What are some ways to fundraise in this new world of social-distancing and limited in-person events? Here are some fund fundraising ideas to help kick-start your efforts for this school year:

Virtual Talent Showcase:
Take this opportunity to organize a virtual event where members of your team or club can show off their talent for a good cause. Identify members who will perform via video conference or in a pre-recorded video. Entertaining features may include playing an instrument, performance of a poem, dancing, juggling, and much more. Run a social media campaign to sell virtual tickets to attend the live video meeting performance or receive the link to the finished compilation video.

Virtual Dance Party:
It is still possible to have a dance party in cyberspace. Host a video conference using Zoom or another platform where participants can join to dance in the comfort of their own home. Identify a member who is willing to be the DJ to spin tunes or have musicians from your team play fun songs. Charge a cover charge or virtual ticket to attend the virtual dance party.

Virtual Game Night:
Game nights are a perfect activity to bring people together while raising money. You can run the event virtually through video conference on a platform such as Zoom. Organize a social media campaign and sell tickets with a small fee for participants to enter. Have a group of students run the event, share screens, and play games. You can use the breakout room feature. Fun games to consider include bingo, word hangman, charades, and pictionary.

Sell Customized Face Masks:
Generate team or club spirit throughout your school by selling a custom face masks. Design unique graphics for your face masks. There are online websites such as CustomInk or VistaPrint offer customization services. Run pre-order sales will secure orders ahead of buying the custom masks, so all of your costs are covered as well as met demand. Consider working with your school's administration to be able to have rights to sell generalize school name branded masks as "school spirit items" that will be a hit with a broader audience. Masks can be delivered to buyers through the mail or via contactless drop-offs/pick-up.

Online T-Shirt or Baseball Cap Sale:
NYFPS teams have a long history of showing their FPS pride by wearing shirts and caps that highlight the Annual Topics or their school FPS team name. Design unique graphics for your t-shirts and baseball caps. There are online websites such as CustomInk or VistaPrint offer customization services. Run pre-order sales will secure orders ahead, so all of your costs are covered as well as order the correct amount to met demand. Merchandise can be delivered to buyers through the mail or via contactless drop-offs/pick-up.

Virtual Walk/Run:
Launch a virtual walk/run to promote better health. Many people are seeking to stretch their legs by going outside and moving in a socially-distanced context. Sign-up interested parties. Help walkers/runners run a social media campaign to attract sponsors/donors. This is also an opportunity to create custom t-shirts for this fundraiser to sell. Offer the participants a document or spreadsheet for track their progress. Be sure to ensure participants share their progress through photos or videos on social media. This will also help create hype around your FPS team in your community.

Online Crowdfunding Campaign:
You know the benefits of being a FPSer, so share stories and how being a part of NYFPS has made a difference for your team or club through an online crowdfunding campaign. Be sure to include photos and videos of the milestones your team has achieved to attract more attention. If you qualify to participate in the State Conference or International Conference, these can also be separate crowdfunding campaigns. New York teams have successfully used online crowdfunding platforms, such as GoFundMe, in recent years to fund team expenses.