21 School Fundraising Ideas Everyone Will Love!

Kickstart your next fundraising drive with fresh, fun ideas that bring everyone together, students, parents, and staff alike.

Whether you’re aiming to stock new library shelves or spruce up the playground, these 21 school fundraising ideas are guaranteed to spark excitement and make giving back feel like a celebration.

Plus, with a handy calendar hub like My School’s Events, keeping everyone in the loop, planning, and sharing has never been easier.

Let’s dive in!

21 School Fundraising Ideas Everyone Will Love

Making School Fundraising a Success

How to Make School Fundraising Events Inclusive and Appealing

21 School Fundraising Ideas Everyone Will Love

1. Non-Uniform Day

A simple yet effective way to raise funds is by allowing students and staff to come to school dressed in their own clothes for a small donation.

It's a fun break from the usual dress code and creates a sense of individuality.

To get started, set a date and a suggested donation amount.

Promote the event through school newsletters, posters, and, of course, make sure it's clearly visible on the School Calendar.

Consider adding themes to make it even more engaging (e.g., wacky hair day, favourite colour day).

Ensure clear guidelines are communicated regarding appropriate attire.

Using My School's Events will help your school keep parents up to date and organised.

2. Talent Show

Unleash the hidden talents within your school!

A talent show provides a platform for students (and even staff) to showcase their skills, from singing and dancing to playing instruments or telling jokes.

Charge an entry fee for attendees to raise money.

Start by organising auditions well in advance.

Publicise the event widely, sell tickets online, and share performer details.

Consider selling refreshments during the show and perhaps even a small program. Involve students in the organisation process for added engagement.

This will help students improve their organisation skills too.

3. Cake Sale

A delicious and time-honoured fundraising tradition.

Students, parents, and staff can donate baked goods, which are then sold at school during breaks or after school.

Send out a call for donations a week or two beforehand, specifying any guidelines (e.g., labelling ingredients for allergies).

Schedule volunteers to help with selling and set up a tempting display.

Don't forget to announce the date and time on your school event calendar to maximise participation!

4. School Movie Night

Create a cozy and communal atmosphere by hosting a movie screening at school. Charge for tickets and offer snacks like popcorn and drinks for an extra revenue stream.

To implement this, choose a family-friendly movie.

You could even use a free survey tool to see what film is most popular.

Set up a screen and projector in the school hall or gym.

Promote ticket sales through school channels and definitely on calendars like My School's Events.

Consider offering different ticket packages (e.g., including snacks, front row, etc).

5. School Raffle

Generate excitement by raffling off donated prizes.

These can range from gift baskets and vouchers from local businesses to experiences or even items made by students.

Do your best to secure enticing prizes by reaching out to local businesses, parents, and staff.

Sell raffle tickets at school events, online, and before or after school when parents drop off or collect their children.

Clearly display the prizes to encourage ticket sales and highlight the benefits to the school.

When it comes to revealing the winner, draw the winning tickets at a school assembly or event.

6. School Fun Run/Walk

Encourage fitness and fun with a sponsored fun run or walk.

Participants gather pledges for completing a set distance.

Students do their best fundraising to get money for the school.

You can add extra flair with colour powder or themed costumes.

When implementing this, ensure to plan a safe and manageable route.

Promote the event as a healthy and enjoyable way to support the school.

Consider having water stations and volunteer marshals along the route.

Ensure good promotion of the event to increase participation.

7. Silent Auction

A sophisticated way to raise funds by auctioning off donated items or experiences through written bids.

This works well for higher-value items.

To get started, your school needs to solicit donations of goods and services.

Display the items with bid sheets at a school event or even online.

Set starting bids and bidding increments.

Clearly communicate the bidding process and payment methods.

Make sure to remind parents about this through your communication channels.

If you haven't got a school calendar that automatically reminds parents of events, then get set up for free with My School's Events!

8. Giving Something Up Challenge

Encourage students (and even staff) to get sponsored to give up a particular treat or habit for a set period.

E.g, no chocolate for 7 days, or no sweets.

To encourage participation, launch the challenge with an assembly or announcement.

Create fundraising forms for students to raise money for this challenge.

Provide resources and encouragement throughout the challenge.

When the challenge is completed, celebrate their efforts.

Showcase the success stories to the other students, setting up enthusiasm for the next time you create this challenge.

9. School Fair

School fairs are a large community event with various stalls offering games, activities, food, crafts, and entertainment.

To help with school fundraising, charge an entry fee or fees for individual activities.

School fairs require significant planning and volunteers, so ensure to dedicate time to planning.

To promote the fair, use your school calendar, remind parents with newsletters, and get the students excited about the fair.

10. Bingo Night

A school bingo night is a fun and social event for all ages.

Bingo offers an easy, accessible game that everyone can get involved with.

To raise money, charge for bingo cards and offer prizes for winners.

Schools can sell refreshments on the day to generate additional revenue and create a great experience for attendees.

When planning the bingo night, ensure to use a suitable venue.

School halls are usually adequate.

To promote the event, highlight the cool prizes and the social aspect of attending.

Use the usual platforms to get everyone engaged.

11. Book Sale

Encourage reading and raise funds by collecting and selling donated books.

This can be a great way to declutter bookshelves in the community.

People with unwanted books get the opportunity to get rid of them

To get started, put out a call for book donations.

Ask parents and the local community to donate books they no longer want.

Organise the books by genre or age group to make it easy for people to buy.

Set up the sale in a visible area of the school and advertise the dates and times on the school communications.

Consider having a special "bargain bin" for lower-priced items.

This is another great and simple way to fundraise for your school.

12. Sponsored Hike

A sponsored hike is similar to a fun run, but involves a longer walk or hike.

Students get sponsored for completing this hike.

This can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors while also raising money for the school.

To implement this, start by choosing a safe and scenic route.

Put out a call to get students signed up and provide guidance on how to fundraise.

When it comes to the day, provide participants with safety guidelines and ensure adequate supervision.

Additionally, consider different hike lengths to accommodate various fitness levels.

13. School Tuck Shop

A tuck shop is a small shop selling snacks and drinks to students during break times, and profits go directly to school funds.

To implement this set up a designated area and establish tuck shop operating hours.

Decide on the products to sell, considering healthy options alongside treats.

Recruit volunteers to run the tuck shop, whether it's parents, community members, or older students.

This is a continuous and consistent way to generate income for your school.

14. Wine and cheese evening

A wine and cheese evening is a great event targeted at parents and the wider community.

Organising a wine and cheese evening offers a relaxed social gathering that bring parents and the community together.

To raise money charge attendees a set amount per ticket.

To organise this, secure a venue and arrange for the purchase or donation of wine and cheese.

Schools can look to partner with their local wine shop.

To increase attendance, promote the event as a fun way to support the school.

On the night, consider having a short presentation about the school's fundraising goals and get parents’ input.

Remember to plan in advance and input the event on the school's calendar and newsletters.

15. Disney Day

A Disney day is a themed non-uniform day where students and staff dress up as their favourite Disney characters for a donation.

This adds an extra element of fun and nostalgia to a school day.

To get started, announce the theme and date well in advance, making sure it's a prominent event on the school calendar.

Set a suggested donation amount and encourage everyone to participate.

To be inclusive, highlight that donations are not essential to take part, but are welcomed.

16. School Picnic Day

Organise a fun picnic event for the school community.

Schools can charge an entry fee and organise fundraising activities during the picnic, like face painting or fun games.

To implement this, choose a suitable outdoor space.

Whether it's on the school grounds or at a local park.

Promote the event in the school newsletter and calendar, and get parents to bring their own food and snacks.

On the day, organise optional paid activities to raise additional funds.

This is a nice and relaxed way to get everyone together while raising money for the school.

17. Rock Paper Scissors Tournament

This is a simple and fun tournament that can involve students, staff and parents. Charge a small entry fee to participate and offer a prize for the winner.

Consider creating 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes.

To get started, set up clear instructions on the rules and let everyone know when this event will take place.

Promote the event as a light-hearted way to raise money through school announcements and platforms like My Schools Events.

You can run competition rounds during lunch breaks or after school if parents are involved.

18. Trivia Competition

Trivia games are always light-hearted and fun, and can be used as a way to fundraise for your school.

To raise money for the school, charge an entry fee per team or individual.

Create age-appropriate trivia questions to make it fair and organise teams and a scoring system.

Promote the event on the usual communication channels, highlighting the fun and competitive aspects.

Additionally, consider offering prizes or certificates for the winning teams or individuals.

19. Jelly Bean Count Fundraiser

Fill a large jar with jelly beans (or any small item) and charge a small fee for people to guess the number.

The person with the closest guess wins a prize.

To get started, fill and display the jar in a high-traffic area where parents and students can see the jar.

Clearly state the rules and the prize for being the closest.

Remember to promote the event so parents and students are aware of this opportunity.

Finally, set a reveal date so everyone knows when the answer will be shared and who the winner is.

20. School Garage Sale

Encourage families to donate unwanted items, which are then sold at a school garage sale.

This is a great way for families to declutter while raising funds simultaneously.

As the saying goes, "one man's trash is another man's treasure."

To get started, set dates for donations and for the garage sale.

Organise the items clearly, making it easier for people to buy.

Promote the garage sale to the local community, parents, and local businesses.

Use the school calendar and newsletter to encourage maximum participation.

21. Obstacle Course

Create a fun and challenging obstacle course for students and maybe even staff or parents, to navigate for a small entry fee or sponsorship.

On the school grounds, design a safe and engaging obstacle course using available school equipment or donated materials.

This could be hula hoops, skipping ropes etc.

Set the rules and guidance on how to complete the obstacle course.

This can be promoted as a fun physical challenge for everyone to get involved with. To ensure success and safety, promote the event effectively and ensure adequate supervision and safety measures are in place.

Making School Fundraising a Success

Making school fundraising a success is all about planning, communication, and strengthening your school community spirit.

Start by setting a clear goal, whether it’s new library books or playground equipment.

Then share that target with families, staff, and local partners so everyone feels invested.

Use a central calendar like My School’s Events to publish all dates, sign-up links, and reminders in one place, eliminating confusion and boosting turnout.

Build excitement by tapping into students’ creativity and letting them vote on themes, design posters, or even help run stalls so they take ownership of the event. Don’t forget to recruit parent volunteers early, outlining specific roles (ticket sales, snack duty, or social media promotion).

Finally, celebrate every milestone!

Post updates on funds raised, highlight stand-out moments in your weekly newsletter, and thank everyone publicly.

That positive feedback loop encourages continued support and sets the stage for even bigger successes down the road.

How to Make School Fundraising Events Inclusive and Appealing

To make school fundraising events both inclusive and appealing, start by offering a variety of activities that cater to different ages, abilities, and interests.

Offer different kinds of fun so everyone can join in.

For example, have a quiet area with easy, gentle games like puzzles or bean-bag toss, alongside more active stations like relay races or obstacle courses.

Set up an arts-and-crafts table where students can draw, paint, or make things at their own pace.

And when you serve snacks, include choices for all diets, such as veggie wraps, gluten-free cookies, or halal sandwiches, so no one misses out.

Keep pricing tiered and flexible with small “pay-what-you-can” options and free volunteer opportunities, ensuring no family feels excluded.

Schedule events at different times, after school one day, weekend morning another, and provide clear, accessible information via your school’s communications or calendar platform so everyone knows when and how to participate.

Invite student and parent voices from diverse backgrounds into the planning team so the themes, prizes, and even music playlists feel representative of your whole community.

Finally, create small “win” moments for all participants, whether it's sticker rewards, thank-you shout-outs, or certificates of participation.

This way, everyone walks away feeling valued and eager to join the next fundraiser.

At My School’s Events, we help schools stay organised and parents stay up to date with our free school calendar software.

We want to ensure every parent is kept up to date, whether it’s a fundraising event or a school play.

For more information on how we can get your school started, get in touch.