Our Favorite School Fundraising Idea
1. 99Pledges School Fundraisers
At 99Pledges, we specialize in pledge fundraisers, including Walk-a-thons, Dance-a-thons, Read-a-thons, and Color Runs. We love these school fundraisers because they’re fun for all ages, easy to set up, and highly profitable.
Here’s how it works:
- Create your campaign. 99Pledges enables you to get started in minutes by automatically creating individual donation pages for participating students (or fundraising teams in some scenarios) and a central donation page.
- Share your pages. Participants collected activity-based pledges and flat donations from friends, family, and neighbors. For example, a donor could either donate $30 to your Dance-a-thon or pledge to donate $0.25 for every minute a particular participant spends on the dance floor.
- Track your progress. Throughout your campaign, keep an eye on your participation rate, fundraiser leaderboard, and progress toward your goal. 99Pledges offers real-time reports, so consistently share your results with participants and donors to foster momentum.
- Host the event. While some peer-to-peer campaigns, like Read-a-thons, may span several days or weeks, others, like Walk-a-thons or Fun Runs, culminate in a dedicated community event. Make sure you have the right venue for your needs, and heavily advertise your event in the weeks leading up to it.
- Collect pledges. After your event, you’ll collect your activity-based donations based on participants’ performance. 99Pledges will deliver your funds within one business day.
One of the great things about “a-thon” events is that you can customize them to fit your community’s culture and interests. For example, a school baseball team could host a Hit-a-thon while a third-grade class studying multiplication might choose a Math-a-thon.
Brilliant Year-Round School Fundraising Ideas
2. Matching Gifts
Alumni and community members love knowing their contributions can go twice as far. Through corporate matching gift programs, companies promise to match employees’ donations to eligible organizations. Most commonly, companies match gifts to 501(c)(3) organizations and educational institutions, making it the perfect school fundraising idea for K–12 schools.
Several well-known employers match gifts to schools, such as:
- Home Depot will match gifts to elementary schools for full- and part-time employees. They match up to $3,000 annually per employee.
- McDonald’s will match full- and part-time employees’ donations to schools. Employees need to work at least 20 hours per week or be a board member to be eligible, and the company matches donations starting at $50.
- Verizon matches donations up to $5,000 to higher education schools, while they match up to $1,000 to other 501(c)(3) organizations. When a group of 10 or more employees collectively raises funds, Verizon will match up to $10,000 per team and event.
Unfortunately, many employees don’t know about matching gifts, leaving billions of dollars on the table each year.
Use your website, newsletter, or social media to tell supporters about matching gifts. Encourage them to look up their employers’ corporate philanthropy policies. Then, keep them updated on how many donations have been matched during your fundraiser.
Using Tools to Supercharge Matching Gifts
Your simplest solution is to automate your matching gift outreach. For instance, Marietta College leveraged Double the Donation’s match automation tools to identify more than $40,000 in match-eligible donations in just one year. This was thanks to features like:
- Corporate email domain screening for collecting employment information
- Customized email-sending logic for company restrictions, message-sending limits, email domains, and subject lines
- Automated follow-ups for donors based on employment status and match eligibility
Even if your fundraising is on a smaller scale, every matching gift donation is extra money to improve your school. You can even leverage features like auto-submission to cut steps from the matching process.
Instead of manually filling out forms for their employers, eligible donors can let Double the Donation complete the request forms on their behalf. So long as the company’s CSR software integrates with Double the Donation, that’s one less thing donors have to worry about.
3. Fundraising eCards
Everyone loves receiving thoughtful cards, making them the perfect school fundraising idea. Better yet, you can bring that same joy into the digital space with eCards! Compared to traditional greeting cards, you’ll eliminate the cost of physical materials, printing, and distribution, making fundraising eCards cost-effective.
Here’s how this fundraiser works:
- Select an eCard platform: The platform you choose will power your campaign, so pick one with charity eCard capabilities, extensive design features, and multiple sending options. You should also be able to track metrics like the number of cards sent.
- Design your eCards: Customize your eCards to feature your logo, mascot, or student artwork. Also, consider whether you want to sell them year-round or only for special occasions. For example, you can create a year-round collection featuring birthday, thank-you, and condolence cards, whereas if you’re hosting a holiday campaign, create cards that celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s.
- Sell the cards: Students, families, and other community members can purchase the cards to send to their loved ones. The sender can also attach a custom message to their eCard.
Compared to traditional fundraising events, eCard campaigns can be set up quickly, allowing your school to respond to immediate needs. Not to mention, they’re incredibly versatile, making them perfect for fundraising year-round.
For inspiration, look at these eCards from One Tail At A Time:
The organization sold cards for $25 and attached each to a specific service. For instance, one card’s proceeds supported veterinary care, another supplied heartworm treatments, and another funded enrichment activities for animals in the nonprofit’s care.
To create your school’s first eCard fundraiser, select an eCard platform that enables donations, and start fundraising!
4. Paid Search Ad Campaign
Advertising your school’s fundraisers on Google is a great way to boost visibility. Plus, philanthropic arms of universities that are registered 501(c)(3) organizations can do so for free!
While K–12 schools and universities are ineligible, university fundraising arms may be eligible for the Google Ad Grant, which provides $10,000 per month in free Google Ads credits.
Even if you’re ineligible, Google Ads are an excellent way to boost your school’s visibility on Google search results pages. Whenever people in your community search for terms related to education or programs your school offers, your ads can appear at the top of the search results.
To envision how Google Ads can support your fundraising efforts, take a look at these hypothetical search results for our example school’s “Summit Hill Library Fundraiser.”
Schools can leverage this powerful tool to promote fundraising initiatives, such as:
- Fundraising events, like school auctions, fairs, or sporting events
- Donation pages, making it easy for supporters to contribute online
- Campaign-specific pages, such as one to benefit arts programs or upgrade technology
- Scholarship fund pages to attract alumni donations to support students’ education
Promoting these pages can lead to more donations and greater community involvement. Just make sure the content you promote is compelling, clear, and supportive of your fundraising goals.
Remember that only fundraising arms of universities are eligible for the Google Ad Grant if they’re 501(c)(3)s. If ineligible, you can still pay for ads and leverage other free resources through Google for Education.
Top Elementary School Fundraisers
5. Spell-a-thon
A Spell-a-thon gives elementary students a chance to raise funds while showcasing what they’re learning at your school as they build their reading and writing skills each day. Add pledge fundraising methods to a spelling competition.
You can set this up in one of two ways: a traditional spelling bee model or a more personal spelling challenge where you choose a set number of grade-appropriate words and test students en masse on the words. For both Spell-a-thon models, pledged donations correspond to the number of words the student spells correctly!
Whichever option you choose, encourage students to develop their skills rather than create unnecessary competition! The key point is to celebrate students for what they have learned, rather than discourage them for what they haven’t yet.
6. Online Product Fundraisers
If you’re looking for a school fundraising idea that is highly profitable, equips students with real-life selling experiences, and provides donors with a tangible benefit for supporting your fundraising efforts, a product fundraiser might be perfect for you.
To simplify planning and execution, partner with a dedicated product fundraising company that handles the bulk of the work and even provides you with a custom web store for supporters to purchase from.
Choose a product (discount cards, face masks, cookie dough, and travel mugs are always popular choices) and encourage your students, parents, and staff members to start selling to their own networks online.
7. School Sleepover
Around elementary age is often when sleepovers and slumber parties are incorporated into students’ social lives for the first time. Draw on this in your school fundraising to create a fun experience for students (and parents!) while raising funds to fuel your educational programs!
Recruit staffers to act as chaperones and invite students to return in the evening for a school-wide sleepover. Charge a small fee for overnight childcare and set up fun activities such as movie viewings, board games, and bedtime stories.
For an overnight event, it’s crucial that all necessary waivers and permissions are signed. Consider taking your waivers online for added convenience and to increase the likelihood they’re signed on time.
8. Read-a-thon
Use your next elementary school fundraiser to encourage literacy in your young students and their families.
Host a month-long Read-a-thon, challenging students to read as many books as possible for the duration. Incorporate pledge fundraising methods by having students collect pledged gifts corresponding to each book they read over the month, and encourage their family members to join in on the fun!
You can also measure students’ progress by minutes spent reading rather than pages or books read. This ensures that every student, regardless of reading level or learning differences, feels motivated to participate. Consider providing fundraising prizes to top performers to drive participation.
At the end of the fundraiser, announce how many books were read and how much you raised in donations.
9. Bake Sale
At the end of a long day (or even the start—we’re not here to judge!), it’s hard to pass up a yummy, homemade baked good. Recruit your PTO or PTA to whip up their favorite recipes for a bake sale fundraiser.
Then simply set up a table at drop-off and pick-up to sell the goods for a small fee. Ask your parent volunteers if they’re open to donating time in addition to baked goods, and organize a volunteer schedule to manage the table. Make sure to thank these parents and guardians for all of their help in the charge!
Remember that food allergies are particularly sensitive around baked goods, so make sure to include gluten- and peanut-free options if possible.
10. Talent Show
There are few things more adorable than students showing their new talents. While they may not be Beethoven or Van Gogh just yet, it’s a privilege to witness greatness in the making!
Whether singing and dancing or showing off some new magic tricks, your students have talents, and it’s time to showcase them. Charge a small entry fee for participation and sell tickets for family and friends to experience the fun.
You can turn this school fundraiser into a competition by bringing in judges and awarding prizes at the end, or simply make it a showcase of your talented students! Either way, participants and attendees will have fun, and you’ll raise funds!
11. Multicultural Fair
Part of educating students involves making sure they’re engaged in the world around them and appreciate the diversity it contains. Host a multicultural fair for students and their families to attend and learn from. You might ask each student to bring a dish, item, or tradition from their family’s culture.
Charge an admission fee and do your research to ensure accuracy. Consider the following categories to help you highlight the cultures of the world:
- Food
- Clothing
- Music
- History
At the event, make sure you’re presenting a wide variety of cultures respectfully. You’ll be celebrating diversity and teaching your students to do the same as they navigate life!
12. Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt can require a bit more planning on behalf of your school, but they’re a great fundraiser to get students excited and involved in the process!
You simply choose a theme, choose a location and time frame, and outline your hunt. Incentivize students to participate with prizes for those who successfully complete the scavenger hunt.
Allow students to participate for a small donation, and tie your hunt to educational themes to make sure they’re learning through the process.
13. Penny Drive
Penny drives are an extremely simple way for elementary students to fundraise and feel involved in the process.
Simply give each class or grade a large jar and challenge them to bring in change from home to fill it. The first group to fill their jar wins!
Reward the winning group with prizes such as:
- In-school movie screening
- Lunchtime pizza party
- Extended recess/field day
The lowkey yet competitive nature of this school fundraiser makes it perfect for young students. They can get involved without much effort, and your school raises funds in the process.
14. School Picnic
Encourage community within your school by creating an event for students, their families, and school employees to interact. Choose a sunny day on a spring or fall weekend and host a school picnic.
Charge an admission fee for families and friends to attend and organize the lunch in a nice, grassy area. Set up fun outdoor activities such as kickball, a piñata, and arts and crafts, and encourage families to interact with each other and your staffers.
Remain cognizant of events occurring in your school and the greater community, and make sure you’re not scheduling your picnic for a particularly busy weekend.
15. Book Fair
Host a book fair with a well-known bookstore or publisher, where a portion of the proceeds goes to your school. You’ll promote literacy and spark a love for reading, all while raising money for your school. This makes it the perfect back-to-school event to build up enthusiasm for students as they start the fall semester.
Start by choosing the date for the book fair. A multi-day fair is often more effective, giving students plenty of time to browse and come back if something piques their interest. You’ll need to partner with a reputable publisher or bookstore to supply the books. Be sure to curate a diverse collection for all ages and reading levels at your school.
Before the book fair, create buzz using promotional flyers, handouts, your school’s website, and email newsletters. Elevate your book fair’s atmosphere by decorating your venue with a reading-themed theme, too.
Creative High School Fundraising Ideas
16. Fun Run
A Fun Run is the perfect fundraiser for high schools. Anyone can participate, including sports teams, students, family members, and even community members. These fundraisers encourage students to stay active and raise money for the sports they love!
Here’s how a Fun Run works:
- Plan the event: Choose the date, time, and location for the run. Create a playlist of popular music and decide on fun decorations for registration booths or water stands.
- Register students: Gather participants who want to run, then set up each runner with their own online donation page using a pledge-based fundraising platform. They can customize their pages and share them with friends and family.
- Collect pledges: When participants share their donation pages, friends and family will pledge to donate a set amount for each unit of distance they run. After the race, your school or sports team collects donations based on how far everyone ran.
A Fun Run doesn’t have to be a 5K. You can adapt your fundraiser for any running time or distance, or let students decide. The important part is raising money for student activities and having fun!
17. Car Magnets
When high schoolers start driving, they get excited about the freedom and independence that driving gives them. One way to celebrate this milestone in their lives and let them express themselves is by selling car magnets in exchange for donations.
Design a car magnet, sticker, or decal that includes your school name and logo. Then, sell these decals to students and the wider community to raise money for school activities.
To make this high school fundraiser even more exciting, add a competition to let students design the magnet. Artistic students can send in their designs, then the rest of the student body can vote, or school organizers can choose a winner!
18. Volunteer-a-thon
There are few things that will motivate people to donate more than seeing your students’ generosity in action! It’s easy to contribute to education that is working toward creating positive members of the community.
Organize a Volunteer-a-thon where you challenge high school students to get involved in your greater community and complete good deeds. Whether working at an animal shelter or planting trees in a local park, there will definitely be areas for these students to lend a hand.
Incorporate pledge fundraising methods, with students collecting pledged gifts corresponding to the number of volunteer hours they complete.
19. Flea Market
High school students have plenty of creative hobbies that can make a flea market fundraiser a success. Encourage any students who make their own crafts or art to set up a booth and sell their creations. They’ll get to showcase their artistic talents, and you’ll raise money for the school!
The flea market doesn’t have to be for students only. Invite community members or even local businesses to set up stalls at the flea market to sell small items as well.
Or, invite anyone from the community to sell their secondhand clothes, home goods, or art they no longer want. This high school fundraising idea can lead to a very well-attended event!
20. Reserved Parking Spots
Good school parking spots are highly sought after by high school students with cars. Turn this into a fundraising opportunity by selling or auctioning off reserved parking spaces to students at the beginning of the year.
For added fun, you can allow seniors to paint the parking spots they win and personalize them. Make it an event at the beginning of the school year, charge an additional small fee, and provide paint supplies. Then, students can get creative and create a fond memory of their final year of school.
21. School Dance
Prom is a core high school experience that almost every student looks forward to. It can also make for a great fundraiser! Turn your school’s prom or any other school dance into an effective fundraiser by collecting donations through ticket sales.
Involve students in the planning process by creating a student dance committee. They can take responsibility for the fun parts of the dance, like the theme, decorations, and even the music.
You’ll need plenty of volunteers for the dance itself, so make sure to recruit parents and teachers ahead of time!
22. Open Mic Night
An open mic night is similar to the elementary school talent show idea, but geared more towards young adults. High school students can sign up to sing original songs or even perform as a group with friends.
Then, sell tickets to the student body and their parents. At the event itself, you can also sell snacks, drinks, or baked goods to raise even more money.
Open mics can work well to raise money for your school’s band, orchestra, or choir. Instruments and music competition trips need a lot of funding!
23. Valentine’s Day Roses
Raise money for school clubs or initiatives by selling roses for Valentine’s Day. In the week leading up to the holiday, set up a booth in the cafeteria to sell roses and collect donations. Students can pay a dollar to send a rose to another student, along with a note, that volunteers will deliver on Valentine’s Day.
Students can take this opportunity to send a rose to romantic interests or friends. For added fundraising potential, sell homemade cookies or Valentine’s Day-themed baked goods at the same time.
Consider adding a virtual element so students can send and receive a Valentine’s Day message to those who aren’t local. Valentine’s Day eCards are a simple way for participants to show they care about their friends and family while supporting your school.
24. Phone Detox Challenge
High school students constantly have their phones in their hands, but many would love a chance to take a break from the pressures of social media.
Launch a fundraiser to challenge students to stay off their phones and social media for extended periods. Students can collect pledges for donations from friends and family, then log hours of time spent with their phones off.
As students spend time away from their phones, this can also be an opportunity to discuss mental health and healthy social media behaviors. When the challenge is over, they’ll be prepared to go back online in a more positive way.
25. Dares for Donations
These school fundraisers are a great way to channel teenagers’ competitive spirit and interest in risk-taking in a healthy, productive way. Your participants will pledge to complete certain tasks if your fundraiser reaches specific benchmarks. Commit to dares as a class, or invite students to come up with their own.
Here are some examples of escalating dares a student might make:
- If the class raises $100, I’ll make a secret handshake with the principal
- At $500, I’ll do the Macarena in the middle of the cafeteria
- At $1,000, I’ll hop on one foot between classes for a full day
Students will have fun challenging each other to complete these dares. To increase your reach, share videos or pictures of students completing their dares throughout the campaign.
Unique School Fundraisers for All Ages
26. Superhero Walk-a-thon
By now, you’re probably very familiar with classic Walk-a-thon fundraisers. While certainly a worthwhile event, it can be nice to switch things up for a more unique experience!
Walk-a-thons use pledge fundraising, with participants collecting donations based on the units of distance they walk during the event. For this event, all you need is:
- An online Walk-a-thon campaign and corresponding pages for participants.
- A space for participants to walk in.
- An excited group of participants.
Then, advertise it as a superhero-themed event and ask participants to dress up as their favorite hero! The Walk-a-thon is a great school fundraising idea for all ages.
27. Teachers in Jail
Teachers in Jail fundraisers are fun for students of all ages, from elementary to high school. Challenge your students to raise a certain amount of money in a certain amount of time, and allow them to “jail” their teacher when they do! Generally, this means students get to have a fun event, like a pizza lunch or dance party, while their teacher sits on the sidelines.
28. Family Fun Day
A family fun day is similar to a field day, except you invite your students’ families to join in on the fun. Consider taking things a step further by adding a competitive element: charge a small registration fee and allow families to sign up as teams to compete in the various events.
There are a ton of fun competitive events to include:
- Tug-of-war
- Kickball
- Egg race
- Sack race
You get the idea! This event brings families together for a common cause and one that’s fun for everyone involved, at that.
29. Pajama Day
Who doesn’t want to wear their comfiest pajamas out in the world sometimes? This one is pretty straightforward. Simply invite students to wear dress code-appropriate pajamas to school in exchange for a small donation to your fundraiser.
Consider stepping the day up by screening a movie and providing popcorn, or adding a competitive element by awarding the funniest, most creative, and comfiest-looking pajama-wearers!
30. Shoe Drive Fundraiser
A shoe drive fundraiser is great for students of any age because school is when they go through their most significant period of growth. A shoe drive fundraiser allows parents of growing children to donate outgrown athletic shoes and your school to profit from it.
The steps are simple:
- Ask parents to donate new and gently worn running shoes that they and their children are no longer using.
- Package those shoes and send them to a shoe drive fundraiser representative.
- Once the shoes are processed, a check is mailed back to your school!
Learn more about this unique fundraising idea on Funds2Orgs.
31. Movie Night
Movies are universally enjoyed across all ages. Host an afterschool movie night featuring a popular, recently-released (or maybe an old classic!) film. Sell tickets for admission and supplement the fundraiser by selling concessions such as popcorn, movie-theatre candy, and carbonated drinks.
Make sure the movie you’re featuring adheres to any requirements outlined in your education system about what’s appropriate to show different ages of students. Further, consider incorporating an educational element by tying the movie you’re showing to your current curriculum.
32. Spaghetti Dinner
Host a spaghetti dinner where families can share a meal. It’s an affordable, delicious way to raise funds for your school. Hold it on a weeknight, and parents will appreciate not having to worry about making dinner after a long day at work.
You might host this school fundraiser in the cafeteria or an outdoor space. Wherever you choose, make sure there’s sufficient seating. From here, plan the menu, including variations of spaghetti (e.g., vegetarian or gluten-free) and accompanying dishes such as salad, garlic bread, and dessert. Consider potential dietary restrictions, too.
For event preparation, volunteers will need to prepare the food and set up tables. Consider whether you’ll have a buffet-style or table service setup, and don’t forget to have live music like your school’s band to create a lively ambiance. Then, families can pay for tickets to enjoy the nice evening you put together.
33. Used Book Sale
Remember the Read-a-thon mentioned earlier? This is the perfect fundraising event to supplement that!
Ask students and their families to donate books they’ve finished reading and are no longer using. Then, open a used bookstore at your school to fundraise.
By accepting books from everyone, whether one of your youngest students or their parents, you’re sure to collect a wide variety of books. You’ll have something for readers of all levels and interests, and promote literacy in your students and their families alike.
34. Gift Card Fundraiser
Gift cards are perfect for those times when you need a last-minute present or want to let the recipient choose exactly what they want. With a gift card fundraiser, students and their families can buy gift cards from their favorite businesses and support your school at the same time!
Your school can launch a gift card fundraiser in three easy steps:
- Partner with a gift card fundraiser platform—they’ll help you set up your school’s account and provide the app that participants will use to purchase gift cards, all for free!
- Promote your fundraiser to students and parents, and include instructions on how to buy gift cards.
- Watch as your community buys gift cards, and a percentage of each sale goes directly to your school!
When a participant buys a digital gift card through your fundraiser, they’ll receive it via email within minutes. Then, they can forward that email to a friend or family member to give them the gift card. Gift card fundraisers can be run year-round, and the small contributions from each sale add up to make a big difference for your school!
35. Balloon Pop Fundraiser
A balloon pop fundraiser is an exciting experience for all involved! The steps are simple:
- Choose an assortment of prizes and write them down on small pieces of paper.
- Fold up the pieces of paper and place each inside of an inflated balloon.
- Sell the balloons to students (and maybe their family members) for a fixed price.
- Host a balloon pop event where everyone who purchased one pops it and claims their prize.
Make sure you’re choosing a wide variety of prizes to keep things interesting. For example, a $5 coffee gift card, a “free period” coupon, and a $25 Amazon gift card would all be good items to include. Choose items that your organization would make money selling without charging too high of a price per balloon.
36. Chili Cook-Off
A chili cook-off is a fun event for both competitors and attendees alike. There are a few different ways to structure this:
- Challenge families to brew up their best chili recipe and enter it into the competition.
- Challenge local restaurants to put their chili recipe to the test.
Charge a small price for registering as a competitor. Host an event pitting all of the chili recipes against one another and sell tickets for members of your community to taste and vote on their favorites.
Consider tasking highly recognizable members of your school community (think: the principal, the president of the PTO/PTA, local government leaders) with being official judges of the chili. At the end of the night, award judge-chosen winners and community favorites!
37. Plant Sale
Ideal for spring, a garden sale promotes gardening skills and environmental awareness. If your school has a garden or greenhouse, you can sell plants, flowers, or produce grown by students. If you haven’t already, start by establishing a vegetable, herb, or flower garden.
You can encourage students to help with gardening, either by creating a club or incorporating gardening into the curriculum. When it comes time for the sale, promote it to parents and your community. Then, select a high-traffic spot on campus like your school courtyard.
Easy Fundraising Ideas for School Trips
38. Raffle
Create raffle baskets and sell tickets to parents and other family members at a fixed price.
Make sure you’re raffling items that are of interest to members of your school community, such as:
- Movie night baskets
- Ultimate game night baskets
- Sports tickets
- Spa experience gift cards
- Museum or other landmark tickets
This works best when tied to another school fundraising event (think: a main fundraising event or even an unrelated one, such as a sports game). At the end of the raffle, the person whose ticket is drawn wins the item!
39. Viral Video Challenge
School trips can be expensive— hence why you’re fundraising to make them possible! A viral video challenge allows your organization to raise massive amounts of gifts with very little startup costs and effort.
To hold a viral video challenge, you simply brainstorm a creative challenge for your community to complete (such as the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which raised $115 million for the cause). Then, film prominent members of your school community completing it, post it to social media, and challenge students and their families to do the same.
Each time someone completes the challenge, they task someone in their network with doing the same. Each person who finishes the challenge and shares it donates to your school fundraiser. Set up a crowdfunding page for your trip to easily collect gifts once the challenge takes off and watch the reach of your fundraiser grow.
40. Color Run
A Color Run is similar to a traditional 5K, only amplified with colorful chalk. With this simple change, you’ll completely transform the event. As runners navigate the race, onlookers throw brightly colored chalk at them. By the time they finish, they’re covered in a rainbow of chalk!
You can charge a small registration fee for runners and walkers. Further, use pledge-based fundraising by having participants collect pledged gifts corresponding to their finish time.
To host this event annually, you’ll need strong branding and graphics to build recognition and anticipation. Enlist the help of a nonprofit graphic design company to create:
- An event logo. Create a vibrant, eye-catching logo specific to your color run. You might incorporate elements such as runners, splashes of color, and your school mascot to embody the energy of the event.
- Marketing collateral. Develop social media graphics, such as event countdowns, registration calls to action, and sponsor shout-outs. Also, create colorful flyers with the date, location, and registration information.
- Event t-shirts. Custom t-shirts for participants, volunteers, and organizers serve as a walking advertisement before the event and a lasting keepsake post-event. Include your event logo, date, and sponsors’ logos in the design.
Using these custom-branded graphics will boost your event’s visual appeal and professionalism, making your color run a memorable and successful school fundraiser.
41. Restaurant Spirit Night
This school fundraising idea is incredibly simple and inexpensive to host, but if marketed well, it could be quite the success.
A restaurant spirit night involves pairing with a local restaurant in your fundraising. You agree on a specific night, and a percentage of proceeds from that night is directed to your organization. Then, you simply advertise the event and ask students and families to eat there that night, and mention you!
Aim to choose a restaurant that’s popular and accessible for most of your community to make the most of this event.
42. Pancake Breakfast
Invite families and friends in your school community to join together for breakfast, and raise funds in the process! Task visible figures of your school’s leadership (think: the principal, the vice principal, sports coaches, teachers) with cooking a breakfast for the ages for your community.
Sell tickets charging a small fee for admission, making sure it’s high enough to cover the cost of supplies. Further, consider incorporating a raffle element, such as an “ultimate brunch basket,” to raise more donations through the event.
Hold the event on a weekend morning for a higher turnout. Pay attention to your community’s greater calendar, however, to ensure you’re not overlapping with another important event.
43. Trivia Night
Trivia nights are a low-cost, fun-for-everyone fundraising event that’s friendly for all ages. Plus, they have clear ties to educational material—what better way to raise money for a school trip?
Simply invite students and their families back to school after-hours for a trivia competition.
Charge a small fee for registration, allowing families to compete as teams or perhaps entire classrooms. If you plan far enough ahead, you could even incorporate pledge fundraising methods with pledges corresponding to questions successfully answered by teams.
Vary your trivia questions to ensure everyone is engaged. For example, film and history questions will appeal to parents, and students will love curriculum-based questions where they can show their family members all that they’ve learned!
44. Car Wash
A car wash is a classic fundraising event sure to bring in gifts for your next school trip. Donors will appreciate your students working hard to fund their trip, and students will have fun in the process!
All you need is:
- A space to wash cars in
- Soap and water to wash the vehicles
- Excited students ready to participate
Market the car wash in advance, inviting members of your community to purchase a car wash from your students. Plan the event for a weekend morning, and watch the donations roll in! Make sure the event is highly supervised, and have parents/guardians of participating students sign a waiver giving them permission to join in the fun.
45. Charity Gala
While a charity gala requires more resources to plan and execute, the event can be well worth your efforts when gifts come in.
A charity gala is usually an elevated dinner event, often with speakers and entertainers soliciting gifts throughout the duration. Plan an event that’s both interesting and enjoyable for attendees, while also affordable for your organization. (Bringing on sponsors to fund the event itself is a helpful tip.)
Set ticket prices slightly higher and offer local businesses the option to purchase seats by the table. These organizations will be able to show their philanthropic prowess as well as network with one another.
Awesome After-School Program Fundraising Ideas
46. Dance-a-thon
A Dance-a-thon is a simple and fun event that’s perfect for after-school fundraising. You can host the event directly after school and hold it until the end of your afterschool program offerings, or hold it on a Friday afternoon and extend it into the weekend!
You simply:
- Create pledge fundraising pages for your afterschool program participants
- Encourage them to share those pages with their friends and family members, collecting pledged gifts
- These pledged donations correspond to either their participation in the event overall or the number of hours they dance in the event
At the event, keep an age-appropriate playlist rolling and encourage students to dance the evening away. The longer they dance (or the more successfully they complete the event), the more gifts will come in!
47. Coupon Books
Parents enrolling their students in afterschool programs are doing so to manage their busy schedules. Coupon books play on the need for convenience by outlining ways for busy parents to save money without extra effort.
These books require some advance planning from your school. Reach out to your community and see if any local businesses are open to pairing with your school to offer discounts to your community.
In return, local businesses can advertise to every person who purchases a coupon book, and hopefully see increased patronage!
48. Family Festival
Normally, planning a family festival would be somewhat intensive. From deciding on a venue to hanging decorations, there are quite a few pieces to juggle for just your after-school leadership alone!
Draw on your afterschool program students to help with the charge. These students can help create decorations and set up the event. They’ll feel proud showing off their hard work to their families, and parents will appreciate the exhibition of their children’s efforts.
Charge a small entry fee for the festival. Include fun events, such as games and crafts tables, and create a space for busy families to bond after the school day!
49. Parent and Student Workshops
Encourage learning, skill development, and family bonding with a workshop! Start by surveying parents and students to learn what skills or knowledge they’d like to acquire together, such as:
- Culinary skills
- Technology and internet safety
- Family mental health
- Life skills like financial literacy
Invite experts, teachers, and local professionals to lead these workshops. You can either host one workshop or plan multiple workshops over several weeks. You might offer workshops on the weekends or evenings to accommodate parents’ schedules.
Finally, determine a reasonable fee structure for your workshops. You can vary prices based on the workshop’s duration and complexity. If you’re hosting multiple events, consider offering discounts for bundled workshops.
50. Host a Play
Give afterschool students a task to work toward once the school day ends, and build toward a successful school fundraiser in the process.
Put on a play for your students’ families to enjoy. Assign each student a role to work on, giving them a moment to shine in front of their family members.
Charge a small admission fee for parents to attend the show, and hold it right after the afterschool program commences for the day, ensuring as many parents as possible can attend. Consider bolstering the event’s fundraising potential with snacks and refreshments.
51. Best Seat in the House
This school fundraising idea is essentially a raffle. Your school sells raffle tickets to parents for a chance to win high-value tickets to a popular local event (think sports, plays, or concerts). Choosing a major sporting event makes this a great fundraiser for soccer teams or other high school sports teams.
Since the prize will be highly coveted, you can slightly raise ticket prices and still sell more tickets overall.
Like other raffles, this fundraiser idea can be costly if your organization has to purchase the tickets. Consider contacting local event organizers to see if they’d be willing to donate tickets to your fundraiser, effectively sponsoring your fundraiser with an in-kind donation.
52. T-Shirt Fundraiser
A t-shirt fundraiser draws on your afterschool program students’ school spirit and desire to fit in with one another.
As an activity, ask students in the program to each design their ideal program t-shirt. Then, hold a vote for the students to choose their favorites!
Produce these t-shirts and sell them to students and their family members. This may seem expensive, but it doesn’t have to be! Pair with a company that specializes in t-shirt fundraising to make the process as simple and low-cost as possible.
53. Food Truck
Do you have any foodies in your afterschool bunch? Or maybe an active food truck presence in your community?
Pair with a locally loved food truck, inviting them to park in your school’s parking lot around pickup. Then, as parents pick up their children for the night, they can grab dinner as well! The added convenience (and tasty treats) will be a fun change to their normal routines.
The food truck benefits from increased visibility and sales, while your program gets a percentage of the proceeds.
54. Parents’ Night Out
Extend your hours for one night to provide childcare beyond your normal hours. At the same time, plan a fun “date night” for parents to enjoy, knowing their kids are cared for in the meantime.
Whether a game night or a local restaurant-catered dinner, parents will enjoy the time to reconnect. Plus, their kids will enjoy the evening with peers—especially if you plan a special activity, such as a pajama-themed movie night!
Charge a fee that includes childcare for the night as well as tickets to the event. The sheer convenience of this event will make it a hit!
55. Bowl-a-thon
A Bowl-a-thon combines pledge fundraising with a classic social event: bowling.
Allow students to compete individually, form teams with their peers, or even compete with their family members. Charge a small fee to play and use a fundraising platform to create pledge pages for each player.
The players collect pledged gifts corresponding to the pins they knock over during the tournament. Your students enjoy a fun night with one another, and your school gets donations in the process!
Final Thoughts: Launch Your School Fundraiser
As an educational professional, you don’t just have to raise a lot of funds; you have to be efficient when doing so! The fundraising ideas we shared will give you a solid foundation for impactful fundraising.
Choosing the right campaign idea will generate funds and also create opportunities for students, parents, teachers, and the wider community to come together, learn, and grow. Pledge fundraising plays into many of these ideas, so bring your students in on the action with our user-friendly fundraising tools.
In the meantime, check out these resources to source new ideas and launch your next fundraiser:
- 8 Fundraising Platforms for Schools to Skyrocket Revenue. Entrust the right software to power your school’s next fundraiser. Explore this guide to learn about our top recommendations.
- 10+ of Our Most Effective Booster Club Fundraisers. Looking to amplify your booster club’s fundraising potential? Check out this list to help them brainstorm fundraising ideas.
- Read-a-thon Fundraising Guide: How to Start Your Campaign. As one of our top school fundraising ideas, Read-a-thons can inspire a love of reading and generate revenue for your school. Plan the ultimate Read-a-thon by following our advice in this guide.
