American Red Cross Youth

Volunteers with the National Youth Council developed these sample project plans to provide ideas and guidance for your local fundraisers. If you have additional resources or ideas to recommend, email the site administrator and we will promptly post them.

Youth Fund Raising Activities
Collected best practices and fundraising ideas from chapters throughout the country. Thank you to all who contributed in gathering these great ideas! Implement your own fundraiser in your local community through your School Club or Youth Program.

Red Cross High School Dodgeball Guide
Organize a Dodgeball Fundraiser at your school! A fun, interactive and proven successful way in raising money for an American Red Cross cause. Utilize this comprehensive guide, full of instructions and ready to use templates to make your fundraiser a great success!

Fundraise at a Local Sporting Event
Collect money during popular sporting events on your high school or college campus. Raise money and awareness at the same time.

Cafe Coupon for Disaster Relief
A popular variation of our earlier project plan! Make a partnership with a local cafe or restaurant and create a flyer coupon that has information about your cause and, when presented at the cafe, donates a certain percentage of your order to the cause. This benefits both your cause and the cafe, which will see an increase in business that day. (Try targeting non-chain restaurants!) No on site work is needed: just make tons of flyers and distribute them everywhere! Every time someone stops by will add a little bit more to your cause.

Sell a Product for Disaster Relief
Sell any product! It can be anything from a t-shirt to a water bottle to a pin with the Red Cross logo on it. Set up booths at schools or in your community and educate people about your cause. Being able to take something away with them will make them feel more apart of the cause!

Trick or Treat for Disaster Relief
Instead of candy, why not Trick or Treat for donations to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund? This is a fun way to raise awareness, get your neighbors involved, and help youth across the country fundraise for the Red Cross. You are never too old to Trick or Treat!
Consider using this sample flyer.

Disaster Canisters
Fundraise for the Disaster Relief Fund in local businesses, offices, etc. by placing canisters for donations at these venues to encourage patrons to donate.

Blue Hair
Set a target goal that is publicized to your entire school. If the students/staff meet this goal through donations then a member of the staff (principle, teacher, coach) will do something ridiculous like dying their hair blue!

Direct Appeal
Quickly and effectively make a fundraising appeal to your community. The power and urgency of your message, communicated clearly to others, is enough for a compelling fundraising drive. Sometimes, you just need to ask!

Restaurant Fundraiser
Recruit a team of skillful youth volunteers and donate your services to a selected restaurant for one night. In return, have an agreement with the restaurant that a specific percentage from that night’s profits would be donated to American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Bake Sale
Bake cookies, cupcakes, brownies etc. and sell them at school. If your school doesn’t allow you to sell baked goods, parents or the Red Cross Club can put up the money to buy packaged goods to resell. Donate all proceeds to the Disaster Relief Fund. This event can become a tradition where your classmates expect a bake sale every week to support the Red Cross!