Preschool fundraising ideas
Raising money is critical for keeping preschool programs going and purchasing needed supplies, but the effort it takes to raise funds is no joke. With this list of easy fundraising ideas for preschools, including art sales, dress-up days, and read-a-thons, you’ll find the inspiration you need to reach your goals in no time.
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Online garage sale
Collect new and used goods from your community and sell items on a first-come, first-served basis—virtually. To introduce some fun competition and bring in more funds, turn the sale into an auction with buy-now pricing options!









Family dance
Give the “father-daughter” or “mother-son” dance an inclusive update and give families of all shapes and sizes an unforgettable night of cutting a rug together for a good cause.
Choose a theme, sell tickets for your fundraising event online, and raise even more by setting up a photo booth with silly props!









Discount cards
Create and sell discount card coupon books full of deals to local restaurants and businesses. Sell the coupon books on a custom donation form and share it far and wide!









“Celebrity” breakfast
Charge an entrance fee for a special family breakfast with a beloved children’s character like Elmo! Check-in attendees and accept in-person donations with Tap to Pay as guests arrive, ask volunteers to whip up scrambled eggs and pancakes, and arrange a corner of the room for family photos and selfies.









Family photo day
Partner with a local photographer and charge a fee for photo packages with themed backdrops or props. Create custom tickets with time slots for families to sign up to keep the day moving smoothly.









Trike-a-thon
Create a race course and encourage family and friends to sponsor your little big-wheel racers by making a donation on their behalf on your fundraising page.









Kids’ art calendar
Turn kids’ finger paintings and drawings into custom calendars—or transform them into keepsakes like photo books, mugs, or t-shirts. Sell the merch using a fun, eye-catching auction or fundraising page.









Community potluck dinner
Invite each person to contribute a dish and invite at least two people to join your dinner. To keep everything organized, customize your donation form so participants can note what dish they’re bringing when they RSVP—and make a contribution to your campaign.









Easter egg hunt
Set up an epic Easter egg hunt and create a fundraising event page for families in your community to register and make a sliding-scale donation to participate.
Create an Easter Bunny photo booth and host a bake sale to bring in even more donations with scan-to-donate and Venmo donations on the day of the hunt!









Teddy bear picnic
Sell simple brown-bag lunches or have a mini bake sale at a picnic where participants can bring along their favorite stuffed animal. This fundraising event is a perfect family-friendly way to bring in needed funds.









Local celebrities









Maze for a cause
If you don’t have corn maze capabilities, find a large outdoor space where you can build a maze from hay bales!
Charge an entrance fee to walk the maze, and make transactions easy with scan-to-donate and Tap to Pay options.









Student art auction
Auction off students' art projects online, in-person, or both! Add photos and descriptions for each masterpiece using easy auction software.









Superhero run
Participants pay an entry fee to partake in a costumed fundraising run. Encourage runners to raise more for your cause with their own peer-to-peer fundraising pages, and award prizes for race winners, best super hero costumes, and most donations!









Parents’ night out
This fundraising event can be a fun gathering for parents, or you can make it an opportunity for grownups to drop off their kids for a few hours in exchange for a donation to your cause! Charge an hourly rate or a flat “entrance fee” and give caregivers some priceless peace and quiet.









Peer-to-peer fundraising
Multiply your reach with a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign in which individuals reach out to their own networks of family, friends, and coworkers to solicit donations for your cause.
Create teams to add some fun competition into the mix—and bring in more donations!









Pancakes for parents
Charge a small entrance fee for a dropoff pancake breakfast just for kids, allowing parents to take some much-needed time to rest and relax.
Make the whole process even more convenient for parents with easy online ticketing and scan-to-donate options at the door.









Mother’s Day brunch
Reserve a community space or partner with a local restaurant or café to host a Mother's Day brunch, with proceeds going toward your cause.
Charge a small ticket fee for this fundraising event and offer a selection of refreshments, sandwiches, and sweet treats.









Used book sale
Reserve a space and have your community donate their used books for the cause. Set a price for each book and use scan-to-donate or Venmo to easily accept payments on the spot.









Virtual bake sale
Sell homemade or donated treats through a donation form or event page and organize volunteers to make deliveries after purchase! For some additional funds, allow recipients to make a donation alongside their purchase.









Virtual auction
Take the bidding online by allowing participants to browse your silent auction catalog, place bids, and win from anywhere!
Use auction software that makes the bidding process smooth and simple for you and your donors.









Pancake breakfast
There’s nothing like pancakes to bring a community together. Charge an entry fee for an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast, and ask a local restaurant to sponsor the event to make your fundraiser even sweeter.









Count the jellybeans
Fill a big jar with jellybeans or other individual pieces of candy and have guessers write their number estimation next to their name. Use scan-to-donate and other easy mobile payment options to accept donations for guesses on the spot, and offer a worthwhile prize to the person that comes closest!









Spaghetti dinner
Host a pasta party where you serve spaghetti, salad, breadsticks, and dessert to attendees for a ticket price. Make your event even better by securing a restaurant as a sponsor.









Donut fundraiser
Some bakeries like Krispy Kreme sell their doughnuts at a discounted price to individuals and groups raising money for a good cause.
Create a fundraising page or donation form to promote your efforts and make it easier to sell your sweet treats with multiple payment options wherever you are.









Frequently asked questions
How do I start a fundraiser for my preschool?
When starting a preschool fundraiser, your first step may be to speak with teachers, parents, and administrators to determine a specific need. Then, you can set your fundraising goal accordingly. Recruit other stakeholders to help you with planning, and be sure to choose a theme and activity that matches your school community’s interests as well as the resources and skill set of your team.
Check out our guide on how to start a fundraiser for more steps and tips.
What are the most popular preschool fundraisers?
The best preschool fundraising ideas are those that get kids involved. Some family-friendly activities include organizing a bake sale, selling tickets to a movie night, or hosting your very own petting zoo. Don’t forget to ask local businesses to sponsor your events!
What is the most profitable preschool fundraiser?
The profitability of a preschool fundraiser can vary depending on factors like participation, expenses, and community support. In general, larger-scale events will pack a bigger punch for your fundraising efforts.
Certain preschool art fundraiser ideas can be quite successful, like a silent auction. Charge a small fee for entry, and then community members can bid on the children’s masterpieces on display around the room. Sell food or tasty treats from local restaurants to create an even more enjoyable experience.
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