Tired of Putting in Hours for a Few Bucks?
Discover football fundraising ideas built to deliver real profits without draining your team’s energy
Why Football Fundraising Feels Hard And How to Fix It
If you’re a high school football coach or booster club leader, you already know: football is expensive. Uniforms, gear, bus rentals, referees, tournament fees—it all adds up fast.
And while fundraising is expected, it’s rarely easy. Coaches are already maxed out managing the season. Volunteers are hard to find. Parents are stretched thin. You launch another car wash or bake sale, hoping for a miracle… and end up with a few hundred bucks and a tired team.
At Fundraising.com, we work with football programs across the U.S. that face the same challenge: they’re doing the work, but not seeing the results.
This guide shares high-return, low-hassle football fundraising ideas that help your program raise serious money—without burning out your coaches, players, or supporters.
What’s Wrong with Traditional Football Fundraising?
Let’s call it like it is. Most fundraisers simply don’t deliver.
You’ve likely seen these play out:
A 3-week cookie sale that returns less than $500 after vendor fees
A team car wash that gets rained out… again
A silent auction that requires hours of setup, with half the items left unsold
A 50/50 raffle that needs permits, volunteers, and gets minimal buy-in
It’s not that these ideas are inherently bad—they’re just not built for the modern demands of high school football.
You need high-margin, scalable, repeatable programs. And most importantly, you need options that don’t drain your time or resources.
What Makes a Football Fundraiser Actually Work?
After 25+ years supporting teams across the U.S., we’ve found that the most successful fundraisers follow three clear rules:
1. They’re simple to run
If it takes weeks of prep, multiple approvals, or a team of 12 volunteers—it’s probably too much.
2. They generate strong returns
You need 40%+ profit margins and a clear, fast path to $1,000, $3,000, or even $10,000.
3. They work with your schedule
You don’t need a weekend event. You need programs that can run during practices, games, or digitally on your timeline.
Football Fundraising Ideas That Work
Here are high-performance fundraising formats that check all three boxes. Each one is built to raise funds efficiently, even if you’re short on time, staff, or energy.
Direct-Sell Programs (Fast, Familiar, High-Profit)
These are low-friction, portable products players can sell anywhere: after practice, in school, at games, or to neighbors. No apps, no special setups—just grab, sell, and raise.
Top football picks:
- Katydids Chocolate Bars – A fan favorite, especially at concession stands. Priced right and delivers big margins.
- $1 Pretzel Rods – Low-cost, fast-selling, and perfect for cash sales.
- Gourmet Lollipops & Gummies – Always popular with younger fans and families.
- Beef Jerky & ModBalls – Great for teen athletes and fitness-conscious parents.
- Smencils – Scented pens that are fun for students and easy to bundle.
These items let your team earn quickly without needing upfront investment or excessive planning. Our clients often generate $1,500–$3,000 in just a few practice nights.
Order-Taker Programs (Zero Inventory, All Upside)
Not everyone wants to handle inventory. That’s where order takers shine. These programs use brochures or online platforms to collect orders first—products are only shipped after.
Best options for football programs:
Cookie Dough – A timeless favorite with a high reorder rate.
Sweet CHAOS Popcorn – A crowd-pleaser with strong margins.
Tumblers & Candles – Great for the holiday season or staff appreciation gifts.
Order takers can be run completely online, with our Ship-to-Home option, which removes all handling responsibilities from your staff. Buyers place their orders online, and products arrive at their doorstep.
It’s a clean, risk-free model—and with our support materials and setup assistance, your team can go live in under 24 hours.
Digital Fundraising Platforms (More Reach, Less Stress)
For teams looking to go completely contactless—or supplement other campaignsdigital fundraising offers a game-changing solution.
Players each get a personal fundraising page they can customize and share via text, email, or social media. Donors contribute online, and you track real-time progress on a live dashboard.
Perfect for:
- Off-season campaigns (uniforms, camps, offseason conditioning)
- Tournament travel costs
- Closing budget gaps
- Teams with widespread supporter networks
Our clients consistently hit $3,000–$10,000 in under two weeks using this format without a single in-person meeting or event.
Sustaining Momentum Across the Season
One common mistake teams make? They do one big fundraiser and expect it to carry them all season.
Here’s a better approach:
Run layered, time-boxed campaigns
Break your season into segments and rotate strategies. For example:
- Pre-season: Launch a digital campaign to fund uniforms
- Mid-season: Use order takers (like cookie dough) with Ship-to-Home delivery
- Playoffs: Run a direct-sell campaign with chocolate or jerky
This keeps the energy fresh while reducing pressure on any one format.
Build in team-wide incentives
Offering rewards for the top three sellers—or a team pizza party if goals are met—keeps players engaged and accountable.
Make results visible
Use progress thermometers, leaderboard tracking, and end-of-campaign shoutouts to keep your community informed and excited.
Real Team Success Stories
Why Fundraising.com Works for Football Programs
We’re not just product suppliers—we’re fundraising strategists. Whether you need to raise $1,000 or $10,000, we build the plan with you.
What you get:
- Personal fundraising coach
- Turnkey campaign kits
- High-profit, fast-turnaround products
- Fully online fundraising options
- Ship-to-home delivery for all major programs
No fluff. No wasted hours. Just proven systems that help you raise more—while doing less.
Get Started Today
Football season is short, and your time is limited. With the right tools, you can hit your funding goals fast and focus on what matters—coaching your team to win.
Let’s make this your most profitable season yet.