80+ Best School Cheer Team Fundraiser Ideas

How Much Money Cheer Teams Typically Raise

Coaches and parents often ask one simple question when planning a fundraiser: “How much money can we realistically expect to raise?”

The answer depends on several factors, including team size, product price, participation levels, and how effectively the fundraiser is promoted. However, most cheer teams fall within predictable fundraising ranges.

Understanding these benchmarks helps teams set realistic expectations and clear goals.

Product fundraisers tend to raise the most money

Product fundraisers are responsible for the majority of funds raised by cheer programs across the country.

Typical results include:

• Product catalog fundraiser: $3,000 – $10,000
• Online product fundraiser: $2,000 – $8,000
• Crowdfunding campaign: $1,500 – $6,000
• Event fundraiser: $500 – $3,000

These numbers vary depending on participation, but product-based fundraisers consistently outperform most event-based fundraisers because they allow many supporters to participate easily.

Team size has a major impact on results

Cheer squads tend to be larger than many other school sports teams. A typical roster may include anywhere from 15 to 40 athletes. This size creates a powerful fundraising advantage, and even modest participation can produce strong results.

For example:

• 25 cheerleaders participate
• Each athlete sells 8 items
• Average item price is $16
• Profit margin is 40%

This simple scenario would generate approximately $1,280 in profit from a single fundraiser.If the same team runs two similar fundraisers during the season, total earnings could easily exceed $2,500 or more.

Best Fundraisers for Cheer Teams by Goal

One of the most common mistakes cheer programs make is choosing a fundraiser without first identifying what the money is actually needed for. Cheer teams typically face several different types of expenses throughout the season, and each one benefits from a slightly different fundraising strategy.

Understanding which type of fundraiser works best for each situation can help teams raise money faster and with less effort from athletes and parents.

Fundraisers that work best for uniforms and gear

Uniform purchases are often one of the largest upfront expenses a cheer program faces. Because these costs typically arrive early in the season, teams benefit from fundraisers that generate larger order totals per supporter.

Product-based fundraisers tend to perform best here, especially items that supporters are comfortable purchasing in multiples.

Examples include:

• Cookie dough fundraisers
• Snack or candy catalog fundraisers
• Coffee fundraisers
• Candle fundraisers

These products appeal strongly to adult buyers, including parents, teachers, coworkers, and extended family members. Because supporters often buy more than one item, the average order value tends to be higher.

Fundraisers that work best for travel and competition expenses

Travel cheer teams often face repeated costs throughout the season, including:

• Competition entry fees
• Hotel rooms
• Transportation
• Choreography and music licensing

For these types of expenses, the best fundraisers are those that can reach supporters outside the immediate school community. Online product fundraisers perform particularly well because they allow cheerleaders to share their fundraiser with relatives in other states, parents’ coworkers, alumni, and extended family members.

Programs such as popcorn, snack catalogs, and coffee fundraisers often include personal online storefronts that allow each cheerleader to sell independently while still contributing to the team total. This type of digital sharing dramatically expands the pool of potential buyers.

Fundraisers that work best for quick cash needs

Sometimes teams need to raise money quickly, such as covering a last-minute competition fee or replacing damaged equipment. In these cases, short event-style fundraisers can be helpful.

Common examples include:

• Car washes
• Cheer clinics for younger athletes
• Spirit wear pop-up sales
• Game-day donation drives

These fundraisers typically generate smaller totals than product fundraisers but can work well when teams need money quickly and already have access to a supportive local audience.

Fundraisers designed for individual cheerleaders

In many programs, expenses such as travel or uniform costs are partially assigned to individual athletes. This can create financial pressure for families, especially when teams are large.

Individual fundraising options help solve this by allowing each athlete to contribute toward their own costs.

Common approaches include:

• Personal sponsorship letters
• Individual online storefront sales
• Skill-based pledge challenges
• Individual raffle ticket sales

These methods give families flexibility while still contributing to the overall team effort.

The most effective strategy: combining fundraisers

The most successful cheer programs rarely rely on just one fundraiser. Instead, they typically combine:

• One large product fundraiser that generates the majority of funds
• One or two smaller event fundraisers that build team visibility and community support

This balanced approach reduces pressure on athletes and families while helping teams reach larger fundraising goals more consistently.