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Fundraising for your SPS Chapter

APR 03, 2025
SPS National
University of Mary Washington SPS members at a fundraiser.

University of Mary Washington SPS members at a fundraiser.

SPS Students’ Top 10 Fundraising Tips

pie_a_prof-web.jpg

Brad Conrad, former director of SPS and Sigma Pi Sigma, gets pie’d in the face in a cow costume.

SPS National.

Nacho Bar Fundraising Idea (.pdf, 53 kb) Physics T-shirts Fundraiser (.pdf, 96 kb) Light Show Fundraiser (.pdf, 54 kb) Volunteer Services Fundraising Idea (.pdf, 106 kb) Trivia Night Fundraiser (.pdf, 76 kb) Pi a Professor Fundraiser (.pdf, 55 kb) Concession Fundraiser (.pdf, 53 kb) Teach-a-thon Fundraiser (.pdf, 53 kb) Lunch-raiser (.pdf, 54 kb) Donation Jar (.pdf, 51 kb)

Best Practices

  • Start fundraising now! Saving a little over a long time really helps.
  • Get a cash box and consider setting up an account with your school or a local bank.
  • Identify a treasurer to help track money.
  • Develop a system and continuity over the next few semesters.
  • Create semester plans with tangible goals.
  • Investigate department and campus resources for conference travel. You’d be surprised what you can find!
  • For smaller fundraisers, reach out to Alumni and ask them to match what is raised.

Get Started with Small Fundraisers

  • Sell coffee & donuts, or pizza & soda once a month or during exam times. Pick a high traffic location and focus on class change times!
  • Pi a Professor (around Thanksgiving and Pi Day).
  • Ask for donations at SPS sponsored demo shows.
  • Sell food/shirts during events
  • Tutor for STEM courses at your college and also local high schools

Big Impact Fundraising Ideas

  • Request Special Allocation Funds through your Student Government (plan early ~ at least 1 year out!).
  • Approach members of college administration to match funds - this process should be started before your school’s fiscal year begins.
  • Talk with your school’s alumni office to see if they have a donor who may be willing to contribute to your cause
  • Reach out to your school’s development or corporate partnerships office to see if there are organizations or companies who would be willing to sponsor you.