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Fundraising Ideas for Schools to Raise Money Fast

For many schools, fundraising is an essential part of the annual calendar. From new sports equipment to a class trip, there are many reasons why students and teachers may need to look to the local community to raise money for a school-related cause. 

Fundraising is also a great lesson in itself – it teaches kids about finances, budgeting, and communicating their needs in a professional and impactful way. Crowdfunding is a great way to implement fundraising ideas for schools and teach kids about the process, all while successfully raising money for an important cause. 

Here, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about fundraising ideas for schools. Explore reasons why schools may need to think about raising funds as well as ways that children can learn more about the value of fundraising and giving back to the community.

 

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Making it easy to spread the word

GoFundMe’s social sharing tools make it easy for schools to spread the word via social media with the click of a button. Schools can quickly and easily raise the money they need for programs and projects, and can begin withdrawing funds as soon as the fundraiser starts receiving donations. There are no penalties for not reaching your goal, and you can choose your own deadline.

  • Students learn leadership skills by taking charge and raising money for an important cause.
  • Working with fellow students to effectively run a fundraiser is an opportunity to learn valuable team skills.
  • Practicing acts of kindness plants the seeds of compassion.
  • Students learn leadership skills by taking charge and raising money for an important cause.
  • Working with fellow students to effectively run a fundraiser is an opportunity to learn valuable team skills.
  • Practicing acts of kindness plants the seeds of compassion and sets a precedent for a lifetime of public service.

Six best-in-class ideas for school fundraisers

  • 1. Enrichment programs

    Field trips, summer learning programs, study abroad, and enrichment programs are often costly—but they’re also an ideal fit for crowdfunding because your needs are so well defined. 

    Crowdfunding can help you to raise funds for one classroom, a specific program, or an entire school. Teachers should work with students to develop a way to tell the school’s story, explaining who this fundraising campaign will impact and how it will make a difference. From there, students can promote the fundraiser by sharing it on social media, creating photos and videos for fundraiser updates, and writing thank-you notes to donors.

  • 2. Sports booster clubs

    Many students are involved in sports and athletic clubs. Booster clubs are a vital part of keeping these clubs running, as they help coordinate events and raise money for the equipment and supplies that student-athletes need. 

    Teachers, parents, and students involved in a booster club can create a crowdfunding campaign that outlines the team’s needs for a specific tournament or an entire season. By providing regular updates, you can keep donors engaged and show them that they’re an important part of the team’s journey.

  • 3. Prom and student activities

    Proms, graduation, and special school events are milestone experiences for students – but they often come with a price tag. Decorations, food, entertainment, and prize giveaways add up, and crowdfunding is a great way to help events committees reach their goals while also teaching students about the importance of budgeting and planning.

    Encourage the students who are planning the event to come up with a creative fundraiser that will help them bring their ideas to life. From arranging a bake sale to putting on a student-led show, students can engage with the wider student body and local community to raise funds towards their most memorable moments.

  • 4. Computers or tablets for education

    Classrooms often make use of laptops and tablets for reading textbooks, homework assignments, accommodating student learning needs, and more. If you’re looking to upgrade or expand your technology, a crowdfunding fundraiser is a great way to make it happen.

    Talk with the person in charge of making purchases for the school to determine the budget and  set a realistic fundraising goal to understand what you need to raise. Involve the students who will benefit and encourage them to engage with parents and business leaders in the community to explain why they need support in obtaining this equipment and how it’ll boost their academic goals. 

  • 5. Causes close to students’ hearts

    Supporting humanitarian causes is a key component of learning, as it teaches students about compassion and the value of helping others. Consider the needs of your local area or encourage students to branch out and run a poll to find out what causes they’re passionate about or interested in. 

    Once the students have agreed on a cause they want to support, help them establish a budgetary goal and fundraising strategy. From here, they can build out a story about their chosen cause and set up a crowdfunding platform to engage the rest of the school and the wider community.

  • 6. Memorial fund or scholarship fund

    Memorial fundraisers are a way for your students to transform their loss into something hopeful by getting involved in a legacy project. If a teacher, student, or other community member who is important to your school passes away, honour the person by starting a scholarship fund in their name (be sure to obtain permission from the person’s family first).

    Work with students to come up with ideas for appropriate ways to spend the funds you raise, such as creating a scholarship to be awarded to one student at the end of the year, dispersing donations to a group of students for summer camp, or earmarking money for a special school event.

Get your school fundraiser off the ground

No need to waste time trying to figure out how to raise funds for that important school event, class trip, or worthy cause. GoFundMe is here to provide you with the best crowdfunding platform and unique fundraising ideas to help and support you and your school along the way. If you haven’t already launched your school fundraiser, create one today.

Note: If you’re 12 or younger, please have a parent or guardian start your GoFundMe. If you’re between 13 and 17, please get your parent or guardian’s permission to start an account.

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Elementary school fundraising ideas

Many elementary schools across Canada host fundraisers that focus on meeting a school’s financial needs – in Ontario alone, 99% of elementary schools held a fundraiser in 2018. 

Launching a charitable fundraiser can help your school achieve its goals while also engaging students along the way. Teachers can use online fundraising as opportunities to encourage kids to cultivate compassion inside and outside the classroom.

Teaching children to be compassionate

The sooner kids are exposed to resources they can use to do good and make the world a better place, the more comfortable and confident they’ll become in leading the charge for change. By starting a crowdfunding fundraiser with students, you equip them with skills that will benefit them down the road, all while promoting values that positively shape the future of our society.

  • Fundraisers that benefit children are among the most talked about on social media, reports Nonprofit Tech For Good.
  • According to a survey cited by AFRDS, 71% of parents in the US said their children sold at least one product in the past year as part of a fundraising fundraiser.

Six ideas for elementary school fundraising

  • 1. Fundraising for endangered animals

    Whether your classroom is full of animal lovers or your school is concerned about the environment surrounding your community, you can teach kids how to support wildlife by setting up a crowdfunding campaign. 

    Start by finding a worthy cause – look for local organizations or set your sights further from home by partnering with the World Wildlife Fund, which has plenty of classroom-ready resources that you can use.

    Find ways to involve the community – ask an animal shelter or petting zoo for access to a space you can use for a fundraising event where children and donors can interact with animals or learn about the wildlife they’re supporting. 

  • 2. Support worthy causes the class chooses

    Teachers who want to encourage empathy in students can encourage them to brainstorm and choose a cause they want to support. This can be a great educational experience that helps students look around at the issues in their community and be proactive about making a positive change.

    Consider partnering with a sister school that needs help paying for school supplies, raising money for a nearby children’s hospital, or supporting a local charity that plays an important role in your area. 

    Encourage students to use critical thinking skills and creativity to come up with fundraising ideas and involve them in setting up and maintaining your crowdfunding page.

  • 3. Hold a mock game show night

    If your school needs to raise funds for a class trip or new equipment, consider inviting parents or families to participate in a quiz-show contest that has been designed and run by the students. This is a great way to challenge kids to be creative while teaching them about the logistics of planning and running a fundraising event. 

    Prior to the event, form teams and assign responsibilities to each team, such as:

    • Organizing prizes
    • Working with teachers to develop games and questions
    • Planning snacks and refreshments
    • Creating donation stations
    • Running your crowdfunding page
    • Publicizing the event on social media

  • 4. Host a recycling-themed fundraiser

    Climate change is an important topic that most schools are examining, both in terms of education and looking at their own footprint. A waste reduction project is a great way to make a positive difference in your school while teaching kids about the benefits of fundraising. 

    This could take place in your school or your local area. You could collect pledges for distance covered in a park or beach clean-up, or pledges for a certain amount of energy or water saved within a certain timeframe. To double the impact, expand your crowdfunding efforts and donate funds to an organization that works to address the effects of climate change.

  • 5. Host a performance for charity night

    Combine fundraising with performance! Whether your school has a proud choir, theatre club, or dance team, there’s plenty of fun to be had by running a talent show-themed fundraising event. 

    Encourage kids to put themselves out there and express themselves creatively, while also teaching them about the strategic aspects of event planning and fundraising. Find ways to raise money before, during, and after the show, such as by selling tickets beforehand, offering snacks and drinks at the event, and asking for donations from the audience.

  • 6. Organize a read-a-thon

    Combine fundraising with education and ask your class to gather pledges in a read-a-thon fundraising event. Whether you use the funds to improve your library or donate to an organization that promotes child literacy, it’s a great way to get students involved while also building important skills.

    For every page read by a student, sponsors agree to donate a certain amount of money to the crowdfunding fundraiser. Have them record the number of pages they read, as well as the names of the books and a short synopsis of each. You can even collect some of their summaries and post them as updates to your fundraiser.

The road to a better world

Children are the future, and by instilling compassion in them, we help find hope for a better tomorrow for people, animals, and communities around the world. If you haven’t already started a fundraiser with your children or students, get together with them, pick a cause they’re passionate about, and start giving back by launching a fundraiser today.

Note: To create a GoFundMe account, you must be at least 13 years old and have your parent or guardian’s permission.

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Middle school fundraising ideas

It can be challenging to come up with fresh fundraising ideas that excite both students and parents. The start of the school year can be an incredibly busy time, and parents who have spent money on school supplies and clothes may be reluctant to spend even more on a fundraiser—but raising money early on can give you resources to last throughout your academic year.

Get your students involved

Give your students a sense of ownership in your fundraiser. By trusting middle-school students with an active role in your fundraising efforts, you impart an appreciation for all of the work that goes into funding their education. You also encourage them to express their creativity and take on leadership roles. Ultimately, they’ll value the things or experiences their fundraiser helped make possible.

  • Young people prefer to address real-life situations or problems with a real-life context.
  • Retired teacher Peter Lorain argues that children in middle school are just becoming comfortable with problem solving, planning, and controlling impulses.

High school fundraising

  • 1. Hold a pancake breakfast

    Put your chef’s hat on and bring out the maple syrup! Pancakes are easy to make and delicious to eat, and a pancake breakfast is a fun way to engage your school and community to get behind a cause. 

      • Publicize your pancake breakfast in advance via email, school newsletters, and social media.
      • Invite members of the community to support your crowdfunding fundraiser.
      • Charge a flat fee per breakfast in the form of a donation to your fundraiser (you can take donations with a mobile device).
      • Solicit parent volunteers to help prepare the food in your cafeteria, like pancakes and other breakfast foods.
      • Recruit students to serve meals and refill coffee.
      • Encourage parents to bring extended family, friends, or members of the school community.

  • 2. Host a dance

    Dances are popular among students of all ages – a fun way for everyone to get together outside of the classroom, they also provide an opportunity to teach teenagers about event planning and organization while benefiting a cause.

    • Ask student government to take on an active role in planning and publicizing the dance.
    • Recruit parent and teacher volunteers to chaperone.
    • Offer alternative activities for kids who aren’t comfortable dancing.
    • Ask families to make a donation to your crowdfunding fundraiser in lieu of buying a ticket.
    • Involve the community by asking a trusted community member to DJ, or recruit a local band to perform.

  • 3. Organize a tie-dye event

    Involving students in a hands-on event where they can walk away with their own creation is a great way to engage them in fundraising. A tie-dye booth is an easy and impactful activation that can be hosted in any school field or parking lot.

    • Buy a low-cost fabric dye in a variety of colours.
    • Invite students to bring their white t-shirts, socks, or sweatshirts to dye in exchange for a donation.
    • Have them write their name in Sharpie somewhere inside each article of clothing.
    • Fill buckets with cold water and a few dye packets to ensure bold colours.
    • Teach students how to tie up their clothes for a bullseye or swirl pattern.

  • 4. Host a cake-decorating contest

    Raise the fundraising stakes with cake! A cake-decorating contest is a fun event that will draw lots of attention and allow you to bring your student body together for a good cause.

    • Participants donate a set amount to your crowdfunding fundraiser to participate.
    • Consider asking a local bakery or grocery store to donate plain, unfrosted cakes, and see if any other businesses are willing to donate gift cards or goods for a winning prize.
    • Have contestants make their own frosting and decorate the cakes however they like, then bring the cakes to school on the day of the event.
    • Gather a panel of judges to choose the winning cake, then auction off all of the cakes to benefit your fundraiser.

  • 5. Give students a chance to leave their mark

    Game nights are a great fundraising activity as they’re easy, accessible, and engaging. From Scrabble to Catchphrase to Jeopardy!, there are dozens of options for group games that promise to keep students entertained.

     

    • Encourage families or groups to sign up for the game night as teams, making a minimum donation as an entrance fee.
    • Host the event in a gym or auditorium. It can be tournament style, or groups can choose from different board games or interactive games.
    • Provide snacks and ask for parent volunteers to keep the evening running smoothly.
    • This can provide an opportunity for students to socialize in a low-pressure atmosphere and connect with peers outside their immediate friend groups.
    • If you want to foster some fun competition, offer a prize to the first team to complete certain speed games.

  • 6. Arrange a game night

    Game nights are a great fundraising activity as they’re easy, accessible, and engaging. From Scrabble to Catchphrase to Jeopardy!, there are dozens of options for group games that promise to keep students entertained.

    • Encourage families or groups to sign up for the game night as teams, making a minimum donation as an entrance fee.
    • Host the event in a gym or auditorium. It can be tournament style, or groups can choose from different board games or interactive games.
    • Provide snacks and ask for parent volunteers to keep the evening running smoothly.
    • This can provide an opportunity for students to socialize in a low-pressure atmosphere and connect with peers outside their immediate friend groups.
    • If you want to foster some fun competition, offer a prize to the first team to complete certain speed games.

Blaze new trails

High school fundraisers can be constructive projects that unite students over a shared cause, allowing them to work as a team and develop their skills. By organizing a crowdfunding fundraiser that allows kids to socialize and express their creativity, they’ll build their confidence, become better leaders, and have fun together – all while raising money for the school. If you haven’t already, launch a school fundraiser today.

Note: To create a GoFundMe account, you must be at least 13 years old and have your parent or guardian’s permission.

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Private school fundraising ideas

It isn’t uncommon for private schools to have a large and active philanthropic program that requires students and families to make contributions of time and money. For example, families may be required to volunteer a specific number of service hours to the school. Service learning builds community, encourages compassion, and helps instill a sense of ownership and pride. As part of these efforts, students and parents can use crowdfunding to help finance clubs, sports, community service projects, or add to the school’s endowment or the general fund.

Reach your goals with crowdfunding

Whether you’re a parent on the school’s fundraising committee or a student involved in a community service project, crowdfunding can help you reach your goals. Along with crowdfunding, many schools organize offline fundraising events, which can help boost awareness and encourage involvement.

  • One of the biggest needs in private school communities is for need-based scholarships. Dedicate a crowdfunding fundraiser or event to the schools scholarship fund to take the pressure off stretched low- and middle-income families.
  • Private-school students often have a wealth of supplies and resources. Raising money for supplies for a sister school, nearby or around the world, can help students appreciate their good fortune.
  • Let students lead. When giving arises out of students’ passions and interests, it helps build commitment and motivation.

Six ideas for private school fundraising

  • 1. Support refugee relief efforts

    Encourage students to be citizens of the world. Climate change and regional conflicts have created huge waves of refugees globally.

    • One way for students to showcase compassion is to start a fundraiser and raise funds to keep refugees safe and ease their suffering.
    • Find a reputable charity aimed at helping refugees and raise funds for it.

  • 2. Keep scholarships alive

    Often, a school’s fundraising committee dedicates a fair amount of time and resources toward raising money for financial aid. Private schools offer scholarships and discounted tuition to students whose families can’t afford to pay the full cost of tuition.

    • By providing need-based and/or merit-based scholarships, private schools maintain a more vibrant and diverse student body.
    • Crowdfunding can help students, parents, staff, and alumni replenish the coffers that make financial aid possible.

  • 3. Stay active

    Depending on your school’s extracurricular budget, participating in a school sport may require fundraising for things like uniforms, field maintenance and repair, coaches’ salaries, travel to tournaments, equipment, and more. Student-athletes welcome the opportunity to raise funds for their athletic programs. Whatever the team’s needs are, crowdfunding can help make the season a smashing success.

  • 4. Host a cook-off

    To start a friendly competition between students, faculty, and parents, organize a cook-off to display cooking or baking skills.

    • You can either charge an entrance fee (via a donation to your campaign) or require tasting fees from participants (in the form of a contribution).
    • Find a venue such as your school’s dining hall or auditorium to host this event.
    • The winner is awarded bragging rights as the best chef at your school.

  • 5. Organize a march

    As a play on the movie March of the Penguins, hold a school-wide march. This works especially well for green clubs or students interested in protecting and preserving the environment.

    • Have everyone design his or her own penguin costume and require an entrance fee to participate in the march.
    • The costumes allow people to get creative while raising awareness for your chosen environmental cause.

  • 6. Host an outdoor movie night

    Host a social gathering for parents and their children by organizing an outdoor movie fundraising event.

    • Pick a famous movie (or vote on one) and invite everyone to enjoy the film together from the comfort of lawn chairs and blankets.
    • Find an outdoor space, a powerful projector, a screen (or sheet, or flat white wall), and speakers that can fill the space with the right level of sound.
    • Take donations with a mobile device. Whip up some popcorn and sell it for a small price.
    • A fun variation: host a summer dive-in movie in a swimming pool.

Get your school fundraiser off the ground

No need to waste time figuring out how to go about raising funds for your school event, class trip, program, club, or worthy cause. Get the ball rolling with a crowdfunding fundraiser on GoFundMe—since it has a 0% platform fee for organizers, you get to keep more of the funds your raise. We also offer a wealth of resources and unique fundraising ideas. If you haven’t already launched your school fundraiser, create your fundraiser today.

Note: To create a GoFundMe account, you must be at least 13 years old and have your parent or guardian’s permission.

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