Fundraising is vital for elementary schools to pay for supplies, activities, field trips, and other expenses that go beyond standard school budgets. With budgets being tightened across the board, schools increasingly rely on fundraising initiatives to pay for the extras that make for a high-quality educational experience.

The good news is that with the right approach, fundraising can actually be a fun activity that brings the entire school community members together. It provides an opportunity for students, teachers, staff, parents, and local businesses to collaborate towards a common goal.

In this article, we will share 23 creative and profitable school fundraising ideas to make your elementary school’s next fundraising campaign a huge success. Whether it’s a read-a-thon, talent show, fun run, car wash, or other activities, the key is choosing events and campaigns that are engaging for students while also raising substantial funds.

Implementing prizes and incentives will bolster participation. Getting parents, students, and local businesses actively involved in the fundraising events will help build school spirit and excitement. With a well-organized, multichannel fundraising strategy, your elementary school can meet and even exceed its financial goals for the year.

fundraising ideas for elementary schools

23 Elementary School Fundraising Ideas

1. Read-a-thon

A read-a-thon is a popular elementary school fundraiser that encourages reading while raising money. Students get people to sponsor them to read for a set period of time, such as one month. Family, friends, neighbors, and local businesses can pledge to donate a small amount for each book or hour the student reads.

To Organize a Read-a-Thon:

Set a readable but challenging goal for students, like 20 books in a month.
Help students reach out to potential sponsors in the community. Provide pledge forms.
Track progress and remind sponsors to collect pledges.
Hold a read-a-thon kickoff assembly to get students excited.
Give regular updates on class and individual student reading progress. Recognize top readers.
Hold a wrap-up reading celebration event with certificates and prizes like books, gift cards, or trophies for top readers.
Send thank you notes to all sponsors.

A well-run read-a-thon is one of the best school fundraising ideas to encourage students’ love of reading while raising funds in a healthy way. It’s a win-win for academic enrichment and your bottom line.

2. Walk/Bike/Scoot-a-thon

A walk, bike, or scooter marathon event is one of the best engaging elementary school fundraisers that promotes physical activity. Students gather pledges from sponsors who commit to donating a small amount for each lap the student completes of a designated course.

To Organize It:

Map out a safe course on school grounds or around the neighborhood.
Set a reasonable lap count based on age, such as 10 laps for kindergarten and up to 30 for older grades.
Allow students to walk, jog, bike, scooter, or skateboard. -Seek pledges from families, neighbors, and businesses. Provide pledge forms.
Time the event for 1-2 hours during or after school. Have volunteers monitor course safety and lap counting.
Award prizes like medals, trophies, or gift cards to the most laps in each grade.
Send thank you notes to all sponsors and share funds raised.

This event promotes fitness and friendly competition while raising money. It’s an easy fundraiser to organize annually.

3. Fun Run

Make exercise exciting for elementary school students by organizing a fun-themed run event. Choose fun themes like a Color Run where students get splashed with colored powder at stations while they run a 1-2 mile course. Other themes could be a Superhero Run or a Halloween Costume Run.

To Plan a Fun Run:

Pick a fun theme and set a date.
Map out a safe course around school grounds or neighborhood.
Ask a PE teacher to mark the course. Have adult volunteers monitor for safety.
Set an entry fee for each student, such as $10-20.
Arrange for themed props like colored powder, capes, and costumes.
Get sponsors for prizes, snacks, participation medals, etc.
Hold a pep rally the week before to get students motivated.
On race day, have a warm-up stretch before the run. Play fun music.
Award prizes and medals afterward.
Share photos of the event with sponsors and families.

Themed fun runs create lasting memories while teaching students fitness and raising funds in a healthy way. Make it an annual tradition!

4. Talent Show

A schoolwide talent show is a great way to celebrate students' skills while raising funds. Charge admission for families to come to watch the performances.

To Organize a Talent Show:

Announce the event and invite students to audition for acts like singing, dancing, magic tricks, comedy, etc.
Select a range of the best acts for the show. Aim for 15-20 acts total.
Schedule rehearsals for students to practice their acts on stage.
Sell tickets for families at school events leading up to the show. Offer discounts for early purchase.
Promote the show heavily through newsletters, social media, flyers, and word-of-mouth.
On show day, decorate the auditorium and have student emcees introduce each act. Present a talent show trophy at the end.
Consider selling concessions like baked goods and drinks during intermission to raise more funds.

A talent show provides a creative outlet for students to showcase their skills onstage for a worthy cause. The entire school community will be impressed by the showstopper performances!

5. Art Auction

Spotlight your students’ artistic talents while fundraising by hosting an art auction. Have students donate an art piece, and auction them off at a publicized gallery event.

To Organize an Art Auction:

Announce the event in art classes so students can create pieces like paintings, drawings, sculptures, etc. to donate.
Set up an art gallery-style display in the school lobby or auditorium to exhibit pieces.
Print professionally made title cards for each piece with the student artist’s name, art medium, and opening bid amount.
Promote the event and invite parents and art patrons in the community. Consider tying it into an existing art walk event.
At the auction, have student emcees share details on each piece and drive up bidding excitement. Use bid paddles to track bids.
For extra fun, invite the student artists onstage when their work is auctioned to take a bow.
Have staff spotters assist during bidding. Close each piece after the highest bidder wins.

An art auction gives budding artists a venue to share their work while raising funds for the school in a fun, creative manner.

6. Cookbook Sale

Make a one-of-a-kind customized cookbook featuring recipes from school parents to sell as a fundraiser.

To Organize a Parent Cookbook:

Announce the idea in parent newsletters and social media. Invite recipe submissions.
Collect recipe submissions from parents electronically or on cards. Gather a wide range including appetizers, entrees, and desserts.
Categorize recipes into sections like "Breakfast", and "Healthy Snacks". Add cute illustrations.
Use a user-friendly cookbook template to arrange the content. Self-publishing sites like Shutterfly offer easy tools.
Sell the cookbooks at school events, on social media, and on your school website. Priced at $10-15 based on production costs.
Consider offering sponsor ads from local eateries to offset publishing expenses.
Promote that cookbook purchases support the school and PTA.

A customized cookbook starring parents' signature dishes makes a heartwarming keepsake while raising funds in a delicious way!

7. Carnival Night

A school carnival is a classic way to bring the community together for fun and fundraising. Have each grade level run games and food booths. Popular options include:

Ticket booth: Pre-sell tickets for food/games. Offer discounted multi-ticket packs.
Food booths: Pizza, baked goods, snacks, refreshments.
Game booths: Ring toss, balloon darts, face painting, photo booth.
Raffles & prizes: Raffle gift baskets, toys. Give prizes to game winners.
Dunk tank: Have teacher or parent volunteers take turns in the dunk tank.

To Organize a Carnival Night:

Assign each grade a booth with teacher oversight on set-up and running it.
Get game/food donations and supplies from school families and local businesses.
Promote through flyers, social media, emails, and announcements.
On the day, have booths and activities spread out on school grounds. Play fun music to set a festive mood.
Post signs directing people to different booths. Have a master layout map.

A carnival night builds community and creates lasting memories while earning substantial funds in a fun environment.

8. Crowdfunding Campaign

Crowdfunding initiatives harness the power of collective support, allowing for the aggregation of small amounts from a broad supporter base to meet specific funding goals. *spotfund stands out in this landscape, providing a cost-free crowdfunding platform that specializes in an array of causes. It boasts a user-friendly campaign setup, seamless social media integration for widespread sharing, and real-time tracking of contributions. The platform also ensures prompt email updates and facilitates swift withdrawal of funds. Its high user satisfaction is reflected in its stellar ratings on Trustpilot, underscoring its effectiveness and reliability.

To Run a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign:

Determine a specific funding goal such as new playground equipment, field trip expenses, etc.
Create a compelling campaign page on the site detailing the exact need and how funds will help students.
Set fundraising tiers with donor rewards - e.g. donate $50 to get a special thank you video from students.
Spread the campaign link via email, social media, and outreach to school families and local businesses.
Keep momentum going with regular updates on fundraising progress towards the goal.
Send thank-yous to all donors acknowledging their support, no matter how small.
Offer naming opportunities to large donors, like placing a plaque with their name on new equipment purchased.

Crowdfunding taps the power of many small donations to fund big educational needs. With a strategic campaign, you can reach exciting funding goals.

Embark on a crowdfunding journey with *spotfund to meet your educational funding goals. Set up your campaign swiftly, connect with supporters, and make an impact. Start now!

9. Spirit Wear Sale

Selling custom-designed spirit wear emblazoned with your school's logo and colors can raise funds effectively, tapping into the popular demand from students, parents, and staff who proudly wear these items. Capitalize on this school pride by offering personalized t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and other merchandise featuring your school name and mascot to boost your fundraising efforts.

To Organize a Spirit Wear Sale:

Work with a screenprinting or embroidering company to design gear and get a quote for bulk orders.
Choose a variety of styles like t-shirts, sweatpants, hoodies, baseball tees, and beanies in school colors.
Take pre-orders to gauge demand. This minimizes unused inventory.
Promote heavily on social media, flyers, email, and morning announcements. Offer sneak peeks of the designs to build excitement.
When items are delivered, have students deliver pre-orders. Sell any extras at school events.
Consider making it an annual sale each year with new designs.

Satisfy demand for school spirit swag while earning major profits! Spirit wear sales require some upfront investment but deliver huge returns.

10. Gift Basket Auction

Gift basket auctions are one of the most interesting fundraising ideas for schools. Source donations of themed baskets from each grade's parents, such as:

Movie night basket: DVDs, popcorn, candy, blankets
Spa basket: soaps, lotions, slippers, face masks
Gardening basket: seeds, tools, gloves, plant vouchers
Snacks basket: cookies, chips, hot chocolate, mugs
Toy basket: games, stuffed animals, frisbees, sidewalk chalk

To Organize a Gift Basket Auction:

Assign each grade level to provide 3-5 themed baskets donated by parents. Offer sample ideas.
Set up all baskets attractively on display in the auditorium or gym.
Number each basket and display a list with corresponding basket descriptions.
During the auction, have student emcees describe each basket while parents bid by calling out numbers or showing bid cards.
Markdown winning bidders and collect payment. Allow winners to take baskets home that day.
Send thank yous to parents who donated creative baskets.

Gift basket auctions allow parents to contribute items while raising substantial funds for the school. They also offer reasonably priced auction items that appeal to bidders.

11. Used Book Sale

Host a used book sale featuring donations from students' home libraries. Selling affordable books raises funds while encouraging reading.

To Organize a Used Book Sale:

Announce a used book drive. Set up donation boxes in classrooms.
Sort books by genre - fiction, nonfiction, young adult, children's, etc.
Categorize books by age group so students can easily browse.
Price paperbacks at $1-2 and hardcovers at $2-3.
Set up tables to display books by section in the school lobby or library.
Promote the sale through flyers, social media, and emails. Consider buying one, get one free deal.
To draw families, have the sale during a school event. Provide book-themed snacks.
Donate unsold books to a charity like Books for Africa or a local library.

Offering affordable used books makes reading material accessible while earning funds to support more school programs.

12. Science Fair

Capitalize on the community's interest in student science projects by charging admission to your school's science fair. This showcases students' academic work while earning funds.

How to Organize a Science Fair:

Keep the science fair competition free for students to enter, as usual.
Promote the date, time, and venue for the science fair judging event.
Sell tickets at the door for a small fee like $2 per person. Free entry for participating students.
Create displays highlighting top science projects in the auditorium or gym.
Invite local science professionals or professors to judge projects.
Offer concessions like snacks and drinks for sale. Raffle donated gift baskets.
Award top projects with prizes during a ceremony. Invite local media.
Send proceeds toward STEM-related supplies for classrooms.

Leverage the captive audience of parents, families, and the community who want to view outstanding student science work. Science fairs make an ideal event to generate funds.

13. Movie Night

Hosting a movie night is a classic school fundraiser. Screen a family-friendly hit movie in the auditorium or set up an outdoor viewing area on school grounds. Charge admission for families to attend.

To Organize a Moive Night:

Choose a recently released family-friendly movie. Ensure any licensing requirements are met.
Rent or borrow a projector and a large screen. Test audio equipment.
Sell individual and group tickers at school in advance. Offer discounts on multiple tickets purchased.
Advertise through email, social media, flyers, marquee signs.
On movie day, provide movie theater-style concessions like popcorn, candy, and drinks for sale.
Draw families by making it an evening event. Encourage bringing blankets and chairs.
Have teachers and parent volunteers help with admission, parking, and concessions.

Movie nights bring families together for affordable entertainment while earning substantial funds in ticket and concession sales.

14. Treasure Hunt

A treasure hunt based on clues not only engages students in critical problem-solving but also offers a delightful way to raise money by including family members in the fundraising excitement.

To Organize a Treasure Hunt:

Plan a route around school with about 10 stops, each with clues leading to the next.
Clues involve solving puzzles, decoding messages, or completing tasks before receiving the next clue.
In the end, clues lead to buried "treasure" (candy/prizes) in the playground.
Split students into teams with parents. Provide clue sheets.
Charge an entry fee per team. Give prizes for the fastest finish.
Hold the event on a weekend for maximum family involvement.
Have teacher volunteers man the route to ensure safety and fair play.
Offer concessions like snacks, drinks, and a bake sale at the endpoint.

With a well-planned treasure hunt, students and families will have a blast following clues while raising funds for the school.

15. Car Wash

A classic car wash fundraiser is easy to execute and delivers excellent results. Students wash staff and parent vehicles parked in the school lot for donations.

To Organize a Car Wash:

Pick a Saturday and get permission to use the school parking lot.
Gather supplies - hoses, buckets, soap, sponges, towels, signs.
Promote to staff and parents via email, social media, and flyers.
Recruit student and parent volunteers to assist with washing.
Set up stations - registration, washing, drying, and payment collection.
Add fun with music and costumes. Consider a fun theme.
Sell healthy snacks and drinks while people wait for their vehicles.
Collect a standard fee of $5 per car washed.
Ensure adult supervision for safety.
Award prizes to the students who raise the most in donations.

A car wash is a quintessential school fundraiser that's easy to execute and great for team building too!

16. Bake Sale

Bake sales are a tasty way to raise dough for schools. Ask parents to donate homemade or store-bought baked goods. Sell the treats before or after school.

How to Organize a Bake Sale:

Ask parents to sign up to donate specific baked goods like cookies, cakes, pies, and muffins.
Schedule the sale for 1-2 days during peak foot traffic times before or after school.
Price items affordably - .50 cents to $2 per cookie or treat. Make signs displaying prices.
Set up tables displaying the goods outside school entrances or in the lobby.
Have students run the bake sale table and make changes. Adults supervise.
Promote through posters, flyers, announcements, and social media. Highlight specialty items.
Add to the festive feel with balloons and music.
Use leftover baked goods for staff or volunteer appreciation.

Bake sales satisfy sweet tooths while serving up major profits. They're simple to execute and always a hit!

17. Plant Sale

Ask parents and green-thumbed supporters in the community to donate seedlings and plants for a spring plant sale fundraiser. Gardeners love buying quality plants for cheap.

To Organize a Plant Sale:

Announce the plant donations needed through flyers, social media, and other channels. Provide suggestions for popular vegetables and flowers to donate.
Have donors drop off potted plants a day before the sale. Organize plants on tables by type - vegetables, herbs, flowers, etc.
Create signs listing plants' names and pricing like $2 for seedlings, and $5 for larger plants.
Hold the outdoor sale on a Saturday when most parents are available to shop.
Have students help with selling plants and bagging purchases. Adults handle money.
Offer garden books and tools at discounted prices.
Add fun with a garden theme like giving away free flower seeds.
Donate any leftover plants to the school or community garden.

A plant sale helps start gardens while raising funds in anticipation of spring. Parents will appreciate the high-quality, low-priced plants for sale.

18. Craft Fair

Renting booth space for crafters and artisans is an easy way to raise funds while bringing the community together.

To Plan a Craft Fair:

Scout local crafters through craft fair websites and Facebook groups. Sign up for a variety to ensure diversity.
Charge each crafter a booth rental fee, such as $50 per 8x8 space. Offer discounts for multiple spaces.
Arrange booth layout in the school gym or parking lot. Ensure enough room for aisles and traffic flow.
Advertise widely through websites, local papers, flyers, and social media - target serious shoppers.
Consider tying into an existing community event to draw larger crowds.
Have students run a concessions stand with food, drinks, and baked goods.
Add raffles for donated gift baskets to raise extra funds.
Provide assistance to vendors for load-in/load-out.

By handling the organization and promotion, school craft fairs raise substantial funds while supporting local artisans and crafters. The vendors bring in the crowds eager to shop.

19. Raffle Baskets

Raffling off themed gift baskets is an easy way to raise funds. Each classroom donates a basket on a theme they choose, such as:

Movie night
Arts & crafts
Family game night
Picnic
Spa relaxation
Cookies & Cocoa

To Organize a Raffle:

Announce the event and have classrooms sign up for basket themes.
Help classes solicit item donations from parents for creative baskets.
Display baskets attractively with a description and entry fee - e.g. $5 for 5 tickets.
At a major school event, set up the raffle table for ticket sales. Use a ticket tumbler bin for entries.
Hold raffle drawings periodically and announce winners. Allow them to take baskets home.
Send proceeds to classroom teachers to buy needed supplies.

Raffle basket earnings add up fast with this easy system that classrooms to organize themselves. Kids love being part of the effort!

20. Silent Auction

Silent auctions allow people to bid silently on items by writing down bids. They work well for raising funds by auctioning off donations from local businesses and supporters.

To Plan a Silent Auction:

Solicit donated items and services like restaurant gift cards, golf lessons, and event tickets.
Set up display tables for items in the school lobby or auditorium.
Create bid sheets for each item with the donor name, fair market value, and minimum bid.
At the auction event, guests browse items and silently place written bids during the allotted bidding window.
When bidding closes, the highest bidder wins each item. Tally final bids.
Collect payment from winning bidders and offer item delivery or pickup options.
Send donors thank you acknowledgments of their auction contribution for tax purposes.

With a well-run silent auction, you can raise substantial funds by leveraging compelling items donated by area businesses.

21. Pajama Day

Pajama days allow students to relax and unwind while raising funds. Students pay $1 to wear pajamas and slippers to school for a day.

To Organize a Pajama Day:

Choose a date for Pajama Day, and avoid days with scheduled speakers or events.
Announce to parents and teachers so they're aware of the relaxed dress code for that day.
Send permission slips home so parents can opt-in and pay the $1 fee.
Set up a stand at drop-off to collect $1 payments from participating students. Mark hands with a stamp.
Take photos of classes in their pajamas and share them online.
Reward the class with the most participants with a casual movie day.
Donate excess proceeds to the counseling department or a local children's charity.

Pajama Day gives students a fun break while raising money for good causes. The participation fees add up fast!

22. Shoe Drive

Shoes that no longer fit can raise funds for your school when donated to charities that give money per pound of shoes collected.

To Plan a Shoe Drive:

Research shoe drives fundraisers and picks a charity partner.
Announce a used shoe drive and set a goal for the number of pairs. Class competitions can boost participation.
Send home flyers so families know which shoes to donate - gently used, wearable pairs only.
Set up donation boxes around the school for students to drop shoes.
Partner with a local shoe store for additional collection points and promotions.
When the drive wraps, count pairs donated and box shoes up. Coordinate shipping with your charity.
Earn funds based on total weight. Use the proceeds to support school programs.

Shoe drives repurpose unused pairs into funds for supplies, programs, and activities at your school. Every student can get involved in the success!

23. Lemonade Stand

Running a lemonade stand is a popular summer fundraising activity that allows students to apply business skills while raising money for your school. This old-fashioned idea remains a fun way for elementary students to help contribute to their school's bottom line. Students can set up traditional lemonade stands around the neighborhood or during high-traffic events at school. The summer break provides the perfect opportunity for a refreshing fundraiser that parents and students can participate in together.

To Organize a Successful Summer Lemonade Stand:

Have students brainstorm stand details - lemonade flavors, signage, decorations, and incentives.
Take advantage of foot traffic at summer school events or busy neighborhood spots.
Have parents donate supplies - lemons, pitchers, cups, ice, table.
Set up an eye-catching portable stand with signs and decorations.
Sell cups of standard or strawberry lemonade for $1-2.
Provide teacher supervision for handling money and customer interactions.
Pair with baked goods for extra profits. Upsell snacks like popcorn or rice krispy treats.

With the right planning and promotion, elementary students can apply business skills and raise substantial funds through an iconic lemonade stand, perfect for summer fundraising. This classic never goes sour!

Raising extra funds is a necessity for most schools today to provide the best possible experience for students. Rather than making fundraising feel like a chore, it helps to choose creative events and campaigns that are engaging for both students and the broader community.

Need a simple way to collect donations online for your school? Check out *spotfund, a top online crowdfunding platform designed just for school fundraising campaigns. It offers easy tools to set up your campaign, share it widely on social media, and track donations coming in.

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