21 Brilliant School Fundraising Ideas to Raise Money Now

Need to raise money for your kid’s school but not sure where to start? It can be a challenging job to work out what will work best. The good news is there’s lots of options, you just need to work out which ones will match your desired fundraising goals.

We’ve compiled an excellent resource of school fundraising ideas to suit every public and private elementary, middle and high school nationwide. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get your school on the way to making money fast.

1. Online donations

Make giving donations easy by adding a form or button to your website. If you don’t have a website or can’t set one up, you can use a platform that handles everything. Usually, there are fees associated with using them but giving platforms, such as GoFundMe, can include the fee in the donation.

Once your online donation website is set up, you’ll love hearing the sweet ping of payment notifications coming through at any time of day.

$$ tip: Add a button or link to your schools:

• website navigation bar
• email newsletters
• email signature
• social media accounts

2. Cookie dough fundraiser

Cookie dough fundraisers are one of the most popular ways to raise money – plus they are fun and oh-so yum!

All you need to do is find a premium cookie fundraising company, such as Dessie’s Table^® CookieOVdough. The process is super simple, they’ll handle the baking, packing and delivery, and all you need to do is get the word out and promote. The hardest part will be selecting the flavors!

$$ tip: Boost your cookie sales by hosting a Taste Tester event at school to pump up excitement ahead of the fundraiser. Extend the invitation and get the whole community excited by sampling the mouth-watering cookie flavors before they buy.

3. Raffles

A raffle can be a low-cost option to increase giving. Involve the whole community by getting a big crew together and canvasing local businesses and organizations to seek prizes.

Choose the traditional option of selling physical tickets, or for a small fee, you can use an online raffle platform, like Rally Up, that seamlessly handles ticketing, administration and even picks a random winner.

4. Community cookbook

Another one of those delicious school fundraising ideas is to compile a community cookbook. Put the word out to the school that you want their best recipes – or choose a theme or category. Some ideas are: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Halloween, Independence Day, sweets, snacks, mains or family favorites.

$$ tip: Printing cookbooks can be costly. To offset the cost and add an injection of dollars to your fundraiser, sell advertising space. Put together quarter, half and full-page ad packages and approach local businesses. To entice extra ad dollars, offer a special discounted rate to families at school with a company or provide an early bird rate.

5. A-Thons

The possibilities with an A-Thon are endless. Anything you can count will work for this type of fundraiser. Get creative and customize it to your school – think pages, steps, dancing, laps. The most popular in this category are Walk-A-Thon, Read-A-Thon and Dance-A-Thon.

A-thon pledge campaigns are based on how many of the set activity the participant completes, and funds are collected after the event.

6. Auctions

Going once. Going twice. Gone! Auctions are an excellent way to make it rain fundraising dollars. Whether you make it live, silent, online or virtual, auctions are high-energy events packed with adrenaline.

If you’ve hosted an auction in the past, use that experience and ask these questions:

• What types of items were popular?
• What types of things got very few bids?
• How many people attended your last auction?

If you haven’t hosted before, use your school’s fundraising data and ask the following:

• How much do you raise on average at similar-sized events?
• What’s the average donation amount you receive?
• What’s the largest donation your school has received?
• What age demographics are the average parents at your school?

Use these insights to plan as you brainstorm an inventory of items and packages to procure. Then, target your list to what your audience will be interested in and can easily afford.

$$ tip: Get a team of volunteers together and start planning your event a year in advance. There’s lots of moving parts to these events, so allow plenty of time to maximize marketing efforts to gain as many sponsors and donors as possible.

7. School merchandise

Add a flavor of patriotism to your fundraising efforts with custom-branded merchandise. Every school has a motto, unique colors or other identifying elements making branded items the perfect fundraising idea. The beauty of selling school swag is that it’s not just teachers, students and parents interested in purchasing, but a potential market of past – and future – students too.

Here’s a few winning merchandise ideas:

• Branded t-shirts
• Mugs
• Stationery supplies like pens, pencils and notebooks
• School bags and lunchboxes
• Hats

$$ tip: Go large promoting your merch. Send letters or emails to alumni and businesses and ask your students and parents to share them on their social media accounts.

8. Gala events

Although typically for the non profit space, gala-type events can be a massive drawcard for those wanting to make donations.

Go large with a glitzy ball or host a cozy trivia night, but make sure you add a popular silent auction to pump up the donor dollars.

The benefit of these events is that they can be annual events people look forward to and plan. Also, the expectation of giving is understood, and people come prepared to splash some cash for a cause.

9. Bake sale

The best fundraisers bring people together, and bake sales are at the top of the list for doing just that. This type of event isn’t just to raise money, but are lots of fun, encourages participation and is relatively easy to organize.

$$ tip: Have plans also to do a cookie dough fundraiser? Have your Taste Taster event at the bake sale. It’s a great tie-in and gives you two bites of the cherry to get in front of your captive – and hungry – audience.

10. Local Merchant Discount Cards

Local merchant discount cards offer valuable savings while supporting your school fundraiser.

Discount cards feature a dozen or more local businesses offering discounts on products and services to cardholders. They help your donors save money on everyday purchases (allowing more money to donate in their budget). They also increase foot traffic and goodwill with local businesses. When marketing local merchant cards, highlight the benefits of supporting local schools and businesses.

$$ tip: Maximize your savings by using the discount cards for your school’s purchases too!

11. Educational Materials

One of the most underused resources for fundraising is the educator talent pool. Work together to create educational materials that you can sell in person and online as printed materials and digital products. Here are some ideas on what to sell:

• Lesson plans
• Printable workbooks and worksheets
• Educational games
• Assessment tools
• Online courses
• Digital textbooks
• Digital flashcards

$$ tip: Host the products for sale on your school’s website. Use digital marketing strategies like SEO and social media to sell beyond your community.

12. Community Garage Sale

Community garage sales raise money and help people in your community declutter their homes. Plus, it’s a fun way to shop.

Start by choosing a location at the school, like the gym or parking lot, and the date. Advertise through flyers, social media, and local listings. You could even send out a mailer to your neighborhood to get interest. Assign spaces for sellers and determine any registration fees. Also, ensure clear signage and provide tables if needed.

$$ tip: Set up a refreshment stand with cookies and beverages for sale to keep your visitors energized and encourage longer browsing.

13. Markets

Another way to raise funds using school facilities is by hosting markets. Markets offer diverse opportunities for fundraising through ticket sales, direct sales, concessions, and vendor fees. You can host a whole range of different types of markets, including:

• Book fairs
• Plant and flower markets
• Holiday markets
• Craft fairs or handmade markets
• Flea market or antique market
• Farmer’s market
• Art market

No matter what type of market you host, make sure to market your market in the community and online on social media.

$$ tip: Set up a school booth. If you need help deciding what to sell, consider selling concessions and pre-made cookie dough. Both are excellent ways to generate revenue.

14. Cookie Eating Contest

Skip the pie and host a cookie-eating contest! Unlike very large pies, cookies are a far more manageable size for kids. Their smaller size allows participants to eat a higher number of cookies.

This competition is fun for both kids and their parents. To make money, you can sell cookie dough, baked cookies and refreshments, and sponsorships for the contestants.

15. School Fairs

Fairs are excellent for fundraising because they create a sense of togetherness and support for the school’s cause. Plus, they showcase all the incredible skills and knowledge children have learned at the school.

Here are some fair ideas to consider for your school:

• Art fair
• Science fair
• History fair
• Literature fair
• Spelling bee
• Career fair
• Cultural festival

If you really want to draw an audience, invite local experts or enthusiasts to share their knowledge and make it more interactive. Work with the local university, non-profits, and parent networks to connect with experts.

$$ tip: Offer themed refreshments like soft drinks, chips, and cookies to raise money for the school.

16. Pet Parade

Pet parades attract pet lovers from all over the community and are super adorable. You can raise money with participant registration fees or spectator donations.

Consider doing a themed walk, fashion show, or obstacle course as part of your parade. You can also host fun puppy competitions like Loudest Bark or Floofiest Tail. Don’t be afraid to get creative and cute!

$$ tip: To raise more funds, set up a booth that sells treats like cookies for the people and dog biscuits for the pups. You can also partner with local pet rescues to feature adoptable pets.

17. Cooking Or Baking Classes

Cooking classes hosted in the school cafeteria are an ingenious way to leverage the cafeteria’s infrastructure for fundraising. School cafeterias are professional kitchens and can be used to teach the full range of skill levels.

The best part is that cooking and baking classes teach parents and kids all about healthy eating and nutrition. They’ll learn valuable life skills and bond over trying these tasty dishes.

18. Family Game Night

Ever wish you could get more players for your family game night? Host a school fundraiser and invite them!

You can also offer prizes, trophies, and awards for the nights. Not only can you play all the best board games, but there are tons of other family-friendly games and activities you can plan like:

• Scavenger hunts
• Escape rooms
• Outdoor field day
• Video game tournament
• Mini Golf
• Jigsaw puzzle race

$$ tip: To boost your raise, sell concessions like beverages, popcorn, and cookies, enhancing the overall experience and increasing fundraising success.

19. Theme Nights

Theme nights are perfect for building community and creating core family memories. You can do them weekly, monthly, or even seasonally as needed.

Here are some ideas to consider:

• Movie night
• Bingo
• Karaoke
• Themed dinner party
• Skate night
• Open gymnasium
• Costume parties
• Trivia Night
• Book club

Depending on the night, you can make these nights free or charge a small entry donation.

$$ tip: Raise more funds by selling concessions that match the theme, like popcorn, cookies, or pizza.

20. Drive Up Car Washes

Drive-up car and bike washes require a lot of space, but not a lot of resources. All you’ll need are hoses, buckets, sponges, scrub brushes, and some elbow grease. You probably already have what you need except the plan.

Leading up to the event, make sure to place signs around the community to let them know about the event.

$$ tip: Create a welcoming “waiting area” with cool refreshments and snacks like cookies, chips, and popcorn for sale customers can enjoy while they wait.

21. Community Events

Community events are perfect for getting local support for schools. Partner with local vendors, event hosts, and artisans to make them a must–attend the event. Then, promote the event widely.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Ice cream social
• Car show
• Seasonal events like haunted houses, egg hunts, and ugly sweater parties
• Community cleanup day
• Food truck festival
• Charity auction
• Health and Wellness Expo
• Sports tournament

$$ tip: When offering concessions at community events for school fundraising, focus on variety and affordability. Provide a diverse menu with snacks, drinks, and treats to cater to different tastes and budgets. Consider offering combo deals or discounted packages to encourage larger purchases and boost your fundraising revenue.

After reading about these magnificent school fundraising ideas, you’ll want to start your next fundraiser immediately. Visit the our cookie dough fundraising page and find out more or complete the order form and be well on your way to making some dough for your school!