45+ Effective Fundraising Ideas in Schools for PTAs & Parents

Finding effective fundraising ideas in schools can feel like a constant challenge for Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs), staff, and dedicated parents. You need to raise essential funds for new equipment, school trips, or arts programmes, but you also want to create events that bring the community together without overburdening volunteers. The key is to find a balance between profitability, fun, and feasibility, ensuring your efforts lead to successful outcomes and stronger school spirit.

This guide provides a comprehensive list of over 45 fundraising activities for schools, categorised to help you find the perfect fit for your goals, resources, and community. Whether you're looking for a classic school fete, a modern digital campaign, or a quick and easy way to boost funds, you'll find plenty of inspiration here. We'll also cover school fundraising tips for choosing, planning, and executing your event to maximise your returns and engagement.

What You'll Learn

• Diverse Fundraising Options: Explore a wide range of ideas, from traditional events like bake sales and fun runs to innovative digital campaigns and community partnerships.
• Strategic Planning is Key: Learn how to choose the right fundraiser by assessing your school's resources, setting clear goals, and understanding your community's interests.
• Maximise Profitability: Discover tips for managing costs, pricing your activities effectively, and leveraging tools to streamline your efforts and boost your final total.
• Community Building: Understand that the best fundraisers do more than just raise money; they build school spirit, create lasting memories, and strengthen relationships between students, parents, and staff.

What is School Fundraising and Why is it Essential?

School fundraising is the process of raising money to supplement the standard school budget. These funds are crucial for providing an enriched educational experience that goes beyond the basics covered by government funding. While core curriculum needs are often met, many of the programmes that make school memorable and impactful rely heavily on the success of these fundraising efforts.

Think about the new library books, the updated technology in the computer lab, the instruments for the school band, or the bus hire for an educational trip. These are often the direct results of a well-organised fundraiser. According to the Education Endowment Foundation, targeted funding can have a significant impact on student outcomes, and fundraising is a primary way schools can direct resources to areas of greatest need.

Beyond the financial aspect, fundraising activities for schools serve a vital social purpose. They are powerful community-building events that bring together students, parents, teachers, and local residents. A school carnival or a community fun run creates a positive, collaborative atmosphere, fostering a sense of shared purpose and pride in the school. This engagement is just as valuable as the money raised.

The Core Benefits of a Well-Planned School Fundraiser

A successful fundraiser offers benefits that extend far beyond the final amount on the cheque. When planned thoughtfully, these initiatives become a cornerstone of the school year, delivering value in multiple ways.

First and foremost is the obvious financial gain. These funds close budget gaps, allowing schools to purchase critical resources like science equipment, sports gear, or special needs support materials that they otherwise couldn't afford. This directly enhances the learning environment for every student.

Second is the immense potential for community engagement. Events like a school fete or a quiz night encourage parents to connect with each other and with school staff in an informal, enjoyable setting. This strengthens the home-school partnership, which is proven to support student achievement. Students also get involved, fostering a sense of belonging and school spirit.

Finally, participating in fundraising teaches students valuable life skills. Working on a bake sale stall teaches them about money management and customer service. Organising a sponsored event can develop skills in planning, marketing, and teamwork. These practical experiences are a form of hands-on learning that builds character and confidence.

How to Choose the Right Fundraising Activities for Your School

With so many options available, selecting the right fundraiser can seem daunting. The most successful campaigns are those that align with your school's specific circumstances. Rushing into an idea without proper consideration can lead to volunteer burnout and disappointing results. Use these factors to guide your decision-making process.

Assess Your School's Resources and Volunteer Base

Be realistic about what you can achieve. A large-scale school carnival requires a significant number of volunteers for planning and execution, whereas a non-uniform day requires minimal effort. Do you have a small, dedicated committee or a large pool of parents willing to help. How much time can they commit.

Answering these questions honestly will prevent you from overstretching your team.

Managing volunteers effectively is crucial for any event-based fundraiser. To keep track of schedules, tasks, and communication, using a dedicated platform can be incredibly helpful. Tools like VolunteerMark are designed to simplify volunteer management, allowing you to post opportunities, schedule shifts, and communicate with your team efficiently. This ensures everyone knows their role and helps the event run smoothly.

Consider Your Community and Target Audience

What works for a small rural primary school might not work for a large urban secondary school. Understand your parent community's interests, availability, and financial capacity. Are they more likely to attend a family-friendly weekend event, buy raffle tickets, or donate to an online campaign? Polling parents can provide valuable insight and make them feel more invested in the process.

Also, consider the students. The best fundraising ideas get the children excited and involved. A fun run or a 'teacher in the stocks' event will generate more buzz and participation than a formal dinner, especially in a primary school setting.

Set Clear Financial Goals

Before you start, know exactly what you're raising money for and how much you need. Is it £500 for new reading books or £10,000 for a new playground? Having a specific, tangible goal motivates everyone. It's much easier to ask for support when you can say, "We need to sell 100 more raffle tickets to fund the new SEN sensory equipment."

Your financial goal will also influence the type of fundraiser you choose. A simple bake sale might be perfect for a small target, but a larger goal will require a more ambitious event or a product-based campaign with higher profit margins.

Evaluate the Effort vs. Reward Ratio

Always weigh the potential profit against the amount of work required. A high-effort event that only yields a small profit can lead to frustration and make it harder to recruit volunteers next time. Sometimes, a series of smaller, low-effort fundraisers throughout the year can be more effective and sustainable than one massive, stressful event.

Analyse the potential costs associated with each idea. Do you need to hire equipment, buy supplies, or pay for permits? Subtract these costs from your projected earnings to get a realistic idea of your potential profit. This calculation is essential for making an informed decision.

45+ Top Fundraising Ideas in Schools for 2026

Here is a curated list of creative school fundraisers, broken down by category to help you find the best fit for your school community.

Classic & Event-Based Fundraisers

These tried-and-tested ideas are popular because they work. They focus on bringing the community together for a fun and memorable experience.

1. Fun Run / Walk-a-Thon: Students collect pledges per lap or a flat donation to participate. Add a theme like a colour run or fancy dress to increase excitement.
2. School Carnival / Fete: A classic for a reason. Feature game stalls, a bouncy castle, face painting, and food vendors. Charge for entry or per activity.
3. Bake Sale: Give this classic a modern twist. Host a 'Great School Bake Off' competition or focus on specialty items like vegan or gluten-free treats.
4. Talent Show / Battle of the Bands: Showcase the incredible skills of students (and teachers!). Sell tickets and refreshments to raise funds.
5. Movie Night: Host an outdoor or indoor movie night. Sell tickets, popcorn, and drinks for a simple, family-friendly event.
6. Silent Auction: Solicit donations from local businesses and parents (e.g., gift baskets, vouchers for services, holiday lets). Bidders write their bids on a sheet, creating a fun sense of competition.
7. Read-a-Thon: Students get sponsored for the number of books or minutes they read over a set period. This promotes literacy while raising money.
8. Teacher vs. Student Challenge: Organise a friendly sports match (football, netball) or a quiz bowl. Spectators can pay a small entry fee.
9. Car Wash: A simple, low-cost fundraiser that high school students can run on a Saturday morning in the school car park.
10. Themed Dances: School discos are always a hit with younger students. Choose a fun theme like 'glow in the dark' or 'superheroes' and sell tickets in advance.

Product & Sales-Based Fundraisers

Selling products can be a highly profitable way to raise funds, often with less event-day organisation required.

1. Cookie Dough & Popcorn Sales: Partner with a company that provides fundraising products. These items are popular and easy to sell to family and friends. Platforms like Fundraising.com specialise in these campaigns, offering a wide range of products and simplifying the order process.
2. School Merchandise: Sell branded items like t-shirts, hoodies, hats, and bags. This builds school spirit and acts as a long-term fundraiser.
3. Custom Cookbooks: Collect favourite recipes from students, parents, and staff. Compile them into a professionally printed cookbook to sell.
4. Plant & Flower Sale: A perfect spring fundraiser. Sell bedding plants, hanging baskets, or vegetable seedlings sourced from a local nursery.
5. Discount Card Sales: Partner with local businesses to create a community discount card. The school sells the card for a set price (e.g., £10) and keeps a large portion of the sales.
6. Art Auction: Frame and auction off students' best artwork. This makes a wonderful keepsake for parents and celebrates student creativity.
7. Pizza Kit Sales: Partner with a local pizzeria or a fundraising company to sell make-at-home pizza kits.
8. Holiday-Themed Sales: Sell Christmas wreaths, wrapping paper, or Easter chocolates. Timing these sales with seasonal demand is key.
9. School Calendar: Create a calendar featuring student artwork, photos of school events, or important term dates.
10. Branded Water Bottles or Reusable Bags: An eco-friendly option that promotes sustainability while raising funds.

Creative & Digital School Fundraisers

Leverage technology to reach a wider audience and offer new, exciting ways to give.

1. Online Crowdfunding Campaign: Use a platform like GoFundMe to raise money for a specific, large-scale project like a new science lab or sports facility.
2. Virtual Talent Show or Concert: Live-stream performances and ask for donations via a link. This allows family members who live far away to participate.
3. E-sports Tournament: A great idea for secondary schools. Students pay an entry fee to compete in a popular video game tournament, with a prize for the winner.
4. Online Workshops or Classes: Have a talented parent or teacher host a paid online workshop, such as a coding class for kids, a yoga session for parents, or a cooking class. Platforms like Teachable make it easy to set up and sell access to online courses and workshops, handling payments and content delivery for you.
5. Digital Raffle: Sell raffle tickets online and draw the winner electronically. This is easier to manage and can reach more people than a traditional paper raffle.
6. Text-to-Give Campaign: Set up a system where supporters can donate a specific amount simply by sending a text message. This is great for one-off appeals.
7. Amazon Smile / Affiliate Programmes: Encourage parents to sign up for programmes where a percentage of their online purchases is donated back to the school at no extra cost to them.
8. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Challenge: Students create their own personal fundraising pages and compete to see who can raise the most money for a school-wide goal.
9. Online Photo Contest: Choose a theme (e.g., 'Pet Personalities') and charge a small fee to enter. Offer a prize for the photo with the most online votes.
10. Virtual Escape Room: Partner with a company that offers virtual escape rooms and sell tickets for a school-exclusive event.

Community & Partnership Fundraisers

Build relationships with local businesses and organisations for mutual benefit.

1. Restaurant Partnership Night ("Dine to Donate"): A local restaurant agrees to donate a percentage of its sales from a specific night to your school.
2. Local Business Sponsorships: Offer sponsorship packages for school events, sports teams, or newsletters. Businesses get advertising, and the school gets funds.
3. Shoe Drive or Clothing Collection: Partner with an organisation that pays your school per kilogram of donated textiles.
4. Community Clean-Up Pledge Drive: Students collect pledges for every bag of rubbish they collect from a local park or beach.
5. Partner with a Local Farm: Arrange a school trip to a local farm or pumpkin patch where the farm donates a portion of the ticket sales back to the school.
6. Car Dealership Test Drive Event: A local car dealership donates a set amount for every person who takes a test drive during your event.
7. Supermarket Bag Packing: A classic for a reason. Arrange for students to pack bags for shoppers at a local supermarket in exchange for donations.
8. Local Services Auction: Instead of items, auction off services donated by parents and local professionals, like a few hours of gardening, a tutoring session, or a legal consultation.

Quick & Easy Fundraising Activities

Perfect for when you need a simple, low-effort way to raise a bit of extra cash.

1. "Pound Wars" / Coin Drive: Each class competes to collect the most coins. The competition aspect makes it fun for students.
2. Non-Uniform Day / Themed Dress Day: Students pay £1 or £2 to wear their own clothes or dress up according to a theme (e.g., pyjama day, crazy hair day).
3. 50/50 Raffle: A simple raffle where 50% of the ticket sales go to the winner and 50% goes to the school.
4. Guessing Jar: Fill a large jar with sweets and charge 50p for a guess. The closest guess wins the jar.
5. "Bail Me Out" Jail Fundraiser: A fun event where a popular teacher or the headteacher is 'jailed' and students must raise enough money (the 'bail') to free them.
6. Pay for Privileges: Students can buy raffle tickets to win fun privileges like 'Principal for a Day' or getting to choose the music played over the school intercom.
7. Birthday/Celebration Grams: Sell grams (a small treat and a note) that students can send to their friends on their birthdays or special occasions.

Pro Tip: Combine multiple small fundraisers into one larger event. For example, a School Carnival could also include a Bake Sale, a 50/50 Raffle, and a Silent Auction to maximise your fundraising potential from a single day.

Understanding Costs and Maximising Profit

Not all fundraising ideas are created equal when it comes to cost and potential return. A successful campaign requires careful budgeting to ensure you're not spending more than you make. Before committing to an idea, create a simple budget that outlines all potential expenses. This could include venue hire, supplies, marketing materials, prizes, or platform fees for digital tools.

For product-based fundraisers, understand the profit margin clearly. If you're selling cookie dough for £15 a tub and the school keeps £6, that's a 40% margin. Calculate how many units you need to sell to reach your goal. For event-based fundraisers, track ticket sales against your expenses in real-time.

The goal is to keep costs low and value high.

Here’s a simple comparison of different fundraising types:

Weighing the Pros and Cons of Different Fundraising Types

Each category of fundraising has its own unique set of advantages and disadvantages. Choosing the right one depends on your school's priorities, whether that's maximising profit, building community, or minimising volunteer workload.

Pros and Cons of Event-Based Fundraisers

• Pros: Excellent for building community and school spirit. They create lasting memories and offer a tangible, fun experience for families. They can also generate significant media attention and goodwill.
• Cons: They are often labour-intensive, requiring a large team of volunteers and months of planning. They can have high upfront costs and are weather-dependent if held outdoors, adding an element of risk.

Pros and Cons of Product Sales

• Pros: Often have no upfront costs, as you only pay for what you sell. They offer a clear profit margin and can be managed by a smaller committee. They are also less dependent on a single day's success.
• Cons: Can lead to 'fundraising fatigue' if done too often. Some parents dislike asking friends and family to buy products. You are also reliant on the quality and appeal of the products offered by the fundraising company.

Pros and Cons of Digital Campaigns

• Pros: Have the potential to reach a much wider audience beyond the immediate school community. They typically have very low overhead costs, meaning more of the money goes directly to the cause. They are convenient for donors and easy to share on social media.
• Cons: Lack the face-to-face community-building aspect of in-person events. Success is heavily dependent on your school's social media presence and digital communication skills. They can feel less personal than traditional methods.

Frequently Asked Questions About School Fundraising

Here are answers to some common questions that PTAs and school organisers often have.

What is the most profitable fundraiser for schools?

While it varies by school, fundraisers with low or no upfront costs and high perceived value tend to be the most profitable. Sponsored events like fun runs or read-a-thons are top contenders, as 100% of the sponsorship money (minus any platform fees) goes to the school. Digital crowdfunding campaigns for a specific, compelling project can also be highly profitable due to their low overhead and wide reach. Finally, business sponsorships offer pure profit once secured.

What are some unique fundraising ideas?

To stand out, try something different from the usual bake sale. Some creative school fundraisers include an e-sports tournament for older students, a parent-child 'Amazing Race' around the local area, a 'pet mayor' election where people vote with donations, or hosting an online workshop taught by a talented parent. The key is to find an idea that feels fresh and exciting for your specific community.

How do you throw a successful fundraiser?

Success hinges on great planning. Start early, form a dedicated committee, and set a clear, realistic goal. Promote the event heavily across all channels (newsletters, social media, local press). Make it easy for people to participate and donate.

Most importantly, show your appreciation afterwards by thanking volunteers, donors, and sponsors publicly and sharing the final amount raised.

What are common fundraising mistakes?

The biggest mistakes include poor planning, not promoting the event enough, and setting unrealistic goals. Another common error is not having a specific purpose for the funds, which makes it harder to motivate donors. Finally, failing to thank your volunteers and supporters can damage goodwill and make it harder to get help for future events. Always follow up with a heartfelt thank you.

What are the 5 P's of fundraising?

The 5 P's are a helpful framework for planning: Plan (set goals, budget, timeline), People (your team of volunteers and your target audience), Price (how much to charge for tickets/items), Promotion (how you'll market the fundraiser), and Post-event (thanking everyone and evaluating success). Covering all five areas will significantly increase your chances of success.

What should we raise money for in school?

Be specific. Instead of just saying "for the school," raise money for a tangible goal that parents and students can get excited about. Examples include "a new set of iPads for Year 4," "funding for the school's anti-bullying programme," "new goalposts for the football pitch," or "subsidising the Year 6 residential trip so all students can attend." A clear, compelling cause drives more donations.

Final Thoughts: Making Your Next Fundraiser a Success

Choosing the right fundraising ideas in schools is about more than just the money; it's about strengthening your community and enriching the student experience. The most successful campaigns are born from careful planning, creative thinking, and a deep understanding of what makes your school special. By mixing classic events with new digital approaches, you can keep your fundraising fresh and engaging for everyone involved.

Remember to start with a clear goal, rally your team of volunteers, and choose an activity that fits your resources and excites your community. Whether it's a simple non-uniform day or a large-scale carnival, every pound raised makes a difference. Use the ideas in this guide as a starting point to create a fundraising calendar that not only meets your financial targets but also builds a more vibrant and connected school spirit.

If you're planning an event and need to organise your team, a tool like VolunteerMark can help streamline the process. For product-based campaigns, exploring options on a platform like Fundraising.com could be a great next step.