Fundraising Ideas for Greek Life

Plan fast, raise more. Explore fraternity and sorority fundraising ideas and learn how to organize each one with SignUpGenius.

Quick Summary

• Define your chapter’s goal so everyone knows what they’re fundraising for.
• Pick ideas that play to your group’s strengths, like social events, drives, or online campaigns.
• Promote your fundraiser widely through campus networks, social media, and alumni outreach.
• Keep volunteers engaged with clear roles, reminders, and regular updates.
• Track results, thank supporters, and build momentum for the next event—tools like SignUpGenius make it simple to manage everything in one place.

Did you know? Collegiate and alumnae members of NPC sororities donated more than $28 million for philanthropy activities in 2023¹ —proof that Greek life fundraising makes a meaningful impact.

Fundraising for your fraternity or sorority is much easier with creative ideas and the right platform. SignUpGenius helps you plan, organize, and execute fundraisers for dues, philanthropy, housing, and more—all while making volunteer coordination, donation tracking, and ticket sales simple.

Favorite Fundraising Ideas

Donations-Style Drive

Create custom donation tiers—like $10, $25, $50, or “Sponsor a Member”—and share your page with alumni, family, and friends. Include a quick description of what each tier supports, and add photos or stories for extra inspiration.

T-Shirt and Merchandise Sales

Sell custom shirts, hats, or accessories to raise funds and build unity. With SignUpGenius Tickets, you can offer pre-order options, track sizes, and send pick-up reminders. Bonus tip: Offer limited-edition designs for special events!

Online Auctions

Collect donated items or unique experiences, then launch an online auction using SignUpGenius. Highlight items with photos and descriptions, set minimum bids, and schedule bid windows. Tip: Feature alumni-donated items or “event with an officer” experiences for extra excitement.

Greek Carnival or Fun Fair

Bring the campus together with classic games, food booths, and small competitions. Use SignUpGenius to schedule volunteers, track equipment needs (like game booths or supplies), and sell admission tickets or game tokens online.

Pancake Breakfast or Midnight Brinner

A crowd-pleaser! Sell tickets in advance, set up volunteers for cooking and serving, and use item sign ups for food donations. Pro tip: Invite parents or campus staff as special guests and offer a “VIP Table” ticket.

Car Wash Fundraiser

Assign volunteer shifts for washing, drying, and promoting, and track supply donations (soap, towels, buckets). Accept cash or use the Donations tool for online payments—no more scrambling for change!

Tutoring and Study Sessions

Have members offer tutoring in popular subjects. Use sign ups for scheduling and accept “session donations” online. Promote as academic support for students and a fundraiser for your chapter.

Date Auction or Experience Auction

Members volunteer to offer experiences—like a campus tour or dinner—auctioned to the highest bidder. Use the Auctions tool for bids, and Tickets for fixed-price experiences.

Alumni Night or Social

Plan a special event to connect with alumni. Sell tickets (general admission or VIP), use sign ups for food or entertainment donations, and collect pledges for special projects or scholarships.

Silent Auction at Events

Pair your auction with a dinner, dance, or social event. Guests can bid via their phones, and SignUpGenius helps keep bids, winners, and item pick-up organized in one place.

Walkathon or Fun Run

Host a fitness event for all ages. Register participants online, offer sponsorship donation tiers, and organize volunteers for setup, water stations, and check-in.

Parent & Family Weekend Activities

Host a brunch, game day, or talent show during school family weekends. Sell tickets, recruit volunteers, and offer a “sponsorship” option for families who can’t attend but want to support.

Theme Nights & Social Competitions

Trivia nights, talent shows, or lip sync battles are always popular! Sell entry tickets, recruit volunteer judges, and spotlight your fundraising cause throughout the event.

Shoe Drive or Goods Collection

Organize drives for shoes, clothing, or canned goods, with drop-off sign ups by dorm/building and volunteers for collection and sorting. Pair collection events with a cash Donations option.

Simple Steps to Organize

1. Define your fundraising goal
2. Create a SignUpGenius page with all event needs—volunteers, donations, tickets, items
3. Promote your link through group chats, emails, and social media
4. Enable reminders and updates for all participants
5. Download reports to thank supporters and track results

Why Use SignUpGenius?

• Central hub for event sign ups and details
• Quick volunteer scheduling and shift management
• Easy-to-use Donations, Tickets, and Auctions tools
• Automated reminders and communication
• Track donations, tickets, and participation with built-in reports

How to use SignUpGenius

• Sign Ups: Volunteer roles like check-in, setup, concessions
• Donations: Multiple giving levels and designated sponsorships
• Tickets: Advance sales and special packages
• Auctions: Item listings, bidding, winner notifications

Best Practices

• Make your cause specific
• Offer multiple ways to give or help
• Share real progress and thank donors often
• Use saved templates for recurring events
• Keep everything organized in one profile

Frequently Asked Questions About SignUpGenius for Greek Fundraising:

Q: How do I collect donations through SignUpGenius?

A: Enable the Donations tool to accept online payments for any cause or tier.

Q: Can I sell tickets for our event?

A: Yes! Use the Tickets tool to create ticket types, set prices, and track sales online.

Q: Is it easy to organize an online auction?

A: Absolutely. The Auctions tool lets you list items, manage bidding, and announce winners—all on one page.

Q: How do I manage and thank volunteers?

A: Track sign ups and export reports to thank supporters by name—no one gets missed.

Q: Can I reuse past set-ups for future fundraisers?

A: Yes—save your templates and groups for next semester to save time organizing.

¹ National Panhellenic Conference. NPC Fast Facts.