Children’s fundraising ideas
Whether you’re raising funds for causes that impact children or looking for fundraiser ideas that kids can participate in, we’ve got you covered.
From t-shirt design contests to a much-needed parents' night out, these kids and family fundraising ideas offer fun, engaging ways to raise money for schools, clubs, sports teams, and more.
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Pop-up clothing shop
Ask community members to purge their wardrobes and donate sell-worthy items to your cause. Host a pop-up clothing shop at a local venue and sell tickets for entry!









Raffle
Ask your sponsors and community members to donate items or experiences, then raffle them off! The sky’s the limit when it comes to raffle ticket prizes: gift baskets, movie tickets, artwork—anything your community members will love.
Just be sure to check your state laws regarding raffles before you start planning!









Obstacle course
Challenge supporters to navigate walls, mud pits, and rope climbs. To amplify your impact and spark some friendly competition, encourage team fundraising—all supporters can join an existing team or create their own to compete!









Color run
Spray participants with brightly colored powder along the course of your charity fun run. By the end, runners will be rainbow-ed! Set up a photo booth at the finish line for selfies, and encourage donations on social media via a scan-to-donate code.









Virtual fun run









Walkathon









5k walk/run
Map out your fundraising run route and have supporters donate to participate. Then, use peer-to-peer and team fundraising tools that let supporters create their own donation pages, set goals, and ask friends and family to contribute!









Ugly sweater run









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!









T-shirt design contest









Dance-a-thon
Supporters can donate, leave encouraging messages for the dancers, and purchase tickets to join in the fun—all in one place.









Concession stand
Use an existing stand or create your own and sell items like popcorn, candy, and sunflower seeds. To boost sales, create customticketswith mouth-watering pictures of available treats!









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.









Shoe-decorating
To create a seamless event experience, set up custom ticket types, like an upsell ticket that provides a pair of shoes. Make sure to add a custom question to get the right shoe size!









Storybook Character Dress-Up Day









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.









Principal for the day
Auction off the chance for a student to be school principal for the day! The lucky student will get to greet classmates as they arrive, make morning announcements, visit classrooms, and enjoy a special lunch with the principal.









Read-a-thon
Students pledge to read a certain number of minutes each day and collect donations for every minute read or a flat rate. Use peer-to-peer fundraising to gamify your efforts and encourage readers to compete to see who reads—and raises—the most.









Pumpkin Games
Perfect for the Halloween season, challenge participants to a pay-to-play series of games like pumpkin races and decorating contests. Sell tickets in advance or on the day of using scan-to-donate or Venmo.









Pizza party
Have each class or group create a team fundraising page for donations and campaign sharing. Reward the team that raises the most with a bottomless pizza day, donated by a local pizzeria or made by volunteers.









Grab bags
To attract more partnerships from businesses, create a sponsorship proposal that emphasizes the benefits for them, like free publicity and marketing opportunities.









Donation drive
Set up a donation drive to collect valuable in-kind donations or financial gifts for your cause. This can be done by setting up a drop-off zone in person or collecting donations online through a fundraising page. No matter the format—make sure to share your fundraising goal far and wide to keep the momentum going!









Water balloons & sponge toss









Pool party
Charge an entry fee for a fun day in the sun—think pool floats, squirt guns, and water balloons!
To make this fundraising event even more of a hit, sell summery snacks and drinks, too. Don’t forget the sunscreen!









Game night









Frequently asked questions
What can kids make to give to charity?
Kids have plenty of options when it comes to crafting items for charity. Some of the best kid-friendly fundraiser ideas tap into their creativity, like designing t-shirts or baking tasty treats to sell at bake sales or fundraising events.
What are the most popular fundraising ideas for kids?
Car washes and lemonade stands are two great fundraising ideas for kids. Shoe drive fundraisers offer an easy way for kids to engage with local community members, while hosting a walk-a-thon in your local park gives them a chance to get active while boosting fundraising efforts through pledges, small donations, or sponsorships from local businesses.
Pro tip: Offering small prizes at the end can help keep motivation high!
What are some easy fundraising ideas for kids?
Easy kids' fundraising ideas require minimal resources or adult supervision. Game nights and read-a-thons, for example, are two great fundraisers for kids that keep things simple while still providing fun, memorable experiences.
What are the best fundraising ideas for kids with short attention spans?
For children with short attention spans, look for active fundraising events with activities that don’t take long to complete. Try water balloon fights, color runs, costume contests, or kids vs. grown-ups field days.
How do I keep both parents and kids engaged in the same event?
To keep everyone engaged when raising money for a cause, focus on fundraising campaigns that bring families together. Bonus points if there’s a little friendly competition—like a scavenger hunt, trivia night at a local restaurant, or a family-friendly talent show. Share updates and photos on social media, and use fundraising tools like team pages or leaderboards to keep excitement high.
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