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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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Calendar fundraiser
Design a calendar featuring fun or themed photos from your community, event participants, or volunteers. Sell it for a set donation amount, or use it as an auction item or giveaway prize.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/calendar-fundraiser
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Volleyball tournament
Sell tournament tickets, and spread the word on social media to get your team and wider community involved. Sell concessions, and consider finding a corporate sponsor.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/volleyball-tournament
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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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Bake to give raffle
Gather your community’s best bakers and turn their sweet creations into a fundraising feast! Ask volunteers to whip up their favorite cakes or cookies to sell at your event.
To add some extra excitement, sell raffle tickets and offer baked goods as delicious prizes.
To add some extra excitement, sell raffle tickets and offer baked goods as delicious prizes.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/bake-to-give-raffle
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Pages & forms
Autographed jersey auction
Connected to the right people? Procure and auction off autographed jerseys (or other memorabilia) to your supporters. You’d be surprised how willing athletes are to offer their signature for a good cause! Take advantage of intuitive auction software for simple and easy bidding, custom item descriptions, and more—no matter if your auction is in-person or completely virtual.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/autographed-jersey-auction
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Auctions
Grants
Research grants that you can apply for to fund your nonprofit organization or project. Be sure to create a stand-out grant proposal in order to impress grantmakers!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/grants
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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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Home run derby
Have participants create personal peer-to-peer fundraising pages and collect pledges from friends and family based on the number of home runs they hit. Sell tickets to watch the game and award prizes to the winners.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/home-run-derby
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Events
Peer-to-peer
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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Peer-to-peer
Bowl-a-thon
Reserve lanes at a bowling alley, ask participants to gather pledges for an all-you-can-bowl night, and watch the donations roll in on team fundraising pages.
Offer special prizes for the team with the highest score, most creative name, or even the best uniforms.
Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/bowl-a-thon
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Peer-to-peer
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
Pages & forms
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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Events
Peer-to-peer
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
Pages & forms
Alumni night
Sell tickets to an all-inclusive alumni dinner before a big game or event. During half-time or intermission, bring out the alumni for special recognition. Alternatively, you can livestream a special alumni message during a virtual event.
Cost:
3
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/alumni-night
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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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Family fun run
Encourage families to run, walk, or jog for your cause! Offer kid-friendly activities, prizes, and course options. Use team and peer-to-peer fundraising to encourage participants to set a donation goal and spread the word about the event.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/family-fun-run
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Peer-to-peer
Pajama run
Ask participants to don their favorite PJs while tackling a walk, jog, roll, or run for the cause. Encourage everyone to set a donation goal and spread the word about the fundraiser through peer-to-peer fundraising. Don’t forget to award prizes to the coziest runners!
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pajama-run
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Peer-to-peer
Rah-rah raffle
Raffle or auction off donated spirit-related items or experiences like a spot at a cheer clinic and private cheer lessons.
To attract the right audience, host a silent auction at your next spirited event with these experiences included!
To attract the right audience, host a silent auction at your next spirited event with these experiences included!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/rah-rah-raffle
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Tailgate party
Invite a local restaurant to contribute or have volunteers create a menu for a tailgate. Sell entry tickets and offer some fun merch or special treats at an additional price to bring in extra dollars.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/tailgate-party
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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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Events
Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms
Pet run/walk
Invite community members to bring their furry friends along to walk in a charity 5K. Encourage participants to create individual fundraising pages that feature their pets, set a donation goal, and help spread the word about the cause.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pet-run-walk
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Peer-to-peer
Car wash
Gather volunteers, soap, and plenty of rags to wash cars in exchange for donations. Easily accept onsite payments with a scan-to-donate QR code featuring Venmo and other modern methods.
Give this classic fundraiser a fresh twist by adding a theme! Encourage volunteers to dress up as ‘80s icons, classic Disney characters, superheroes—you name it.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/car-wash
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Silent auction
Swap your traditional auction for a silent one, where supporters or live audience members can bid any time before the auction ends. With a silent auction, your supporters are able to bid on items online or with their phones via QR code, making it easy and accessible for all.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/silent-auction
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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.
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