Wrestling Fundraiser Ideas That Work In 2025

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re part of a wrestling team that’s underfunded, overlooked, and tired of the same old bake sales and pizza-slice tables at school events.

Wrestling teams often operate in the shadows of bigger-budget sports like football or basketball. Yet, the costs are just as real: 

• Uniforms
• Travel
• Tournament fees
• Basic equipment, like mats or practice space.

And while many fundraising options exist, not all are designed with wrestling teams in mind or built to generate high returns.

This guide will walk you through wrestling fundraiser ideas that truly work in 2025.

From Wrestle-a-thons to spaghetti nights, you’ll discover practical ideas that go beyond candy bars and concession stands. And better yet, we’ll give you some tips to maximize your success. 

10 Great Fundraising Ideas For Wrestling Teams

When you’re running a wrestling team on a shoestring budget, the last thing you want is a fundraiser that flops, or worse, one that costs more time and money than it brings in. That’s why high-return, low-hassle fundraisers are the gold standard.

These ideas aren’t just “sports fundraisers”, they’re tailor-made for wrestling teams, building on the culture of discipline, competitiveness, and team spirit that makes wrestling so unique.

1. Wrestle-a-thons: Each athlete commits to a certain number of matches or takedowns, and supporters pledge donations per performance.

2. “Pin the Coach” Challenge: Who wouldn’t donate $5 to see the head coach go down in a friendly match? This is entertainment-meets-engagement, and fans love it.

Pro tip: Sell entry raffle tickets for the right to pin the coach.

3. Coach for a Day Raffle: Let a lucky donor (parent, alum, or even a rival coach!) call the shots at practice. This prize creates buzz and opens the door to repeat events.

4. Wrestling Clinics for Youth: Your high school wrestlers become instructors for a day, teaching younger kids techniques and drills. 

Bonus: This also grows the local wrestling pipeline.

5. Team Calendars & Posters: Design and sell custom merch with athlete photos, match schedules, and sponsor logos. Great for community pride and advertising value. 

8. Cornhole or Paintball Tournaments: Charge team entry fees and run brackets or group games. Great for local businesses to sponsor and easy to combine with raffles, food sales, or merch booths

11. Custom Yard Signs: Instead of the usual spirit wear, offer personalized signs that read “Proud Supporter of (insert your team’s name) Wrestling.” This Appeals to grandparents, neighbors, and alumni.

12. Spaghetti Dinner Night: A proven classic, invite the community for a $10 meal and add value with raffle tickets. This is a great option because of it’s low cost ingredient and high turnout rate (if you promote it well). 

With any of these ideas, your fundraising moves from “obligation” to opportunity. Not just to raise money, but to build community, celebrate your athletes, and remind people why wrestling deserves the spotlight, too.

Fun Pasta Fundraising: A New Kind of Fundraising

Let’s be honest, most fundraising burnout comes from one thing: doing the same thing as everyone else.

If your team is stuck selling overpriced cookie dough or hosting yet another pizza slice table outside the gym, you’re probably hearing the same internal groans from parents and supporters alike.

Here’s why teams across the country are making the switch:

• Custom Pasta Shapes For Each Team Member: You can feature all kinds of shapes that appeal to any wrestler’s interests.  Dogs? Music Notes? All these pastas are personal, memorable, and fun to promote.
• No melting, no refrigeration, long shelf life: Unlike candy or frozen pizza, pasta holds up, no matter the weather or shipping distance.
• Online + Brochure options: Whether you want to go door-to-door, share a custom online link, or do both, the platform fits your strategy.
• Perfect for small-town teams: You don’t need a massive supporter list. Even 20 families sharing a link online can drive serious results, especially during the holidays or tournament season.
• Track individual sales: Each wrestler can have their own sales link, which is perfect for teams that allow athletes to earn credit toward travel or gear.
• Repeat groups come back year after year: That says it all. When a fundraiser is fun, easy to manage, and profitable, coaches and team leaders stick with it.

So if you’re looking to move beyond melting chocolate and low-margin candles, Fun Pasta Fundraising offers an idea that works, without burning out your volunteers or boring your supporters.

How to Promote Your Wrestling Fundraiser Like a Pro

Even the best fundraiser won’t succeed if no one knows about it. The difference between “we raised $300” and “we blew past our $5,000 goal” often comes down to promotion, and it’s not as complicated as it sounds.

Promoting your wrestling fundraiser like a pro doesn’t mean you need to hire a PR firm or spend all day on Instagram. It’s about being strategic, storytelling with purpose, and keeping supporters engaged from kickoff to cash-out.

Set a Clear Goal & Tell Your Story

Your community wants to help, but they need to understand why. A vague “support our team” message won’t inspire action. A specific, emotional, and visible goal will.

Tell people exactly what you need, why it matters, and how it will directly impact your wrestlers. 

Share real stories, like how traveling to a regional meet could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a student-athlete, or how old mats are holding your team back from training safely.

Put a face to the fundraiser. Showcase your captains. Share what your youngest team member loves most about wrestling. That connection creates buy-in.

Use Email and Social Media, But Keep It Fresh

Don’t rely on one announcement. Fundraising is a campaign, not a single post.

Here’s how to keep the energy alive:

• Email: Send a launch announcement, weekly updates, and a final countdown reminder.
• Social Media: Share progress milestones (“We’re 25% of the way there!”), highlight standout sellers, or thank top donors in real time.
• Visuals: Post photos of your team in action, behind-the-scenes at practice, or funny fundraiser moments (like a singlet car wash!).

Tip: Share short bios or “Why I Wrestle” stories from athletes. These build emotional resonance and give supporters a reason to invest.

Don’t Forget Gratitude

Thank you goes a long way, and it can fuel your next fundraiser before this one even ends.

• Recognize donors publicly: on social, via email, or with a shoutout in your team newsletter.
• Thank your volunteers who handed out fliers, staffed the spaghetti dinner, or helped sort orders. Let them know their time mattered.
• Celebrate top sellers with fun, low-cost rewards: pizza parties, “hat day” at practice, or even letting the winner coach warm-ups for a day.

Make Your Wrestling Fundraiser Fun, Profitable, and Repeatable

The best fundraisers don’t just make money, they build momentum. And that only happens when the fundraiser feels fun, achievable, and meaningful for everyone involved.

Don’t Default to the Same Tired Ideas

Selling overpriced candles or handing out pizza slices for the third year in a row? That’s boring and ineffective. Wrestling teams deserve better. Your athletes work too hard to settle for fundraisers that barely cover gas money, let alone new mats or tournament fees.

What works today are fundraisers that feel fresh, are easy to share, and create excitement, both inside the team and across your wider community.

Involve the Whole Team, Including Parents, Coaches, and Alumni

Fundraising doesn’t have to fall on the coach or one overworked parent volunteer. Some of the most successful wrestling fundraisers I’ve seen are the ones that rally the whole squad:

• Athletes posting personal fundraiser links online
• Coaches giving shoutouts to top sellers at practice
• Parents helping with event logistics or hosting dinners
• Alumni offering to sponsor gear or match donations

When everyone has a role, it becomes a team effort, on and off the mat.

Look for Fundraisers with Community Connection + Easy Execution

You don’t need a packed calendar to run a successful wrestling fundraiser. You just need a product that works, tools that make your life easier, and a team that’s in your corner from start to finish.

At Fun Pasta Fundraising, that’s exactly what we provide. We believe fundraising can be fun, rewarding, and even a little delicious. With no contracts, no minimums, and a product that people actually want, we’d love to help your wrestling team hit its goals, on and off the mat.

Because fundraising should fuel your team, not drain it.