Top School Fundraising Ideas for Breast Cancer Research

Learn how you can make an impact with your next school or sporting event

This year, BCRF announced a $74.75 million dollar investment in lifesaving breast cancer research, the highest amount ever in our 32-year history. Those funds came from a variety of sources, such as our generous corporate partners, but also from small, grassroots fundraisers — many of which were held by schools. We are continually grateful for and inspired by the generosity, caring, and teamwork of the many students, parents, and school staff who come together to raise breast cancer awareness and support the groundbreaking work of BCRF investigators. These donations add up quickly and play a major role in driving progress forward: Just $50 funds an hour of research in a BCRF lab, so every dollar makes an impact.

If your school would like to be part of the mission to end breast cancer, check out the many great fundraising ideas for schools below. Once you’re ready to create an event in support of BCRF, be sure to use our fundraising toolkit to learn how to create an online donation page, promote your event, and more.

Creative breast cancer fundraiser ideas for schools

Everyone loves a sweet treat, which is why bake sales are a classic school fundraising event. But there are several other food-centered events you can hold to raise money for BCRF. Pancake breakfasts, chili cook-offs, and spaghetti nights are popular options. Kids can also take part in the Pink Lemonade Stand Challenge. The campaign was created by Brynne Rhodes, who started selling lemonade when she was just 7 years old to support BCRF in honor of her mom, Kim, who had stage 2 breast cancer. It’s now a nationwide campaign that has raised more than $360,000 for lifesaving research. Click here for information about how students can set up their own pink lemonade stand to support BCRF.

Entertainment events with entry fees are another fundraising winner. Pizza parties, ice cream socials, scavenger hunts, and talent shows are fun for all ages, while older kids may also enjoy trivia nights, school sleepovers, and movie nights. For events that serve food, ask local restaurants (pizzerias, ice cream shops, etc.) if they will sell you their products at a lower cost; many are happy to do so when they know their food is part of a fundraiser.

Tying a BCRF fundraising event to a particular holiday or season can help draw interest and excitement. Consider holding contests like pumpkin-carving close to Halloween, snowman-building in winter, or an Easter egg hunt in the spring. Holiday-themed cupcake or cookie decorating events are also big hits with kids.

Events like these have benefits for schools beyond supporting breast cancer research. Fundraising builds a sense of belonging and community, and it also teaches kids essential life skills and morals such as teamwork, empathy, responsibility, and the importance of helping others.

Breast cancer awareness activities for students

Simply declaring a day to wear pink is a simple but effective way to raise breast cancer awareness, particularly for younger kids. Students can pay a small amount to wear pink on a given day, with funds going to BCRF. Or students can come together to design and sell their own breast cancer awareness t-shirts. To help pay for printing, seek support from local businesses, which may be willing to donate to the cost in exchange for including the company’s logo on the shirt.

Junior high and high school students can combine breast cancer awareness and education by bringing in speakers who can discuss the disease, why research is so important, and how breast cancer affects families. Speakers are part of Pink Week at Mercy High School in Burlingame, California, which also includes rallies and fundraisers to raise money for BCRF. Including personal stories told by those in the school community who have been impacted by breast cancer — and/or dedicating the event to these people — can be particularly powerful because they put a face on the disease. During one Pink Week, student Emma Colquhoun gave a speech about her aunt Yvonne, who had metastatic breast cancer, later referring to the experience as “healing.” Another year, the event was dedicated Carol Galletta, a teacher at Mercy High who had metastatic breast cancer.

Additional breast cancer awareness activities for schools include:

• Pink ribbon-themed art or poster design contests
• Coloring contests (for young children)
• Pink craft workshops
• Social media challenges
• Car washes
• Penny drives
• Scavenger hunts

Leveraging sports for breast cancer awareness

Sports and activity events have broad appeal, making them ideal fundraising opportunities while also encouraging physical activity and boosting school spirit. Fun runs, walks, and bike rides are good options for kids of all ages, as are field days and wiffleball tournaments. Breast cancer awareness activities for high school students could include dance-a-thons, field days, dodgeball tournaments, and even silly events like water balloon fights. Participation fees would be donated to BCRF.

To raise even more funds for breast cancer research at a sports event, students can sell treats and drinks. They can also wear and sell breast cancer awareness shirts they’ve designed at the event — a powerful visual way to unite students and spectators in the mission to end breast cancer.

Older student athletes can raise money by offering classes in their sport. In 2010, then-teenagers Lauryn and Camryn Streid and Ally Michaels launched the annual Real Swimmers Wear Pink breaststroke clinic, taught by the girls and their fellow swim team members. Participants pay for lessons, and there’s also a raffle, bake sale, and t-shirt sale, all of which benefit BCRF. Today, Real Swimmers Wear Pink is still going strong, having raised over $100,000 to support the work of BCRF researchers since its founding.[1][2]

Engaging the whole school community

Mobilizing students, parents, teachers, and other staff to contribute critical funding to BCRF and raise awareness of breast cancer is a meaningful way to bring the school community together, uniting participants in a shared mission. You can personalize your fundraiser by making it in honor or memory of someone in the community impacted by breast cancer. Fundraising activities and events that are fun for kids and adults include:

• Guessing jar. A classic and easy way to engage kids anytime is having them guess how many small items (candies, marbles, etc.) are in a large container.
• Principal stunts. Children of all ages love to see an authority figure do something silly and embarrassing, and even teachers and other school staff do too! If your principal is game, ask him or her to perform a TikTok dance, get a pie in the face, or take part in another stunt if kids reach a certain amount of donations.
• Theme days. Kids can dress in fun and quirky ways on a particular day. Popular examples include pajama day, wacky hat day, and dress-like-a-superhero day.
• School and staff talent show. A talent show is a great opportunity for students to raise funds for BCRF and bond with their teachers outside of a classroom setting.
• Bingo night. All ages can play, and you can build enthusiasm by pitting students against school staffers.
• Karaoke or lip sync battle. You can hold the challenge in person or have everyone record their performances and post them on social media.
• Photo contest. School staff and older kids can submit their photos and vote on their favorites. The kids can set a theme, such as pets, food, or anything with pink in it.
• Book sale. Kids, parents, and school staff can donate their gently used books to sell, with proceeds going to BCRF.
• Raffle/auction. Connect with the local business community to help create a raffle or silent auction. School staff, parents, and students can ask stores to donate auction or raffle prizes and services. For example, a local coffee shop may be able to provide gift basket with a selection of coffees, teas, and flavored syrups, while a spa could contribute a service such as a massage or facial.
• Charity gaming events. Older kids who are into online gaming and livestreaming can create a charity stream event on Twitch in support of BCRF. Visit our gaming page for guidance on setting up an event, fundraising tools, and more.

Tips for hosting a successful event

• Set a specific goal. People are more motivated to take part in a fundraiser if you announce how much money you want to raise. Provide supporters with updates on how much you’ve raised, which can encourage more people to donate if you haven’t reached your goal.
• Be inclusive. Consider the needs of participants who have disabilities when planning your event. That includes providing ample seating, avoiding strobe lighting, and making the event space wheelchair accessible.
• Create committees. Put together a group of students, teachers, and parents who are eager to help with the fundraiser and assign them to specific committees (decorations, advertising, refreshments, etc.) This ensures that everyone has a role to play and that all the components of the event are covered.
• Promote the event. You’ll reach a larger number of people by using multiple methods of advertising. Examples include fliers, posters, emails, local media, school announcements, and social media posts. Make your appeals personal by explaining why breast cancer research is so important to you, which helps strengthen the connection between the cause and potential donors.
• Provide information about BCRF. People want to know their donations are going to a respected organization where their money will be well spent. When you advertise the event, provide some information about BCRF that helps make them feel confident about making contributions. For example, you can mention BCRF is the largest private funder of breast cancer research, include our Charity Navigator score (98%),[3] or provide a link to our “Impact” page, which details the major breakthroughs our investigators have made in advancing breast cancer screening, prevention, treatment, and more.
• Include online fundraising. For those who can’t attend the event or would like to donate more than the entry fee, provide a way they can donate to BCRF online. Social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram provide ways supporters can contribute funds with just a few clicks.
• Show your appreciation. Thank your supporters for their generosity, ideally as soon as they make their donation. Share your gratitude at the end of the event as well as during it when you announce fundraising milestones you’ve reached (like meeting 50 percent or 75 percent of your goal.) When donors feel appreciated, they may be more likely to support future fundraisers you hold.

How community efforts fuel research breakthroughs

Fundraising for BCRF shows students that anyone can make a difference, no matter how old they are or how much they donate. The cumulation of smaller, grassroots donations has had a major impact on advancing our understanding of breast cancer and improving screening, prevention, treatments, and more. BCRF research has benefitted millions of men and women worldwide — saving lives every day — thanks in part to school fundraising.

Start a fundraiser with BCRF today and turn your school or sports event into a meaningful driver of change.