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When it comes to fundraising for cheer teams, sometimes it feels less like a pep rally and more like running suicides at practice. If you’re a coach or parent who’s tired of cookie dough tubs melting in your trunk, this guide is for you. Let’s talk about cheer fundraising ideas in 2025 that actually work.
Why Cheer Teams Need Smarter Fundraising
Uniforms, travel, competition fees, choreography, hair bows that sparkle under the lights… cheer isn’t exactly a budget sport. Traditional fundraisers usually:
- Put most of the heavy lifting on parents (who already have enough to juggle).
- Raise less money than you were promised.
- Eat up way too many weekends.
Cheer teams need fundraisers that respect your time, give athletes ownership, and still deliver the money you need to compete.
Rising Costs in Cheer and Why Fundraising Matters More Than Ever
Cheer has always required dedication, but lately it also requires a bigger wallet. Rising costs for uniforms, competitions, and travel are becoming a serious barrier for many families. A recent article from Fierce Cheer highlights how these growing expenses are forcing some athletes to step away from the sport they love. That’s why strong, reliable fundraising is more important than ever. The right cheer fundraising ideas help level the playing field so every athlete can stay on the mat, no matter their financial background
The 80/20 Rule of Cheer Fundraising Ideas
Not all cheer fundraising ideas are worth your energy. The secret is focusing on the 20 percent of fundraisers that bring in 80 percent of your cash. For cheer teams, that means:
- Mobile-first fundraising platforms so your athletes can share links faster than they share TikToks.
- Story-driven campaigns because people give to people, not products.
- High-margin options so you keep more of what you raise
Athlete-Led Storytelling: Your Secret Weapon
When athletes lead the charge, results explode. Forget knocking on doors with candy bars. Instead, picture each cheerleader posting a quick video:
- “I want to make it to Nationals with my team this year.”
- “Cheer gave me confidence I never had before.”
These moments turn fundraising into something real. Family, friends, and community members aren’t just donating to a squad, they’re supporting a person they love.
Leaderboards That Motivate
Cheer athletes thrive on a little friendly competition (you’ve seen practice, right?). Digital leaderboards make modern cheer fundraising ideas exciting for athletes:
- Who’s leading in supporters this week?
- Which athlete hit their goal first?
- Did the squad just cross a big milestone? Time for a team celebration.
Suddenly fundraising feels like a game your athletes actually want to play.
Cheer Fundraising Ideas With Meaning: Cheer + Advocacy
Here’s where Team Butter gives your team something special. Through our partnership with Luv Michael, cheer squads can raise money for themselves while supporting the autism community. Every donation helps fund your uniforms and competitions, but it also provides meaningful work and advocacy opportunities for adults on the autism spectrum.
Your cheerleaders aren’t just raising money. They’re earning service hours, building leadership skills, and making a difference in people’s lives. That’s a whole lot more inspiring than another bag of caramel corn.
Common Fundraising Mistakes to Avoid
1. Overloading Parents
If your fundraiser requires parents to handle all the selling, collecting, and organizing, burnout sets in fast. The best campaigns let athletes take the lead.
2. Fundraising With the Wrong Product
Choosing the wrong product can sink your fundraiser before it even starts. If what you’re offering doesn’t excite your community, it will be an uphill battle to get sales. The best campaigns focus on products or causes that feel meaningful — something supporters are proud to back and athletes feel good about sharing.
3. Dragging It Out Too Long
A fundraiser that runs for 6–8 weeks loses steam quickly. Keep campaigns short and focused, ideally 2–3 weeks, so the energy stays high.
4. Ignoring Digital Tools
Teams that stick to pen-and-paper forms miss out on easier sharing, better tracking, and wider reach. Digital-first campaigns save time and headaches.
5. Forgetting the “Why”
When you only focus on the money goal, you lose the emotional connection. Fundraisers tied to stories and purpose always outperform plain old sales.
Coach and Parent Pain Points (and How to Fix Them)
If you’ve ever been a cheer parent or coach, you know the frustrations all too well:
Keeping track of who sold what
Constantly reminding families to turn in money is stressful.
Fix: Digital fundraising eliminates manual collection and payments go straight online.
Chasing checks and cash
Spreadsheets get messy fast.
Fix: Leaderboards and dashboards track everything automatically.
Parent fatigue
Nobody wants to cold-call their coworkers or neighbors anymore.
Fix: Athlete-led sharing makes it easy for supporters to give in just a few clicks.
FAQs: Cheer Fundraising in 2025
The most profitable fundraisers are ones that give teams a high return while keeping things simple for athletes and parents. With Team Butter, cheer teams keep 50% of every dollar raised. Whether they choose our digital-first donation model or product options like cookie dough and popcorn. The combination of high margins, easy sharing, and flexibility makes it one of the strongest ways to fundraise in 2025.
It depends on the size of your team and how engaged your athletes are. With strong participation, teams can raise over 10,000 dollars!
Nope. The best campaigns are athlete-led, with parents only helping out in the background.
Final Cheer
Fundraising doesn’t have to feel like another exhausting routine. With Team Butter, cheer squads have access to one of the most effective, coach-friendly platforms available. From digital leaderboards that motivate athletes, to product fundraisers like popcorn and cookie dough, to simple donation campaigns that let families and friends support your team in just a few clicks; Team Butter makes it easy to raise real money without piling extra work on parents or coaches.
And if your team wants to add even more meaning, you can choose to run your fundraiser in partnership with Luv Michael, a nonprofit that empowers adults on the autism spectrum through advocacy and meaningful work. It’s a powerful way for your squad to raise the funds you need while also making a difference in the wider community.
Bottom line: Team Butter is the best platform to turn today’s top cheer fundraising ideas into real results. It respects your time, engages your athletes, and delivers results. Ready to see how easy fundraising can be?
