halloween. Tap into this trend by turning your venue into a spooky destination with interactive mystery plays. Charge a small fee for entry.
Product fundraisers
- Donut fundraiser ideas — You can partner with local bakeries or reach out to your local Krispy Kreme store to apply for its well-known fundraising program. These donuts can be sold anytime, but it would be smart to tie them in with another performance or fundraising event.
- Custom merchandise — Who doesn’t love merch? Create and sell shirts, mugs, tote bags, and water bottles to raise money and awareness about your cause. When people sport your merch, they act as word-of-mouth champions for your cause. Use a Cricut machine if you have access to one.
Art and music fundraisers
- Collaborative art club fundraiser ideas — Pair up with the art club to host art auctions or gallery tours, with profits split between both clubs. Attendees pay a small entry fee and can bid on student and local art through a silent auction.
- Music fundraising ideas — Record performances with school music groups, such as the choir or band, and sell physical CDs or digital downloads. You could also host a small fundraising concert where songs are performed.
School and club fundraisers
- Drama club fundraiser ideas —Take a typical fundraiser idea and add drama to make it memorable. For example, host a bake sale and sell “golden ticket brownies” during a production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. You could also host a drama club yard sale, selling old props to fans and supporters.
- Theater program playbill ads — Sell advertising space in your production programs for local businesses to promote their services. This provides businesses with exposure while giving your program a reliable funding source. You could also offer parents or alumni the opportunity to buy ad space to promote or simply offer well-wishes to the club.
Online and digital fundraisers
- Crowdfunding through GoFundMe — Launch a fundraiser on GoFundMe to raise money quickly and easily. Remember to include your specific funding goals, and share lots of photos and videos. Share the fundraiser far and wide to attract as much support as possible.
- Virtual workshops or drama club activities — Ask drama teachers or experienced students to volunteer their time to host virtual workshops that anyone can pay to access. This makes drama classes accessible, raises awareness, and allows you to edge closer to your fundraising goals.
- Live-streamed rehearsals — Supporters love a peep behind the curtain. Let them see rehearsals in action for a small fee. Be sure to include links to your donation page.
Bring down the house with your theater fundraiser
Raising funds for the performing arts isn’t just about making ends meet—it’s about sustaining stories, building community, and empowering creativity.
Whether you’re wondering “What can I fundraise for?” or “How to start a drama club?”, there’s a strategy here for you. Use the ideas above, gather your team, and take your next theatrical production from script to spotlight—with the help of passionate supporters and platforms like GoFundMe.