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All fundraising ideas
School fundraising ideas
Whether you're a parent, teacher, or student leader, we’ll help you say goodbye to boring and hello to the best fundraising ideas for schools. Kick off the school year on a high note with these creative campaigns and events guaranteed to boost school spirit—and your fundraising efforts.
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Legacy giving
Encourage supporters to make a planned gift to your organization (e.g., bequests, charitable trusts, or beneficiary designations) to leave a lasting legacy. Wealth screening software can help you identify the best donors to reach out to right in your CRM.
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Effort:
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Impact:
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/legacy-giving
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Pi Day
Celebrate Pi Day on March 14th by inviting your community to contribute to your cause. Set the suggested donation amount at $3.14, $31.40, or $314.00, but let supporters know that any amount adds up to something great.
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Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pi-day
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Easter gift basket auction
Source delicious treats and seasonal goodies to create a selection of Easter gift baskets for aneggcellentsilent auction.
Combine classic Easter baskets (chocolate eggs, bunnies, etc.) with other awesomesilent auction basket ideasto offer biddable items for the whole family.
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/easter-gift-basket-auction
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Movies in the park
Invite your community to enjoy a summer movie series in the park. Screen a classic or trending film somewhere scenic, and sell popcorn, drinks, and other refreshments.
Sell tickets online, check guests in with your mobile app, and offer easy payment options like scan-to-donate for on-the-spot donations.
Cost:
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Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/movies-in-the-park
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Beach day
Arrange a day of sand and sun for your team members, volunteers, and the wider community with beach games, a picnic, and lots of family fun.
Set an affordable ticket price or ask for donations to cover the cost of the event and raise funds—whichever you choose, our fundraising event tools can help!
Set an affordable ticket price or ask for donations to cover the cost of the event and raise funds—whichever you choose, our fundraising event tools can help!
Cost:
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Effort:
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Impact:
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Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/beach-day
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Summer project sale
Host a yard sale/craft fair event focused on helping people finish those summer projects they've been meaning to tackle. Cater to a range of DIY projects with materials like paint, furniture, craft supplies, scrapbooking materials, and more.
Use email marketing software to spread the word about the upcoming sale and share a printable map, so attendees know what kinds of booths will be there.
Cost:
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Impact:
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Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/summer-project-sale
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Fitness challenge
Participants commit to completing a certain number of workouts and collect pledges for each milestone achieved using personal peer-to-peer fundraising pages.
Watch as donations come in and friends and family share words of encouragement on the supporter feed.
Cost:
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Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/fitness-challenge
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Peer-to-peer
Scratch card fundraiser
Buy a batch of scratch cards from a wholesaler. Each circle hides a dollar amount, typically ranging from 50 cents to several dollars. Participants scratch off as many spots as they’d like—the total amount revealed is how much they’ll donate!
Collect cash or accept virtual payments on the spot with Tap-to-Pay, Venmo, and other convenient options.
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/scratch-card-fundraiser
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Events
Pet picture day
Ask a photographer in your area to volunteer to take pictures of pets and their owners at a local park. Customize your fundraising event page with time-slotted tickets to make the day run smoothly.
Cost:
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pet-picture-day
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Thrifty fashion show
Host a fashion show featuring only second-hand clothes, which will then be on sale after the show! Charge an entrance fee, sell food and drinks, and remember to send a big thank you to everyone when your fundraising event is all over.
Cost:
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Effort:
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Impact:
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Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/thrifty-fashion-show
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Pumpkin patch
Partner with a local farm to host a family-friendly pumpkin patch event. Invite your community to take fall photos and pick out a pumpkin or two in exchange for a donation.
Make transactions quick and easy with Tap to Pay and a scan-to-donate QR code to let donors choose their payment method—PayPal, Google Pay, Venmo, and more.
Make transactions quick and easy with Tap to Pay and a scan-to-donate QR code to let donors choose their payment method—PayPal, Google Pay, Venmo, and more.
Cost:
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Impact:
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Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pumpkin-patch
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Horseback riding
Charge a fee for donated guided trail rides or lessons with trained instructors. To give participants access to more activities, offer custom ticket types for this memorable fundraising event.
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Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/horseback-riding
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Harvest dinner party
Host a grand harvest or Thanksgiving dinner party for special guests. Raise money through exclusive ticket sales, and use corporate sponsorship best practices to secure a partnership with a local restaurant or catering company.
Cost:
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Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/harvest-dinner-party
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Dodgeball tournament
Put teams together and face off to see who truly is the best when it comes to dodgeball. Charge teams an entry fee, sell tickets to watch the games, and sell refreshments to raise even more funds.
Invite participants to set up team fundraising pages so they can also compete to see who can raise the most funds for your cause.
Cost:
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Impact:
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/dodgeball-tournament
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Apple bobbing
Set up a stall where people can try apple bobbing in exchange for a small donation. This activity works especially well as part of a fall festival or Halloween event with a range of seasonal activities for families to enjoy.
Cost:
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Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/apple-bobbing
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Year-end fundraiser
Celebrate the end of the year with a big annual fundraiser. Host an event and attract donations and support with a silent auction, peer-to-peer campaign, and more.
Use the year-end giving checklist to make sure you’ve covered every angle!
Cost:
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Impact:
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Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/year-end-fundraiser
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Holiday cookie sale
Whip up some sweet treats to sell at your next fundraising event, group gathering, or around town. Consider setting up a station for supporters to decorate their own cookies or create kits for families to bring home in exchange for a donation.
Streamline the buying process with scan-to-donate—which guest can use to make their payment instantly right from their phones!
Cost:
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Effort:
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Impact:
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Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/holiday-cookie-sale
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Masquerade ball
Whether it's time for Mardi Gras or you’re looking for a creative New Year’s Eve idea, a masquerade ball will make for a memorable evening and bring in lots of donations. Create an unforgettable fundraising event experience with easy ticket sales and check-ins, live display, and a silent auction.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/masquerade-ball
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Holiday movie marathon
Create a lineup of classic holiday movies for a community movie marathon. Sell tickets, popcorn, hot chocolate, and other treats to create a delightful (and profitable!) experience.
With user-friendly fundraising event features for online ticket sales and in-person donations, organizing this event can be as easy as hitting play on your favorite festive film.
With user-friendly fundraising event features for online ticket sales and in-person donations, organizing this event can be as easy as hitting play on your favorite festive film.
Cost:
1
Effort:
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Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/holiday-movie-marathon
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Gift basket auction
Go big with your silent auction baskets! Ask local businesses to donate goods to help you fill hampers with items that fit different themes. Wrap them up nicely to entice bidders and bring in more dollars for your cause.
Cost:
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Effort:
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Impact:
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Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/gift-basket-auction
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We're always cooking up new ideas, so check back soon for fresh picks!
Dive into our list of best fundraising ideas in the meantime
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Frequently asked questions
How do I start a fundraiser for my school?
Begin by identifying a specific need or cause, such as upgrading facilities or starting new clubs or programs. Next, brainstorm easy fundraising ideas for schools, such as bake sales, car washes, or themed events geared toward your community's interests.
Obtain approval from school administrators, rally volunteers, and promote your fundraising campaign far and wide. Don’t forget to thank all of your donors and attendees for their support!
What are the most popular school fundraisers?
The most popular fundraisers for school ideas appeal to both students and their families.
Setting up concession stands and selling baked goods at sports games and at field days are always appealing fundraising ideas for students, and they can bring in an impressive amount of money for your school.
You can also energize your community with classic a-thon fundraisers—like walkathons, read-a-thons, or color runs—that turn participation into school spirit.
What is the most profitable school fundraiser?
Finding good fundraising ideas for schools that make a big impact can depend on your budget and resources. However, large-scale ideas for school fundraisers like dances or festivals are usually a solid way to raise funds. Because these events engage students of all ages, families, and local communities, they tend to help causes reach their fundraising goals faster.
Are there any free tools for teachers & school organizers?
Yes! Beyond fundraising ideas, we’ve built a few simple (and free!) tools to make school life easier:
- Create custom practice sheets with our spelling worksheet generator
- Quickly calculate grades with our easy grading calculator
- Brainstorm creative club or team names with our school name generator
- Figure out test scores instantly with our test grade percentage calculator
They’re fast, free, and designed to save busy educators time so you can focus on your students and your fundraiser.
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