Fundraiser Activities for Schools
Make money and have fun! There are sure-fire fundraiser activities for schools.
Various Ways for Schools to Fundraise
Fundraisers help schools raise extra cash to fund programs such as sports, music, the arts, scholarships, and field trips.
You can approach fundraising in several different ways.
While you can apply for grants or seek donations, you can also involve your students and families in fundraising events.
This list of fundraising events and activities allows you to accomplish two things simultaneously: raise money and have fun.
This article contains affiliate links to things that you might like.
30 Fundraiser Ideas for Schools
Try some of these creative and enjoyable fundraising ideas for schools.
Penny Race
Everyone has pennies stuck between their couch cushions or languishing in their junk drawer.
Those little coins can add up to serious money!
Have classes or grade levels compete to fill their penny jars.
Give every class a mason jar or every grade a large pickle jar.
Students and families can bring in change to fill the jars.
The class or grade level that raises the most wins a prize.
Raffle
Ask for donated items from families or local businesses, and then sell raffle tickets for those items.
You could hold the raffle in conjunction with a widely attended school event, like a sports game, concert, or back-to-school night.
Principal Challenge
If you have a fun-loving principal, you can set a fundraising target for the principal to do something silly.
The principal could sit in a dunk tank, dye their hair a bright color, or wear a clown suit to school.
Dress-Up Days
Set mini-fundraising goals for the students. The prize will be that they can wear costumes or pajamas to school.
Teacher Talent Show
Students and families would enjoy seeing their beloved teachers up on stage. Charge admission for a teacher talent show.
Teacher Versus Student Games
Organize a teacher versus student game of gaga ball, kickball, soccer, or an obstacle course.
Charge admission, and let the games begin.
Fun Run
Hold a schoolwide fun run and charge for participation, or have the students ask friends, family, and businesses for sponsorship (for laps completed).
Make it an extra fun run by adding bubbles, music, or colored powder.
Bake Sale
This classic fundraiser is low-cost and all-yield. You can sell baked goods at lunchtime or at a community event.
Read-a-thon
Have students obtain sponsorship for the number of books they read in a set time.
Incentivize them by saying that the class that reads the most books per student wins a prize.
Math-a-thon
This is similar in concept to a read-a-thon. Students gets sponsors to complete a certain set of math problems.
Restaurant Night
Partner with a local restaurant that offers the school a portion of the sales for a given night.
Spread the word among families to eat at the restaurant on that night.
School Yard Sale
What is better than a giant yard sale? Have families donate items for a massive sale on school property.
Chili or Barbecue Cookoff
Ask school families or local restaurants to make chili, barbecue, or some other meal.
People can buy tickets to try each variety and vote on their favorites.
School Merch Sale
Sell T-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, water bottles, and more with the school logo.
This is as easy as picking a printing company, uploading your logo, and sending a link to parents.
Winter Carnival
If you can manage a large fundraiser, hold a winter carnival.
Invite local food trucks and ask them to give you a cut of their sales by way of a donation.
Set up crafts and game stations, photo booths, sell ornaments made by the kids, and perhaps even have a petting zoo or pony rides available.
Movie Night
Host a movie night at the school for families. Sell tickets, popcorn, candy, and drinks.
Karaoke Night
Host a karaoke night fundraiser. Get beloved teachers and staff to participate.
Lip Sync Battle
Challenge students and staff to battle it out for the lip sync championship. Sell tickets to the event.
School-Wide Scavenger Hunt
Have teams pay an entry fee for a school-wide scavenger hunt. The winning team gets a prize!
In-School Christmas Shopping
This fundraiser works very well for young students.
Buy inexpensive gifts from the dollar store (save your receipt to return the unused items) and set them up as a Christmas market for students. Mark up the items for a small profit.
Parents send money with their students so the students can practice shopping, use their math skills, and buy surprise gifts for their families.
Then the students take the items back to their classroom to wrap and label.
Board Game Tournament
Hold a board game night. Charge an entry fee and sell snacks and drinks. Have prizes for the winners of various games.
Halloween Festival
You can hold a Halloween festival with trunk-or-treat, a pumpkin decorating station and contest, and even a haunted house.
Parent’s Night Out
Offer a fun night for students as a parent’s night out. Charge a fee per student.
Parent – Child Dance
Host a dance at school for parents and students to attend together.
BINGO Night
Sell tickets to a dinner and BINGO night at the school for parents and students.
Give away prizes to BINGO winners.
Community Carnival
If you are willing to take on a larger one of the fundraising activities for schools, host a carnival for the community by contracting with a traveling carnival.
Homecoming Festival
Even elementary schools can get in on homecoming weekend!
Host a big game or concert and charge an entry fee.
Gallery Night
Display student-made artwork and sell it for a modest fee. Split the proceeds with the artist.
Valentine’s Day Candy Grams
Sell candy grams to students for Valentine’s Day. Each candy gram should have a label on it for the student to send a message to the recipient.
On Valentine’s Day, deliver the candy grams to the students in class.
Easter Egg Hunt
Organize an Easter egg hunt where there are small prizes in certain eggs. Charge a small entry fee and sell snacks on site.
Creative Fundraiser Activities for Schools
If your school needs to raise money, you can always partner with an existing company that turns students into mini salespeople to sell wrapping paper or candy.
These fundraiser activities for schools take a different tack.
Most of them are opportunities to create fun experiences (and treasured memories) for students and families.
