14 Dance Fundraiser Ideas That Make Raising Money Easy

So you’re looking to run a fundraiser for your dance program? You’re not alone! Fundraising is crucial to success for dance programs right now. There’s so many great ways to fundraise. Chili cook-offs, online fundraising, bake sales, restaurant nights, the list goes on and on.

How do you know which fundraisers are the most effective? Trial and error? That takes a lot of time. We’re here to help! Below are 14 fun and innovative fundraising ideas that will help your dance program flourish.

1. Crowdfunding Campaign

Crowdfunding is the internet’s oldest way of fundraising. There are lots of online crowdfunding platforms out there, but many of them going to take a decent chunk of the money you raise for themselves.

Enter platforms like Teamfi. Teamfi doesn’t take any money from your fundraiser and our online crowdfunding platform is 100% free to use.

Now crowdfunding is a great way to raise money, and the tools are available to you, and all you have to do is sign up, add your dance program’s logo or an image, enter what you’re raising money for, and you’re well on your way! Online fundraising helps you reach not just locally, but nationwide.

2. Dance Program Merchandise Sales

If you don’t have things like t-shirts, hats, hoodies, and stickers for your dance program you’re missing out! Yes, it costs money to order these things. Sizing matters. You have to think of things like merchandise as free marketing though.

Your dancers are going to school, wearing your dance program’s t-shirt, and all of their classmates are seeing that. Same with other merch items.

You can run online apparel stores, you can use a local apparel provider to get you set up, and a lot of great options. It’s not just a fundraising idea, it’s a good marketing strategy as well.

3. Mini Dance Camp for Kids

Host a short dance camp for younger kids in your community. Your program dancers help teach basic routines, stretching, and performance skills over 2-3 days. 

You can charge a small amount per dancer that’s participating to cover costs or make a little money, but ultimately the goal is to get those campers to become full-fledged dance students. That’s why a lower initial cost and bringing in more kids could be beneficial.

4. Dance Calendar Fundraiser

We’ve just talked about two fundraisers great for growth for your dance program. If you need money though, look to one of the highest yielding fundraisers out there.

It’s the calendar fundraiser. 

Why has the calendar fundraiser been the most popular fundraising tool in the 2020s? It’s simple, it’s visual, and it’s a consistent performer.

Each dancer asks donors to fill calendar dates, with each day representing a donation amount. Successfully filling the calendar raises nearly $500 per dancer. 

5. Restaurant Spirit Night

Everyone’s got to eat right? Local restaurants are often willing to donate a percentage of sales during a designated time window if you’re bringing people in the door. Promote the event heavily and try to make sure everyone can make it.

This fundraiser requires minimal effort and you can partner with chains like Chipotle or local restaurants. While it is a good fundraiser to bring in a decent amount of money, it works best with larger dance studios, and for those under 20 dancers is not likely to be worth the effort.

6. Team Photo Day Fundraiser

Partner with a local photographer to offer individual and group photos for dancers, families, or even other school programs. A portion of each download or print sale goes back to the team. This only works with a photographer who works on a business model where they shoot for free and make their money off of prints and downloads only. 

This isn’t necessarily the norm, especially with local photographers, so you’ll have to pick someone who is willing to work with this model. It is best before competition season.

7. Sponsorship Banners or Program Ads

A must for any dance studio, advertising allows for revenue for local businesses having their logo and branding in your studio and programs.

You can offer local businesses sponsorship opportunities in exchange for banner placement at performances or ads in showcase programs. This is a fair business for business trade with non competitors though that isn’t a fundraiser.

If a business does pay you for advertising space, it is a great way to bring in funds. 

8. Fill My Dancer and Fill My Bow Fundraiser

There’s a lot of great “Fill My” fundraisers out there, and we believe that “Fill My” fundraisers are going to be one of the biggest fundraiser styles in 2026.

This type of fundraiser allows supporters to sponsor specific sections of an image that have pre-filled donation numbers in them.

Everything from fill my megaphone, fill my bow, fill my volleyball, these are all great for their sports. Fill my bow is great for fundraising for dance teams, as is fill my dancer!

A simple, visual fundraiser that works well on paper and is easy for dancers to explain to supporters.

9. Car Wash Fundraiser

A classic fundraiser that still works when promoted well. Choose a high-traffic location, wear dance team apparel, and add music to create a fun atmosphere.

Car washes are most effective in warmer months and as quick weekend fundraisers. Like with any fundraiser here, using pre-promotion can make or break your fundraiser. Those community Facebook groups? Definitely try to advertise your fundraisers there ahead of time.

10. Dance A Thon

An a-thon fundraiser is a why to bring in pledge based donations during a physical activity. Think a walk-a-thon or a hit-a-thon. These are tried and true fundraisers that have been around for decades. You’ve probably participated in a walk-a-thon especially at one point or another.

A dance a thon acts very much in the same way and you can create your own dance a thon!

11. Performance Showcase Night

After a great few weeks or months of practice, and you’re ready to showcase your performances, consider stepping beyond the dance studio.

By this we mean if there’s a performing arts center, stage at a school, host a paid showcase at one of these event venues with ample seating and open it to the public.

Instead of just having parents watch, community members can come out, add in concessions, make it a huge performance night.

12. Choreography Workshop Fundraiser

Invite a guest choreographer to host a paid workshop for dancers in your area. Maybe it’s a program alumni? Student from a local college? Professional dancer? Programs can charge per session or offer bundled pricing. This fundraiser provides real skill value while raising funds at the same time.

13. Raffle or Silent Auction

Raffles and silent auctions work well when you can secure donated items from local businesses. Popular items include gift baskets, fitness packages, and experience-based prizes.

These events pair well with showcases, competitions where families are already present, or even a summer golf outing!

14. Movie Theater Fundraiser

A movie theater fundraiser night is an easy, low-effort way for dance teams to raise money while giving families a fun night out. 

It’s very similar to the restaurant night, these types of establishments are willing to cater to groups and provide opportunities or kickbacks if you can bring people in during low volume hours.

Supporters purchase tickets or concessions during a designated time, and the theater donates a percentage of sales back to the team. This type of fundraiser works especially well because it appeals to all ages and requires very little planning from dancers or parents. Reach out to local theater establishments as options would vary greatly by chain.

Alright, It’s Time to Fundraise!

Now that we’ve got some ideas on the board, it’s all on you now. What fundraiser is best for you? A community driven fundraiser like a restaurant night? A high yielding digital fundraiser like a calendar?

The best dance fundraisers are the ones that fit your team’s schedule, energy level, and community support. Mixing one high-revenue fundraiser with a few low-effort options often produces the best results.

Reach out to us if you’re looking for a great digital fundraiser, and if not we know any of these ideas will help your program!

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