Fundraising Ideas

Your passion and boundless creativity can generate endless ways to raise money for Riley Hospital. You can create excitement and interest in your dance marathon by reminding students and sponsors that the event will benefit the health and well-being of children everywhere.

Many students boost fundraising potential by organizing special publicity events in the weeks prior to their dance marathon. Here are some examples to consider:

1. Spirit Week

Monday: Schedule a Share My Riley Story day and encourage students to talk about their Riley experiences. Ask students to share why it’s important to support Riley
Hospital for Children’s lifesaving research and treatment. There is perhaps no better advertisement for a dance marathon than a testimony from someone who has benefited from Riley’s care.
Tuesday: Greek organizations and/or student associations can challenge each other to a friendly sports or board game competition. Entry fees can benefit Riley Hospital. Award the winners with a “Champion’s Crown” for the day.
Wednesday: Hold wagon races at your school or campus. The Riley red wagon is the icon for Riley Hospital and the mode of transportation for Riley kids.
Thursday: Host a spirit table and encourage students to stop by and make colorful banners to hang during the dance marathon. Offer examples of inspirational messages such as, “We’re stepping up for Indiana’s kids!”
Friday: Schedule an all-school or campus “Riley Red Day” before your dance marathon. Request dollar donations in exchange for an opportunity to wear red attire.

2. Hoops for Riley

See which student group can shoot the most hoops for Riley. Charge students $1 to shoot baskets until they miss. The team with the most basket wins - and so does Riley. This can be done outside before a basketball game or during lunch time.

3. Link Sales

Paper links can be sold throughout the year and turned in just before the marathon. Sell them as notes to students. Give each organization a different color and connect the links into a chain that is hung around the marathon. Before the final hour, take the chain down and give the links to the dancers as inspiration from their friends.

4. Trick-or-Treat for Riley

Committee members can dress in costumes and trick-or-treat in their neighborhoods. Instead of asking for candy, use Riley buckets and ask for donations to Riley.
Participants must register before Halloween with their advisor and follow all campus rules and regulations. The committee can send a press release to the community or university newspaper prior to Halloween to make the public aware that students will be trick-or-treating for Riley.

5. Have a Heart for Riley

Sell heart-shaped suckers or flowers and hang a sign that reads “Have a Heart for Riley!” Have students and staff purchase Riley heart suckers for friends, teachers and staff at school and deliver the orders on Valentine’s Day.

6. Walk or Run for Riley

Students collect money for the number of miles they run/walk or collect flat pledges for participating. This can also be a community event. Official consent forms should be used for these types of events. Send a press release to your local paper.

7. Dunk Tank

Charge students $1 for three chances to drop the dunkee into the water. Consider dunking a popular teacher, faculty member, athlete or local celebrity.

8. Carnivals

Sponsor a carnival on campus. Include food, games, live music, face painting, clowns and door prizes. Host a jail for students to purchase “warrants” and “lock up” all the “bandits” - faculty, friends and family.

9. Battle of the Bands

Organize a battle of the bands between two rival schools or local bands. Charge admission and publicize the event.