55+ Smart School Fundraising Ideas for Any Occasion in 2024

Top School Fundraising Ideas

Best Overall School Fundraising Idea: Read-A-Thon

A Read-A-Thon is the top fundraising option for schools because it’s not just about raising funds. By hosting a Read-A-Thon, your school can nurture a love of reading among students and support their long-term academic success. During the fundraiser, students will read as much as they can, logging their minutes while friends and family make donations to encourage them.

Launching one of these easy, no-cost fundraisers is simple:

1. Sign up for a free account.It only takes around five minutes to create a Read-A-Thon account and start your school fundraiser. The platform will provide you with all the tools and steps you need to succeed—including payment processing, free custom marketing materials, a reporting dashboard, and a hands-on support team representative. From there, you can log in as a fundraising admin, teacher, or student to participate.
2. Share your school fundraiser.The Read-A-Thon platform comes equipped with all the marketing materials you need to spread the word about your fundraiser, from printed and digital flyers to pre-printed posters to email templates. Plus, you can show kick-off videos to get your students excited about the event.
3. Track your fundraising progress.t takes less than one hour a week to manage a successful Read-A-Thon. The built-in dashboard allows you to keep an eye on total donations earned, total minutes read, and top-performing classes. To maintain momentum throughout your school fundraiser, you can send out updates highlighting student readers and prizes for participating.

To learn more about the Read-A-Thon platform and how it can support your fundraising goals, check out this brief video rundown:

As the video explains, your school can choose from two Read-A-Thon models. By opting into the prize store model, you’ll receive 75% of total donations as cash. In addition to those earnings, your student readers will get 15% of their individual donations to spend on games, books, and school supplies in Read-A-Thon’s prize store.

If your school decides to handle its own prizes, you’ll receive 80% of total donations in cash, along with over 100 coupon templates to choose from—printed at no extra charge.

2. Book Fair

A book fair allows your school to raise funds and demonstrate its commitment to improving student education through reading. While traditional book fairs can require more effort, volunteers, and planning, hosting an online or hybrid one through Love My Library is budget-friendly and hassle-free.

The fundraising process looks something like this:

1. Sign up for a Love My Library account.
2. Create student accounts.
3. Collect online donations from family and friends of students.

Students will receive 50% of donated funds to spend in Love My Library’s online bookstore, while your school can choose to spend the other 50% on books or receive the funding in cash. Whatever your school and its students choose will be shipped directly to you without any additional fees.

3. Raffles

Raffles are a simple, popular, and effective fundraising idea for schools. Start by gathering a variety of prizes to raffle off, such as:

• Gift baskets
• Electronics
• Gift cards
• Event or experience tickets

You can solicit in-kind donations from individuals and businesses to secure these prizes and even offer multiple prize levels to increase the appeal of the raffle. Then, sell them to students, their families, and other community members. You can even make it more entertaining by planning a balloon raffle, where participants will pop a balloon containing their raffle ticket to see whether they’ve won a prize.

4. Auction

An auction is a tried-and-true school fundraising idea that provides an excellent opportunity to gather your community for an evening to remember. You can plan a traditional live auction or a silent auction, where attendees will bid through an asynchronous written or electronic process.

Reach out to local businesses or individuals to procure auction items such as:

• Concert or theater tickets
• Restaurant certificates
• Sports memorabilia
• Theme park passes

Auctions create a competitive and thrilling atmosphere for participants and attendees alike. Plus, you can supplement the fundraiser with other activities such as live music, food and drink, and raffles.

5. T-Shirt Fundraiser

By hosting a t-shirt fundraiser, you can boost school spirit long after the campaign is over. All you have to do is partner with a fundraising platform that makes it easy for you to design custom shirts with your school’s logo and colors. Then, you can start selling them to everyone in your community.

To make your school fundraiser even more engaging, consider accepting design submissions from your students. Then, hold a vote to decide which ones to feature on your t-shirts. And don’t limit yourself to only t-shirts! Depending on the season, you can sell branded hoodies, wristbands, hats, water bottles, bags, and more.

6. Bake Sale

Everyone craves a little treat now and then. By organizing a bake sale, your school can appeal to those in your community who have a sweet tooth. You can cut costs and boost engagement by having students and their families prepare their favorite baked goods to sell. Plus, you could also put an educational twist on the event by selling baked goods that originate from around the world.

You can provide a variety of homemade baked items, such as:

• Brownies
• Cookies
• Muffins
• Cinnamon rolls
• Cupcakes

Set up a booth in your school cafeteria or at a local fair, where people are bound to be in the mood for a snack. Consider including some gluten-free and vegan options to accommodate as many dietary preferences as possible.

7. Talent Show

It goes without saying that your school’s students are a talented bunch. Whether they paint, play an instrument, or dance, give them the chance to show off their skills by hosting a talent show fundraiser.

Establish multiple categories, including:

• Music
• Comedy
• Dancing
• Miscellaneous

Then, sell tickets to your community. You can even charge a small fee to have the audience vote on their favorite acts in each category and give the winner a small prize to encourage participation.

8. Movie Night

A movie night is a fundraising idea that is suitable for all schools, regardless of age group or size. You can host it outdoors on a sports field or in your school’s auditorium, depending on the season. Then, sell tickets and concessions to raise money.

To interest as many students, teachers, family, and community members as possible, consider sending out a poll in advance to determine which movies people are most interested in seeing. Just make sure to provide a wide variety of age-appropriate options for people to choose from.

9. School Carnival

A school carnival might take a lot of planning and effort, but it has the potential to raise a lot from your community and provide hours of memorable entertainment.

Typical carnival activities and offerings to consider include:

• Bounce houses
• Face painting
• Ring toss
• Obstacle courses

Recruit volunteers to help with setting up, running booths, and cleaning up after the carnival. Then, charge admission fees, put up a concessions stand, and sell branded apparel to raise funds for your school.

10. Restaurant Fundraiser

A restaurant fundraiser is an easy school fundraising idea that allows you to build connections with local businesses in your area. Reach out to nearby restaurants to see if they’d be willing to partner with your school for one day (or more). The restaurant will contribute a certain percentage of the proceeds it makes during that time, in exchange for your school promoting it to its community.

Consider hosting one of these fundraisers at a time during the school year when students and families are most likely looking for a chance to relax or get social—for example, the first back-to-school weekend or after final exams are over.

11. Box Tops

Box Tops for Education has provided schools with a straightforward way to raise money for over two decades, helping schools across the U.S. raise nearly $1 billion. If you’re a K-8 school, you can start tapping into this fundraising opportunity by checking your eligibility and filling out an application to enroll in the program.

Then, as your students and their families purchase from participating brands, which include anything from cereal to cleaning products, they can scan their receipts to earn funds for your school. Every box top is worth 10 cents, which can add up over time.

12. Shoe Drive

Your students are constantly growing out of their clothes and shoes, which makes a shoe drive the perfect fundraising idea for schools. The process for hosting one is simple:

• Partner with a dedicated shoe fundraising provider.
• Collect gently worn, used and new shoes from students.
• Contact your shoe fundraising partner to pick up the shoes.
• Receive a check based on the value of your collected shoes.

Take the opportunity to highlight how students can contribute to environmental sustainability by allowing their shoes to be repurposed rather than ending up in landfills.

13. School Dance

School dances are highly anticipated events for many of your students, so why not host more during the year and turn them into fundraising opportunities? Whether you’re planning a prom, a spring fling, or a Valentine’s Day dance, put together a student planning committee and request donations for decorations and other event supplies.

In addition to charging admission tickets, you can sell snacks and drinks at the dance. Consider planning other activities, such as a photo booth or raffles, to make the event even more memorable and appealing to students.

14. Concession Stand

A concession stand is an adaptable school fundraising idea that can complement almost any event or occasion. Whether you’re looking to raise extra funds at a sporting event or a school theater performance, you can’t go wrong with a classic concession stand.

Popular concession snacks and drinks include:

• Hot dogs
• Popcorn
• Soft pretzels
• Snow cones
• Soda

Brainstorm healthier options, such as trail mix, fruit cups, and yogurt parfaits, to make your concession offerings more enticing to people with varying dietary needs and preferences.

15. Teddy Bear Picnic

Chances are, many of your elementary school’s students have a cherished teddy bear or stuffed animal companion they love spending time with. A teddy bear picnic can be a special and successful idea to incorporate into your fundraising calendar. Pick a time of year when the weather is pleasant and choose a green, wide-open space to hold your picnic.

Families in your school community can pay an admission fee to bring their children (and their teddies) to the event, where they’ll enjoy a social meal and enjoyable activities. You can set up a photo booth to capture the memory, arrange read-alouds, and plan scavenger hunts to take place after the picnic.

16. Pajama Day

By hosting a pajama day fundraiser, your elementary school can make learning feel more cozy and comfortable for students while encouraging donations from family and friends. In exchange for bringing in a small donation, allow students to attend class in their pajamas. You can even host contests for categories such as “cutest,” “silliest,” and “most colorful,” to make the day more entertaining for students.

Depending on how much funding you earn, you can even add activities such as movie screenings and crafts to turn your pajama day into a pajama party.

17. Parents’ Night Out

Your elementary school’s students have a lot of energy, and it’s not always easy for their families to keep up with them. A parents’ night out event is a school fundraising idea that many members of your community will look forward to. Charge a fee to allow families to drop their children off at your school after hours, where your staff and volunteers will provide childcare.

You can keep students engaged with activities such as:

• Movies
• Board games
• Story reading
• Arts and crafts

Remember to provide nutritious snacks and meals throughout the evening, keeping specific food allergies and intolerances in mind when planning and setting prices.

18. Rubber Duck Race

A rubber duck race is a one-of-a-kind school fundraising idea that’s bound to interest your students and families. If there’s a running river or canal nearby, reach out to obtain any necessary permits and hold the event there. You can purchase a bunch of rubber ducks in bulk and allow attendees to purchase one before the race.

Mark each duck with a number that participants can keep track of and let the excitement begin. The “owner” of the winning duck can receive a prize, such as a gift basket or branded t-shirt.

19. Guessing Game

A guessing game fundraiser takes only minutes for your school to set up and has the potential to engage your students for days or even weeks. Simply set a glass jar in your lobby, cafeteria, or hallway and fill it with candy such as:

• Jelly beans
• M&Ms
• Jolly Ranchers
• Starbursts
• Peppermints

Have your students bring in a small donation to guess how many pieces of candy are in the jar. Whoever has the closest guess wins a prize, such as a collection of cute school supplies or a donut party for their class.

20. School Sleepover

Sleepovers are popular among students of all ages because they provide opportunities to spend time with friends and gain a sense of independence. By hosting a sleepover for your elementary school’s students, you can give them a chance to see their classmates after hours and give their families a free night to spend on themselves.

Charge a small fee to students to participate and send home a list in advance that contains everything they need to bring for the night, including sleeping bags and toothbrushes. Plan a series of activities, such as movies and games, to keep your students occupied before it’s time for lights out.

21. Bingo Day

Bingo is a game with seemingly endless possibilities that your school can easily turn into a fundraising idea. You can host a school-wide bingo event during recess or after hours and charge a small participation fee for students. You can find all types of bingo sheets to print out online, from ones with vocabulary words to ice-breakers.

Plan prizes such as sticker collections and notebooks for students to take home. You can even make the event more engaging by creating a theme, such as “Winter Wonderland,” and having students dress up.

22. Penny Drive

A penny drive is a fundraising idea that you can get your elementary school students involved in. All you need to do is set up a jar in each classroom and challenge students to bring in pennies to fill it up.

To inspire students to participate and create a sense of friendly competition, come up with some class-wide prizes for the top contributors, such as a pizza party, pajama day, or extended recess for a week.

23. Treasure Hunt

A treasure hunt is a school fundraising idea that can spark curiosity among your students and bring in funds from your community. Come up with a set of engaging, accessible clues related to the topics students are learning in class and charge a participation fee for students who want to look for the treasure.

Consider having participants dress up in pirate clothing or other theme-related costumes to make the event even more entertaining for everyone involved. Have volunteers on standby to provide hints to students as needed and come up with a variety of prizes to motivate students to do their best.

24. Hayride

The fall season is perfect for school fundraising ideas such as a hayride. If there’s a farm or ranch in your local area, get in touch to see if they’d be willing to partner with your school. Beyond charging a small fee per hayride, you can sell fall-related snacks and drinks such as caramel corn and apple cider.

To really lean into the season, consider planning other activities alongside your hayride, such as a picnic, pumpkin picking, and apple bobbing.

25. Pizza Party

Pizza restaurant sales across the U.S. have been steadily rising, reaching nearly 47 billion dollars in 2022. There’s no question that pizza is a well-loved food among children, teens, and adults alike—which is why a pizza party makes for such a popular school fundraising idea.

Partner with a local pizza restaurant to get a good deal on pizzas you can buy in bulk. Then, collect class donations to meet a fundraising goal leading up to the day. You can even set additional tiers to inspire participation, such as a movie screening or an extended recess.

26. Teacher in Jail

A “teacher in jail” school fundraiser is guaranteed to put a smile on your students’ faces. Challenge each class with a specific fundraising goal they have to meet by a certain deadline. When a class meets its goal, they can put their teacher in “jail” and have a free period to spend on activities such as games or crafts.

This fundraising idea is a win-win-win because your school gets to raise funds, your students get to enjoy a break from their typical class schedule, and your teachers get a chance to catch up on planning or other tasks.

27. Pancake Breakfast

It’s often said that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” By hosting a pancake breakfast fundraiser, your school can provide its students and families with a hearty meal to jumpstart their day while raising money for your programs and activities.

Set up a space in your school cafeteria or rent out your local restaurant. Then, recruit some volunteers to make pancakes and start selling admission tickets to your community.

28. Cookie Dough Sale

Cookie dough sales are popular fundraising activities for schools, sports teams, and nonprofit organizations. With the help of their families, enlist your students to sell tubs of cookie dough to their relatives, neighbors, and friends.

To inspire your students, set class prizes that they can enjoy once they hit a certain fundraising goal. For example, you might reward them with a pizza party and a movie.

29. Face Painting Booth

A face painting booth is a school fundraising idea that you can work into various events, from a carnival to a school sleepover. To get started, you’ll need to collect art supplies such as paintbrushes and face paint. Then, recruit volunteers to do the face painting. You can enlist anyone from an art teacher to a local artist in your community.

Charge a fee for each face painting. You can even offer photography sessions to capture the artwork and earn a little extra funding for your school.

30. Petting Zoo

A petting zoo can be a highly engaging experience for your elementary school’s students. Contact a local farm or zoo in your area to see if you can rent farm animals, such as:

• Goats
• Sheep
• Pigs
• Ponies
• Ducks

Charge admission for students and their families to raise funds. You can even offer additional activities, such as pony rides, for an extra fee.

31. Paper Airplane Contest

Making paper airplanes is a basic yet entertaining craft for elementary-aged children. A paper airplane contest is a school fundraising idea that puts a competitive spin on the activity. Plus, it doesn’t take much time or resources to organize.

Simply gather supplies such as paper and crayons, then charge an entrance fee for students to participate. Start by walking your students through a basic paper airplane tutorial, then let their creativity run wild!

32. Science Fair

Middle school is the perfect time for students to engage in mind-blowing science projects such as balloon-powered cars and potato batteries. Hosting a science fair is the perfect way to fundraise for your school while gathering your community together to support your young scientists.

Enlist participants from every grade to conduct their own experiments and present their conclusions at the fair. Then, sell admission tickets to their family and friends.

33. Field Day

64% of parents wish their children were more active, and 89% enjoy connecting with their children by spending time outside. With this in mind, when it’s time to come up with your next school fundraising idea, consider organizing a field day. This event is perfect for warmer weather in the spring when you can plan activities such as:

• Tug-of-war
• Dodgeball
• Relay races
• Obstacle courses

Charge admission for students and their families to come out onto the field and participate in the various games you have. Set up a concession stand to raise more funds while keeping everyone energized and hydrated.

34. Candy Grams

Candy grams are a particularly appealing school fundraising idea around holidays such as Halloween, Christmas, or Valentine’s Day. Plus, they’re quick to set up. The basic supplies you need are:

• Candy
• Blank cards or cardstock
• Ribbon or tape

Then, set up a table in your school lobby or cafeteria, where students can pay to have a piece of candy and a personalized card sent to one another during class.

35. Spelling Bee

A spelling bee fundraiser promotes literacy and friendly competition among your students. You can charge both participation fees and spectator tickets to raise funds. Then, incentivize students to sign up by deciding on prizes such as certificates, medals, or t-shirts.

You can even add a peer-to-peer fundraising element by having students collect pledged donations from their friends and family based on the number of words they spell correctly during the competition.

36. Game Tournament

By hosting a game tournament, your school can raise money while providing students with the chance to get together for some social fun with their friends and family. Several popular board game options to consider include:

• Scrabble
• Chess
• Monopoly
• Battleship
• Connect Four

Depending on the type of games you offer, you can then charge fees for participants to enter as individuals or teams.

37. Art Show

An art show can be a highly engaging school fundraising idea that encourages students to show off their creative talents and brings your community together to support them. Call for submissions from all grade levels and ask for brief descriptions to display alongside them.

There are several ways you can raise money, including charging entry fees, allowing attendees to bid on artwork, selling refreshments, and holding raffles.

38. Sponsored Silence

A sponsored silence is a school fundraiser that is bound to challenge and engage your students. To participate, they’ll ask their family and friends to sponsor them to stay silent for a certain period of time during the day.

To avoid disrupting classes, you can allow students to ask or answer questions from their teacher. Then, equip your participants with a handy notebook and enjoy the most silent school day you’ve ever experienced.

39. Sports Tournament

An estimated 53.8% of children between the ages of 6 and 17 play sports across the U.S. By planning a sports tournament, your school can raise funds while teaching students how to work together and build confidence.

Plus, there are various sports you can choose from to keep your students engaged, including:

• Kickball
• Flag football
• Basketball
• Tennis
• Dodgeball

Once your competitors are assembled, sell tickets for spectators and put up a concession stand to make each match as enjoyable as possible.

40. Obstacle Course

Your school can set up an obstacle course as its own fundraiser or incorporate it into another event, such as a field day. There’s plenty of room to get creative and adapt your course to the space you have available. Common obstacle ideas include:

• Monkey bars
• Hopscotch
• Hula hoops
• Balance beams
• Mud pits

Charge an entry fee and encourage participants to do their best by setting prizes such as gift cards or baskets full of snacks and school supplies. Also, ask students’ families to sign a waiver to allow their kids to participate.

41. Book Swap

You might have a horde of books in your school’s library, but many students might not know where to start looking for their next great read. A book swap is a school fundraising idea that encourages students to exchange their gently used books with one another and share their love of reading.

To raise funds, consider charging an entrance fee to participate and selling additional reading accessories, such as bookmarks and clip-on lights.

42. Discount Card Fundraiser

Discount cards are cards that provide discounts or deals at a specific business or retailer. Your school can host a discount card fundraiser by partnering with various local businesses, such as:

• Restaurants
• Grocery stores
• Clothing shops
• Entertainment venues

Find a discount card fundraising provider to produce these cards, then enlist your students to sell these discounts, ranging from a percentage of purchases to buy-one-get-one-free deals, to their friends and family.

43. Car Wash

Imagine a community full of clean, shiny cars—all thanks to your students. A car wash is a proven school fundraising idea that people are bound to appreciate. You can set the fundraiser up in your school’s parking lot, enlist student volunteers, and gather cleaning supplies.

Then, have friends, family, and other community members stop by to get their cars washed. You can even sell them concessions such as soda and chips while they wait.

44. Chili Cook-Off

There’s nothing like a good meal to bring your school’s community together and raise funds for your school. Call on the home cooks among your students and their families to test their culinary skills in a chili cook-off.

You can charge a fee for those who want to participate and those who just want to sample the chili. You could also raise more funds by selling advantages to participants, such as the chance to take another team’s ingredients. Consider putting together a panel of judges to decide on the winning dish or allow attendees to pay an extra fee to vote.

45. Parking Spot Auction

School parking lots can get very crowded, which can be an issue if students find themselves running late to class. By holding a parking spot auction as a school fundraiser, you can give students the chance to secure a reserved spot they can use all semester or year.

To make your auction even more appealing, you can let the winning students decorate their parking spots with chalk or paint.

46. Concert

Researchers have found that attending concerts brings people together, providing a sense of belonging and connection. Reach out to local musicians and bands to plan a night of singing and dancing. Or, you can even enlist your school’s band to put on a performance for your community.

At the concert, you can sell concessions, raffles, and branded merchandise to raise funds beyond ticket sales.

47. Plant Sale

Since owning a pet can be a major responsibility, encourage students and their families to start small by caring for a plant instead. This school fundraising idea can be a suitable option especially if you have an on-site garden or greenhouse where you can plant flowers, succulents, and herbs.

You can either get students involved in the gardening process or partner with local gardeners to get the plants you need for your sale.

48. Community Cleanup

School education is not just about taking in information about the world, but learning how to give back, too. Encourage your students to better their local community by participating in a cleanup event.

Choose a park, beach, waterway, or field that could use some tidying up. Then, have your student participants collect donation pledges from their friends and family for each bag of trash they collect during the fundraiser.

49. Online Auction

Auctions are a tried-and-true school fundraiser, but they don’t have to be in person to be effective. Reach a wider audience by allowing your community members to bid on items no matter where they’re located.

Promote your online auction on social media and invest in a platform that makes it easy for people to explore and bid on your items. Consider adding other activities, such as live Q&As and polls, to help your guests feel connected.

50. Matching Gifts

Matching gifts can enhance almost any school fundraising initiative. Companies donate approximately $2-3 billion in matching gifts every year—many to schools like yours. The process generally looks something like this:

• A donor gives to your school.
• They check their matching gift eligibility with their employer.
• They submit a matching gift request.
• The employer approves the request and sends a donation to your school.

Many companies match gifts at a 1:1 ratio, which means you can make your donations go twice as far by promoting this opportunity to your school’s community.

51. Trivia Night

A trivia night is an easy online school fundraising idea that your community can participate in from the comfort of their own homes. All you need to do is have students and their family members pay a fee to register as teams. Then, prepare questions in areas such as:

• History
• Sports
• Music
• Geography

Plus, choosing questions related to what your students are learning in their classes can reinforce their knowledge and help them ace their next test!

52. eCards

Greeting cards are popular because they can be sent for almost any purpose, from holiday wishes to saying “thank you.” Your school can turn this popularity into fundraising success by selling eCards online.

There are plenty of eCard platforms that make it easy to create your own designs. Consider accepting submissions from your students to generate some school pride in your community.

53. Costume Contest

A costume contest is a school fundraiser idea that can appeal to students of all ages. You can plan this event around Halloween, when people are already purchasing costumes, or host one with another theme, such as superheroes.

There are several ways you can raise money with a costume contest, including charging a participation fee or having people make a small donation to vote on their favorite costumes.

54. Polar Plunge

If your school is looking for a cold-weather fundraising idea, then a polar plunge could be the perfect fit. During this event, you can challenge students to jump into an icy body of water, whether that’s a pond or an inflatable pool filled with ice water. Friends and family can pledge donations based on how long the student spends submerged in the water.

To ensure the safety of everyone involved, have participants sign waivers and arrange to have medical personnel at the location in case of any emergencies. Prepare warm beverages, such as hot chocolate or tea, ready to reward your students after their plunge!

55. Pumpkin Carving Contest

Around 150 million Americans carve pumpkins as fall decorations each year. To embrace the spirit of the season, consider hosting a pumpkin carving contest as a school fundraiser. Ask students to pay a registration fee to compete, then provide them each with a pumpkin and carving tools to get to work.

You can establish categories such as “Most unique,” “Most realistic,” and “Scariest design,” to make the contest more engaging. Then, charge a small fee for students and other community members to vote on the best pumpkins.

56. Gift Wrapping Station

It’s estimated that by 2030, winter holiday spending by American shoppers will total $1.271 trillion. With so many people giving gifts during the holiday season, set up a gift wrapping station at your school to raise funds.

Stock up on rolls of tape and wrapping paper, then recruit students and faculty to wrap the presents. You can charge per gift or vary the pricing depending on the gift size.

Compiling a list of promising fundraising ideas for your school is only the beginning. To engage your community and meet your fundraising goals, you need to do some planning. Let’s discuss some frequently asked questions about school fundraising to set your team up for success:

How do you decide on the right school fundraising idea?

Some school fundraising ideas take place entirely online. Others are best planned for certain times of the year, such as summer or a specific holiday like Halloween. To choose the most effective idea for your school and its needs, follow these basic steps:

1. Identify your purpose for fundraising. For example, let’s say that you’re trying to raise $15,000 to start an after-school reading program. To emphasize your goal of improving literacy among your students and celebrating the joys of reading, you might decide to start a Read-A-Thon during Read Across America week.
2. Assess your resources. How much time, money, and volunteers do you have available to launch and manage your school fundraising campaign? Some fundraising ideas, such as a school carnival or dance, might take a lot more planning and effort than others, like online book fairs or shoe drives.
3. Consider your school’s community. Every school’s community is unique. For instance, your students might have a lot of relatives who live outside of your local area. With this in mind, you might prioritize more virtual school fundraisers that people across the country can participate in.

Once you find a fundraising idea that works for your school, you can plan one every year to engage your community. At the same time, don’t be afraid to vary your activities to keep people interested, such as by promoting matching gifts or adding a theme to your next Read-A-Thon.

How do you plan a successful school fundraiser?

Running a successful school fundraiser is a team effort. To get your staff, students, faculty, and community on the same page for your campaign, keep these tips in mind:

1. Set a specific goal, budget, and timeline. Iron out all the details, such as how much you’re trying to raise, how much you can invest in the fundraiser, and how long your campaign will last. By deciding on a realistic yet ambitious fundraising goal and deadline, you can maintain momentum and motivation from start to finish.
2. Prepare your staff and volunteers. Some school fundraising ideas will be more hands-on than others. Whether you’re hosting a Read-A-Thon or a field day, create a shared document that details all of the duties and responsibilities of your fundraising team members. The Read-A-Thon platform comes with an official admin guide that walks you through the entire planning process.
3. Promote your school fundraiser. Regardless of the school fundraiser you plan, you need to get the word out to generate excitement and participation from your community. Use multiple channels, such as email, text, social media, and flyers to spread awareness. While you’ll typically have to create your own marketing materials, when you start a Read-A-Thon, you’ll automatically receive custom emails, pre-printed flyers, and more at no cost.

Kick off your school fundraiser with a presentation or pep rally. Then, monitor your progress toward your fundraising goal, making adjustments to your marketing and sending reminders to donate as needed.

Whether you’re launching a new extracurricular program or making renovations to your facilities, there are countless ways your school and its students can benefit from fundraising. Following each campaign, be sure to examine your fundraising performance and thank your donors for all of their support. Equipped with an easy, engaging, and effective school fundraising idea such as a Read-A-Thon, your school can shatter its fundraising goals year after year.

For more tips and ideas to make your next school fundraiser stand out, check out these additional resources:

• How Do Reading Fundraisers Work? Explore the most popular reading fundraisers for schools, including how they work and the benefits of planning one.
• 10+ PTA Fundraising Ideas Your School Community Will Love. Running out of ideas for your next PTA fundraiser? Get inspired with this list of top PTA fundraising ideas that will wow your school’s community.
• School Fundraiser Prizes: Read-A-Thon & 10 Top Prize Ideas. Learn how your school can boost its fundraising results by gamifying participation and offering prizes for students.