148 Game-Changing School Fundraising Ideas to Boost Revenue

There are a lot of school fundraising ideas to choose from, which makes it hard to choose the right one, or one that will actually generate income for your district. To save you from having to search for ideas, we did the research for you. We drew on our decades of experience, where we’ve worked with thousands of schools, to find some of the top-performing fundraisers that help districts grow revenue for key programs.  

To help you sort through the list, we created a table separating the ideas by category. We also provided additional ideas by linking to how-tos and other fundraising ideas for schools. Read on to find the perfect idea for your school or district! 

 Table of Contents 

1. Elementary School Fundraising Ideas 
2. Middle School Fundraising Ideas
3. Fundraiser Ideas for High School 
4. High School Yearbook Fundraiser Ideas
5. Fundraisers for Athletics
6. Fundraisers for Arts Programs 
7. Fall Fundraiser Ideas for Schools
8. Valentine's Day Fundraising Ideas for Schools
9. Holiday Fundraisers for Schools
10. Spring Fundraising Ideas
11. Online School Fundraiser Ideas
12. Principal and Teacher Challenge Fundraisers
13. Food Fundraiser Ideas
14. PTO Fundraising Ideas
15. Create an Online School Store
    
    

Elementary School Fundraising Ideas 

Fundraisers for elementary schools are a great way to pay for extracurricular activities. They also help foster a sense of school spirit from the oldest to the youngest students because they get to give back to their schools in a tangible way. School fundraising ideas that even the youngest students can get involved in can be a challenge to think of, but there are plenty out there. Keep reading to learn about the school fundraising ideas that you can set up easily.    

1. Partner with a School Fundraising Company

Cost: $$ - $$$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Many companies specifically partner with schools to help them raise funds. This one can be a challenge for kids who don't have many family members; however, it's a classic elementary school fundraiser. Kids take a catalog and sell items like wrapping paper, candles, food, cookie dough and more.   

Once the fundraiser ends, orders are placed and the items are delivered to the customers. Many parents often feel they end up doing most of the work as they take the catalog to work. However, this type of fundraiser requires less planning than some others and there won’t be leftover products that weren’t sold.  

2. Read-a-Thon

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

A love of reading can help your students be successful throughout their education. If you want to help your students practice their reading skills and raise money, consider planning a read-a-thon.   

This is like a marathon, but instead of running, students spend time reading. The best way to do this is by having students track their reading time. For example, they read for 15 or 30 minutes and track their time.  

This ensures that fast readers don't get an advantage and slower readers don't feel left out. Have your students get family members and friends to sponsor them in the read-a-thon. For every 15 or 30 minutes the student spends reading outside of school, they'll donate a certain amount of money.   

3. Bottle or Can Drive

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Only 10 states currently have bottle deposits. However, if you live in one of those states, this is a great opportunity for a fundraiser. If you don’t, many states have recycling centers that will take bottles or cans and pay by the pound rather than by the redeemable item.   

States with redemption include:  

• California  
• Oregon  
• Hawaii  
• Connecticut  
• Iowa 
• Maine  
• Massachusetts  
• Michigan  
• New York   
• Vermont
  

If you don't live in one of these states, you can still have a can drive. Not only will this fundraiser help raise money, it's an eco-friendly school fundraiser idea.   

You need to do some advance planning for this event to give people time to collect cans and bottles.   

There are two ways you can do this event. First, you can set up receptacles around the school where students can drop off bottles and cans all year long.   

Second, if you don't want to worry about finding space to store bottles and cans until you return them, plan an event. This can be a barbeque, picnic or potluck.   

Ask everyone to bring a dish to share and as many bottles and cans as they can to donate. Have some volunteers on hand with trucks to take the bottles and cans to your local recycling center.   

4. Book Fairs

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Book fairs are a great way to raise money, making them one of the best school fundraising ideas. They are relatively easy to organize and can be a lot of fun for students and parents alike. Plus, they offer a great opportunity to get the community involved in supporting the school.  

Book fairs typically involve setting up tables with books for sale in the school gym or auditorium. Students and parents can browse the selection and purchase books they like. The school usually receives a percentage of the sales, so it's a great way to earn some extra money.  

Another benefit of book fairs is that they promote literacy and a love of reading. Students who participate in book fairs often become more enthusiastic about reading, which is great for their academic success.  

If you're looking for an elementary school fundraiser that is both effective and enjoyable, a book fair is a great option.  

5. Family Sports Day

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

A family sports day is a great way to get the whole community involved in raising money for your school. This can be done by setting up a series of fun and competitive games that everyone can participate in.  

Families can pledge to donate a certain amount of money for every game their child participates in. This is a great way to get people moving and having fun while also raising money for a good cause.  

6. Greeting Card Sale 

Cost: $ - $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Selling greeting cards is a great school fundraising idea. You can sell them online or in stores. You can also sell them at craft fairs or other events.  

There are many different ways to design your own greeting cards. You can use online tools, or you can design them yourself. If you are selling them in stores, you will need to have professional-looking cards.  

You can also sell premade greeting cards. There are many companies that sell greeting cards for schools. You can find these companies online or in magazines that cater to school fundraisers.  

However, having the children design greeting cards is a great way to get them involved. 

7. Coin War 

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

A coin war fundraiser is a great way to raise money for your school. It's simple to set up and can be a lot of fun for the participants.  

Here's how it works: each student collects coins from their home and brings them to school. They put their coins into a jar labeled with their name. At the end of the day, the jars are collected and the coins are counted. The student with the most coins in their jar wins a prize.  

To make it more fun, you can divide the students into teams. The team with the most coins at the end of the day wins a prize as well.  

This fundraiser can get students excited about raising money for their school.  

8. Pajama Day

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Pajama day is a great school fundraising idea that really works! It is simple to set up and can be done in one day. All you need to do is collect donations from students and staff members.  

Then, hold a pajama day at your school, where everyone wears their pajamas all day long! This is a fun way to raise money for your school and get everyone involved.  

9. Spelling Bee

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Hosting a spelling bee is a fantastic elementary school fundraiser that encourages young students to develop their vocabulary skills. Your elementary school can organize a spelling bee and allow students interested in language to compete in a healthy environment under pressure.   

While there might be a competitive element to spelling bees, these events can help students improve communication and public speaking skills. These skills will benefit children later in their education and throughout their lives. You can charge parents a small fee to attend this event at your school hall or another venue and award a prize to the winner of the competition.   

10. Superhero Day

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Many elementary school students are fascinated by the superheroes in Marvel movies and DC comic books. So why not host a special day where students can dress up as their favorite characters at school? You can ask parents to pay a fee for this event and use donations to cover the costs of a school project.   

Fundraising ideas for schools like this one can encourage creative thinking and socialization between students. You can also award a prize to the person with the most imaginative costume and post images on your website.   

You can also substitute Disney characters or sports teams for superheroes.  

Middle School Fundraising Ideas 

Middle schools are perfect for some of the best school fundraising ideas. Kids are getting older, which opens up a lot of options.   

11. Spirit Week for Middle Schools

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

For spirit week, students and staff can dress up in their school colors or team jerseys to show off their school spirit. This can be done for a whole week or just one day.  

Having a series of fun days like hat day, pajama day, crazy hair day and other events can make the event enjoyable for the whole school. Have students and staff donate a dollar for the fun of being able to dress up.   

Schools can also hold competitions between classes or grades to see who has the most school spirit. This is a great way to get everyone involved and excited about raising money for their school. Whether you have a physical or online store to sell merchandise, you can also use spirit fundraisers to promote school spirit wear. By pairing spirit fundraising events with their store merchandise, particularly apparel, districts across the country have boosted revenue.  

12. Rubber Ducky Regatta

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

This is a great middle school fundraising idea for schools that are near bodies of water. Students can decorate their own rubber duckies and race them down a river or stream. The winning team gets a prize and all of the proceeds go to the school.  

13. Hayrides

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Hayrides can be held in the fall, winter, or spring. Hayrides can be combined with other activities, such as pumpkin picking, a corn maze or apple picking. Hayrides typically last around 30 minutes.  

If you live in a farming community, you might be able to find local farmers who are willing to donate their time. You can also call farms in the surrounding areas that already offer hayrides and talk to them about organizing a fundraiser.   

14. Used Book Sale

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

A used book sale is a great way to raise funds for your school. You can collect donations of used books from parents, students and community members.  

Then, you can sell the books at a discounted price. This is a great way to get rid of unwanted books and raise money for your school at the same time.  

15. Dog Wash

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

With a dog wash, you can raise money and wash and pamper some of your community's furry friends.  

To set up a dog wash, you'll need to find a location with access to water. A school parking lot or a park would both be good options.  

Once you've found a location, set up a couple of tables or tents and place some basins of water on them. You'll also need to have some towels and shampoo on hand.  

To actually wash the dogs, have one person hold the dog while another person washes it. Be sure to use a gentle shampoo that won't irritate the dog's skin. Once the dog is clean, wrap them in a towel and let them shake off the excess water.  

16. Penny Drive

Cost: $  

Difficulty: Easy 

A penny drive is a great school fundraising idea because it is easy to set up and it doesn't require much effort from students. All you need to do is set up a box where students can drop their pennies. You can also have students collect pennies from their families and friends.  

Penny drives are popular, so you will likely get a lot of donations — people are always looking for ways to get rid of their spare change. So, a penny drive is a win-win for everyone involved!  

17. Cooking Class

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Cooking classes are one of the best fundraising ideas for schools. You can charge a fee for these events to cover the cost of ingredients and food preparation items and generate funds for your middle school.   

Students receive multiple benefits when taking part in cooking classes. These events can boost self-confidence, increase awareness of foods and cooking methods from other cultures and help students appreciate the culinary arts. You can pick a different meal to cook every week — get creative! — and create a regular income stream for your school.   

Host your cooking classes during school time or after school.  

18. Obstacle Course 

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Like a sports fundraiser, an obstacle course event can involve the whole community in raising money for your middle school. You can organize an event that includes obstacles students, parents and community members can climb over, crawl under and run through and create a day that everyone will remember.   

Obstacle courses are both fun and promote body power and balance. Students might develop a passion for endurance events and experience a sense of achievement after completing your course. Charge parents a small fee for attending this event and take lots of photos for your school website and social media pages. That can increase awareness of your school fundraising ideas and encourage more donations from the community.  

19. Time Capsule

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Why not create a time capsule and bury it underground in an outdoor area of your school property? Parents can pay to include a message from their child in the time capsule and participate in this unique event. Alternatively, children can place personal items in the capsule like favorite photos, fashion accessories, paintings, or newspaper clippings that have significance.   

Place your capsule in a location below ground level not exposed to temperature fluctuations. Then make sure nobody opens your capsule for a specific period — 5, 10 or even 50 years from now.   

You might want to invite the local media to attend the burial of your time capsule and increase awareness of your school fundraising ideas. Local audiences might see your middle school featured on the news and donate additional funds that support school projects.  

20. Karaoke Event

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

A karaoke event is another one of those middle school fundraising ideas that students will love. You can charge a fee for this event and use the money to support school activities. All you need is a karaoke machine and a projector! You can project YouTube lyric videos onto a screen and increase students' self-confidence and performance abilities.   

Make your karaoke event even more exciting by selecting three or four students to be judges. Similar to TV shows like "American Idol" and "The Voice," judges can give their opinions about other students' vocals, song choices and stage presence. The judges can even choose an outright winner of your karaoke competition.  

Fundraiser Ideas for High School

When looking at fundraising ideas for schools, you need to consider the age of the students. High school is a great time because students are more independent and can be fully involved.   

21. Car Washes

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Car washes are a great way to raise money for schools. They are relatively easy to set up and can be run by students, parents or staff. Car washes usually require a small amount of up-front investment, but they can be very profitable.  

Car washes typically charge by the car, so the more cars that come through, the more money the school will make. To attract customers, schools can advertise their car wash on social media, in local newspapers or on flyers around town. Offering a discount for prepaid car wash packages is also a great way to encourage customers to come back.  

Car washes are a great way to raise money for schools because they are easy to set up and can be very profitable. By advertising their car washes and offering discounts, schools can attract customers and raise a lot of money.  

22. 50/50 Raffle

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

To run a 50/50 raffle, you will need to sell tickets for a drawing. The winner of the drawing will receive half of the money that is raised. The other half of the money will go to your school.  

You can sell tickets for the drawing at school events or online. You can also set up a table at local businesses and ask people to purchase tickets.  

Make sure to promote your 50/50 raffle as much as possible. The more people who know about it, the more likely you are to sell tickets and raise money for your school!  

23. Candygram

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Candygrams are a great fundraising idea for schools. They are easy to sell and people love buying them. Candygrams typically consist of a small bag of candy and a note.  

The note can be customized to say anything you want. For example, you could write a note that says, "Thanks for supporting our school!"  

24. Carnation Sale

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

A carnation sale is another effective fundraiser idea for high school. Carnations are a popular flower and can be sold for a reasonable price. This makes them a great option for people who want to buy flowers for their loved ones.  

Carnation sales usually take place in the springtime. This is when carnations are in season and their prices are at their lowest.  

To get the best price for your carnations, you should order them from a wholesale florist. You can then sell them to people in your community for a markup.  

25. Watch Party

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Another fun school fundraising idea is a watch party. You can charge admission to the event and all of the proceeds will go to your school. You can also sell snacks and drinks at the event.  

You can also set up a donation jar at the watch party. Guests can donate money to your school and all of the money will go toward your fundraising goal.  

Finally, you can sell merchandise at the watch party. This could include T-shirts, hats or other items with your school's logo on them. All of the money from the sales will go toward your school's fundraising goal.  

26. Facebook Challenges

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Raise money for your school online — challenge people on Facebook to do something fun or silly. For example, you could challenge people to do the ice bucket challenge or to wear their pajamas to school for a day.  

You could also challenge people to make a donation to your school in exchange for completing a task. This is a great way to get people involved and excited about raising money for your school. If you’re looking for messages to send to parents or the community, these school fundraising letter templates are a great place to start.  

27. Auction

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Auctions are great school fundraising ideas. They can be held online or in person. A school can solicit donations from local businesses or individuals.  

These donations can be anything from gift certificates to products or services. Then, the school can hold an auction and sell the items to the highest bidder. The money raised can be used to fund school programs or activities.  

28. School Carnival

Cost: $$$ 

Difficulty: Hard 

A school carnival is another popular fundraising idea for high schools. You can charge an entry fee, set up game booths and sell food and drinks. A school carnival is a fun event for the whole community.  

This one is great for high schoolers because each club can get creative in designing its own booth.   

29. Board Game Tournament

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

A board game tournament is a great way to raise money for your school. You can charge an entry fee for each player and the money can be donated to your school.  

To hold a successful board game tournament, you will need to choose a venue and advertise the event. You will also need to find sponsors to help cover the costs of the event. And, of course, you will need to have plenty of board games on hand for the tournament!  

30. Engraved Bricks

Cost: $$$ 

Difficulty: Hard 

If you are constructing a new building on school property, generate funds to help pay for the project by charging parents to engrave a brick that will become part of the structure. Engraved bricks can include the name of a student at the school and a brief message. In years to come, future students will learn about the children who attended your school during a particular building's construction.  

You might want to charge a couple hundred dollars for each engraved brick and bring in a significant amount of funds. Your new brick wall can also serve as an art piece that you can share in literature when attracting new students to your school. You can invite the local media to your school when the new building construction is finished and explain how students contributed to its design.   

31. Trivia Night

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

A trivia night is one of those school fundraising ideas that doesn't require much preparation. You can invite parents or people from the local community to compete in this challenge and raise money for your high school via an entry fee.   

Split visitors into small teams and ask them general knowledge questions about history, politics, sports, entertainment and other topics. (Some of your high school students can come up with questions!) You might want to use a portion of ticket money to hand out as a prize to the team that correctly answers the most questions. Make your trivia night more profitable by selling food and drink at the event.   

You can make your trivia night a one-off event or host weekly or monthly competitions as a way to generate funds for your school.   

32. Book Club

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Regular book club events can generate funds for your school and help students develop a passion for reading. Charge parents a small fee for their children to be part of your monthly or quarterly book club and advertise your event on social media to get more people involved.  

The premise of a school book club is simple. These high school fundraising ideas involve a group member choosing a book for the other members to read. After everyone finishes the book, the group will discuss its contents and themes. Book choices can follow a particular subject or genre, such as historical fiction books.   

You can host your book club during school time or after school. Post book club choices on your school website and include resources about selected titles that help readers understand complex concepts and symbolism.  

33. Babysitting

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Babysitting is another way to generate funds for your high school. Older students who are responsible and trustworthy can look after young children while their parents go out for an evening. A teacher might need to be present, and the "babysitters'" parents will need to give permission for this event to occur. Your school can charge for this service and give a part of the donation to the older student or their parents.   

School fundraising ideas like this one can help high school students develop new skills such as patience, listening, problem-solving, communication and empathy. Older students can make a difference in younger students' lives.  

34. Basket of Goods Sale

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Work with local businesses to raise money by selling baskets of goods. This means businesses contribute items that you gather in baskets, which you sell to the school and local communities. These baskets can provide a variety of items and help to support the local economy. As an added incentive, have the businesses include small ads with the items they contribute. 

35. Teens Teaching Tech Night

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

High school students are almost always great with technology. Why not share that knowledge with a fundraiser? Put together a variety of sessions on different technologies as part of tech education night at the school or a local public building. 

Charge for class registration and watch your students teach community members about everything from cell phones to ChatGPT. 

36. Pet Pageant

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

This is a fun and easy school fundraising idea that the whole community can participate in. Set a date to invite students, families and community members to bring their pets for a pet pageant. Charge people to participate in the pageant and charge others to attend the event. 

High School Yearbook Fundraiser Ideas 

An important part of every school year is the yearbook, but it can be an expensive project. You can help to finance the school yearbook with some creative fundraising ideas for schools. 

37. Customized Water Bottles

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Water bottles are everywhere these days, so why not customize water bottles with your school logo? Students, parents, alumni and community members will buy the bottles if they know the proceeds support the yearbook. 

Work with a local vendor to design and print your labels on water bottles, then price them to earn a profit. You can sell the bottles at all kinds of school events and games or offer bulk discounts for special events. 

38. Personalized Ads and Pages

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

The yearbook is a great way for parents, other family members and local businesses to offer their congratulations and best wishes to high school classes or individual students. Local businesses can also benefit from added publicity. 

Sell space on a page or entire pages in your yearbook for special messages and advertisements. Get the word out with flyers, social media, emails and other school communications. You can offer incentives for multiple ads or pages. 

39. Photo Booth

Cost: $$$ 

Difficulty: Moderate  

A photo booth isn’t just for special events. Pick a day to rent a photo booth to raise money for the yearbook. Provide backgrounds with your school logo, mascot and colors, plus props (wigs, glasses, masks, etc.) to make the pictures even more fun. 

Charge for each photo shoot and offer discounts for multiple prints and online orders. You can also provide add-ons like custom frames with your school logo. 

40. Crowdfunding

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Fundraising is easier than ever these days with crowdfunding. Many people are already familiar with GoFundMe. Set up your own school crowdfunding platform and invite families, friends and community members to donate to the yearbook fund online. 

Because the platform is online, it’s easy to use social media and other online marketing tools to publicize your fundraiser. 

41. Yearbook Subscription Drive

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

A yearbook subscription drive is a great school fundraising idea because it helps you preplan and presell copies of the yearbook before they’re distributed. Charge a discounted rate for people who subscribe and let them know they’ll be the first to receive their yearbooks when they are printed. 

42. Talent Marketplace

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

High school seniors are old enough and responsible enough to take on helpful jobs in the community, so set up a talent marketplace to raise money for the yearbook. Parents, family members and residents can donate money in exchange for help with yard work, dog walking, tutoring, etc. Local businesses and restaurants can get involved by donating a portion of their proceeds from sales.  

43. Raffles

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Raffles are easy to set up and can be a lot of fun for everyone involved. Here are a few tips for setting up a successful raffle:  

First, you will need to find some prizes. Prizes can be donated by local businesses or individuals. You can also ask for donations of gift cards or other items that can be given away as prizes.  

Next, you will need to sell tickets. Tickets can be sold online, through mail order, or in person. Selling tickets in person is often the most successful way to sell them. You can set up a table at school events or in the community.  

Finally, you will need to hold the raffle. The raffle can be held at a school event or on social media. Be sure to promote the raffle ahead of time so people know when and where it will be held.  

Fundraisers for Athletics 

A school fundraiser for athletics is the perfect time to help your community get active. There are a lot of sports-related fundraisers to do at your school. Here are just a few:  

44. Sports Team Spirit Night

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

A sports team spirit night can raise school spirits and school funds. Invite the community to celebrate one or more sports teams. Then bring in local businesses and community members to donate snacks, drinks and team merchandise to sell. Invite attendees to wear school colors and uniforms. You can run a raffle or auction for sports-related items like autographed team jerseys or game tickets. 

As an alternative, work with a local restaurant to donate a percentage of their profits for a specific time period to donate to the team(s). 

45. Color Run 

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

A color run fundraiser is a great way to raise money for your school. All you need to do is find a local race you can participate in. Many races will donate a portion of the proceeds to your school.  

You can also set up a booth at the race and sell items such as T-shirts, water bottles and snacks. This is a great way to raise money and promote your school at the same time.  

Another option is to set up a table at the race and collect donations from people who are interested in supporting your school. This is an easy way to collect funds from people who may not be able to participate in the race itself.  

A color run is a great school fundraising idea. It is easy to set up and can be a lot of fun for everyone involved.  

46. Walk-a-Thon

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

For a walk-a-thon, students can collect pledges from family and friends and then walk a set route. This is a great activity for the whole school to participate in.  

Walk-a-thons can be held at any time of year. However, they are especially popular in the springtime. This is because people are generally more active in the warmer months. Walk-a-thons can also be held indoors if the weather is not good.  

There are many ways to make a walk-a-thon successful. First, it is important to promote the event ahead of time. This can be done through flyers, posters and social media.  

Second, it is important to have a good route planned. The route should be safe and easy to follow. Third, it is important to have plenty of water and snacks available for participants. Finally, it is important to have a good prize for the person who raises the most money.  

47. Roller-Skating Night

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

A roller-skating night can help everyone get active and have fun. You can hold the event at your school and have everyone bring their own skates. Charge an entry fee and then all of the money raised can go toward your school. Or work with a local skating rink to set up a fundraiser.   

48. Bowling Night

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Another school fundraising idea is a bowling night. To get started, you'll need to find a bowling alley that is willing to host your event. Once you have a location, you'll need to promote the event.  

You can do this by sending out fliers and posting about it on social media. You should also reach out to local businesses and see if they're interested in sponsoring the event.  

On the day of the event, set up a table at the entrance of the bowling alley where people can buy tickets. Each ticket should cost around $10. Then, let everyone bowl for 2 hours.  

During that time, you can have a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses. At the end of the night, count the much money you've raised.  

49. Dance-a-Thon

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Students can pledge to dance for a certain amount of time, or they can donate money to sponsor a dancer. The money raised can be used to fund school activities or scholarships.  

A dance-a-thon is also a great way to get students involved in their school. It can be a fun and social event that gets everyone moving. And it's a great way to build school spirit.  

50. Shoot-a-Thon

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

A shoot-a-thon is a great way to raise money for your school. It's a competition where people try to shoot as many baskets as they can in a certain amount of time. Prizes can be given out for the most baskets made, the most three-pointers made, or even for the person who raises the most money.  

This fundraiser is a great way to get people involved and excited about supporting your school. It's also a great way to get people moving and active!  

51. Youth Sports Camp

Cost: $$$ 

Difficulty: Hard  

A youth sports camp is an ambitious school fundraising idea. You can charge a fee for each child to attend the camp. The camp can be held during the summer or on weekends throughout the year.  

You will need to find a location for the camp and instructors who are willing to donate their time. The instructors can be current or former athletes, coaches or physical education teachers.  

If you're hosting the fundraiser with high schoolers or middle school students, they can also volunteer their time as coaches. They will need to be able to teach various sports, such as basketball, baseball, soccer, football and so on.  

You can also sell items at the camp, such as T-shirts, water bottles and so on. All of the proceeds from the camp will go to your school. This is a great way to provide an opportunity for kids to learn about and play sports.  

52. Dodgeball Tournament

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

A dodgeball tournament is a great fundraising idea for schools. It can be a lot of fun for the participants, and it can also be a great way to get the community involved.  

To hold a dodgeball tournament, you will need to find a venue and recruit teams. You can charge an entry fee for each team and offer prizes for the winning team. You can also sell food and drinks at the event.  

53. Coach Challenge

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

This is a great way to get the entire school involved in fundraising. Have each coach set a fundraising goal for their team. If the students achieve their goal, the coach will have to do something silly, like taking a pie to the face.   

54. 10,000-Step Challenge

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

To do a 10,000-step challenge, each person in your school community pledges to walk or run 10,000 steps each day for a certain period of time. You can set up a donations page where people can sponsor others who are taking part in the challenge.  

You can also organize other activities to help people reach their 10,000-step goal. For example, you could have a sponsored walk or run or even a sponsored dance-a-thon!  

Fundraisers for Arts Programs 

When you're considering school fundraising ideas for the arts, it's the perfect time to immerse your community in the arts. There are many exciting themes you can use for arts fundraisers. Which one of these will work for your school? 

55. Concerts

Cost: $$ - $$$ 

Difficulty: Hard 

Concerts are a great way to raise money for schools. They can be held either indoors or outdoors, depending on the size of the school and the number of students. Students can perform in bands, orchestras or choirs.  

There are also many professional performers who are willing to give concerts at schools. These concerts can be a great source of revenue for schools.  

Concerts can also be used as fundraisers for other causes. For example, many schools raise money for charities by holding benefit concerts.  

These concerts usually feature famous performers and attract large audiences. This type of concert can raise a lot of money for a school or charity.  

56. Lip Sync Battle

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

A lip sync battle is a great way to get people involved and raise money for your school. You can charge an entry fee and the proceeds go to your school. To make it even more fun, you can have a prize for the winner of the lip sync battle.  

57. Battle of the Bands

Cost: $$ - $$$ 

Difficulty: Hard 

A battle of the bands fundraiser is an exciting school fundraising idea. You can charge an entry fee for each band and have the bands compete against each other. The winning band can take home a prize and all of the money raised will go to your school.  

To make your battle of the bands fundraiser even more successful, you can partner with a local venue. This will give you a place to hold the event and it will also help to promote it. Make sure to advertise the event well in advance so people have time to plan to attend.  

Battle of the bands fundraisers provide a fun evening for everyone involved. With a little planning and promotion, your fundraiser is sure to be a success.  

58. Art Show

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

An art show is a great way to raise money for your school. You can charge an entry fee for people to come and see the artwork on display.  

You can also set up a silent auction, where people can bid on the artwork. This is a great way to get people involved and raise money for your school.  

Another benefit of an art show is that it can help to promote your school and its programs. People who come to the art show will see the great work that your students are doing. This can help to generate interest in your school and its programs.  

59. Talent Show

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Let your students show off their talents with a talent show. You can charge an admission fee and sell snacks and drinks at the event.  

This is a great way to showcase the talent of your students and get the community involved in your school.  

60. Family Picture Day

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Another school fundraising idea is to have a family picture day. This can be a lot of fun for families and it can also raise a lot of money for your school.  

You can either find a photographer who is willing to work at a reduced rate or use students who are budding photographers.   

You can charge a fee for each family to have their picture taken. You can also sell prints and digital copies of the pictures. This is a great way to get people to support your school and raise money at the same time.  

61. Costume Contest

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Use a costume contest to raise money for your school. Parents and students can donate money to enter the contest. The more money that is donated, the more chances there are to win.  

A costume contest can get everyone involved. Parents can help their children make their costumes. Students can help promote the contest and get their friends and classmates to participate.  

62. Craft Night

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Craft night is a simple school fundraising idea that's easy to set up and can be a lot of fun for everyone involved.  

To get started, all you need is a venue and some supplies. You can either charge an entry fee or sell tickets in advance. Then set up some tables with crafting supplies and let your guests get to work!  

You can also offer refreshments and music to create a festive atmosphere. At the end of the night, everyone will have created something unique and you'll have raised money for your school!  

63. Painting Night

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

This fundraiser involves hosting a painting party at your school. Guests can purchase tickets to attend the party and all of the proceeds will go to your school.  

At the painting party, guests paint their own canvases. There will be a professional artist on hand to help guests with their paintings. Guests can take their paintings home with them at the end of the night.  

Fall Fundraiser Ideas for Schools 

Fall is one of the best times of the year for fundraisers. Not only is it a good idea to get a head start to ensure you generate the revenue for your key programs, it’s also one of the times of the year where parents and students are most active in the community.   

That’s why we built a list of fall fundraising ideas for schools. Any one of these ideas will help you get an early start on fundraising for the next academic year. Here are just a few of them:  

64. Bonfire

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Hosting a school bonfire is a fun fall activity for the whole community. See if a local farmstand, nursery or even families can donate firewood and be sure you have a permit, if necessary.  

In addition to charging admission to the bonfire itself, you can raise money by selling snacks, baked goods and hot and cold drinks. Provide games and activities, like apple bobbing (see below).  

65. Pumpkin Carving Contest

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Another great fall school fundraising idea is a pumpkin carving contest. Partner with a local farm or farmers market to buy pumpkins and set up an area where you can host the contest. Collect entry fees from contestants. Create categories for different ages and get some volunteers to judge the contest and award prizes. 

You can also provide snacks and drinks with a pumpkin theme for sale. 

66. Apple Bobbing

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Apple bobbing is a fun game for all ages. Simply work with a local store or farm to buy apples, get a large container of some kind, and fill it with water and apples. Charge participants admission to the contest and keep track of the time it takes each one to grab an apple. Award a prize to the winner. 

This is a great activity because you can host it almost anywhere, indoors or out. 

67. Movie Night

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Turn your school into a movie theater for an evening of fun and fundraising. To make it just like being at a theater, sell tickets and snacks to attendees. Use a school projector and screen to show a movie that will appeal to many ages. Invite the community for even more potential donations. 

You can host movie nights throughout the school year based on seasons, holidays and other events and themes. 

68. Oktoberfest

Cost: $$ - $$$ 

Difficulty: Hard 

This is a more complex fundraiser, but the results can be worth it. Work with local restaurants and bars to create a German-style Oktoberfest beer celebration. Plan a route among different venues and charge adults admission to participate. Arrange for German beers and food to be served at stops along the route. 

69. Thanksgiving Dinner

Cost: $$ - $$$ 

Difficulty: Hard 

Open your school’s doors or use a local community building to host a Thanksgiving dinner for charity. Charge students, parents and other community members for tickets to the event and work with local businesses and restaurants to cater a complete Thanksgiving feast. 

70. Yard Raking Service

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

One of the easiest fall fundraisers helps communities with a common problem — falling leaves. Create a fundraiser to help residents and businesses clear their lawns, gardens, decks, driveways and parking lots of leaves.  

Put together a group of student volunteers and arm them with rakes, bags and brooms, then charge residents and businesses for leaf raking service. 

71. Community Yard Sale

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Set up a community-wide yard sale to help residents get rid of items they no longer need. You can collect donated goods to sell, or charge residents for tables where they can display their items. This kind of fundraiser helps residents clear out their homes and helps your school earn money, while cutting down on trash and waste.

72. Scavenger Hunt

Cost: $ - $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate - Hard 

A scavenger hunt can be a great school fundraising idea for any age. Depending on the age of the participants, you can make the scavenger hunt simple and keep it to a small area, or you can involve the whole community in a larger hunt. 

Charge an entrance fee for each team that enters the contest. Hide clues around your school, school grounds or another area in your district. You can work with local businesses to hide clues and donate prizes for the winning team. On the day of the hunt, start all the teams off at the same time and award a prize to the team that finds all the clues first. 

To make the scavenger hunt even more fun, create a theme based on the month, a holiday, event or other theme. Invite participants to dress up based on the theme. You can use volunteer judges to give awards to the best costumes. 

73. Halloween Fashion Show

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

A Halloween fashion show is an opportunity to let your students show their creative sides. Pick a theme for the show and tell students to create homemade costumes related to the theme. On the night of the show, get volunteers to help with costumes and makeup. 

Host the show at school and charge family and community members for tickets to see the students show off their costumes and creativity.  

Holiday Fundraisers for Schools

The holidays inspire a giving spirit, which is why fundraising ideas for schools are popular during the holiday season. There are many amazing ideas schools can use to boost revenue for key programs. Here are just a few of the best holiday-themed fundraising ideas for schools:  

74. Caroling

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

This is a great idea for a school fundraiser because it is easy to do and does not require much planning. All you need is a group of people and some holiday cheer!  

You can go door-to-door in your neighborhood or set up a table at a local shopping center. Be sure to collect donations in advance so you can give people a tax-deductible receipt. 

75. Holiday Gala with Silent Auction

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

For a great holiday school fundraising idea for high school, try something sophisticated like a gala with a silent auction. You can combine the two or hold the auction online. Plan the gala around one holiday, like Christmas, or several, like Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza and any others. 

Set a date and a dress code and start promoting the gala. Ask families, other community members and local businesses to donate items for the auction. Likewise, local restaurants and businesses can donate food, drinks and decorations for the gala. 

76. Holiday Concert

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

A holiday or year-end holiday concert is a great way to get school students, staff and parents in the holiday spirit. Parents love to see their children creating music, and students love to showcase their musical skills. 

Get students involved in decorating the stage with your theme and sell tickets to the concert to parents and community members. You can sell snacks and drinks at the concert to raise even more money. 

77. Homemade Decorations

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

The best fundraisers work for all ages, from elementary school fundraisers to high school fundraisers. Selling homemade decorations is a great way to showcase students’ creativity while raising money for your school.  

Students can make ornaments, wreaths or other decorations, cards and even holiday baked goods to sell to their friends, families and the community. You can also sell these items at any school events you host during the holiday season. 

78. Gift-Wrapping Station

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

During the holiday season, save gift-givers time by providing a gift-wrapping service at school. Set up in the library or another space and put student volunteers to work with wrapping paper, gift bags, ribbons, bows and tape. Charge a fee for each package wrapped and create a drop-off and pickup schedule for gifts. 

Be sure your wrapping station is in a discreet space so you don’t spoil any surprises. 

79. Polar Plunge

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

If your school is in a cold climate and near a lake, pond or even by the shore, a polar plunge can be an invigorating school fundraising idea. Pick a day when the weather is cool but not too cold and either charge participants a registration fee to take the plunge or have them get sponsors to donate money based on how long they stay in the water. 

80. Christmas Tree Disposal Service

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Great holiday fundraising ideas for schools don’t just happen before the holidays. After the season is over, organize a Christmas tree disposal service. If possible, work with your local public works department, a farm or other recycling service to collect trees. Charge a fee for each tree you collect and dispose of them in an eco-friendly way. 

81. Ugly Sweater Contest

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

One of the easiest and most amusing school fundraising ideas for the holiday season is an ugly sweater contest. Everyone can get involved, from students to school staff. Charge each participant a fee to show off their holiday sweater, then post pictures on the school website and/or social media and have students, staff and parents vote on the ugliest sweater. Offer a prize for the winner. 

82. Holiday-Themed Quiz Night

Cost: $  

Difficulty: Easy 

Another great holiday-themed activity for the whole school community is a quiz night. Create a list of trivia questions about holidays, holiday movies, TV shows, music or whatever is appropriate for your students or their parents.  

Decorate the space in a holiday theme and sell snacks, hot and cold drinks. Gingerbread cookies and hot cocoa are a great incentive to donate money.  

On the night of the quiz, group people in teams and start asking questions. Award a creative prize to the winning team. 

83. Holiday Shop

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Take your homemade holiday decorations fundraiser a step further with a holiday shop. A shop is a festive way to show off your students’ creativity and talent and raise funds at the same time. Set up a temporary store in your school and offer all kinds of holiday-themed items for sale, such as baked goods, ornaments, decorations and gift items. 

Valentine's Day Fundraising Ideas for Schools 

From elementary school to high school, Valentine’s Day can help any school generate additional revenue. However, it usually works best for older kids. That’s why many of the top school fundraising ideas are for high schools.  

This list of the top Valentine’s Day fundraising ideas outlines some of the best ones. Several of them, like candygrams, work for all ages, but you’ll find a few that are better suited for older age groups. Here are just a few:  

84. Valentine’s Candygrams

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Giving candy is common on Valentine’s Day, but you can turn this into a great fundraiser with candygrams. Sell small bundles of candy or flowers for students to buy and have delivered to their Valentines. Be sure students know they can send candygrams for any reason, from secret admirer to friends. 

Another way to celebrate friendship is Galentine’s Day, held on February 13th. Offer candygrams for delivery on both days to raise even more money. 

85. Valentine’s Day Cards

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Valentine’s Day cards are a great tradition that also make a great school fundraising idea. You can purchase and sell premade card sets to students and families, or you can purchase blank or simple card sets and have your students design their own cards. Either way, students and families can send a Valentine’s Day message to anyone they want. 

Charge an additional fee to mail cards to students’ friends and family members, both near and far away. 

86. School Valentine’s Day Dance

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

There are many kinds of dances you can host on or around Valentine’s Day. Depending on your students’ ages, you might host a sweetheart dance, a Sadie Hawkins Day dance, a daddy-daughter dance or any other theme that includes as many people as possible. 

In addition to selling tickets to the dance, you can sell snacks, drinks or flowers and provide a photo booth (see below).  

You can save money by hosting the dance at school with parent or teacher volunteers and getting students involved in decorations and posters for the dance. 

87. Valentine’s Day Photo Booth

Cost: $$$ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Photo booths aren’t just for the Valentine’s Day dance. Rent a photo booth to use in school during the day. Charge students or groups of students for each photo shoot and watch the fun begin. 

You can provide themed props, such as pink and red scarves, heart-shaped jewelry and glasses, Cupid’s bow and arrow and any other Valentine’s Day item you can think of. 

Print duplicate photos and post them around the school to share the fun memories and advertise your next fundraiser. 

Spring Fundraising Ideas for Schools 

Like fall, spring is also a great season for school fundraising ideas. The weather is improving in most places and the new season provides a lot of great opportunities to raise money for your school. 

88. Flower Sale

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Spring means flowers! Contact florists or farmstands in your area and see if they will donate flowers you can sell at school or donate part of the proceeds of their flower sales on a certain date. You can even expand the offerings to include plants, gardening tools, supplies and other items for the spring season. 

On the day of the sale, set up tables to display the items and be sure you have volunteers to ensure the station is staffed.  

89. Spring Cleanup

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

In addition to planting season, spring is also a time to clean up after the winter season or spruce up a neglected area. This school fundraising idea gives back to the community by cleaning up an area in your community that needs a little TLC. Make sure the area is safe and secure and obtain a permit, if necessary. 

Pick a day for the event when the weather should be pleasant and set a rain date, if possible. Contact families and local businesses for tools and supplies for the cleanup day, such as gloves, bags, rakes and other supplies. 

90. Spring Fling Dance

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

A spring dance is a great way to shake off the winter doldrums, and it makes a great fundraiser. Charge for tickets to the dance and look for music and entertainment, such as a DJ or live band. 

91. Spring Concert

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Like the Spring Fling Dance, a spring concert is a great way to celebrate the return of good weather and the end of the school year. Look for a local music group that will perform for free, and work with them on a stage and sound equipment. Sell tickets to the event and let everyone enjoy the music. 

92. Spring Sports Tournament

Cost: $$$ 

Difficulty: Hard 

Choose one or more spring sports and build a tournament around them for a great school fundraising idea. Charge individuals or teams a registration fee to play. See if you can get parents and teachers involved as well. 

Host the tournament at your school or choose a local recreation area that has space for spectators and parking. Make sure you have the right permits and/or insurance. Ask for volunteers to act as referees or umpires for each game. 

You can also sell snacks, drinks and other games for spectators. Award prizes to the winning individuals and teams. 

93. Spring Planting Party

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Just like a spring cleanup, this is a great time of year to beautify your school with fresh plantings. Work with local garden centers or nurseries on plants and supplies to sell at the event. Families can also bring their own gardening tools and plants. Offer sessions on plants and gardening and watch your school grounds transform. 

94. Fitness Challenge

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

A fitness challenge is a healthy fundraising idea for schools any time of year, but in the spring, participants can get outdoors. The challenge involves walking or running a certain number of miles during a certain period of time. Charge each participant a fee to enter and have them get sponsors to pledge donations for miles completed. 

You can offer prizes for certain accomplishments or medals for longer distances. On the day of the event, be sure you have water, snacks and other supplies available for participants. 

95. Spring Craft Fair

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate  

This fundraiser takes planning and publicity to showcase local artists and vendors. Work with artists in your area to purchase booths at your fundraiser to offer their work for sale. This event requires comprehensive marketing efforts to ensure the day is worthwhile for the artists and maximizes foot traffic from the community. 

96. Spring Picnic

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Host a spring picnic for the whole community at a local park, beach or recreation area. Make sure there’s plenty of room for blankets, games and food. Work with local businesses to donate food and drinks to sell at the picnic, and charge families admission to the event. 

In addition to providing games and activities, you can earn additional revenue by offering school merchandise. Or set up a donation box for those who want to supplement their admission fee. 

Online School Fundraiser Ideas 

If you’re looking for school fundraising ideas that work even when you don’t have a lot of staff or volunteers available, online fundraisers are a great idea. Because you rely on school fundraising software to manage online events, it takes less staff. A lot of the work can also be done during your staff’s normal working hours because it’s online.  

97. Virtual Punish the Principal

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

If your principal is willing to put up with a little embarrassment, a good-natured “punish the principal” event is a humorous school fundraising idea. Students love to see teachers and administrators having fun.  

There are many options. You can collect donations to watch your principal get a pie in the face, a dip in a dunk tank or a public sliming. Maybe your principal will agree to shave their head and/or beard if you hit a certain level of donations.  

Whatever you choose, post details online to collect donations, then post pictures or video of the event so the whole school community can see what fun their donations created. 

98. Virtual Game Night

Cost: $  

Difficulty: Easy 

At this point, most schools have video conferencing platforms that can help them hold new kinds of fundraisers. One middle school fundraising idea or even a fundraiser idea for high school is a virtual game night. 

Players can join individually or as part of a team. Charge for each registration, then play trivia, Pictionary-style games or any other game that works virtually. A host can help keep the event interesting and moving along. Award a prize to the winning player or team. 

99. Public Wish List for Your School

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Take advantage of your school’s online presence! Use your website and social media to publicize your school wish list for the supplies and equipment you need. Use specific, personal stories online to highlight what you need and how you plan to use the items on your wish list. 

Create links to the items on your wish list online that donors can click to contribute toward the items. Include these links in any school emails or other online communications so they are top of mind for everyone. And finally, don’t forget to say “thank you.” Get students involved in sending thank-you notes to donors. 

100. Online Student Art Sale

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

An important experience for many students at school is the chance to express themselves artistically. Show students’ parents and the whole community the wonderful art your students are creating by selling student art online. 

This is a great elementary school fundraiser, a middle school fundraising idea and a fundraiser idea for high school because students of all ages are talented and creative. The art you sell can be anything from paintings and drawings to photos, sculptures and ceramics. 

Use your website to set up an art gallery with photos of each piece of art and information about each artist. Set a price for each item or use an auction to sell the pieces. Use social media, email and other communications to publicize the gallery and let the community know that great art is for sale to raise money for a great cause. 

101. School Spirit Wear and Merch 

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

One of the most undervalued fundraising assets for any school is their brand. Because so many individuals in your community have a close connection to the school they attend or attended, there’s a lot of enthusiasm for apparel and merchandise with your logo on it.   

For this reason, selling school spirit wear and merchandise is one of the most effective fundraisers. They not only pair well with many of the fundraisers we’ve listed, but sales can go around-the-clock using an online store. Creating and branding merchandise is also cheap. There are several online vendors who can take your order for school supplies, apparel, flags and other products.   

With your school’s logo stamped on the merchandise, you can mark up this product and make the profits you need to fund key programs.  

Principal and Teacher Challenge Fundraisers 

A fun and exciting school fundraising idea is to involve the school’s principal and/or teachers in the events. If they’re willing to participate — and have a good sense of humor — your staff can help raise money with these events. For all these ideas, challenge your school to raise a certain amount of money and reward them by doing or wearing something silly or getting students involved in staff roles. 

102. Spend a Day in a Tree

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Spend a day working in a tree or treehouse on school grounds. Be sure the forecast is clear, then pick a comfortable spot to sit. Bring a megaphone to make school announcements. Add a creative costume or other fun props. 

103. Perform at the School Assembly 

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy  

Perform at a school assembly, with karaoke, dance or any other talent. Get members of the faculty involved, for example, use your vice principal or staff members as backup dancers or singers. If anyone is embarrassed by performing, this is a great way to share the limelight.  

104. Spend a Day in "Jail" 

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy  

Work for a day in a room that isn't an office. Decorate a room as a jail. (You can bring work gear into the room to keep up with your job.) Dress up in a prisoner costume or have your security and resource officers with you as “guards.”  

105. Pie in the Face

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy  

This reward for students is also time-efficient for you. A student throws the pie in your face as the rest of the school watches, and you’re done! (Make sure you aren't allergic to pie ingredients.)  

106. Condiment Catch (or Silly String) 

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy  

Like the pie in the face, this is messy but quick. Let students spray you with ketchup, mustard, mayo or silly string. Add humor by wearing a raincoat or pajamas, or simply bring a change of clothes. 

107. Lunch With the Principal 

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy  

Not all principal challenges have to be “punishment.” Use this school fundraising idea to get to know your students! Invite the winning student to have lunch with you. You can dress it up (with real plates and silverware) or let the student pick the menu. Even better, invite the winning class to a group lunch, such as a pizza party. 

Another option is to let students pick the staff member they want to have lunch with, such as a teacher, cafeteria staff member or custodian. 

108. Principal for a Day 

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy  

Try role reversal for a fun school fundraising idea. Put the winning student in charge of the school as principal or assistant principal for a day. Have them dress up as an adult and sit in your office. They can make announcements, make some small decisions (like extending recess by a few minutes) or whatever you think is fun and appropriate. 

109. Funny Outfits 

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy  

Another way to put students in charge for a day is to let them choose your outfit. You could dress as a clown or cartoon character (a great elementary school fundraiser) or as the school mascot (a spirited fundraiser idea for high school).  

110. Faculty Talent Show 

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy  

Just as a student talent show is a great school fundraising idea, a faculty talent show can reward students for their fundraising efforts. Pick appropriate and fun talents staff members can showcase. You might be surprised at the talent!  

Food Fundraiser Ideas for Schools 

Food is always a winning fundraising idea for schools. There are so many ideas in this section, you’ll surely be able to find one or more that work for your school. 

111. Pancake Breakfast

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Another fundraising idea for schools is a pancake breakfast. Invite students, families, staff and community members to breakfast and charge admission to raise money. You can appeal to a variety of tastes by offering the usual pancakes and syrup, but consider different pancake flavors, toppings and fillings. French crepes are another great option. 

112. Food Truck Day

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Food truck day is a great school fundraising idea. Invite local food trucks to come to your school and set up shop for the day.  

Students and staff can buy lunch from the food trucks. The school can keep a percentage of the proceeds from each sale. This is a great way to raise money while also providing a tasty lunch option for students and staff.  

You can also invite the community to the school parking lot in the evening for a food truck rally.   

Another benefit of food truck day is that it can be used as a marketing opportunity for food trucks. This is a chance for them to get their names and brands out there in the community. It can also help them build relationships with local schools. 

113. Restaurant Fundraiser

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

One great way to raise funds for your school is to hold a restaurant fundraiser. This can be done by partnering with a local restaurant.  

Restaurants like Chick-fil-A or Panda Express will work with you to set up an event where a percentage of the proceeds go to your school.   

114. Pizza Party 

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Who doesn't love a good pizza party? This fundraising idea for schools is easy to put together and quite tasty.   

You need to find a good pizza place that will give you a good deal on pizzas. You can either call around to different places or search online for deals. Once you find a place, you need to order enough pizzas for everyone who is coming to the fundraiser.  

You may want to consider polling participants on their favorite type of pizza before ordering. Around 64 percent of Americans list pepperoni as their favorite topping.   

115. Lemonade Stand

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Setting up a lemonade stand outside your elementary school can help you generate money and teach younger students the basics of entrepreneurship. Students can sell lemonade to parents at pickup time and collect funds for your school. Don't forget to place leaflets on your stand explaining school fundraising ideas and how you collect and spend donations.   

Ask a local store if they are willing to provide the supplies for your lemonade stand for free or at a reduced cost. You will need pitchers, cups, straws, napkins and, of course, lemonade! 

116. Bake Sales

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Bake sales are a tried-and-true method for raising money for schools. They are easy to set up and can be run by students, parents or teachers.  

Bake sales are usually very successful because people love to buy delicious baked goods. And because the profits go to a good cause, people are often willing to pay a little extra for their treats.  

To make your bake sale even more successful, try to have a variety of items for sale. This way, there will be something for everyone. Offer both sweet and savory items, as well as gluten-free and vegan options.  

Don't forget to advertise your bake sale! Put up flyers around school and in the community. You can also promote it on social media. Be sure to let people know where the proceeds from the sale will be going.  

Finally, make sure you have enough volunteers to help run the sale. This includes people baking the goods, setting up the table and taking payments. With a little planning, your bake sale will be a success! 

117. Chili Cook-off

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Call on cooks in your community for a friendly competition to find the best chili. Charge individuals admission to sample and judge the contestants’ chilis. Encourage cooks to bring chili toppings and side dishes and supply plenty of bowls, spoons and napkins for judges. 

You’ll need volunteers for setup and cleanup, plus prizes for the top chili cooks. 

118. International Food Fair

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Let everyone see the range of culinary traditions in your school community with an international food fair. This school fundraising idea features food prepared by parents, teachers and students that reflect their cultural backgrounds. Charge a fee for admission to the fair and have cooks set up at tables during lunchtime, after school or make it an evening event. You can even add appropriate cultural music and arts from students and local artisans. 

119. Farmers Market Fundraiser

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Farmers markets are popular everywhere, so why not have one at school? Have local farmers and other vendors set up their booths and tables on school grounds and charge them a fee to participate and donate a portion of their proceeds to the school. Families will get the chance to shop for local and healthy foods and meet the people who grow or make them. Consider adding entertainment to the market, like music or other performers. 

120. Alcohol-Free Apple Cider Sale

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

In the fall apple season, take advantage of the abundance of apples and sell fresh non-alcoholic cider. Purchase apples in bulk from a local orchard or farmers market and rent or borrow an apple press. Parents, students and teachers can all get involved by operating the press at the school. You can sell cider by the cup or the jug. After the cider is pressed, you can sell it at other fall school events. 

121. Hot Chocolate Bar

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

This fundraising idea for school is great during the winter months. Set up a hot chocolate bar at school at lunch or after school and consider selling hot chocolate at school games and events as well. Serve classic hot chocolate, plus other flavors and toppings to appeal to a crowd. Add seasonal treats like gingerbread cookies and candy canes to boost sales. 

122. Pie Auction

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

A pie auction showcases the pie-baking skills in your school community. Invite parents, students and teachers to bake their favorite pies and put them on display during a school event. Allow attendees to browse the selection, then at the end of the event, have a volunteer MC auction off the pies and sell them to the highest bidders. You could also include a pie-baking contest, where judges taste and select the best pie recipes. 

123. BBQ Cook-off

Cost: $$ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Like the chili cook-off, a BBQ cook-off showcases the culinary skills of your school community. Invite parents, teachers and local community members to bring their best BBQ dishes in different categories (ribs, pulled pork, chicken, grilled vegetables, etc.). Offer side dishes, drinks and desserts for sale to go with the BBQ. Charge admission to the cook-off and have attendees taste and vote for their favorite entries. And finally, award prizes in your BBQ categories. Add music, games and other entertainment and make it a community-wide event. 

124. Nacho Bar

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

A nacho bar is a festive school fundraising idea that you can set up during lunchtime, after school, or at a school event, game or fair. Charge for each plate of nachos and in addition to corn chips, be sure to have lots of toppings on hand, like cheese sauce, chili, jalapeno peppers, sour cream, guacamole, salsa and whatever else you can think of. Vegetarian chili, dairy-free cheese and gluten-free chips will also ensure everyone can get involved. You’ll need a few volunteers to set up, staff, and clean up the nacho bar for a fun and easy fundraiser. 

125. S'mores Night

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

S’mores are always a crowd-pleaser, so plan a s’mores night for your next school fundraiser. Charge admission to the event and be sure you have all the supplies you need — marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate and roasting sticks. You’ll also need fire pits or portable fire bowls in a safe outdoor area to make the s’mores. Provide seating and blankets, string lights and decorate the area to create a fun environment. Sell hot chocolate, apple cider and other snacks and drinks to round out the event. 

126. Soup Sale

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Moderate 

Soup is a warm, comforting food and can make a cozy and satisfying fundraising idea for schools. Sell soup during lunch or after school, with a variety of flavors to suit different tastes and dietary needs. In addition to classic soup flavors and bread or rolls, try vegetarian, vegan and dairy-free soups plus gluten-free bread. All you need is some volunteers to set up, serve and clean up the soup stand. Think about setting up your soup stand at outdoor school events in cooler weather or at parent-teacher conferences or concerts. 

127. Cake Walk

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

A cake walk is a fun game, a great bake sale and an engaging school fundraising idea, especially for elementary school fundraisers. First, ask parents and teachers to donate homemade cakes in different flavors and sizes. Then, set up a space in the school with numbered spaces arranged in a circle. Charge participants a fee to join the game and have them walk around the circle as music plays. When the music stops, draw a number and the participant standing in the matching numbered space wins a cake. Play multiple rounds for multiple winners. Raise more money by selling other snacks and drinks at the cake walk. 

128. Donut Sale

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Another sweet way to raise funds is selling donuts during lunch, before and after school, and at school assemblies, club meetings and other events. Work with a local bakery or donut shop to buy donuts at a discounted price or make donuts on-site if you can. Offer plenty of flavors, like glazed, chocolate, jelly-filled and cream-filled and remember to provide vegan and gluten-free options. Volunteers can set up, clean up and sell donuts at the event. 

129. Taco Tuesday

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

For a festive and fun school fundraising idea, try Taco Tuesday for an evening event at school. Be sure to have plenty of taco shells or tortillas, and fillings like beef, chicken and vegetables. Supply toppings like salsa, guacamole, sour cream and cheese. You’ll also need plates and plenty of napkins. Add corn chips and churros for a sweet treat after the tacos! Give attendees pricing deals, like family packs or early bird prices. 

130. Ice Cream Social

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

An ice cream social is one of the most popular school fundraising ideas because there’s something almost everyone likes. It just takes a little organization and supplies. Set a date to hold the event indoors or outdoors. Find some volunteers to set up, sell ice cream and clean up. Then it’s all about the ice cream! Buy plenty of different flavors and toppings and add other options like root beer floats and sundaes. Get plenty of cones, bowls, spoons and scoops and you’re ready to go. 

131. Sandwich Day

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

For a change of pace from the school cafeteria, sandwich day is a great school fundraising idea. Try to provide a wide variety of sandwiches and wraps for all kinds of preferences, and include vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options. Try to price the sandwiches reasonably so students will buy them. Volunteers can staff the sandwich stand to either sell sandwiches or handle money. Be sure the area is clean and organized. 

132. Smoothie-Making Challenge

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

A healthy and competitive fundraiser is a smoothie-making challenge. Invite students and teachers to concoct their favorite smoothie recipes with healthy ingredients. Get volunteers to help prep and serve the smoothies. Charge admission to the event and set the criteria for winning smoothies. Let participants taste the smoothies and vote for the winners. Award prizes to the winners and as a bonus, provide a demonstration so everyone can make their own smoothies at home. 

133. Tea Party

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

Bring the whole community together for a tea party fundraiser with all the trimmings. Find a venue with tables, chairs and a kitchen that is large enough for your party. Decorate the venue to create a tea party atmosphere that is lively and sophisticated. There are plenty of treats to serve, like a variety of teas (green, black, herbal and fruit flavors) plus snacks like scones, cakes, sandwiches and biscuits. 

134. Bagel and Cream Cheese Sale

Cost: $ 

Difficulty: Easy 

A great snack before or after school and at many school events is bagels and cream cheese, so this makes a great school fundraising idea. Work with a local bagel shop or grocery store to buy bulk bagels and cream cheese at a discount or make bagels on-site if you can. On the day of the sale, set up tables or booths and provide a variety of flavor choices for both bagels and cream cheese. Have volunteers ready to prep and sell bagels, including toasting and spreading cream cheese. 

PTO Fundraising Ideas 

The school Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) or Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) is a vital source of school fundraising ideas. PTA and PTO fundraisers can help contribute to school programs and much-needed supplies. 

135. T-shirt Sales 

Cost: $  

Difficulty: Easy  

Raise funds for your PTA or PTO by selling custom-designed T-shirts. Students and teachers can design shirts so anyone, from students and families to school staff and community members, can show their school spirit. 

136. Custom Cookbook 

Cost: $  

Difficulty: Moderate  

A custom cookbook is a tangible legacy of your school community and its diversity. Parents, teachers and students can contribute their favorite recipes to create a collection that shows diverse tastes and traditions. 

137. Discount Card Sales 

Cost: $  

Difficulty: Easy  

Your PTO and PTA can sell discount cards to raise money. Work with local businesses to sponsor cards that offer discounts to anyone who buys them. Buyers can save money while shopping locally and raising money for your school. 

138. Family Fun Night 

Cost: $  

Difficulty: Easy  

A great school fundraising idea to bring the school community together is a family fun night. Charge admission or sell tickets and provide a wide range of games, crafts and entertainment for all ages. Pick a theme for the night, plan theme-related activities and invite attendees to dress up. 

139. Sponsor-a-teacher 

Cost: $  

Difficulty: Easy  

An important role for the PTA/PTO is its connection with teachers, so why not raise money by sponsoring a teacher and making a donation in their name? You can use the donations to support the honoree’s projects, professional development or supplies they need. 

140. Raffle Baskets 

Cost: $  

Difficulty: Easy  

Raffle baskets are unique fundraising ideas for schools because they offer a variety of items to suit different tastes. Parents, teachers and local businesses can donate items or services to include in themed baskets (for example, a movie night, gourmet food, a spa day, etc.). Sell raffle tickets to the community to give everyone a chance to win a special collection of prizes. 

141. Themed Gift Basket Auction 

Cost: $  

Difficulty: Moderate  

Like raffle baskets, a themed gift basket fundraiser is a different way to sell baskets of items donated by parents, community members and/or local businesses. Create baskets with several different themes and auction them off by accepting bids on each basket, either online or at a school event. 

142. Candy Bar Sales 

Cost: $  

Difficulty: Easy  

A popular and traditional school fundraiser is to sell candy bars. You can buy candy bars in bulk from a wholesaler or partner with a candy company to get a discounted price. Then students can sell the candy bars at school events, stores or neighborhoods. 

143. Fun Run 

Cost: $$  

Difficulty: Moderate  

This school fundraising idea will get everyone moving. The PTA/PTO can sponsor a fun run, such a one mile or 5K, and invite parents, students, teachers and the whole community to participate. Charge a registration fee for each runner and present prizes to the top runners in age groups or have participants get sponsors and offer prizes to the runners who raised the most money.  

144. Direct Donation Campaign 

Cost: $  

Difficulty: Easy  

The most straightforward kind of PTA/PTO fundraiser is simply to ask for donations. Donors can make one-time or recurring financial contributions to the school for various projects and needs. There’s no need to plan an event or sell tickets, you just create a powerful campaign to solicit donations, which you can publicize online. Be sure to explain how the funds will be used and follow up with acknowledgements and thank-you notes for donors. 

145. Corporate Sponsorships 

Cost: $  

Difficulty: Moderate  

Corporate sponsorships can be valuable PTA/PTO fundraising ideas and can benefit local businesses by providing visibility and advertising. You can set sponsorship levels based on budgets and recognize each business accordingly. You also create strong partnerships that you can use going forward. 

146. Bingo Night 

Cost: $  

Difficulty: Easy  

Set a date for bingo night and invite the community to your school for a fun night. Charge a fee for each player, assemble bingo cards and markers, and look for a few volunteers to call numbers during the night. You can provide prizes to the winners and sell snacks and drinks to add to the fundraising total. 

147. Parents' Night Out 

Cost: $  

Difficulty: Easy  

Give both students and parents an opportunity to cut loose with a parents’ night out. Parents enjoy an evening out while their children have fun at school after hours, in supervised activities. Set a date, charge a fee for each child who attends, and recruit reliable volunteers to run games, crafts, movies, etc. 

148. Create an Online School Store

One of the best school fundraising ideas for any season is an online school store. Depending on the fundraising software you use for your school, you can have a whole ecommerce store set up for you, no DIY necessary. This store will run around the clock, raising revenue for key programs that might not have enough traditional funding. Discover how easy it is to get started with one of the most powerful fundraising tools available. It only takes seven minutes to get started. Watch our short online demo. 

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