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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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One-day giving event
Take part in Giving Tuesday or create your own giving day in which you mobilize your community to reach your fundraising goal in one day.
Keep your supporters invested in your progress with a goal bar and campaign updates that highlight milestones, matching gifts, and special shout-outs throughout the day.
Cost:
1
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/one-day-giving-event
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Events
Pages & forms
Drive-in movie night
Turn a parking lot and the side of a building into a makeshift drive-in movie theater. Charge an entrance fee and raise funds by selling drinks and snacks.
Sell tickets for your fundraising event in advance, and use engaging features like scan-to-donate and mobile app check-in to streamline your guests' experience.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/drive-in-movie-night
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Events
Holiday-grams
Put together bundles of holiday cards and small gifts and charge extra for distribution at your club, school, college, or workplace.
Customize your donation form with custom fields to collect all the details you need—such as the recipient’s name, a personalized, heartfelt holiday message, and where the gram should be delivered.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
1
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/holiday-grams
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Pages & forms
Battle of the bands
Host a battle of the bands with local musicians. Change the audience a small ticket fee, or raise funds by selling drinks and snacks.
Raise even more money by livestreaming the show. Encourage your supporters to tune in, support the event, and donate what they can towards your goal.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/battle-of-the-bands
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Events
Rent your space
Rent your field, venue, office, or community space to other groups and organizations to make the most of any time it isn't in use.
Spread the word that your space is available for rent with your email marketing software. Don’t forget to include photos of the space to encourage interest!
Spread the word that your space is available for rent with your email marketing software. Don’t forget to include photos of the space to encourage interest!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
3
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/rent-your-space
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Pages & forms
Give it up challenge
Ask supporters to “give up” a small indulgence—like their morning coffee—for a set amount of time and donate those funds to your campaign instead.
Create a fundraising page to share challenge ideas, set suggested donation amounts, and post updates or donor shout-outs to keep momentum going.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/give-it-up-challenge
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Peer-to-peer
Pages & forms
Gala night
Plan a sophisticated gala night with music, food, and a silent auction.
Get your supporters excited about your upcoming event with an eye-catching gala invitation template. Include details on how to buy tickets, or add a scan-to-donate QR code.
Cost:
3
Effort:
3
Impact:
3
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/gala-night
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Events
Auctions
Workshop or masterclass
Put your community’s talents to good use.Host an expert workshop or masterclass series and raise funds through ticket sales.
You don’t need to limit your audience to only the people you can fit in the room. Consider livestreaming your event to make it more accessible and raise even more dollars.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/workshop-or-masterclass
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Events
Auctions
Culture day
Introduce the wider community to your club or group by hosting a themed culture day. Offer workshops, food, and activities in exchange for small donations using easy fundraising event tools like ticketing and mobile payment options.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/culture-day
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Events
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Face painting
Set up a booth where passersby can get their face painted by volunteers from your group in exchange for a small donation.
Make it easy for people to give with scan-to-donate. All they need to do is scan the QR code and they’ll land on your donation page in seconds.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
1
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/face-painting
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Events
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Carnival night
Host a magical fundraising event with traditional carnival games, rides, and booths. Charge an all-inclusive admission or use QR codes for each activity to create a smoother pay-as-you-go experience.
Cost:
3
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/carnival-night
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Events
Yard sale
Turn old treasures into new funds for your good cause! Ask community members to host individual garage sales and donate their proceeds to your campaign—or host one large community yard sale using donated goods.
Create a fundraising page for your event, post campaign updates to keep people engaged, and update the fundraising total as donations come in.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/yard-sale
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Events
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Penny wars
Organize a friendly competition between grades or classes to collect the most pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. Just grab a few jars and encourage students to find some loose change to get started!
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/penny-wars
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Pages & forms
Teacher spelling bee
Put your teachers and school admins in the spelling spotlight. Ask for an entry fee and charge contestants for “help” if their skills are rusty (like buying an “ask-the-audience” pass!).
To make this event virtual or hybrid, livestream it from your event page for attendees to watch from home.
To make this event virtual or hybrid, livestream it from your event page for attendees to watch from home.
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/teacher-spelling-bee
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Events
Weeknight meal cooking class
Reach out to local chefs to volunteer to host a class or series for cooking easy weeknight dinners. To make this event virtual, livestream the class(es) so that donors can watch and cook along from home!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/weeknight-meal-cooking-class
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Events
Petting zoo
Partner with a local farm or petting zoo to bring animals on-site for a day of fun. Charge an entry fee and optional donations for extra activities like pony rides.
Make sure attendees can make quick payments from their phones, using methods like Venmo or Tap to Pay, so they don't have to return to their cars for cash.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/petting-zoo
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Events
Auctions
Pajama day
For a small donation, students can come to school in their pajamas and enjoy a cozy day. Grownups can organize a pajama day fundraiser at work, too! Accept donations in advance or on the day of via multiple payment methods like Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Venmo.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pajama-day
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Pages & forms
PTA mimosa breakfast
Invite parents to a fun twist on the pancake breakfast by selling tickets to an adult-only meal at your next fundraising event. Offer extra goodies—like espresso martinis!—at an additional cost.
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/pta-mimosa-breakfast
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Events
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!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/online-garage-sale
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Events
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Auctions
Field day
Invite participants to register for a day of fun outdoor games and friendly competitions, like relay races, a water balloon toss, and tug-of-war.
Make your fundraising event a success with sponsorships from local businesses to help offset costs and bring in more participants.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/field-day
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Events
Lemonade stand
Set up a classic lemonade stand—and maybe add some tasty treats—to raise funds for your cause. Make purchases seamless with scan-to-donate and mobile-friendly donation forms that accept Venmo and other popular payment methods.
Cost:
1
Effort:
1
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/lemonade-stand
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Events
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Family dance
Give the classic “father-daughter” or “mother-son” dance an inclusive update. Invite families of all shapes and sizes to enjoy a fun 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!
Cost:
2
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/family-dance
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Events
Haunted house
Create a spooky experience and raise funds by encouraging brave participants to enter—if they dare. Accept payments on the spot with scan-to-donate, Venmo, and more convenient options.
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/haunted-house
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Events
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Student battle of the bands
Invite student-run bands to rock out for a prize! Charge entry fees and offer rad, donated prizes for the winners. Have each band create a team fundraising page, and encourage attendees to cast their votes for their favorites bands with a donation!
Cost:
2
Effort:
3
Impact:
2
Examples
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https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/student-battle-of-the-bands
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Events
Peer-to-peer
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!
Cost:
1
Effort:
2
Impact:
2
Examples
https://givebutter.com/fundraising-idea/discount-cards
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Pages & forms
Looks like we don’t have any fundraising ideas matching that criteria 🔎
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
Explore related fundraising ideas
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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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