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All fundraising ideas
Elementary school fundraising ideas
The best fundraising ideas for elementary schools offer fun for the whole family and bring in some major funds, too. Rally parents, students, staff members, and the surrounding community with these fresh and creative elementary fundraiser ideas.
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Take a stroll
Host an inclusive fun run event that’s a little more leisurely. Set a time window for participants to complete their stroll and encourage them to collect donations through peer-to-peer fundraising pages. Be sure to showcase their achievements on social media!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/take-a-stroll
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Boardwalk bash
Host a boardwalk get-together complete with carnival games and treats. You can also use the event to introduce a renovation project for your beachside community and rally support for your cause.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/boardwalk-bash
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Pet portraits
Pet owners love having portraits of their pets—even if they’re not made by professionals! Host a fun pet portrait fundraiser where volunteers draw or paint pictures of supporters’ furry friends. Ask donors to bring a photo of their pet or upload one when they make a donation online.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pet-portraits
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Creative design workshop
Host a paid workshop that teaches hands-on skills like painting, design thinking, or advanced crafting. Ask instructors to volunteer their time, and keep supply costs low by partnering with local business sponsors to maximize profit margins.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/creative-design-workshop
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Themed run
Make your peer-to-peer fundraising run truly memorable with a standout theme! Encourage participants to dress up and create teams based on your theme to build community and boost the competitive spirit.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/themed-run
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Peer-to-peer
Outdoor education class
Invite your community to explore the world around you with an outdoor education experience. Determine your target age group(s) and create an out-of-classroom adventure they’ll treasure.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/outdoor-education-class
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Trash-a-thon
Team up to clean up! Rally volunteers to collect litter in your local community, and have each participant gather sponsorships based on bags filled or hours spent. It's a powerful way to raise funds and make a visible impact.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/trash-a-thon
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Cutest pet contest
Who has the cutest pet in your community? Host a photo contest to find out! Invite participants to submit a photo of their four-legged (or feathered or scaly!) friend for a set donation amount. Then, open up voting to the public—each vote can be a small donation. Crown a winner, raise funds, and flood everyone’s feed with cuteness.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/cutest-pet-contest
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Pajama party
Raise money for a good cause and create an unforgettable, cozy experience by turning any fundraising event into a pajama party.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pajama-party
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Costume contest
Throw a themed costume party to match the season or holiday and award prizes for the best costumes! Sell tickets to your fundraising event online and partner with local sponsors to offset costs and spread the word.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/costume-contest
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Field goal derby
Invite fans to donate to see how many field goals they can make in a minute (use a smaller goalpost for kids!). Have each participant create a personal peer-to-peer fundraising page and reach out to friends and family for support!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/field-goal-derby
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More money, no problems
Instead of hosting an event, ask your supporters to donate a specific amount for the entire year. Create a donation form or fundraising page with photos, videos, and a compelling story in order to encourage gifts. Be sure to customize your donation amounts and add descriptions that are specific to your needs and impact.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/more-money-no-problems
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Candy bar sale
Sell wholesale candy bars and sweet treats to your supporters. Bring them to events or offer them anywhere people might need a snack! Use peer-to-peer fundraising to spark a bit of friendly competition and easily track who’s sold the most.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/candy-bar-sale
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Peer-to-peer
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Flag football tournament
Bring fans onto the field for some football fun! Teams register and pay to play and fans buy tickets to cheer them on.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/flag-football-tournament
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Lend a helping hand
Let donors "purchase" 2-5 hours of extra help from students or volunteers (think raking leaves or mowing the lawn).
In order to streamline the process and keep track of contributions, create custom labels for different donation amounts on a special fundraising page or donation form (e.g. $50 = 2 volunteer hours).
In order to streamline the process and keep track of contributions, create custom labels for different donation amounts on a special fundraising page or donation form (e.g. $50 = 2 volunteer hours).
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/lend-a-helping-hand
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Auctions
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You name it
Come up with a creative fundraiser with a catchy name like “Pancakes for Parents” brunch or a “Chicken Wings for Cheerleaders.” To get supporters excited, create a custom fundraising page full of on-theme photos, videos, ands more!
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/you-name-it
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Shoot-a-thon
In this basketball fundraiser, each contestant pays a small entry fee to see how many baskets they can make in a short amount of time.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/shoot-a-thon
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Pages & forms
Walkathon
Ask supporters to lace up their shoes and gather pledges or donations for every mile they walk. Sell official charity gear, encourage participants to share updates on their own personal donation pages, and award top fundraisers with exciting prizes.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/walkathon
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Halloween costume run
Ask supporters to wear their silliest or spookiest Halloween costumes during this fun run. Use team or peer-to-peer fundraising to help participants set a donation goal and spread the word. At the end, award special prizes to the race winners, the teams or individuals who raised the most, and the best costumes!
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/halloween-costume-run
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T-shirt design contest
Encourage supporters to submit their best t-shirt designs to enter a competition. Set up team fundraising pages for each design and have supporters donate to vote for their favorite. Each donation will appear on a leaderboard so everyone can watch the votes (and donations!) come in.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/t-shirt-design-contest
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Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms
Players vs. parents game
It’s kids vs. grownups in this ultimate showdown. Ask for a small donation per participant or family or charge a small fee for supporters to come watch it all go down.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/players-vs-parents-game
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Mascot showdown
Join forces with your rival team for a good cause. Organize a race or other competition between your mascots during halftime at a big game, and ask supporters to vote for their mascot by donating on a team fundraising page. Use text-to-donate or a QR code to bring in even more funds from the stands during the event.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/mascot-showdown
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Jeans day
Sell passes for a day out of uniform or a day in jeans. You can even turn it into a friendly competition to see which grade has the highest participation. For easy payments, use scan-to-donate, Venmo, or other convenient methods.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/jeans-day-out-of-uniform-day
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Peer-to-peer
Storybook Character Dress-Up Day
Invite students to come to school dressed as their favorite storybook characters. Charge a small participation fee and organize storytimes throughout the day.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/storybook-character-dress-up-day
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Crafts night
Charge an entrance fee and check in attendees as they arrive for an evening of creativity and fun. Ask volunteers to bring craft supplies or request donations from local art stores.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/crafts-night
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Frequently asked questions
How do I start a fundraiser for my elementary school?
Starting a fundraiser for your elementary school usually begins with identifying a need, like new playground equipment or computers. Ideally, this is done in partnership with stakeholders like the PTA and school administrators. No one should take on a fundraising effort alone, so your next step is to assemble a team of volunteers to brainstorm ideas. A book sale? A fun run? A read-a-thon? The sky’s the limit!
What are the most popular elementary school fundraisers?
Great fundraising ideas for elementary schools that have stood the test of time include events like fall or spring carnivals, trivia nights, bake sales, and walkathons. These evergreen activities appeal to families, engage more community members, and provide fun for everyone.
Regardless of how you collect donations, the best school fundraising ideas for elementary schools get both students and parents involved and even bring local restaurants and businesses in on the action.
What is the most profitable elementary school fundraiser?
The profitability of any fundraiser can vary depending on resources, expenses, and community support, but large-scale events like galas and silent auctions tend to be the most profitable. Alternatively, crowdfunding campaigns that allow supporters to make small donations on a donation page are also effective for raising money sustainably throughout the school year.
Do you offer any helpful tools for elementary school teachers?
We know elementary educators juggle a lot. That’s why we built a few free tools to make your day a little easier:
- A customizable spelling worksheet generator to quickly create classroom practice sheets
- An easy grading calculator to simplify percentage calculations and scoring
- Spark creativity with our school name generator for spirit teams, reading challenges, or new clubs
- A test grade percentage calculator to quickly determine student scores on quizzes and tests
They’re quick, free, and designed to save busy teachers time, so you can focus on planning a fun, successful fundraiser.
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