Football Fundraiser Ideas for Youth and High School Teams

If you coach high school football, sit on a booster club, or run a youth football program, the strongest football fundraiser ideas are the ones built around what you already have: home games, a field fence, a weight room and a roster of players the town wants to see. Game-day concessions, raffles, program ads, fence banners, pledge events like a lift-a-thon, alumni nights and youth camps all fit the football calendar. This post walks through each idea, when it fits in the season, and the rules you need to check first.

Start With Game Day

Home games are when most of your community is in one place. Plan around them.

Concessions

The concession stand is often a football program’s steadiest earner. A few habits help:

• Keep the menu short. Fewer items means faster lines and less waste.
• Post prices where people can see them before they reach the window, so the line moves.
• Staff it with parent shifts set before the season, not the night of the game.

If your stand is on school property, ask who owns it, who buys the food and where the money goes. The Alpine School District booster handbook in Utah, for example, says all concession proceeds must be deposited daily.

50/50 raffles

A 50/50 raffle splits the pot between one winner and your program. It is also gambling under many state laws, and the rules change a lot from state to state.

The Ohio Attorney General’s school fundraiser FAQ says public schools and charitable organizations do not need a license to run a raffle, but must follow the state’s gambling chapter and keep records of expenses and prizes for at least three years. The same page says a person under 18 may sell raffle tickets, but not at the site of the raffle. On the other hand, the Alpine School District booster handbook says that under Utah law, a raffle that requires buying a ticket with no product purchase is illegal, and tells clubs to avoid all appearances of a raffle.

So before you sell a single ticket, check your state attorney general’s or gaming office’s page, and ask your school or district. Do not assume another state’s rules apply to you.

Sell the Field: Program Ads and Fence Banners

Local businesses want to be seen by the families in your bleachers.

Game programs

A printed or digital program with a roster, schedule and ads can be sold or handed out at the gate. Offer a few ad sizes and set the deadline well before the first home game.

Fence and scoreboard banners

Banners on the field fence stay up all season and are seen at every home game. Before you sell one, find out:

• Who owns the fence and whether the school or district must approve signs.
• Whether the district has rules on what kinds of businesses can advertise at a school field.
• Who pays for printing, and who hangs and takes down the banners.

Write the package in plain terms: what the business gets, where the logo goes, and for how long. Send the same sheet to every business.

Pledge Events: Lift-a-Thon and Punt, Pass and Kick

Family and neighbors pledge a set amount per rep or per yard, or give a flat gift.

Lift-a-thon

1. Pick a date in the summer or preseason when the team is already lifting.
2. Choose safe, coach-supervised lifts. Count reps or total weight, not one-rep maxes for younger players.
3. Give each player a pledge sheet or a link to share with family.
4. Hold the event, record each player’s results, and send a thank-you with the results to every donor.
5. Collect pledges within a week or two while people still remember.

Punt, pass and kick contest

A contest open to younger kids in town brings new families to your field and gives your players a job as station helpers. Charge an entry fee and run concessions. Check that your school’s insurance and facility rules cover outside participants.

Senior Night, Alumni Games and Tailgates

Senior night

Senior night draws extra family members to one game. Pair it with a special at the concession stand, a photo spot, or a sponsor who covers the senior gifts.

Alumni game or alumni night

An alumni flag football game or an alumni recognition night brings former players back. Collect their contact information so you can stay in touch. Full-contact alumni games carry more injury and insurance risk, so ask your school and its insurer before planning one.

Tailgate

A booster-run tailgate before a big home game can sell plates, drinks and spirit items. Check the school’s rules on food, grills and where tailgating is allowed.

Apparel and Youth Camps

Apparel sale

Fans will buy shirts and hoodies with the team logo, especially early in the season and before rivalry games. Use a store that prints on demand so you are not stuck with leftover sizes. Get permission to use the school logo and mascot, since many schools control how they are used.

Youth camp run by high school players

A one- or two-day camp for younger kids, with high school players as coaches, can earn money and build your future roster. Before you plan one, check with your state association. Many associations have rules about camps, coaching contact out of season, and whether high school athletes can be paid or receive anything for helping. Also plan for waivers, medical information for each camper, and water and shade.

When Each Idea Fits: A Season Calendar

Spread fundraisers across the year so you are not asking the same families every week.

When the season ends, fold sponsor renewals and a fundraising review into your end of season checklist for youth football.

Money Rules for High School Booster Clubs

If your booster club supports a school team, follow your school’s and district’s rules for money handling. They differ by district, so ask for the written policy. Two district handbooks show what these rules often cover:

• Approval first. The South Cobb High School booster handbook in Georgia says all fundraising must be approved by the principal or a designee. The Alpine handbook says fundraisers must be approved in writing before any contracts are signed.
• Two people count cash. The Alpine handbook says money should always be counted by more than one person, with a tally sheet signed by two people.
• Deposit fast. The same handbook says money must be deposited at least every three business days.
• Keep funds separate. Alpine says booster money should never be mixed with school or personal funds, and personal checking accounts must not be used.
• No required fundraising. The South Cobb handbook says students cannot be required to fundraise to take part in activities, and fundraising cannot involve students during class time.

Youth programs outside a school should use the same habits.

Common Questions

What is the easiest football fundraiser for a small team?

Concessions and fence banners are usually the easiest because they use what you already have: home games and a field. Concessions need volunteers each week, while banners take work up front and then earn all season. Start with a short sponsor sheet and ask businesses your families already use.

Are 50/50 raffles legal at high school football games?

It depends on your state. Ohio’s Attorney General says public schools may run raffles without a license if they follow state law, while a Utah district handbook says ticket-only raffles are illegal there. Check your own state attorney general or gaming office, and get written approval from your school or district before you sell any tickets at a game.

Can high school players run a youth football camp to raise money?

Often yes, but check with your state association first. Many state associations have rules about out-of-season coaching contact, camps, and whether athletes can be paid or receive benefits for working. Your athletic director should know the rules. Once cleared, plan waivers, medical forms for every camper, adult supervision, water breaks and shade.

What is a lift-a-thon and how does it work?

A lift-a-thon is a pledge event where players lift weights and donors pledge per rep or give a flat amount. Coaches pick safe lifts, players share pledge sheets with family, and the team holds the event on one day. Afterward, send donors the results and collect pledges quickly. It fits best in summer or preseason.

Who should count the money at the concession stand?

Two adults should count it together, and both should sign the count sheet. A Utah district booster handbook requires two signed counters, and it protects volunteers from questions later. That handbook also requires concession money to be deposited daily, so check your own district’s rule if your stand is on school property.

Can we make players sell a set amount to stay on the team?

At many schools, no. One Georgia high school’s booster handbook says students cannot be required to fundraise to take part in activities. Ask your district for its policy. Even where it is allowed, a required quota can push families away, so many programs make fundraising optional and give families other ways to help.

When should we start planning football fundraisers?

Start in late spring or early summer. Banners, program ads and sponsor packages need to be sold before the first home game, and a lift-a-thon fits the summer weight room schedule. Get school approvals early, too, since some districts require written approval before you sign any contracts with vendors or printers.

All of these can run on paper and a cash box. If you want a giving page with a goal and progress bar, plus a sponsor portal where businesses pick a package and upload their logo, a concessions menu and game tickets in one place, see how fundraisers work in MCM360 Sports.