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10 Proven School Fundraising Ideas That Actually Work
School fundraising can sometimes prove to be a tricky area for advancement teams to tackle. It obviously plays a vital role in supporting educational programs, facility improvements, and extracurricular activities that enrich students' learning experiences.
However, with budgets often stretched thin, finding effective fundraising strategies is essential for schools looking to get the most out of their fundraisers. We’ll be exploring a selection of these strategies in this blog
Why School Fundraising Matters
It's important to understand why these initiatives are so critical. School fundraising efforts help:
- Alumni give back in a valuable way
- Fill gaps in educational budgets
- Grow your alumni network
- Fund special programs and equipment
- Support extracurricular activities and sports
- Build a stronger sense of community
- Teach students valuable lessons about teamwork and civic responsibility
Successful school fundraisers can grow loyal and supportive communities over time that not only provide additional funds but also strengthen the school spirit.
10 Proven School Fundraising Ideas
✒️ Author’s note: The examples we list throughout this blog are purely appreciative and not a result of any promotion or partnership. If you know some good advancement work that you think deserves more attention, please let us know at marketing@almabase.com!
1. Fun Runs and Fitness Challenges
Fun runs and fitness challenges have emerged as one of the most profitable and engaging school fundraising ideas in recent years. These events combine physical activity with fundraising, creating a healthy, community-building experience. You can incorporate creative themes or alternating routes as you go through multiple iterations to keep things fresh.
2. School Carnivals and Festivals
School carnivals remain a classic fundraiser because they offer multiple revenue streams while providing a fun, family-friendly environment that strengthens community bonds. Set up game booths, food stalls, rides, and entertainment, charging for tickets or wristbands. Additional revenue comes from food sales, game fees, and sponsorships from local businesses.
💡Schedule your carnival during a time of year when weather is favorable and there are few competing community events.
3. Auction Events
Auctions can generate significant funds by tapping into the competitive spirit of bidders while showcasing unique goods and experiences. You’ll want to collect donated items, services, or experiences from businesses and community members. These can be auctioned in person at a special event or through an online platform that extends your reach.
💡You can include experience-based items (dinner with the principal, front-row seats at graduation) alongside traditional merchandise.
4. Product Sale Fundraisers
While traditional product sales have evolved, they remain effective when the right products are selected and proper planning is implemented. Partner with a fundraising company to sell products like chocolate, cookie dough, candles, or custom school merchandise. Students take orders and with the help of other constituents, deliver products, with the school keeping a percentage of sales.
💡Choose products that align with your community's interests naturally appeal to buyers during holidays or special occasions.
5. Crowdfunding Campaigns
Digital crowdfunding is always an option for school fundraising as it expands your reach beyond immediate geographic boundaries. Make sure you create a compelling campaign on a crowdfunding platform, sharing specifics about your fundraising goals and how the money will be used. Promote through social media, email, and school communications.
Set specific, transparent goals and provide regular updates on progress to maintain momentum.
6. Restaurant Partnership Nights
You can partner with local restaurants that agree to donate a percentage of sales (typically 10-25%) during a designated time period when customers mention the school or use a coupon or flyer. These low-effort fundraisers require minimal organization while providing excellent community-building opportunities.
💡Choose restaurants popular with school families and schedule multiple nights with different establishments throughout the year. You can also create a festive atmosphere by having teachers or administrators serve as greeters.
7. Read-a-thons or Academic Challenges
These fundraisers brilliantly combine educational goals with fundraising efforts. Students seek sponsorships based on books read, minutes spent reading, or academic challenges completed. The format naturally rewards academic effort while raising funds.
💡Consider integrating reading challenges with classroom activities and offering prizes for top participants.
8. Talent Shows and Performances
People love a good show, and showcasing student abilities generates ticket sales while providing a platform for student expression. You can organize a talent show, concert, or theatrical performance where students and staff display their skills. Charge for admission and consider adding concession sales for additional revenue.
💡Sell advertising space in programs to local businesses for additional revenue.
9. Sports and Games Events
Make the most of the powerful energy your students have with sporting events. Naturally, you’ll be looking at tickets, refreshments, and other avenues to raise funds while making sure everyone has a good time
💡You can partner with local businesses for snacks, venues, equipment or merchandise sales during the event
10. Trivia Nights and Game Tournaments
You can host a trivia competition or board game tournament with an entry fee for participants. Teams compete for prizes while enjoying refreshments and community building. Create categories that appeal to participants of various ages and knowledge bases.
💡Consider special rounds focused on school history or local trivia
Tips for Fundraising Success
Regardless of which fundraiser you choose, there are some core principles will maximize your results:
- Set clear, measurable goals that you communicate to all stakeholders
- Form dedicated committees to distribute responsibilities
- Engage students actively in planning and execution
- Leverage social media and digital tools to extend your reach
- Recognize and thank volunteers and donors publicly
- Combine complementary fundraisers for maximum impact
- Share updates on how funds are being used
- Make segments and groups based on attendees and donors
Conclusion
Successful school fundraising requires a thoughtful approach that considers your community's unique interests and capacity. The most effective fundraisers not only generate necessary funds but also build school spirit, engage families, and create lasting traditions that strengthen your educational community.
If you’re a school on the lookout for a partner for your next fundraiser, do give us a shout! We’d love to help 🤗
School fundraising can sometimes prove to be a tricky area for advancement teams to tackle. It obviously plays a vital role in supporting educational programs, facility improvements, and extracurricular activities that enrich students' learning experiences.
However, with budgets often stretched thin, finding effective fundraising strategies is essential for schools looking to get the most out of their fundraisers. We’ll be exploring a selection of these strategies in this blog
Why School Fundraising Matters
It's important to understand why these initiatives are so critical. School fundraising efforts help:
- Alumni give back in a valuable way
- Fill gaps in educational budgets
- Grow your alumni network
- Fund special programs and equipment
- Support extracurricular activities and sports
- Build a stronger sense of community
- Teach students valuable lessons about teamwork and civic responsibility
Successful school fundraisers can grow loyal and supportive communities over time that not only provide additional funds but also strengthen the school spirit.
10 Proven School Fundraising Ideas
✒️ Author’s note: The examples we list throughout this blog are purely appreciative and not a result of any promotion or partnership. If you know some good advancement work that you think deserves more attention, please let us know at marketing@almabase.com!
1. Fun Runs and Fitness Challenges
Fun runs and fitness challenges have emerged as one of the most profitable and engaging school fundraising ideas in recent years. These events combine physical activity with fundraising, creating a healthy, community-building experience. You can incorporate creative themes or alternating routes as you go through multiple iterations to keep things fresh.
2. School Carnivals and Festivals
School carnivals remain a classic fundraiser because they offer multiple revenue streams while providing a fun, family-friendly environment that strengthens community bonds. Set up game booths, food stalls, rides, and entertainment, charging for tickets or wristbands. Additional revenue comes from food sales, game fees, and sponsorships from local businesses.
💡Schedule your carnival during a time of year when weather is favorable and there are few competing community events.
3. Auction Events
Auctions can generate significant funds by tapping into the competitive spirit of bidders while showcasing unique goods and experiences. You’ll want to collect donated items, services, or experiences from businesses and community members. These can be auctioned in person at a special event or through an online platform that extends your reach.
💡You can include experience-based items (dinner with the principal, front-row seats at graduation) alongside traditional merchandise.
4. Product Sale Fundraisers
While traditional product sales have evolved, they remain effective when the right products are selected and proper planning is implemented. Partner with a fundraising company to sell products like chocolate, cookie dough, candles, or custom school merchandise. Students take orders and with the help of other constituents, deliver products, with the school keeping a percentage of sales.
💡Choose products that align with your community's interests naturally appeal to buyers during holidays or special occasions.
5. Crowdfunding Campaigns
Digital crowdfunding is always an option for school fundraising as it expands your reach beyond immediate geographic boundaries. Make sure you create a compelling campaign on a crowdfunding platform, sharing specifics about your fundraising goals and how the money will be used. Promote through social media, email, and school communications.
Set specific, transparent goals and provide regular updates on progress to maintain momentum.
6. Restaurant Partnership Nights
You can partner with local restaurants that agree to donate a percentage of sales (typically 10-25%) during a designated time period when customers mention the school or use a coupon or flyer. These low-effort fundraisers require minimal organization while providing excellent community-building opportunities.
💡Choose restaurants popular with school families and schedule multiple nights with different establishments throughout the year. You can also create a festive atmosphere by having teachers or administrators serve as greeters.
7. Read-a-thons or Academic Challenges
These fundraisers brilliantly combine educational goals with fundraising efforts. Students seek sponsorships based on books read, minutes spent reading, or academic challenges completed. The format naturally rewards academic effort while raising funds.
💡Consider integrating reading challenges with classroom activities and offering prizes for top participants.
8. Talent Shows and Performances
People love a good show, and showcasing student abilities generates ticket sales while providing a platform for student expression. You can organize a talent show, concert, or theatrical performance where students and staff display their skills. Charge for admission and consider adding concession sales for additional revenue.
💡Sell advertising space in programs to local businesses for additional revenue.
9. Sports and Games Events
Make the most of the powerful energy your students have with sporting events. Naturally, you’ll be looking at tickets, refreshments, and other avenues to raise funds while making sure everyone has a good time
💡You can partner with local businesses for snacks, venues, equipment or merchandise sales during the event
10. Trivia Nights and Game Tournaments
You can host a trivia competition or board game tournament with an entry fee for participants. Teams compete for prizes while enjoying refreshments and community building. Create categories that appeal to participants of various ages and knowledge bases.
💡Consider special rounds focused on school history or local trivia
Tips for Fundraising Success
Regardless of which fundraiser you choose, there are some core principles will maximize your results:
- Set clear, measurable goals that you communicate to all stakeholders
- Form dedicated committees to distribute responsibilities
- Engage students actively in planning and execution
- Leverage social media and digital tools to extend your reach
- Recognize and thank volunteers and donors publicly
- Combine complementary fundraisers for maximum impact
- Share updates on how funds are being used
- Make segments and groups based on attendees and donors
Conclusion
Successful school fundraising requires a thoughtful approach that considers your community's unique interests and capacity. The most effective fundraisers not only generate necessary funds but also build school spirit, engage families, and create lasting traditions that strengthen your educational community.
If you’re a school on the lookout for a partner for your next fundraiser, do give us a shout! We’d love to help 🤗
Blackbaud, the leading provider of software for powering social impact, and Almabase, the digital-first alumni engagement solution, have announced the expansion of their partnership to the education sectors of Canada and the United Kingdom. The partnership will provide institutions with a modern, digital-first solution to improve constituent data, drive self-serve engagement, and boost event participation.
A Unified Vision
The partnership aligns with Blackbaud’s commitment to customer-centric innovation across digital engagement, Advancement CRM, and financials.
“Partners bring integrated capabilities that extend capabilities and outcomes for Blackbaud customers. We are thrilled that Almabase’s offering, integrated with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT® and leveraging Blackbaud’s best-in-class payment solution, Blackbaud Merchant Services™, is now available to even more of our customers around the world.”
- Liz Price, Sr. Director of Global Partners at Blackbaud
