Education

10 School Fundraising Ideas

Written by: Wilson College • Aug 7, 2024

Students working at a fundraising event.

10 School Fundraising Ideas

Ensuring that schools have the resources they need is a perennial challenge, and school fundraisers have become a popular way to boost funding for schools and school-related activities. When parents, teachers, and school administrators were surveyed regarding the 2022-2023 school year by Cheddar Up, a firm that helps nonprofits collect funds, it found:

A total of 96% of respondents said their schools held at least one fundraiser during the year, and around 33% said their schools held at least five fundraisers.
The median amount that a school fundraiser collected was $8,500.

All individuals who aspire to be leaders in education—including those interested in pursuing an advanced degree in education or in special education —can benefit from learning about school fundraising ideas and the role fundraisers play in school finance.

What Is School Fundraising?

School fundraising refers to any activity designed to supplement traditional school funding sources. Groups launch fundraisers for any of a number of reasons, including the following:

To support extracurricular activities, such as athletics, the arts, and various types of school clubs
To purchase items related to learning, such as educational technology and classroom supplies
To improve or build school facilities, such as playgrounds or new classrooms

Fundraisers can be activities that both raise money and boost school pride. They also can bring a community together to unite behind a shared goal.

10 School Fundraising Ideas for Administrators, Teachers, and Parents

The range of potential approaches to school fundraising is extensive. From selling candy bars to launching a formal capital campaign, numerous activities can bring resources to a school. Whatever the activity, school groups should be clear about their fundraising goals and the ways in which the school will spend the funds. Following are 10 popular school fundraising ideas.

1. Solicit Funds Online

Fundraisers can be as simple as asking people to donate to a specific cause online. Groups can create their own website to solicit donations or use crowdfunding platforms that already exist.

2. Solicit Items Online

Online fundraisers can also solicit donations of items rather than funds. For example, Amazon’s Donation Driver service enables schools to post the items they need, and people can purchase those items from Amazon and have them delivered to the school.

3. Sell Items Directly

From candy to gift wrap to mulch, the possibilities for items schools can sell to raise funds are almost endless. Fundraising groups can either purchase the items in bulk and resell them, or they can ask donors to order items from a catalog. School groups often work with product fundraising companies that assist them in these efforts, and those companies receive a share of the proceeds.

4. Hold a Silent Auction

A silent auction can be an effective vehicle for raising funds. These auctions also can serve as social events that bring a community together. Much of the success of a silent auction depends on finding people or businesses willing to donate desirable items or services to the auction.

5. Stage an Athletic Event

Holding a walkathon or a fun run is a good way to spur community participation in an event while simultaneously raising funds. Safety is an important consideration for these types of events, so organizers need to include the appropriate safety personnel in planning and running the event.

6. Hold a School Carnival

A school fundraising idea that has stood the test of time, a school carnival offers games, food, and other activities that children enjoy, such as face painting. School carnivals often become events that families look forward to every year.

7. Auction Off Reserved Parking Spaces

Anyone who has visited a high school in recent years may have noticed coveted parking spaces reserved for specific students. Typically, students (or their families) reserve those parking spaces through an auction and then get the opportunity to decorate or personalize them and park in those spaces for the school year.

8. Sell Student Artwork

Selling the creative works of student artists is a great way to spotlight students’ talent while raising funds for the school. Events held to sell students’ artwork also help to draw in community members, encouraging them to support the school’s art program and allow them to meet with the student artists to hear them discuss their work.

9. Stage a Car Wash

A time-honored tradition in school fundraising, car washes are still bringing in funds. Organizers need to find a safe location for the car wash and consider how to promote the event. Finding businesses that can donate cleaning supplies is also key to the success of a car wash.

10. Launch a Capital Campaign

When the goal is to raise a significant amount of funds, for example to build a new building, it can be advisable to create a capital campaign. These campaigns require the involvement of someone with professional expertise to ensure that the campaign complies with all legal requirements. Professionals in the field can also advise groups about soliciting corporate donations or adding a matching funds component to the campaign.

How to Get Parents and Families Involved in School Fundraising

While choosing the right school fundraising idea is important, it’s also important to ensure that parents and families participate.

To promote involvement on the part of parents and families, it can be beneficial to do the following:

Make it as easy as possible to participate. For example, if a fundraiser involves several components, ask parents to volunteer for those that best fit their schedules.
Hold fundraisers in which the entire family can be involved. If students are excited about a fundraiser, this can spur the entire family to take part.
Clarify the purpose of the fundraiser. Being specific and transparent about the goal of the fundraiser and how the proceeds will be used can help parents and families feel a connection and desire to participate.
Express gratitude to participants. Ensuring that parents and families know that everyone appreciates their participation can help them feel their time and effort are valued.
Diversify fundraising efforts. The interests of parents and families can vary, so holding different types of school fundraisers can expand the pool of people willing to be involved and provide them, more options for them to choose from.

Choose the Best School Fundraising Ideas to Supplement School Funding

Ideas for school fundraisers range from simple to complex, and selecting the type of fundraiser that will work best for a particular purpose is an important responsibility. In addition to raising funds, these events can bring a community together and instill a collective sense of pride and purpose.

Individuals who are interested in advancing their knowledge of education can explore Wilson College Online’s Master of Education degree program to learn how it can help them achieve their goals. Offering individuals the opportunity to learn about cutting edge strategies and technology in education, the program establishes a foundation for career advancement. Start progressing on the education career path today.

Recommended Readings

The Benefits of Extracurricular Activities

How to Become a School Principal

Nonteaching Jobs in Education

Sources:

Aly Sterling Philanthropy, “6 Creative Capital Campaign Fundraising Ideas for Schools”

Amazon Business, Digital Fundraising—Staging an Innovative Donation Experience on Your Website

Association Insurance Management Inc., “School Fundraising: The Dos and Don’ts That Most Parent-Teacher Groups Need to Know”

Association of Fund-Raising Distributors and Suppliers, Fundraising FAQS

BetterWorld, “5 Reasons Why School Fundraising Is Important”

BetterWorld, “How to Get Parents and Kids Involved in School Fundraising Events”

Big Fundraising Ideas, “School Fundraising: Getting Parents Fully on Board”