AngeLink Blog

Why School Fundraising Is Important

A Four Happy Girls in the Classroom

School fundraising is a key part of any school’s operation. It helps to ensure that the school can provide students with a quality education. There are several different ways to raise funds for your school from online fundraising to school fundraising events and each one can be beneficial in its own way.

The Main Reasons Why School Fundraising Is Important

Most people know that school fundraising is essential, but they may not know why. School fundraising is important because it funds students’ extracurricular activities, field trips, and other educational enrichment opportunities. It helps to offset the costs of school supplies and textbooks and even can help erase school lunch debt . Also, school fundraising can help fund scholarships and financial aid for needy students.

How School Fundraising Benefits Students

1. it provides much-needed finances.

School fundraising provides financial support for schools and helps to supplement budgets. It can also be used to fund special projects or programs that the school’s regular budget may not cover. By working together to raise funds, the school community can help ensure the school has the resources it needs to thrive.

Check out this list of School Fundraising Platforms .

2. It Builds Community Support and Involvement in the School

Fundraising for school can be a great way to build community support and participation in the school. Involving parents, teachers, and students in the process can help create a sense of ownership and pride in the school.

Fundraising is a great way to build relationships within the school community. By coming together to work towards a common goal, everyone involved can feel more connected to each other and the school. When done right, school fundraising can have many positive benefits for everyone involved.

3. It Instills a Sense of Pride and Responsibility in Students

Another reason why school fundraising is important is that it ignites school pride. Fundraising can instill a sense of pride and responsibility in students when done correctly. When students take part in planning a fundraiser they learn skills such as budgeting, marketing, and organizing. These skills will stay with them long after they graduate from school.

Not only do students benefit from the experience, but the entire school community can come together to support a good cause. School fundraisers can be a great way to bring people together while teaching kids valuable life lessons.

4. It Teaches Students Essential Life Skills

School fundraising can be a great way to teach students essential life skills. Students learn the importance of hard work, cooperation, and teamwork by working together to raise money for their school. They also learn how to set goals and work towards them. Fundraising can also help students develop communication and interpersonal skills.

Through their efforts, students can see the results of their hard work and the feeling of fulfillment in what they have accomplished. These skills are essential for success in life, no matter what path students choose after graduation. So next time your school is looking for a fundraiser idea, consider how it could also be an opportunity to teach your students some valuable lessons they will carry with them long after leaving the classroom.

How School Fundraising Benefits Teachers 

1. it helps fund school supplies.

One big way that school fundraising benefits teachers is by providing them with much-needed supplies for their classrooms. Many teachers spend hundreds of dollars of their own money every year on supplies, and fundraising can help offset those costs.

In fact, a recent study from Edweek found that the average teacher spends about $500 of their own money on supplies each year. That’s a significant amount of money, and it can be difficult for teachers to make ends meet when they have to spend so much of their own money on supplies.

However, school fundraising can help reduce some of that financial burden. By providing teachers with the funds they need to buy supplies, school fundraising can help make sure that teachers have the resources they need to do their jobs effectively.

2. It Helps Fund Classroom Technology

Another way that school fundraising helps teachers is by giving them access to cutting-edge classroom technology. As we all know, technology is constantly changing and evolving, making it difficult for teachers to stay current.

School fundraising can assist teachers in raising the funds required to buy new classroom technology. This can be a huge benefit for teachers because it allows them to keep their classrooms up to date and better engage their students.

3. It Helps Fund Professional Development

Finally, school fundraising can also benefit teachers by providing them with resources for professional development. Many teachers are looking for ways to improve their teaching skills, and professional development opportunities can be helpful.

But professional development opportunities can be expensive, and they’re often not covered by school budgets. Fundraising can help cover the costs of professional development opportunities, which can be a huge benefit for teachers.

To learn more read School Fundraising Statistics: Insights to Help You Raise More .

How Fundraising Benefits Schools

1. it helps schools receive much-needed financial support.

Schools rely on fundraising to help them receive financial support. Fundraising can provide resources for students to use. It can also help with expenses such as utility bills and repairs. Fundraising is a great way for schools to get the money they need to operate effectively.

2. It Helps to Cover the Costs of Extracurricular Activities

One of the best things about fundraising is that it can help cover the costs of extracurricular activities that might otherwise be impossible. This can be a huge benefit to schools, as it allows students to get involved in activities like sports and other areas they are passionate about and can help them develop essential skills.

3. It Allows Schools to Offer Scholarships and Financial Aid

When schools can offer scholarships and financial assistance to students, it helps to level the playing field for everyone. This is especially important for students who come from low-income families or might not otherwise be able to afford higher education.

If you need inspiration for your next school fundraiser we’ve got you covered. Check out:

  • Family-Friendly Elementary School Fundraising Ideas
  • Modern Middle School Fundraising Ideas That Students Will Love
  • High School Fundraising Ideas That Students Will Be Excited About

Make an Impact With School Fundraising

Now you know why school fundraising is important and how it benefits everyone. School fundraising is more important than ever, and AngeLink provides an easy online platform for schools to raise money. AngeLink has unique features for a crowdfunding platform including a college ambassador program and a community foundation . With a little effort, your school can easily bring in the necessary funds through our user-friendly website. So what are you waiting for?

Check out our fundraising tips and fundraising ideas to help get started.

You may also like

Leave a reply cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • Fundraising For… (80)
  • Women Empowered (52)

Recent Posts

  • March 20, 2024 Reflecting on AngeLink’s Inaugural ‘National Community Give Back’ Initiative
  • March 15, 2024 How to Ask For Donations For Medical Expenses: Ideas & Tips
  • March 15, 2024 Honoring Women’s Economic, Political, and Cultural Triumphs this International Women’s Day
  • March 4, 2024 Investing in Women is a Smart Business Move
  • February 26, 2024 15 Fundraising Text Message Examples You Can Copy & Paste

Booster-Logo_Nav

Why School Fundraising Is Vital To Schools

Why fundraise? It happens every year. An elementary school sends an email announcing its next fundraiser, causing many parents to wonder, “Why do we need to fundraise at all? How do school fundraisers work?”

In   this blog, you’ll learn more about: 

  • How a Fundraiser Can Benefit Your School
  • What Benefit Works Best for You
  • How Booster Can Help with Your Fundraiser

They’re valid questions and ones that are not universally understood. But as the think tank Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) and others have noted, many schools simply don’t have enough funds to provide students with the educational experience they deserve. The CBPP’s recent report on the subject noted:

“Most states provide less support per student for elementary and secondary schools — in some cases, much less — than before the Great Recession. Worse, some states are still cutting eight years after the recession took hold . . . These cuts weaken schools’ capacity to develop the intelligence and creativity of the next generation of workers and entrepreneurs.”

That’s why we asked a principal and two PTO Presidents why schools need to fundraise. If you’re wondering why we fundraise or how do school fundraisers work, their responses may give you a better understanding.

1. At a basic level, why do schools need to fundraise?

“As a school leader, I am very aware of the fact that the funds allocated to us from our various sources [federal, state, and local funding] often fall short of what is needed in order to provide all of our students the very best academically, socially, physically, and emotionally. As a result, we have to look beyond the normal sources of income to meet any deficiency that may exist.”  –Steven Puckett, Principal at Harrisburg Elementary in Fort Mill, SC

“Schools need money to purchase upgrades to their technology, playground equipment, special needs items, as well as provide teachers with funding to make their classroom student-ready. It also is a great way to get kids and their families involved in the school.” –Stephanie Provo, PTO President, Birnham Woods Elementary, Spring, TX

2. What are you able to purchase with the extra funds raised?

“Recently, our needs assessment showed that we needed technology, books for students and teachers, and more outdoor equipment for students. With this in mind, we decided to diversify our efforts and focus on technology and books our first year and more outdoor equipment our second year.” –Steven Puckett, Principal at Harrisburg Elementary in Fort Mill, SC

“We’re able to provide a canopy at our entryway, training for our teachers, substitute teachers for student led conferences, and updated technology.” –Trisha Cooper, PTO President, Oak Mountain Elementary, Birmingham, AL  

“We’ve purchased playground equipment, playground shades, so it's cooler for the kids, updated technology (because it's always changing), field trips for all of our students (so there is no cost to them), Chrome carts so students can learn on tablets, scholarships for our teachers to attend conferences or seminars, and many other things our staff and teachers ask for.”  –Stephanie Provo, PTO President, Birnham Woods Elementary, Spring, TX

3. How do those resources benefit your students and in what ways?

“As an elementary school, teaching students how to read is fundamental to what we do. The best way for them to learn is to get as many books as you can in their hands. Thanks to our fundraising efforts, we provide students with relevant, grade-level titles to push them to become the very best readers they can be. We also stress the importance of staying active. The funds we raised this past year allowed us to purchase and install an obstacle course-based playground system that our students absolutely love! This purchase has generated positive energy and boosted the level of physical activity for all of our children.”–Steven Puckett, Principal at Harrisburg Elementary in Fort Mill, SC

4. What do you look for when deciding on a fundraiser?

“FUN, FUN, FUN! If the whole thing feels FUN, you’ll increase your chance of effectiveness. Also, the more school goals you can accomplish with one fundraiser, the more effective your school operations will be. Boosterthon does this. It combines leadership, character (which is huge for our school), fun, and the opportunity to make money as well.” –Steven Puckett, Principal at Harrisburg Elementary in Fort Mill, SC

“We look for a way to raise funds while engaging our entire school population. We want our kids to feel invested in it. We also look at what we can do with the pool of volunteers we have.” –Trisha Cooper, PTO President, Oak Mountain Elementary, Birmingham, AL

“Since our school opened eight years ago, we’ve only used Boosterthon as our fundraiser. We do not sell cookie dough, coupon books, magazines, wrapping paper, etc. We partner with Boosterthon every year because the character traits they teach our students are great for them and us. Plus, everyone can participate in the program, regardless of financial participation. It's very family-oriented, and everyone is included for those ten days. We also love being able to take part in Boosterthon’s giveback programs (The Great Shoe Takeoff and The High-Five Meal Drive). It teaches the kids how to give back, which is way better than selling wrapping paper or cookie dough where nothing is learned.” –Stephanie Provo, PTO President, Birnham Woods Elementary, Spring, TX

5. For someone who thinks, “Didn’t we fundraise last year? Why do we need to do it again?” What would you say?

“Fundraising is not about making money. My personal belief about why we fundraise is for school improvement and the opportunity to provide all students with the very BEST educational experiences.” –Steven Puckett, Principal at Harrisburg Elementary in Fort Mill, SC

“Just like our households, schools have expenses, bills, and items that need to be replaced. Because of the lack of government funding, if we want our school to continue to be "top of the line,” we have to fundraise every year with intentionality.” –Trisha Cooper, PTO President, Oak Mountain Elementary, Birmingham, AL

“You have to fundraise each year. The cost of resources goes up every year, you get more students so you need more to fund them and their field trips, and the money eventually runs out if you’re giving it back to the school throughout the year. When you partner with Boosterthon, you won't have to do another fundraiser for your school — you can earn what you need in one event while having fun and teaching students great character traits too.” –Stephanie Provo, PTO President, Birnham Woods Elementary, Spring, TX

Are you looking for a fundraiser that can help give your students the best educational experience possible? Do you want to learn more to answer the question, “How do school fundraisers work?”

Check out a few Boosterthon case studies to see why we fundraise and what schools have been able to provide through our fun, hassle-free fundraisers.

How Orchard Park Elementary Went From Profiting $20k to $40k in 2 weeks

  • How a California Elementary School Profited $100K in 3 Years
  • Read our School Fundraising in 2023: An Ultimate Guide

The Ultimate School Fundraising Checklist

Recent Posts

  • International Color Day School Fundraising Ideas
  • How to Secure Fundraising Sponsorship By Grade Level
  • Employee Appreciation Day | Recognizing Our Team
  • The Best Strategies to Organize & Utilize Your Fundraising Data
  • High School Fundraising Guide: Sports & Clubs
  • School Fundraising Tips
  • Booster Fundraisers
  • Culture Corner
  • Booster News
  • High School Fundraising
  •  Follow us on Instagram
  •  Follow us on Facebook
  •  Follow us on Twitter
  •  Follow us on Pinterest

Related Posts

Image of Margot Bodenhamer winning our December Volly Award

December Volly Winner: Margot Bodenhamer

Having an impact on students’ futures is what drives our December Volly winner, Margot Bodenhamer,...

new year fundraising

Top 10 New Year Fundraising Resolutions

The new year is the perfect time to evaluate how effective your fundraising has been for the first...

Student gives a double hi five to a Boosterthon team member.

The Importance of Fundraising for Schools | Booster

Unequal, insufficient funding for U.S. schools has long driven the need for fundraising efforts to...

Regpack

  • Payments & Billing
  • Onboarding & Registration
  • Reporting & Analytics
  • After School Programs
  • Conferences
  • Group Tours

essay about fundraising in school

  • Why We're Special

Regpack

4 Reasons Why School Fundraising Is Important

4 Reasons Why School Fundraising Is Important

In addition to supplementing school budgets, school fundraising teaches students valuable life skills and builds lasting relationships within the local community, offering many benefits to students, parents, teachers, and communities.

We’ll share four critical reasons for school directors to get the fundraising ball rolling in this article, then we’ll tell you how donor management software can streamline your fundraising efforts.

Fundraising should be a regular part of your school year, so let’s see what makes it so essential.

Provides Schools With Financial Support

Covers the cost of after-school activities, allows schools to enrich their students’ education, helps schools build strong community relationships, why you should use regpack for school fundraising, fundraising has far-reaching impacts.

A recent study showed that public schools in the United States are underfunded by about $150 billion per year.

The table below shows the funding gap for the 10 most underfunded states:

essay about fundraising in school

Source: The Century Foundation

As you can see, some states have a funding gap of almost $40 million.

And since students attending underfunded schools tend to perform worse academically , the school funding gap is one of the main reasons why you need to supplement your budget by fundraising .

Raising funds within the community supports your students’ academic performance by making it possible to:

As you can see, fundraising  greases the wheels of your efforts to provide a top-notch educational experience for your students, from covering basic expenses like school supplies to financing more advanced endeavors, like funding international projects.

For instance, a recent study found that the average teacher spends almost $500 of their own money per year  on supplies.

By helping offset these costs, you support teachers and help them plan engaging classes.

Steven Puckett , Principal at Harrisburg Elementary in Fort Mill, SC, explains how fundraising helped his school buy supplies for the Bee blog:

Recently, our needs assessment showed that we needed technology, books for students and teachers, and more outdoor equipment for students. With this in mind, we decided to diversify our efforts and focus on technology and books our first year and more outdoor equipment our second year.

As Puckett points out, it may take several fundraising initiatives to afford the supplies you need. But with a little patience, such initiatives can help you make ends meet.

Fundraising also makes it possible for teachers to attend conferences and seminars.

These opportunities benefit teachers, students, and schools in many ways:

essay about fundraising in school

Source: Alludo Learning

Boosting your school’s finances through fundraising makes all this possible. These are just a few of the many reasons why fundraising is so important.

We briefly discussed the ways in which generating financial support helps schools pay for experiences outside of the classroom, like international trips and projects, but fundraising  also enriches your students’ educational experience by funding after-school activities .

Research has documented the many benefits of after-school activities:

essay about fundraising in school

Source: Education Equity

These charts suggest an association between extracurricular participation and higher GPA.

They also indicate that students who participate in extracurriculars are less likely to skip classes.

But your school budget  likely doesn’t cover these activities—and they aren’t cheap. Instruments, costumes, and props for music and theater activities are expensive.

You also have to pay for food, transportation, and lodging when teams travel. And there are registration costs for events and tournaments.

School fundraising  makes these important extracurriculars possible.

You can also use fundraising to pay for scholarships for after-school activities. A recent study showed that nearly one in four low-income students  can’t afford to participate in them.

By providing scholarships, you help these children learn and grow alongside their peers.

Raising funds for after-school activities doesn’t just benefit students. It’s also helpful for parents. They don’t have to leave work hours early to pick up their child from school.

It’s not just the money you raise through fundraising initiatives that benefits your students.

Participation in fundraising efforts itself also furthers students’ socio-emotional development. It teaches them important skills, including:

  • Goal-setting
  • Communication
  • Accountability

Many of these skills stem from the social nature of fundraising. To raise money, students have to work with teachers, parents, donors, and other students.

They have to effectively pitch the value of the product or service they’re selling. That requires confidence and strategy.

Moreover, they have to learn to cope with the inevitable mistakes that come with learning a new skill.

One parent  explains how fundraising for an educational camp taught their child these valuable skills:

We went around our community to places we do business with and he gave them the spiel of the camp. He was very nervous [with] the first few people he presented to, but as he continued, you could see his confidence grow. This process alone provided him with an experience that has taught him many lessons.

This parent testimonial highlights one of the many ways fundraising benefits students.

As Steven Puckett, the principal whom we’ve already quoted in one of the previous sections, put it:

Fundraising is not about making money. My personal belief about why we fundraise is for school improvement and the opportunity to provide all students with the very BEST educational experiences.

Puckett’s perspective highlights the importance of keeping fundraising student-focused.

Fundraising also benefits your students by teaching them financial responsibility. They learn that you have to work hard to make money.

They also learn how to communicate transparently with others about finances.

The graphic below explains why those are such important skills:

essay about fundraising in school

Source: Easy Peasy Finance

Learning to handle money is just one way fundraising sets students up for success.

Last, participation in fundraising teaches students hands-on skills.

For example, baking competitions teach them new recipes and racing competitions teach them to build model cars. And they gain valuable marketing experience by advertising these events.

An often-overlooked benefit of school fundraising is the way it strengthens the community.

Networking and relationship-building are important to the success of any fundraising campaign . For you as school director, that means building relationships with individuals and organizations.

People are more likely to donate when they feel connected to you and your school.

Their donation begins a self-perpetuating cycle. Donating gives them a sense of ownership—it makes them feel invested in the school’s outcomes.

That, in turn, makes them more likely to donate again.

These donors are also likely to contribute to your school in other ways. For example, they may volunteer to host or chaperone a field trip.

Fundraising is also positive branding for your school.

By partnering with community organizations, you show the community what your school values.

For example, you might partner with a local restaurant for one night. You drive traffic to the restaurant while a portion of the proceeds for that night go to your school.

That not only raises funds for your school, but it also shows people you want to give back to your community.

Here’s an example of how one school partnered with Chick-fil-A to raise funds:

essay about fundraising in school

Source: Jonas Salk Elementary PTA

Every Thursday night, the local Chick-fil-A donates part of their earnings to Jonas Salk Elementary, San Diego.

In exchange, the school advertises the event, driving traffic to Chick-fil-A.

Events like these build lasting relationships between schools and communities.

Even if the partnerships you build don’t result in acquiring the funds  to the amount you wanted, they benefit your students, since they allow them to become more involved in the life of the community, and supply them with possible future opportunities.

Lastly, fundraising also bolsters relationships within the community that exists within your school.

Teachers, staff, parents, and students come together to accomplish a big goal.

That forms new relationships and strengthens old ones, creating a more positive learning environment for students.

As the Bee blog put it in the article we quoted in the section on providing schools with financial support:

Schools don’t operate in a vacuum. They are central parts of the communities around them, providing the foundational learning and social experiences that students can then use to give back. In other words, when schools are sufficiently funded to provide safe environments and quality education to students, they are more likely to grow into healthy, happy, helpful members of their community.

Therefore, if you set them up well, your fundraising activities  will have a positive impact that will ripple throughout the community.

In order to make the most of your fundraising efforts, you need the help of some robust and reliable software. Our own solution, Regpack , could be the right choice.

Regpack is a donation management software  that streamlines donations for both your team and your donors.

Regpack lets you embed personalized donation forms directly on your website.

Not only does that create less hassle for you, it also lets your donors pay without going to a third-party site.

Many users don’t trust third-party sites—so they’re more likely to donate if they can do so directly on your website.

With Regpack, you can also create custom online donation options .

For example, you can make it easy for donors to set up automatic recurring donations. Our software is mobile-optimized, so donors can pay on any device.

They can also use their preferred payment method, as you can see in the image below:

essay about fundraising in school

Source: Regpack

This gives you a glimpse into what donors would see on your website. They would be able to complete the entire donation process directly on your site.

The easier it is for people to donate, the more likely they are to do so. That’s why companies that use Regpack’s donation management software have seen:

essay about fundraising in school

Regpack doesn’t just streamline the payment process for donors.

It also saves donor information in a central database, where it’s easy to access as needed, just like the data on your fundraising efforts.

You can also easily pull information from the database to:

  • Create and send automatic payment confirmation emails
  • Send bulk emails to select donor groups
  • Track the donors’ giving history
  • Generate reports with data-driven insights  about donors

The image below gives you an idea of the useful information these reports provide:

essay about fundraising in school

This example report shows the amount each donor has paid. It also displays your school’s monthly and annual revenue generated from donor payments.

As you can see, Regpack’s all-in-one donation platform gives you the tools you need for a successful fundraising initiative. It even handles most of the administrative work for you.

Let us make your fundraising efforts a success. Try us out at regpacks.com .

In conclusion, fundraising has many positive impacts. It builds connections within your school community. It also helps you partner with other community organizations.

Further, involving students in fundraising efforts teaches them valuable life skills. And the money you raise helps you create an enriching environment for your students.

With that in mind, let this article inspire you to go out and plan your next school fundraising effort. Our article on effective school fundraising ideas  is a great place to start.

essay about fundraising in school

Asaf, Founder and CEO of Regpack, has extensive experience as an entrepreneur and investor. Asaf has built 3 successful companies to date, all with an exit plan or that have stayed in profitability and are still functional. Asaf specializes in product development for the web, team building and in bringing a company from concept to an actualized unit that is profitable.

Related posts

essay about fundraising in school

What is Regpack?

Regpack is an online registration software that creates intelligent application processes with integrated payment processing.

essay about fundraising in school

We will be contacting you shortly!

 alt=

How can I help you move forward?

Select a time for your FREE Demo

Thank you! We will get back to you in no time :)

Thanks! We got the information. We really look forward to connecting again. Talk soon.

What do you want to build today?

Icon

ONLINE CLASSES

Faculdade de Direito - Universidade de São Paulo

TRIPS AND TOURS

Devgrupp

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Clip art

EDUCATIONAL TOURS

Peace symbols

APPLICATIONS

essay about fundraising in school

What are you looking to build?

A registration & payment system for my:.

Camp

  • Fundraising Ideas

10 School Fundraising Ideas that Actually Work & Increase Donations

By Whit Hunter

Want to build an effective fundraising campaign?

Our team is here to give you more details and guides on how to grow your fundraiser.

essay about fundraising in school

When you’re low on inspiration, coming up with clever and engaging school fundraising ideas can be a challenge. School fundraisers are necessary but sometimes, the tried and true ideas feel a little tired. How can you spice it up and get your crowd interested?

Let’s talk about some of the best school fundraisers that your students – and parents – will love!

Best Fundraising Ideas for Schools

Fundraisers for schools are so important for a variety of reasons. While the main reason is to raise money for the school, fundraising also teaches students how to plan events, work with others, be creative, and handle money. It helps them build confidence and develop valuable leadership skills that will benefit them for years to come.

Whether you work with a student leadership team, PTO, or other school-related organization, the key to a successful school fundraiser is to have a plan in place. Work together to explore some new, fresh fundraising ideas for your school.

Some of the best fundraising ideas for schools include:

1. An Online Auction

Everyone loves an auction! Online auctions are great fundraisers for schools because your students and staff can share the link to your auction with out-of-state friends and family. Simply upload your auction items, share the link to the fundraising platform, and let the bidding begin!

Online platforms, like BetterWorld, make it easy to add functionalities like video integration, text message notifications to bidders, online item donation forms, and popcorn bidding. With these special features, your participants will feel just as excited as they would about attending a live auction!

2. Principal Challenge

Any school fundraisers involving the principal are going to be popular amongst students, regardless of age. You can also include the vice principal, popular teachers, or other school leaders to increase the odds of participation.

Ways to push your principal out of his or her comfort zone for a good cause include:

  • Slime Your Principal
  • Silly String Your Principal
  • Pie in the Face
  • Tape Your Principal to the Wall

Set up an online donation website for students to solicit donations from friends and family members across the country.

You can even live-stream your principal challenge on the donation site! This is a great way to involve other schools around your district who might want to see your principal in action.

Any sort of silly and fun idea is always a hit with students. Just make sure you get your principal to agree first!

3. Pizza Party

Everyone loves food! In exchange for a few dollars, you can give your students the afternoon off from studying and treat them to some free pizza. Add in some games, music, or other fun activities and turn it into an all-school party!

Not into pizza? Other ideas include a sundae bar or a taco party.

Want to turn it into a competition? Set up a raffle using the tools provided by BetterWorld. The class with the most donations wins the pizza party or sundae bar in the raffle!

Not only is this a creative fundraiser idea for school but it’s also a fun way for your students to relax and bond with their classmates after weeks of hard work.

4. T-Shirt Design Contest

Who doesn’t love a good t-shirt? Selling t-shirts with your school’s name or logo is always a popular fundraiser but why not switch it up a bit and turn it into a contest?

Let students enter school-friendly t-shirt designs into a competition. The one with the most votes wins!

When setting up the online voting , you can use BetterWorld’s ticketing platform. The Custom Questions option is a great place to vote for the winning design.

To make it even more exciting, add an auto-updating Leaderboard so voters can track which design is winning!

It’s a great way to raise money for your school, involve your students in a hands-on way, and build school spirit, all at the same time.

5. Color Run

Races and 5ks have always been one of the best school fundraisers but jazz it up a bit by adding a bit of color! Color runs are fun for participants who are both throwing the dye and running through it. Plus, you can get some really great social media-friendly pictures!

Online ticketing software like BetterWorld makes organizing events like this super easy with mobile check-in, professional ticket branding, and multi-tiered ticketing options.

Turn your color run into a school-wide block party or BBQ to raise even more money. Have snacks, pizza, and drinks for sale. It’s the perfect way to end the school year on a bright note!

6. Trivia Night

Trivia nights are popular everywhere! Why not turn it into a fundraising idea for school?

Choose a topic that is popular with students – think Minecraft, popular music, or Disney movies – and get to work! Charge $10 per team to enter. Have the teams participate beforehand by entering ideas for trivia questions on the Custom Questions section of the BetterWorld ticketing platform.

Build up the excitement and create some healthy competition by lining up some great prizes for the winners. You can increase your profits by selling snacks, too!

BetterWorld makes elegant fundraising solutions for students, parents & alumni

Use high-quality consignment items from BetterWorld partners

Add important videos or live-streaming directly to your BetterWorld page

Save time by allowing donors to upload items directly to your auction

Automatically charge your winners, accept donations, and send receipts with one simple click.

7. Candy Grams

Candy grams are one of the most fun and easy school fundraisers! Stock up on candy, grab some cardstock, and tie it all together with a ribbon. Kids love to give and receive these tasty treats.

Not excited by the idea of candy? You could offer cookies or chips instead. It doesn’t matter what treat you include. Kids just love to send notes to their friends!

8. Obstacle Course Run

Create your own little mini-Spartan race at school. Add obstacles like rope walls, sprinkler runs, or water balloon dodging to a basic 5k. This keeps it fun and interesting!

Charge per entry and boost the competition by having cool prizes for those with the best times.

Make registration super easy by setting up online pre-registration options with day-of mobile check-in. This will keep your obstacle course run moving smoothly!

Still want to collect cash on the day of the event? No problem! With BetterWorld’s platform, you can enter cash or check registrations directly into your event dashboard. This gives your participants registration options while keeping all of your important information in one place!

9. Parents’ Night Out

If you are an elementary school, this one is for you. Round up some high school volunteers and host a parents’ night out in your gym or cafeteria. For a set number of hours, parents can drop off their kids and enjoy a peaceful date night.

Make sure you set up activity stations, offer crafts, play a movie, or have fun snacks and drinks on hand for the kids. Charge per child and watch your donations pour in!

10. Pajama Day

This one is quick, easy, and always a hit. For a few dollars, let your students ditch the dress code and wear their pajamas and slippers to school. Make it easy for parents by collecting funds on an online platform like BetterWorld.

Kids get to be comfy and your school gets to raise some funds. It’s a win-win!

BetterWorld — Fundraising Made Fun

Don’t stick to boring school fundraising ideas. With these fun and fresh ideas, you’ll have the donations pouring in while having fun at the same time!

No matter what school fundraising idea you decide to go with, learn more about how to use the BetterWorld online fundraising platform to organize and collect your funds – at no cost to your school.

Take some of these fundraising ideas for schools and sign up for free at BetterWorld today !

essay about fundraising in school

Join 85,000+ amazing nonprofits, organizations, and fundraisers on BetterWorld

essay about fundraising in school

Let our FREE fundraising tools help you raise more funds with less effort

Get started on your next campaign

Related posts.

essay about fundraising in school

  • Fundraising

What Is Bingo Fundraising?

Step into the world of Bingo Fundraising! Learn what it is and its benefits. Discover creative ideas to make your next bingo fundraiser a hit. Start raising funds in a fun way today!

essay about fundraising in school

  • School Fundraisers

25 Fundraising Ideas For Clubs

Explore 25 creative fundraising ideas perfect for clubs to raise funds and engage their communities. From online auctions to talent shows, find inspiration to support your club's initiatives!

essay about fundraising in school

13 Free Services to Help Seniors Fundraise

Discover 13 invaluable free services tailored to support senior citizens in their fundraising endeavors, proven to be highly effective. Elevate the quality of life for seniors as they navigate fundraising challenges with these essential resources.

Start a Fundraiser

essay about fundraising in school

Schools & PTOs

BetterWorld offers a full suite of online fundraising tools to help your school or PTO meet its financial goals

essay about fundraising in school

Elementary schools

In-person and online elementary school fundraisers

essay about fundraising in school

High schools

Our robust suite of tools will make it easy for you to raise the funds you need to support your high school

SchoolMoney.org

47 Easy and Profitable Fundraising Ideas For Schools

SchoolMoney

As a student, parent, educator, volunteer, or staff member, you likely have your fair share of experience when it comes to fundraising ideas for schools. You might be pumped to get started with your school’s next campaign. But you also might be burnt out by the task. Either way, choosing the right school fundraising ideas can make a world of difference in terms of engagement and revenue.

At SchoolMoney , we’re all about helping you raise more money for your school. That’s why we put together this list of our favorite ideas—broken down into these six categories:

  • Corporate Giving Fundraising Ideas for Schools
  • Event Fundraising Ideas for Schools
  • Sales Fundraising Ideas for Schools
  • Online Fundraising Ideas for Schools
  • Educational Fundraising Ideas for Schools
  • Other Fantastic Fundraising Ideas for Schools

Keep your school—and its students, families, staff, and other supporters—in mind as you browse this resource and find your next brilliant fundraising idea. Let’s jump right in!

Corporate Giving School Fundraising Ideas

We love corporate giving in particular because it allows institutions like yours to make the most of the resources in your network and begin crafting relationships with charitable-minded businesses in your community. Plus, many of these fundraising ideas don’t require a direct financial ask of parents and family members, which can be a welcome surprise for many.

Corporate donations as school fundraising ideas

Consider some of these easy and profitable ways to get involved with corporate fundraising:

1. Matching Gifts

Thousands of companies will match donations made by their employees to qualifying nonprofits and schools. Utilize these types of corporate matching gift programs for your school by informing donors of the opportunity and encouraging them to look into their own eligibility. If your donors are eligible to participate, be sure to guide them through the process by providing company-specific matching gift guidelines and instructions. Then, you’ll end up with two donations for the cost of soliciting one.

And even better, you can easily automate this fundraising idea⁠—especially if you utilize a fundraising platform with integrated matching gift software ! These types of tools will enable your school to easily promote matching gifts to every donor.

This is especially critical when you realize that, despite 26 million people working for companies with matching gift programs , more than 78% of the group has never been made aware of the opportunity. And when people are knowledgeable about matching gifts, research shows that they’re significantly more likely to donate and to donate in larger quantities.

Bonus idea: Custom Matching Gift Programs!

For donors who may not qualify for a traditional matching gift, you may want to pursue other donation-matching avenues. For example, if a number of donors work for the same company that doesn’t currently match gifts, consider establishing a custom matching gift agreement with the business.

Instead of matching employee gifts to a wide range of nonprofit causes, your corporate partner could match donations its team members make only to your school. This would allow you to collect additional match funding for your community and enable the company to explore corporate matching at a beginner level.

2. Volunteer Grants

Similar to matching gifts, tons of philanthropic companies will offer volunteer grants as well. Instead of providing funds in response to employee donations, companies contributing volunteer grants offer funds based on hours their employees volunteer with nonprofit causes. This is an excellent way to collect increased corporate revenue while simultaneously engaging your school’s volunteers in new and unique ways.

3. Sponsored Event

Planning on hosting a school fundraising event (like the ones described below )? Reach out to local or national businesses to consider developing strategic corporate sponsorships . In these mutually beneficial nonprofit-business partnerships, participating companies offer support to your school, typically in the form of funding, in-kind contributions, or media efforts. In return, you provide unique value proposition⁠s—such as co-marketing opportunities⁠ or booth space at the event.

Plus, keep in mind that some of the best opportunities for corporate-sponsored fundraising events can come from existing relationships. For example, if a good deal of your donors work for a particular business, that can be an excellent prospective sponsor to reach out to.

Top tip! Make sure to keep track of the companies that your donors (such as students’ parents, alumni, and more) work for. When you have access to key employment data such as this, you can better target corporate fundraising opportunities such as sponsored events, workplace giving, and more.

4. Checkout Donation Jars

Checkout donation jars are one of the simplest ways to partner with businesses in your community. With a fundraiser like this, all you have to do is set up an area where the businesses’ customers can easily contribute to your school fundraiser. While the customers are paying the businesses for the goods and services they receive, they’re able to make the decision to contribute to a local school fundraiser. You might be surprised at how many people choose to give a few dollars here and there⁠—and those amounts can add up quickly!

5. Restaurant Percentage Night

Restaurant percentage nights are a favorite fundraising idea for schools and nonprofits everywhere. A school partners with a local restaurant in its community, which agrees to donate a portion of its sales or profits for a night. The school then encourages its students, families, and overall community to have a meal at the restaurant in question. Individuals are able to support their school while also receiving a delicious meal, restaurants see significantly increased sales, and organizations end up with substantial revenue from the partnership⁠—all in a single day!

6. Employee Stipends

Another form of employee giving program that can significantly benefit schools like yours is that of employee grant stipends. Companies that offer this type of corporate philanthropy provide their employees with set amounts of corporate funding that they can donate to a school or other nonprofit cause of their choice. In order to leverage this kind of giving program for your institution, be sure to look into the employing companies of your current students’ parents and alumni.

School Fundraising Event Ideas

Events are a favorite choice because they offer supporters and attendees an engaging experience to go alongside their charitable contributions.

Fun runs as school fundraising ideas

Here are a few of our favorites:

7. Walk-a-Thon

Walk-a-thons are hugely popular fundraising ideas for schools for many reasons. For one, walk-a-thons typically take a peer-to-peer approach, where individuals raise money on behalf of the fundraising organization. This is typically in the form of pledged donation amounts per lap walked by the participant. And luckily, schools come with built-in fundraisers⁠—their students! Student walkers are encouraged to solicit donations from family members, friends, neighbors, and more. Not to mention, walk-a-thons (or similarly, bike-a-thons, run-a-thons, and more) encourage participants to get out and get moving for a good cause!

8. Themed Fun Run

Fun runs are similar to walks or run-a-thons⁠—the biggest difference being that there’s typically a set distance that participants are expected to run (think: 5K, mile run, etc.). Hosting a themed fun run brings your fundraising idea to the next level! Student fundraisers will still collect donations from their networks of supporters and ultimately will participate in a fundraising run event. Some popular themes include turkey trots, Halloween costume races, color runs, pajama runs, glow in the dark runs, Santa Claus runs, and more.

9. School Festival

Who doesn’t love a good school festival? It’s a fantastic way to draw a crowd in and offer an exceptional engagement experience. Perhaps your school already hosts a seasonal or annual festival⁠—but are you maximizing the event’s fundraising potential? The most effective festival fundraisers collect revenue with a combination of the following strategies⁠—admission sales, activity or game tickets, snack and drink sales, and more. Your attendees will have a great time and also know that the dollars they contribute are going to support your school overall.

Raffles are a particularly fun and easy way to raise money for your school. Students, parents, and community members will be excited to partake, especially when the cost to get involved is affordable (typically only a dollar or two) and the potential is high (with valuable prizes that everyone would love to win). All you need to do is sell tickets at a low price and choose a winner at the end of the event.

Top tip! Raffles also pair well with other fundraising ideas and events, such as auctions!

11. Live Auction

Charity auctions are some of the most engaging and effective fundraising ideas for schools. They enable donors to support the causes they care about (such as your school) while also participating in an exciting experience and potentially walking away with a valuable item. Be sure to reach out to local businesses in your community to see which ones will be interested in donating items to your auction⁠—this will keep the costs down for your school and provide items your donors will want to receive.

12. Parents’ Night Out

Every parent needs a night off every once in a while, but babysitters can be costly and hard to locate when you need them. That’s why, for elementary schools, a parents’ night out, complete with responsible childcare offerings, can be one of the best fundraising ideas you can host. Be sure to have enough staff ready to supervise the children, as well as prepare games, meals, and other fun activities. Parents will be grateful for the opportunity for a night out on the town and willing to pay a reasonable fee or donation to the school in return.

13. Art Show

More than likely, your school offers some sort of art class. Make the most of it by enabling students to create masterpieces that you can then sell (or auction off) at your upcoming art show fundraiser. Be sure to encourage your up-and-coming artists to create using a range of mediums such as painting, drawing, sculpting, photographing, etc.

Top tip! Art shows can be particularly effective fundraising ideas for schools looking to raise money specifically for their art programs. When the fundraiser is in line with the ultimate goal of the funds being collected, people tend to be more willing to open up their wallets!

14. Sports Camp

Looking to raise money during the summer, prior to the back-to-school season⁠—or even during winter or spring breaks? Hosting a sports camp can be a fantastic way to engage with your community. Not to mention, this can be a particularly great option for high schools⁠—especially those fundraising for their athletic programs. Any varsity sports teams at the school can provide excellent players willing to function as camp coaches and assistants, and younger kids will be eager to learn from their local sports stars.

15. Dodgeball Tournament

Everybody enjoys playing dodgeball, and even more so when it’s for a good cause! For this fundraising idea, gather teams of dodgeball lovers to join in a multi-round tournament to determine the ultimate champion (and raise money for your school, of course). Collect funds by charging a small fee for entering the tournament and selling tickets to other students and community members who’d like to watch!

Top tip! Be sure to set aside some of the proceeds to procure a prize for the winning team, with the rest going toward your school and its fundraising needs.

16. Car Wash

A car wash is one of the most popular fundraisers for all sorts of organizations⁠—schools included! All you need to do to get started is choose a good-sized parking lot (it can even be your school’s own lot), equip your team with cleaning supplies, and get the word out about the date and time of your wash. Once cars start arriving, students (along with any teachers or volunteers helping out) can get to work on washing, and the car owners contribute either a set amount or a donation of their choice for the service.

17. Dog Wash

While you have all of your cleaning supplies out, consider expanding your school fundraiser to include dog-washing as well! When you combine this idea with your typical car wash, it’s as easy as can be. Just encourage your supporters to bring their furry friends at the same time as their cars⁠—and you can get both as good as new at the same time.

School Fundraising Sales Ideas

Students and parents have been selling various items to support their schools for decades. While we may not encourage students to go door-to-door on their own anymore, product sales fundraisers can be great choices for schools with a number of other strategies. Then, supporters receive a good or service in response to their contributions, which can be an added incentive to support your school.

Bake sales as school fundraising ideas

Not sure what to sell? Take a look at these suggestions:

18. Book Fair

Do you remember how exciting book fairs were as a child? They’re also some of the most effective fundraising ideas for schools across the globe! For this fundraising event, school libraries (or other large areas with ample space) are typically transformed into miniature bookstores for a period of time. Students and parents are given the opportunity to browse available books and other items and make their purchases⁠, the proceeds of which ultimately go toward the school.

Top tip! Keep in mind that most schools partner with a bookseller to host their book fair fundraisers. Though the bookseller will collect a portion of the fundraising revenue, it also ensures you aren’t left to deal with unsold items at the end of the event.

19. T-Shirt Sale

Everybody loves representing their school with branded apparel⁠—students, teachers, faculty, and parents alike. That’s why a t-shirt sale (or another item, such as a hat, lanyard, hoodie, etc.) can be an effective and favorite fundraising idea. To get started, you’ll want to come up with an idea for your apparel. Most schools will begin with their school colors to best represent the school and its student body. Then, perhaps you’ll include your school name, logo, mascot, saying, and more. In the end, you’ll have a visually appealing piece of clothing that your top supporters will be happy to buy and wear.

20. Snack Sales

More than likely, the students at your school are still growing. And growing kids need fuel from snacks! Thus, selling snacks can be an easy and profitable fundraising idea. All you need to do is purchase food items such as candy, granola bars, bags of chips, popcorn, cookies, danishes, and more. Then, place them for sale at school, extracurriculars, sporting events, and other activities at an increased price.

Top tip! As you price your items, keep in mind that you’d want to keep your snacks affordable while remembering that the upcharge is what goes toward your school’s fundraising revenue.

21. Cookie Dough

Just about everyone loves a freshly baked cookie, but not everyone has the time (or the skillset) to be making cookies from scratch whenever the desire arises. Enter⁠—premade cookie dough and school fundraisers that sell it! This is a great fundraising idea to host as the holiday season approaches, enabling buyers in your community to stock up on their favorite frozen sweets that can just be popped in the oven when needed. Be sure to offer a number of unique and mouthwatering flavors to help drive sales. Your community will thank you!

22. Candy Grams

Students love having the opportunity to gift their friends and significant others a sweet treat on a special occasion. That’s why candy grams are such a popular fundraising idea for schools! To get started, sell candy to students for a small fee. The purchasing student then provides the class schedule for the intended recipient, along with a personalized message. The candy gram is then delivered to the receiving student’s class at a later time in the day or week, allowing for an exciting surprise.

Top tip! You can even host multiple candy gram fundraisers for your school each year. Get students excited with themed offerings, too, and sell holiday-related candy grams leading up to Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and more.

23. Flowers

Flowers are a favorite gift item for parents, grandparents, significant others, and more. Thus, selling flowers as a school fundraiser can be a great way to go! For this idea, there are a few routes you can take. First, you might purchase a particular type of flower in bulk (carnations are a popular choice) and sell them by the stem to students and other individuals who are interested in giving a fully-bloomed flower. Alternatively, you can sell flower bulbs⁠—or ready-to-plant seed-like flower packages⁠—that can be planted and grown by the recipient.

Top tip! These can be especially popular fundraisers around big “flower-centered” holidays such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or even Christmas.

24. Candles

Candles are another great gift that just about everybody would love. Candle-selling fundraisers, as a result, can be a fantastic way to earn money for your school while also providing buyers with an item that they can either keep for themselves or share with a loved one. Be sure to choose some good scents, and even consider seasonal options as well!

25. Coupon Books

Coupon book fundraisers offer a win-win situation for the schools (or other nonprofits) selling them as well as the supporters buying them. The school receives proceeds from the sales, while the buyers receive a bundle of valuable and often exclusive sale offers. In order to create a coupon book that’s worth the cost, be sure to partner with multiple local businesses in your community that are willing to provide free or reduced prices for coupon book users. In return, the businesses receive increased exposure, new customers, and boosted sales!

26. Bake Sale

When it comes to school fundraising ideas, a bake sale is a class choice. The premise is simple⁠—task volunteers (typically students, parents, and teachers) with baking cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and other sweets. Then, identify a day when you’ll sell those items to make a profit. In terms of location, you might decide to host the bake sale at your own school. However, getting set up at a prominent location in your community can help reach more potential customers, so you may want to consider a well-trafficked park or business (with the correct permits and permissions, of course).

27. Online Store

Why limit your school’s product-based fundraising efforts to a brick-and-mortar location? Open an online fundraising store to sell merchandise to expand your efforts, increase sales, and make the buying process as simple as possible for supporters. Then, you can either ship (if you choose to open up your fundraiser to surpass geographic boundaries) or deliver items locally or set a time and place for supporters to pick up their goods. And the best part? You can sell just about anything in your online store!

Online School Fundraising Ideas

Virtual fundraising has taken precedent in the last few years, and its popularity (and convenience) remains high. After all, online fundraisers are not bound by geographic limitations, allowing supporters to give wherever and whenever they’d like.

Online giving as school fundraising ideas

Regardless of whether you’ve built out an online infrastructure for your school, check out these ideas that can be implemented by just about any school:

28. Text-to-Give

Text-to-give offers one of the simplest ways for donors to contribute to their favorite causes at any time, from anywhere. Here’s how it works⁠—your school partners with a text-to-give platform that provides you with a unique mobile giving number (typically a 5-digit “short-code” or a standard 10-digit phone number). Supporters text a pre-determined keyword to the school’s mobile giving number when they’d like to make a donation, and they’re met with an auto-responding text message directing them to a quick online donation form to complete their gift.

Top tip! Be sure to share your school’s mobile giving number and text-to-give keyword far and wide⁠—including on social media, physical displays, event materials, and more.

29. Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding leverages the power of the internet to collect (on average) small to mid-sized donations⁠ from a wide array of people⁠ in the hopes that they add up very quickly. This strategy is typically used to raise money for a particular project or campaign, such as a building expansion, upcoming field trip, extracurricular supplies, and more. And it can be very effective!

Top tip! Though it’s possible to embed a crowdfunding campaign on your own school website, most organizers utilize third-party websites with which to host their fundraisers.

30. Peer-to-Peer Campaign

Peer-to-peer fundraising shares many similarities with crowdfunding (e.g., the vitality of the internet and online campaign pages, the idea that large audiences come together to fund a need, etc.). One of the biggest differences between the two, however, is that peer-to-peer (also referred to as P2P, social, or even team fundraising) efforts empower individual fundraisers with personalized campaign pages. From there, they are able to solicit donations from their friends and families. Though the funds ultimately go to the same place (your school), fundraisers (who, for schools, are typically students) can track their own progress toward individualized goals.

31. Social Media

Social media is one of the most powerful fundraising assets for a wide range of causes. That includes schools! To get started, choose one or more of your favorite social media platforms. Then, you’re ready to launch your campaign. Luckily, sites like Facebook and Instagram come equipped with their own embedded fundraising tools. Depending on your strategy, you might collect funds directly through the social media site, or you may simply use the platform to direct traffic to an external fundraising campaign.

32. Virtual Auction

We’ve already discussed the benefits of an auction fundraiser to raise money for schools like yours. Traditionally, these events are held in person at a physical location, where auction attendees gather to participate and support your school. Now, thanks to continuously developing technology, you can enable supporters to participate in your fundraising auction from all over the world (or the comfort of their own homes) in a virtual auction. Rather than guests participating in the auction face-to-face, items are placed up for bid online (typically using an online auction platform ), and attendees utilize their computers or mobile devices to place their bids. It’s easy, fun, and convenient for attendees⁠—and it can generate a ton of revenue for your school!

33. Online Wishlist

Schools are often in need of classroom supplies and other physical materials, which is, unsurprisingly, what many fundraising dollars end up going toward. However, some supporters prefer donating items directly rather than contributing funds that are then spent on supplies. That’s where an online wishlist fundraiser can come in handy! Think of it as a virtual school supplies drive. All you need to do is partner with an online wishlist platform (such as Amazon or DonorsChoose ) and encourage teachers and faculty to make a list of items they need. Then, share the links to your online wishlist with your students’ families and other community members, who can begin purchasing the items you need.

34. Digital Boxtops

Box Tops for Education have long been a favorite fundraising idea for schools. This is largely because this fundraiser enables students and families to support their schools with the products they likely already purchase at the grocery store. But did you know that Box Tops fundraisers have recently had a complete makeover⁠—and they no longer require scissors to clip? Today, all participants have to do is scan their receipts using the Box Tops app. The app automatically identifies eligible items and instantly adds associated cash to their school’s Box Tops account!

Top tip! Make sure your students, parents, and community members are aware of the revamped way to get involved with Box Tops fundraisers so that they can begin scanning to collect money for your school.

Educational School Fundraising Ideas

What’s more fitting for a school fundraiser than one that is educational in nature? These fundraising ideas allow students to continue learning while also raising funds for their schools!

Mathlete competitions as school fundraising ideas

Here are a few examples:

35. Spelling Bee

Many schools host annual spelling bee events which allow students to showcase their competitive knowledge of the language. But what some don’t know is that a spelling bee can also be one of the greatest fundraising ideas available for schools. Families, friends, and other supporters love coming out to cheer on their students in a spelling bee competition⁠—so consider selling viewing tickets to the audience. You can even go the peer-to-peer route to earn more and have students enlist sponsors who agree to pay a certain dollar amount for every word they spell correctly!

36. Read-a-Thon

A read-a-thon functions similar to a walk-a-thon (or any other event-a-thon). Students solicit pledges from friends and family members who agree to donate a certain amount per page or book read. Instead of everyone reading at the same time, however (which is how a walk-a-thon typically works), participating fundraisers are given a set period in which they can read to their hearts’ desire. For example, a read-a-thon may take place over a week, a month, or a quarter! At the end of the campaign, the students tally the amount they’ve read and request the corresponding agreed-upon amounts from their sponsors (say, 25 cents per page or $5 per book).

37. Mathletes Competition

Similar to spelling bees, many schools offer “mathletes” as an extracurricular activity option for students who love to learn and get further involved in mathematics. While these teams may be competing in a structured competition against other groups in your area, you can also host a mathletes contest as a school fundraising idea. Again, encourage participants to seek sponsors for their teams and sell tickets to a live competition⁠—plus, you can even sell snacks to audience members watching the show!

38. Trivia Night

A trivia night fundraiser can be an engaging and educational fundraising idea that gets the whole community involved⁠—and learning⁠—rather than limiting the fun to the students. Consider hosting an after-hours trivia night to raise money for your school. Set a relatively low price of admission to encourage students, family members, friends, and more to participate. Then, go through a number of quiz-like questions from multiple categories (such as pop culture, sports, news, general knowledge, and more). In the end, you’ll want to provide the winner with a prize (and/or bragging rights!), and the rest of the funds go toward your school.

39. Jeopardy

As a game show fundraiser , hosting a Jeopardy event can be a great way to get your students, parents, donors, and more ready to show off their knowledge and take home the prize. In order to participate, all they’ll need to do is buy a ticket (and when they know the proceeds go to benefit your school, they’ll likely be happy to do so!). In a typical Jeopardy fashion, you’ll provide participants with the answers to various questions⁠—their job being to come up with the associated question.

Top tip! There are many free and paid online jeopardy game templates available to make the set-up process as easy as it can be.

Other Fantastic School Fundraising Ideas

And what about those out-of-the-box fundraising ideas that don’t fit neatly into any of the above categories? We’ve thought of those as well—and here are our favorites:

Penny wars as school fundraising ideas

40. Penny Wars

A penny war fundraiser is great for schools whose students come with a competitive edge. To get started, you’ll first need to decide how teams will be broken up. You might divide students by grade level, subject, or individual class, each of which is provided with a coin jar. When the competition begins, students are encouraged to bring pennies and dollar bills to contribute to their own team’s coin jar, which will add up in points (i.e., pennies are each worth 1 point, $1 bills are worth 100 points, $10 bills are worth 10,000 points, etc.). The twist is that placing nickels, dimes, and quarters in another team’s jar will count negatively toward their total. At the end of a set time period (perhaps a week), the jars are collected and points counted to determine a winner.

41. Day Off Challenge

As a middle or high school student, who wouldn’t enjoy a nice, relaxing day off from school? It’s an exciting prize for the typical student body and something they’d be willing to earn with successful fundraising efforts. That’s why the “day off challenge” fundraiser is a favorite for students, teachers, and faculty alike. All you need to do is set a lofty (yet realistic) fundraising goal and empower your students to collect donations in order to reach it. If they meet or surpass the objective, they’re rewarded with an extra day off school!

42. Letter Writing

Looking for a classic fundraising idea that tends to pay off particularly well? Good ol’ letter writing might be right for you and your school! A letter-writing campaign involves writing and sending tons of fundraising request letters to donors and prospective supporters. In the end, the goal is that the recipient reads the letter, decides to support the school, and sends in their corresponding donation.

Top tip! Get your students involved in the letter-writing aspect of a fundraising letter campaign. Not only can they help speed up the process, but it can also add significant value by incorporating a personal touch.

43. Envelope Wall

An envelope wall offers an easy and fairly passive form of fundraising. All you need to do is set up a display of empty envelopes marked 1-100. Each marked envelope corresponds with a donation amount. For example, Envelope #1 will be filled with $1. Envelope #10 will be filled with $10. And, of course, Envelope #100 will be filled with $100. In the end, if each envelope is filled by a donor, you’ll end up with $5,050!

44. Gift Wrapping

This is another great fundraising opportunity to host leading up to the holiday season. After all, you know students’ parents and other community members are likely making a ton of gift purchases. And perhaps they don’t have the time to wrap them all (or the skill to do so neatly). The solution? Purchase some fun holiday-themed wrapping paper, tape, and scissors, gather a group of volunteers (teachers, faculty members, parents, or even older students), and organize a gift-wrapping party! Gift-givers will be happy to have their presents nicely wrapped, all while supporting your school⁠ fundraising efforts.

45. Photo Shoot

Just about every parent would like professional-looking photos of their children and families. But the typical price tag on those types of photo shoots can be too much to justify sometimes. That’s why schools should consider hosting photo shoot fundraisers. Just get a professional⁠—or otherwise, an experienced amateur⁠—photographer on board, choose a picturesque location, and encourage families to join you at a set date and time for a miniature (and affordable) photo session. You can even sell the prints afterward for additional revenue!

46. Shoe Drive

You’ve probably heard the saying that one man’s trash is another’s treasure. That’s exactly what a shoe drive fundraiser is all about⁠—while also empowering your school to raise much-needed funding. All you need to do is encourage families (and others in your community) to clear out their closets of new and gently used shoes that will, in turn, turn a profit for your school. When you work with a shoe drive fundraising facilitator, the organization of such an idea is as easy as possible. The company may even provide collection materials, help promote the idea to your school, handle the pickup, and exchange the shoes for a check at the end of the fundraiser.

Top tip! Plan this fundraiser in the spring semester to coincide with annual spring cleaning.

47. Anti-Fundraiser

We’ve gone through a long list of fundraising ideas for schools⁠—but maybe what you’re looking for is an anti-fundraiser . And what is that exactly? Various institutions have made use of this unique and interesting non-fundraiser, including a Texas middle school that went viral for the campaign in 2015. One mom shared the creative fundraising letter, which read: “This fundraiser is in lieu of sending students home with the task of selling door-to-door, collecting money, and delivering goods. Please help us avoid that by supporting our PTA with your donation and helping us achieve our goals to support our students and faculty.” Following the introduction, the recipient is encouraged to mark one of several donation levels corresponding to their “appreciation for having nothing to buy, sell, or do except fill out this form.”

What’s Next?

Choose your favorite school fundraising ideas and get started! Any of these fundraisers offer impactful opportunities for increased funding to your institution. Just be sure to equip your fundraising team (of faculty, staff, volunteers, board members, and more) with the right tools to ensure success.

Find out how workplace giving opportunities can elevate any school fundraising ideas and drive revenue with our other guide at   https://www.schoolmoney.org/workplace-giving-and-school-fundraising/ .

15 Tried-and-True Tips for Matching Gifts & Higher Education

12 ingenious fundraising ideas for your school's pta.

SchoolMoney

SchoolMoney

Related posts.

The article's title, "How to Increase Your School Association Membership," over young students walking down a hallway.

How to Increase Your School Association Membership: 5 Tips

A woman putting clothing into a cardboard box for a clothing fundraiser.

A Quick Guide to 5 Types of Clothing Fundraisers for Schools

A father and son walk out of a school together holding hands.

Beyond Thank You Notes: Unique Ways to Acknowledge Donors

Fundly

60+ Fundraising Ideas for Schools and Education [Updated!]

  • #1 Fundraising Idea
  • More Fundraising Ideas
  • Getting Started
  • Fundly Benefits
  • Click to Launch a Fundraiser
  • Successful Fundraising Campaigns
  • Best Practices
  • What Others Say
  • Run a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign
  • Start a Peer-to-Peer Campaign
  • Complete List of Fundraising Ideas
  • For Adoption
  • For Animals
  • For Breast Cancer
  • For Clubs and Organizations
  • For Creative Projects
  • For Fraternities and Sororities
  • For Individuals
  • For Medical and Health
  • For Memorials and Funerals
  • For Military and Veterans
  • For Church and Religious Organizations
  • Complete List
  • For Politics and Public Office
  • For Run/Walk/Rides
  • For Schools and Education
  • For Sports and Teams
  • For Trips and Adventures
  • For Weddings and Honeymoons
  • Crowdfunding Websites
  • Top GoFundMe Alternatives

#1: Raise Money from Families, Students, Faculty, and Staff with a Crowdfunding Campaign for:

Private and public schools.

Private schools and public schools sometimes need additional money to fund special projects, events, or educational efforts.

If your school is looking to raise money from students, parents, faculty, staff, and your community, you should set up a crowdfunding page !

Educational Clubs

Academic clubs, honor societies, and educational clubs often need to raise money to fund their academic undertakings.

If you run or are a part of an academic club or school association, you can use crowdfunding to raise money for your financial needs .

After-School Programs

Many educational institutions have after-school programs that serve as a nurturing environment for students after the last bell.

However, many of these programs are vastly underfunded. To help keep your after-school program going, you can start a crowdfunding campaign .

Daycares can be a great way for parents to ensure that their kids have a safe space to play and learn while they go to work.

Whether your child is enrolled at daycare or you work at one, you can set up a crowdfunding campaign to help bring in a little extra money.

Parent-Teacher Associations

Parent-teacher associations (PTAs) often host several fundraising events throughout the year to raise money for their schools.

But if you’re getting tired of the annual bake sale, you can try setting up a crowdfunding campaign to ask for donations from friends and family!

Extracurricular Programs

Extracurricular programs like sports teams, art programs, band camps, and other school clubs often require extra funding.

If you’re a part of an extracurricular program that needs some fundraising help, look to crowdfunding and start raising more money today !

Use Our #1 Fundraising Idea — Crowdfunding

Raise Money for Your School, College, or University Right Now!

Other School Fundraising Ideas that go Perfectly with a Crowdfunding Campaign

BONUS: Get 99 fundraising ideas for your school or university in a free PDF!   Download our resource to raise funds for elementary, middle, and high school!

See how matching gifts as your next school fundraising idea will help your organization.

Matching Gifts

Double the impact of your fundraising campaign by tapping into your students’ parents’ matching gift eligibility.

Many people don’t know about their employers’ corporate philanthropy initiatives, so make it easy for them to find out by providing them with a matching gift database and then discussing matching gifts in your emails, newsletters, or at school meetings.

You can even get students involved by sending thank-you notes created by the children to employers who contributed a match.

Host a t-shirt fundraiser to raise money for your school costs.

T-Shirt Fundraiser

T-shirts are the perfect product to sell. What student doesn’t love a good, comfortable shirt? Everyone can wear them to celebrate school pride!

If you want to sell t-shirts, look for a provider that takes care of the shipping for you , so that you don’t have to store and distribute hundreds of shirts. 

Students and supporters can make a contribution by purchasing your merchandise. You can plan an event like a walkathon to go with your t-shirt sales. On the day of the event, encourage participants to rock your gear as a way to support their school.

Pledge fundraising can offer unique and educational fundraising ideas for schools.

Pledge Fundraising

The most successful school fundraisers are those that can effectively leverage your #1 source of support— students and their families. That’s where a pledge fundraiser excels!

Whether you choose to host a traditional walk-a-thon or put a unique spin on it with a dance-a-thon, both kids and their families will have a great time. Or, choose an educational alternative like a read-a-thon to raise money while encouraging learning!

Encourage students to sign up and fundraise beforehand, bringing in sponsorships from family, friends, neighbors, and more. Each sponsor will agree to give a set amount to your school for every activity their student successfully completes.

A face mask fundraiser is a unique fundraising idea for schools.

Face Mask Fundraiser

One of the most effective fundraising strategies (for schools or otherwise) is staying relevant to your audience. What’s more relevant than face masks?

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the demand for face masks skyrocketed. In doing so, it’s shown us that it’s always smart to have a mask on hand! In fact, many schools plan to require face masks upon reopening to protect students and staff.

That’s why you should sell face masks with your school logo to raise funds for your school. Not only does it offer an excellent source of funding in a trying time, but it can also boost school spirit — which is always an excellent idea.

Try volunteer grants as your next great school fundraising idea.

Volunteer Grants

Your donors can earn grants based on their volunteer hours! This is quite often the perfect opportunity for parents who prefer to donate their time to their child’s school.

Your donors’ volunteer grant programs will vary depending on their employers.  They range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, so there’s plenty of potential to earn significant revenue from your donors’ volunteer hours.

Why not email all your parent volunteers and ask them to check their eligibility? They’ll likely be happy to discover another way to support the school.

Partner with a local restaurant chain to raise money for your school.

Partner with a Local Restaurant Chain

There are tons of restaurant chains (and even local establishments!) that are willing to partner with schools and educational clubs to help them raise money.

Most of the time, a restaurant chain or local eatery will have designated “school fundraising nights,” where a portion of the sales from that night are donated to the school or club. 

Schools simply have to advertise the night and get the word out about the event. Many restaurant chains will have pre-made flyers or stickers that your students, faculty, staff, and parents can hand out to their friends and family members to promote the fundraiser.

Try out challenge grants as your next school fundraising idea.

Challenge Grants

Look into challenge grants for your next school fundraising idea.

Many grant-making organizations will donate to nonprofit organizations or education institutions based on the organization’s success at raising a certain amount of funds. These challenges are usually fiscally oriented.

Your school will just have to get the word out and advertise your event! Sometimes restaurant chains will have pre-made flyers or stickers that your students and faculty can hand out to promote the fundraiser.

Host a parents' party to raise money for your school.

Host a Parents’ Party

Your students are probably perfect little angels, but their parents need a little break every now and then.

Hosting a parents’ party is an excellent way to give mom and dad a night out with their friends while you raise money for your school!

All you’ll need to do is charge a small amount and set up a fun night of food and drinks for your students’ parents. You can even get volunteers to look after the children so that parents don’t have to pay extra money for a babysitter.

School fundraising ideas like haunted houses can be fun for kids of all ages.

Haunted House Fundraiser

Boo! Don’t be scared; it’s just your next school fundraising idea! A haunted house is a fun way to raise money for your school.

Enlist the help of your school’s drama department and a few spooky volunteers to dress up as ghouls, goblins, witches, and zombies.

Then, charge an admission fee for members of the community who think they can make it through your haunted house without getting scared. Sell cider, hot cocoa, and autumnal treats as concessions to earn extra money.

Classrooms can compete in a penny wars school fundraising idea.

Waging a penny war is one of the best ways to raise a little extra money for your school. You can host it all year long, and it fuels a little class competition.

At the beginning of the school year or semester, set out plastic bins or containers in front of each classroom. Each morning, as students walk into class, they simply drop their spare change into the bins. The first class to fill a container all the way to the top is the victor of the penny war!

The best thing about this fundraiser is that it works for all ages and grades. Your kindergarteners will enjoy collecting pennies just as much as your high school seniors.

Wrap gifts during the holidays to raise money for your school.

Gift-Wrapping Services

Once the holidays roll around, it feels like everyone is in a mad dash to buy and wrap presents for everyone on their list.

You can help these frenzied people out and earn a little extra money for your school or educational organization by offering gift-wrapping services.

You can partner with a local department or retail store or offer gift-wrapping services in a well-trafficked (but spacious) area of your school. Offer extras like bows, ribbons, and tags to earn a little extra money.

Have a teachers in jail fundraiser to raise money for your school.

Teachers in Jail Fundraiser

A teachers in jail fundraiser is a quick and easy way to raise a lot of money. Plus, students get a little break from classes, and teachers can catch up on grading and planning.

The premise is simple: classes pay a certain amount to have their teacher thrown in “jail” for that class period. The students get to hang out in the gym or on the playground or in another communal area.

The teacher obviously doesn’t really go to jail. He or she simply stays in the classroom and works on planning, grading, or other tasks. Even if you just have a few class periods in the day, your school stands to raise hundreds or even thousands of dollars!

School fundraising ideas like hat days won't cost a cent to run.

Hat Day Fundraiser

Give your students the chance to express their personal style with a hat day fundraiser. At most schools, wearing hats is against the dress code.

Invite your students to wear their favorite hat for a day. To obtain hat-wearing privileges, students (and even faculty and staff!) can donate a $1 to your school.

Make sure to promote your day in advance by planning school announcements and tacking posters around the school. The great thing about this fundraiser is that students of all ages can participate.

Host a straw draw to raise money for your school

Straw Draw Fundraiser

A straw draw is an easy fundraiser that you can pull off before the school day starts, during a short break, or as kids are leaving to go home.

Buy a pack of bendy straws and attach different prizes to each straw. Common prizes include extra recess time, two cookies at lunch, or a special parking spot (for your high school students who drive). You can even have different straws for teachers and students.

Students and teachers then pay a dollar to pick a straw out of a basket or container. It’s so easy, you’ll be wondering why you haven’t been hosting this fundraiser from the first day of school!

Create a principal punishment school fundraising idea.

Principal Punishment

A principal punishment can be a hilarious way to get your school in the fundraising mood while poking a little fun at your principal or administrator.

Have students vote on their favorite “punishment” by placing money in containers in a central location. The punishments could range from hair dyeing to wearing a silly costume for a week. Make sure that you promote the fundraiser for several weeks to get students excited about the “punishment.”

Once the voting period is over, hold the principal to his or her side of the bargain. Students will get a kick out of the event, and you’ll raise some extra money!

Why not turn old shoes into donations to your school? Hold a shoe drive fundraiser and work with a company who will pay you for your old shoes!

Every year, the average person throws away 7.5 pairs of shoes. Why not turn those shoes into donations to your school? Eliminate tons of waste and raise money with the same event! It’s as simple as that.

To hold a shoe drive fundraiser, you’ll need to do some research to find a company who will partner with your school and accept your shoes. Look for a company like Funds2Orgs , who will pick up your donated shoes and send you a check based on the number of pounds you gave. 

Plan a few drop-off locations around the school and in your community—students aren’t the only ones who can partcipate in your school shoe drive!

Host a pet party as a school fundraising event.

You can make your pet party as fancy or casual as you’d like!

Your students will be so excited to see their furry best friends during the school day!

During your school’s lunch period, your students’ parents can bring their pups and cats in for a round of show-and-tell. Hold the event in a courtyard or sports field on a warm day, and remember to set up water stations for the pets.

Charge a small admission fee per pet and make sure you set up a donation table. 

Host a chili cook-off to fundraise.

Chili Cook-Off

A chili cook-off is the perfect way to build community over a great meal.

Recruit your school’s best cooks from the many teachers, parents, and faculty to cook up a mean pot of chili for the event. Then, sell tickets and let your school’s community come taste!

Have attendees vote on which chili is the best by placing singles in each chili’s determined box and you can give the winner a trophy, all while raising money for your school!

Host a pajama day school fundraising idea for students in elementary school.

Pajama days are good fundraising ideas for school, and there’s a good reason for that: they work!

Advertise your pajama day well in advance and let students know that they have to pay a couple of dollars to wear their comfy pajamas to school for one whole day.

When the day arrives, go around to classrooms to collect the money and give students a special sticker to wear. This helps you know who has paid to wear their pajamas throughout the halls!

Raise money for your school with a fish tank fundraiser.

Fish Tank Funds

A fish tank fundraiser is such an easy and low-cost school fundraiser, you’ll wonder why you never planned one before.

All you have to do is acquire a large fish tank. You don’t even have to buy one; try to get it donated if you can! Then, set it out in the front of your school or in a hallway.

Students and teachers then drop in their spare coins and bills to see how quickly they can fill the fish tank. This fundraiser can take place all year long as well, so you’ll be able to raise quite a bit of money!

A read-a-thon is a school fundraising idea for students of all ages.

Read-a-thon

What teacher wouldn’t love an educational fundraiser that promotes reading  and  raises money for their school?

A read-a-thon is the perfect educational fundraiser! Students obtain pledges from their friends and family members for the number of pages or books that they can read in a semester.

Then, they log their reading times. Once the semester ends, the supporters fulfill their end of the bargain and donate however much money they pledged. You can even offer a prize to the student who reads the most!

Your school can start a peer-to-peer campaign to raise money.

Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

Peer-to-peer fundraising is a great fundraising idea for schools of all shapes and sizes. Not only does it enable your school to raise more money, it also helps you expand your existing donor base !

In a nutshell, peer-to-peer fundraising enlists the fundraising help of your current supporters and empowers them to ask for donations on behalf of your school.

Each supporter builds his or her own donation page from a template that is tied back to your school’s main fundraising page. Then, your supporters reach out to their friends and family members and ask for donations for your cause or project!

Charity auctions are popular school fundraising ideas.

Charity Auctions

Charity auctions can be a fast-paced and energetic way for your school to raise more money and interact with your donors face-to-face. You also have the opportunity to form some solid business connections!

Ask for charity auction items from local businesses; try to get as many items donated for close to nothing. That way, you can put your budget into creating a great atmosphere for your attendees.

Hire an auctioneer, send out invites, and cater in food and drinks. Make sure that everyone is aware of the rules of your charity auction beforehand. People will walk away with some unique items and experiences, and your school can raise more money!

You can write letters as a school fundraising idea.

Writing Letters

Writing letters is a great way to raise money for your cause, project, or event. You can send out letters asking for general donations, sponsorships, charity auction items, volunteer time, and more!

Your letters should be genuine and personal. Always start with your donor’s preferred name and try to reference any past relationship or donations.

You can use letters to direct people to your online giving pages or crowdfunding campaign, but you should also include a self-addressed envelope within your letter to encourage people to send in checks (make sure you tell donors not to send cash!).

School fundraising ideas like silent auctions make for great events.

Silent Auctions

Silent auctions are a fun way to get a little more face time with your donors while they bid on unique and appealing items up for grabs. Plus, if you find the right auction items, you have the potential to raise a lot of money!

Ask local businesses and individuals if they would like to donate items to your silent auction. Common items include gift cards to restaurants, signed memorabilia, lessons from a professional of some kind, gift baskets, and more!

You can enlist the help of a mobile bidding tool to create a tech-enhanced bidding experience for your attendees. Mobile bidding software also makes checking in, checking out, and item monitoring easier on your auction volunteers and staff.

Schools can host a walkathon to raise money for their cause or project.

Walkathons are perfect for active supporters who like to show their passion for a cause. Walkathons are well-suited for healthcare-related issues and causes, but they can technically be used for any type of fundraising effort!

You’ll need to determine a location and time for your walkathon. Choose a season that is a good temperature with minimal risk of rain. Make sure you have a backup location just in case!

Then, send out invitations and design some merchandise like t-shirts and water bottles. You can sell these for an extra fee to raise money above any entrance costs you charge. Make sure you have medical and first-aid supplies nearby in the case of an accident.

Encourage your students to donate via phone as a school fundraising idea.

Text-to-Give

Text-to-give is a relatively new way for schools to raise money, but it’s an effective way to accept donations. Nearly everyone has a smartphone, making text-to-give a natural fundraising technique .

You’ll need to choose a text-to-give provider that offers all of the features you’re looking for. From there, it’s all about promoting your text-to-give option to your supporters! Post your text-to-give number and short code on promotional materials and mention it in your communications.

Soon, donors will be using your text-to-give tool to give from wherever they are! You can even incorporate text-to-give into your next event or gathering and encourage all of your attendees to pull out their phones and make a donation right then and there.

Sell a stuffed version of your school mascot as a way to raise funds.

School Mascot

Young students will love to have a cuddly, stuffed version of their school mascot, while older students will enjoy the keepsake to remember their school by. Even teachers will enjoy displaying the animal on their desks.

To start selling stuffed mascots, find a company that can customize and ship stuffed animals to your school.

You can sell your mascot at your school store (if you have one) or at games and events. Everyone will want to buy your cute, soft stuffed mascot to show their school pride!

Sell candy as a way to raise money for your school.

Candy Grams

Candy grams can help your school raise funds and build communication between your students. Plus, it’s a school fundraiser idea that’s relatively inexpensive to host and can be customized to fit holidays like Valentine’s Day and Halloween.

You can charge students a small fee ($0.50 or $1) to send out a personalized note and a piece of candy to one of their friends.

Students can send as many candy grams as they want. Even teachers can join in on the fundraiser by sending grams to their students or fellow teachers.

Host a spring cleaning yard sale to fundraise for your school.

Spring Cleaning Yard Sale

When your students return from spring break, you can host a yard sale. Ask your students to bring in all the items they no longer want to raise funds for your school.

You can host your yard sale on a Saturday and encourage the whole neighborhood to find a bargain! 

Don’t forget to promote the event on social media, via email, and with flyers. The more people know about your event, the more likely they’ll be to show up and support you!

Host a can and bottle drive to raise funds your school.

Bottle and Can Drive

Collecting bottles and cans from your students and the rest of the community is a simple and practically free fundraising idea for schools. Plus, it encourages students to recycle!

You’ll need to set up donation points that are accessible to the public. You can set up a point at the front office since it will be easy to find. 

Don’t forget to promote your drive to the students  and  your community to maximize how much you raise. Local restaurants and other business should have a lot of cans and bottles to donate.

Turn your principal into a sundae to raise funds!

Giant Sundae

The giant sundae fundraiser is a simple event where you turn your principal (or administrator) into a sundae! This silly fundraiser lets students work together to achieve a hilarious outcome and raise money.

For the event, you’ll need ice cream and toppings as well as a place that can be easily cleaned (like the cafeteria). 

Assign a fundraising goal to each topping. For example, $100 buys a scoop of ice cream, and to add sprinkles the students have to raise $150. Each topping should get messier and thus cost more to add.

Sell car decals as a simple school fundraising idea.

Car Decal Sale

High school and college students love to personalize their cars! Your school can sell car decals to students, as well as teachers and parents.

For this fundraiser, you’ll need to partner with a company that can create decals with your school’s colors and mascot. 

Once you have your decals, sell them at sports games, school events, and your school store. You’ll be surprised how much you can make with this simple school fundraising idea.

Battle of the Bands is the perfect way to spread creativity and raise money for your school.

Battle of the Bands

Battle of the Bands is the perfect way to encourage creative extracurriculars and raise money.

Set up your “venue” in your school’s gymnasium or auditorium for your students. Create a sign-up sheet (this can be physical or online) for bands who would like to participate. Spread the word through email, on social media, and with flyers!

You can sell tickets at the door or before the event. Tickets can be $5 before the show and $10 at the door. You can sell concessions to attendees, too!

Organize a trivia night!

Trivia Night

Organize a trivia night and put your students’ knowledge to the test.

Plan out questions and arrange your space to accommodate the games. Make sure you organize how the game of trivia will proceed–you don’t want a chaotic fundraiser! 

You can hold your event in your school’s gymnasium or even partner up with a local restaurant for the night. If the business is interested in donating, suggest a portion of the proceeds from the events’ attendee purchases go to your school. Promote your event in advance and charge an entry fee for participants.

Give students time to shine and hold a talent show!

Talent Show

Does your school have talented students?

Give your talented students time to shine and try a talent show!  From dancing to singing to juggling, your students can showcase whatever talents they have. Set up your auditorium for the event with microphones, and lights. Remember to charge a small fee to participants, and a small admission fee to attendees. You can set up a booth and sell concessions at the event, too!

Let attendees know what you’re raising money for and set up a donation table at the event.

Give students the chance to be active and hold a field day to raise money for your school.

Usually geared toward younger kids, a field day is your chance to get older kids involved! Give them traditional games to look forward to for an active day outside.

Let students choose from tug of war, potato sack races, water balloon tosses, corn-hole, etc. You can charge a small admission fee or charge per game. Set up a concessions stand and you can sell merchandise, too!

Don’t forget about the parents. While their kids are running around playing games, they’ll want a shaded area to sit and chat with each other. Set up a tent with a handful of folding chairs and some water.

Host a bingo night to raise money!

Bingo Night (Kids Edition)

Bingo is a simple but fun game that you can even gear towards the little ones!

Use a school or weekend night to host this event and be sure to tell people why you’re holding it!

Charge a small admission fee and accept donations throughout the night. Remember to have small prizes for your winners!

Concessions stands are always an option to raise a little extra, too! This will be a fun event you can use to create a sense of community within your school.

A Rubber Duck Race is a fun and silly fundraising event.

Rubber Duck Race

A Rubber Duck Race is a fun and silly fundraising event that can raise friendly competition among your students.

Buy yellow rubber ducks and write numbers on the bottoms of them before you sell your tickets (with matching numbers) to your participants. Next, put your rubber ducks in a nearby pond or stream and the first duck to cross the finish line is the winner!

You can provide your first place winner a prize. Remember to set up a concessions stand, charge a small entry fee, and catch all the ducks when you’re finished!

Sell doughnuts to raise money for your school!

Sell Doughnuts

Plenty of schools and organizations sell snacks to raise money because it works!

Pick a snack that will call at your community’s sweet tooth and look to companies, like Krispy Kreme, who partner with schools and clubs for fundraising events.

Be sure to tell the individuals buying doughnuts why you’re selling. You can also focus on seasonal snacks, like pumpkin cookies or peppermint bark.

Fundraising ideas like game nights are simple ways to raise money.

Host a game night where students, parents, and faculty can enjoy a few games.

You can even make this event recurring, just make sure you have a good variety of games to play .

You can host the event right in your gymnasium. Set up a few tables and chairs, and recruit faculty to organize and chaperone the event.

Don’t forget to charge a small admission fee to participants.

A school picnic is a great fundraising idea.

School Picnic

Here’s another chance to get your school’s community together over good food!

You all can enjoy fresh air and each other’s company. Sell tickets to students and their families so they can spend their lunch period outside, or you can host the event on the weekend so more parents can attend.

Pick a nice day and then all you need to do is provide food, set up some blankets, and enjoy!

Your mock Olympic games will be a fundraising success!

Your Own Olympic Games

Everyone loves and comes together over the Olympics, so why not replicate the games and raise money for your school ?

You’ll need some time to plan for this one, but hosting your own Olympic games will be an exciting way to raise money.

You can organize track and field events, swimming competitions, and more, depending on your school’s facilities. Charge a small admission fee for attendees and sell concessions! You can even have a medal ceremony as an incentive for your participants.

One school fundraising idea is the buy-a-brick fundraiser.

Buy-a-Brick Fundraiser

A buy-a-brick fundraiser is a great addition to your school’s garden.

Many schools have a walkway made of pavers in their gardens so this is the perfect solution for raising money and creating a memory. As students graduate, you can sell bricks they can engrave with their names, graduation dates, and program focuses to add to your school’s garden. 

This fundraiser is a perfect way to make students feel like part of your school! This gives them something to look for when they visit in later years.

Have your school hold a read-a-thon!

Everyone loves a good book! With this fundraiser, your school’s library will get plenty of visits.

This educational fundraiser promotes reading and raises money for your school.  Ask your community to donate old and gently used books.

Next, pick a week to host your book drive! Set up tables in the library or lobby of your school for the most exposure. Sell books during the school day and during the evening so parents can attend. Whatever doesn’t sell can be additions to your library! It’s a win-win.

Host a balloon raffle as a fun, exciting school fundraising idea.

Balloon Raffle

Often paired with other events, balloon raffles are easy and fun!

It’s a foolproof way to raise money. The only materials you need to supply are raffle tickets and balloons! Place the tickets inside the balloons and sell them to your students for a dollar each. 

After everyone has their  balloons, whoever has the chosen ticket wins a prize! 

Balloon and lantern releases are a great way to raise money.

Lantern Release

Balloon and lantern releases can be a way to raise money for your school!

Organize an evening to invite students, parents, and faculty to light lanterns and release them into the sky.

You can charge per balloon or lantern and/or have a general donations table. You can hold this event in memorial for an individual or tack this event onto the end of another!

Try a reverse raffle to raise money.

Reverse Raffle

We all know what a regular raffle is, so why not try a reverse raffle?

This fundraiser is a fun and good way to raise money because i t can be a standalone fundraiser or an addition to an event!

Sell tickets to your participants. Once everyone has placed their tickets in a bowl, draw out numbers over the course of the day or event. The person with the last ticket in the bowl is the winner!

A scavenger hunt is a great fundraising idea for schools.

Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt is a great way for students, parents, and faculty to work together! And you can raise money!

Encourage teams of students, parents, and faculty to sign up and you can charge a small admission fee. Place your registration sheet in your school’s lobby. Create a course and hide items in your classrooms, cafeteria, library, and more!

Winners can even receive a small prize!

Encourage healthy lifestyles and raise money for your school by selling custom water bottles.

Custom Water Bottles

A huge component to staying healthy is drinking more water throughout a workout or throughout the day. You can hold this fundraiser as a standalone or tack it onto an event like a walk-a-thon.

Find a company that’ll let you customize your bottles and start selling! You can even customize the bottle for each class to make them more attractive to students.

It’s perfect to raise money and promote a healthy lifestyle to your students!

Help your community save money with coupon books, a great school fundraising idea.

Coupon Books

Ev eryone loves saving some extra change.

Partner with a printing company that produces coupon books and put your order in! Next, spread the word and start selling (and helping your community!). Help your community save money and raise money for your school in one fell swoop by selling coupon books.

You can promote these booklets on social media, in email blasts, and by word-of-mouth.

Bonus: Elementary School Fundraising Ideas

Pizza bingo is a great elementary school fundraising idea.

Pizza Bingo

Pizza bingo is a night of food and fun! Students and their families can pay a fee to eat unlimited pizza and play plenty of rounds of bingo.

Your school will need to provide small prizes to your winners (and, at the end of the night, you should offer prizes to the students who didn’t win as well).

You can find bingo providers online. You’ll also need an emcee to announce numbers and rile up the crowd.

Create and sell a cookbook as a fundraising idea.

With a cookbook fundraiser, you can involve your elementary school students directly in the fundraising process.

First, have students in each class bring in family recipes.

Then, laminate the recipes and bind them into a booklet. Sell the completed cookbooks to students and families.

Parents will be eager to purchase a cookbook with a huge variety of recipes, especially when their own children have contributed to it!

Guessing games are a great fundraising idea for your cause.

Guessing Games

Guessing games are classic elementary school fundraisers.

All you need is a jar filled with the candy of your choice (think something small, like jelly beans!).

Students and teachers can guess the amount of candy that they think is in the jar, paying $1 per guess.

The winner takes home the entire jar!

Bonus: Middle School Fundraising Ideas

Create a picnic as a fundraising idea for schools and education.

A school picnic is a chance to get the entire student body outside for some fresh air, food, and fun.

Sell picnic tickets to students and families so that they can enjoy spending a unique lunch period in the sunshine. Alternatively, you can host your picnic on the weekend when parents are more likely to be available.

All your school needs to do is choose a nice spring or fall day, set up picnic tables or blankets, and provide food and drinks to your attendees.

Sell popcorn as a way to raise funds for your cause.

Popcorn is a versatile snack that can appeal to all kinds of donors.

Middle school students will love the chance to sell different varieties of popcorn, especially if your school offers some kind of prize or incentive! Popcorn sells especially well near the holidays or at sporting events.

Your school will need to find a gourmet popcorn vendor. Some may offer profit margins as high as 58%.

Start a car wash as a way to raise funds.

A car wash is a great middle school fundraising idea because it gets everyone outside.

Plus, a car wash is an incredibly simple fundraiser to pull off. All you need are the suds, water, some sponges, and signs for advertising. Simply charge around $5 per car!

Rally a group of eager students to stand a safe distance from the road and draw attention to your car wash with signs.

Bonus: High School Fundraising Ideas

Sell old prom dresses as a way to raise money for your school.

Prom Dress Drive

A prom dress drive is the perfect high school fundraising idea because it helps your school and your students.

Members of your community and alumni can donate their old, gently used prom dresses. After all, most people only wear their prom dresses once!

Then, your school can sell the dresses to your students at a discounted price. Your students get a great deal on prom dresses, and your school raises money!

A great fundraising idea for schools and education is to host a multicultural fair.

Multicultural Fair

A multicultural fair is a great way for high school students to showcase their heritages.

Student groups can perform cultural demonstrations or sell products and food.  Offer an incentive to the group who raises the most money!

Though this event will take a good deal of planning, your school has the opportunity to raise money and educate your students about different cultures at the same time.

A coffee fundraiser is a fantastic high school fundraising idea.

Coffee is a popular beverage for both high school students and their families.

Your school can either sell coffee beans (try fair trade coffee!), or you can sell cups of coffee during the school day.  Local coffee shops may be able to provide gourmet coffee at a discounted rate.

Either way, rally your students to make the sales. They can reach out to their friends and peers with a personalized sales pitch!

Getting Started With Your Fundraising Campaign

Fundly Makes it Easy to Raise Money for Your School

It’s Fast & Simple Quickly raise money for your school or education-related cause with a personalized and unique crowdfunding campaign. Get up and running in five minutes and start accepting donations almost instantly.

It’s Personalized Create a beautiful fundraising page for your school, educational club, or PTA with simple tools to upload images and videos. Tell your school’s unique story and help more people connect to your fundraiser.

  It’s Free You shouldn’t have to invest money to raise money for your school! With Fundly, there are no start-up costs. We charge a small fee on donations only if you raise money.

Start a Fundraiser for Your School

Don’t worry, it’s easy! With Fundly , your school’s crowdfunding campaign can be up and running in minutes. Just set up a profile, tell your story, and upload photos and videos to get started.

Add Images and Tell Your Story

Uploading images and videos of students and teachers (with permission, of course!) can be a great way to show your supporters exactly where their donations are going.

Share Your Fundraiser

People in your community won’t know about your crowdfunding campaign unless you promote it! Share your page on social media sites, like Facebook and Twitter, and send emails to parents, students, faculty, and staff.

People like to feel appreciated! Make sure that you acknowledge your crowdfunding campaign’s supporters and give them updates about the progress of your fundraising efforts.

Benefits of Using Fundly for Your School Fundraising

Keep it all.

With Fundly, there’s no need to raise a minimum amount, meet a deadline, or pay penalties if you don’t reach a goal. Your school gets to keep whatever money you raise, minus any fees.

Create a crowdfunding campaign for your school or educational club for FREE. Pay absolutely nothing until you receive your first contribution.

Excellent Customer Service

Get set up quickly and easily, whether you’re tech-savvy or not. Our interface is super easy, and our team is always here to help.

Instant Fundraising

Create your school’s campaign in just a few minutes and start raising money quickly and easily. You can begin accepting donations from students, parents, faculty, and staff almost instantly.

At only a few cents for every dollar you raise, Fundly is one of the most affordable ways to raise money for your school, educational club, or PTA.

Deep Social Integration

Reach out to your students, their parents, your staff, and your coworkers with our social integrations. Share your school’s campaign via social media sites and email.

Fundraising Campaigns for Schools

Fundraising campaign for living/travel expenses while teaching in thailand.

Click to start your own school fundraiser just like this one!

Check out this fundraising campaign Sam is running to teach in Thailand.

Sam is about to finish her graduate work in Mental Health Counseling and Expressive Arts Therapy. Upon graduation, she is traveling to Thailand to teach English and Art. She started a crowdfunding campaign to raise $1,200 to help fund the trip.

Sam is more than halfway to her goal, and her campaign still has time left. Sam’s campaign does a great job of setting out giving levels, as well as specific details around what the money will accomplish and why she needs it. Because of that, she’s on track to reach the goal for her education-based fundraiser.

Crowdfunding Campaign for an Improv Summer Camp

This summer camp for autistic teens and teachers ran an education-related fundraiser.

Camp Yes And… started a crowdfunding campaign to help keep their summer improv camp free for the autistic students that attend each year. The camp trains teachers and helps these students express themselves through improvisational theatre.

The original financial goal was $5,500, but nearly 70 donors showed their support of the camp and managed to raise $6,660! It’s important to note that the organizer clearly detailed what the donations would be going toward and how the camp helps students who are on the autism spectrum express themselves more clearly.

Start Raising Money For Your School or Educational Program

Campaign to Cover the Costs of the Ray Bradbury Library

See how one school organized a crowdfunding school fundraiser.

After receiving a high influx of Ray Bradbury memorabilia (books, papers, letters, etc.), the Center for Ray Bradbury Studies was in need of funding to cover the costs of properly caring for Bradbury’s belongings. So, they started a campaign to raise $5,000.

Thanks to hard work and great fundraising, the campaign exceeded its goal and brought in $6,371! Highlights of the stellar campaign included creative giving levels and a thorough description.

Crowdfunding Campaign and Walkathon for an Elementary School

Check out the walkathon Palisades Elementary School organized.

“Catch Me if You Can, Pali” is a walkathon dedicated to fulfilling critical classroom needs at Palisades Elementary. To put their fundraising into overdrive, they decided to run a crowdfunding and peer-to-peer fundraiser during the lead up.

When all was said and done, they had raised a whopping $22,723! A big reason why the elementary school was able to raise so much money, was that they combined two of the best school fundraising ideas: crowdfunding and peer-to-peer fundraising!

Best Practices for Your School’s Crowdfunding Campaign

Share visuals.

Upload multiple photos and videos of your school, students, or teachers (with permission, of course!) to show donors  where their contributions are going. Media can help people connect more closely to your school’s crowdfunding campaign.

Learn more about shooting and posting great crowdfunding photos .

  • Tell Your Story

No two crowdfunding campaigns are alike, but you can help your school’s fundraiser stand out by telling donors why your cause or project is unique. Tell your story (and your students’ stories!) to connect with your supporters.

Check out these examples of great crowdfunding descriptions .

The best way to raise money and awareness for your school’s crowdfunding campaign is to share it on social media. Obviously, you don’t want to overwhelm your followers, but you should share your campaign on Facebook and Twitter on a regular basis.

Learn more about sharing your crowdfunding campaign with your network .

Share Updates

Keep your supporters updated throughout your school’s crowdfunding campaign and once it’s over. You can share detailed updates about your students every few weeks or celebrate little victories with shorter updates. Donors will appreciate it!

Check out these tips for writing crowdfunding updates .

See What Others Say:

essay about fundraising in school

Last year, I was the vice president of my school’s student government association. We usually host several fundraising events throughout the year, but I thought that we should try a crowdfunding campaign just to see what would happen. We ran a fall semester campaign and raised a ton of money from students, parents, and teachers!

essay about fundraising in school

I’m the band director at my local middle school. We needed money to travel to our state band competition, so I set up a crowdfunding page on Fundly. Within weeks, we had enough money (and some left over!) to travel to our state capital and participate in our competition ( P.S. We won! ).

essay about fundraising in school

My students wanted to raise money to send to a charity before they got off for winter break. I decided that a crowdfunding campaign was the easiest way to consolidate our efforts. We were able to raise hundreds of dollars, and all of it went to a local nonprofit that works with homeless youth!

Over $330 Million Raised To Date

Additional resources for your fundraising success.

Get 7 tips for fundraising success to help you raise more money.

7 Tips for Fundraising Success

Every crowdfunding campaign can use a little help every now and then!

Whether you need advice about shooting and uploading crowdfunding photos, writing descriptions and updates, or sharing your fundraiser with your friends and family members, we’ve got your back.

Click below to learn more about the top seven crowdfunding tips that can be used for all types of fundraising efforts and campaigns!

essay about fundraising in school

10 Fundraising Examples

You’ve heard the stories about fundraisers surpassing their goal, but how often does that really happen?

The answer? More frequently than you might think! In fact, individuals and organizations often meet  and  exceed their goals when they use Fundly to set up a fundraiser and share it with their friends and family members.

Check out these ten crowdfunding campaigns that all exceeded their fundraising goals by sizable margins in just a matter of weeks!

Before your start fundraising, understand the basics with this ultimate crowdfunding guide.

Understand Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding has been used to raise money for everything from creative projects to medical costs and more!

Why is it so popular? Well, it might have something to do with the fact that a crowdfunding campaign is insanely easy to set up and share with your friends, family members, coworkers, and other peers.

See for yourself! Take a look at our Ultimate Guide to Crowdfunding and learn how you can make the most of this fundraising craze!

Raise Money for Any Cause - Start Your Fundly Fundraiser

Are we missing your fundraising platform, nonprofit service, or fundraising idea on this page?

Shoot us an email and let us know, crowdfunding resources.

  • Crowdfunding (Beginner’s Guide)
  • 30+ Standout Crowdfunding Websites
  • Success Stories

Fundraising Resources:

  • 150+ Fundraising Ideas
  • 45+ Youth Fundraising Ideas
  • How to Ask for Donations
  • Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Guide

Popular Resources

  • GoFundMe Alternatives
  • 12 Types of Sponsorship Letters and How to Write Them
  • Top Companies That Donate to Nonprofits
  • How to Write a Fundraising Letter

Fundly - Fundraising For All

Fundly is dedicated to providing you with the tools you need to raise money for whatever your cause may be.

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Message

essay about fundraising in school

67 Good Fundraising Ideas for Schools in 2023 (High, Middle + Examples)

essay about fundraising in school

Welcome, class. We're so glad to have you with us. Today, we'll be learning about the best fundraising ideas for schools so that you can raise money, build community, and give every kid the educational experience they deserve. From candy grams to shoe drives and school dances to field days, here are favorite ideas to boost your fundraising and your school spirit. Put on your thinking cap, and let's get started.

The 67 best fundraisers for schools

In an ideal world, every school would have limitless funds for classroom supplies, technology upgrades, playground equipment, and more. Unfortunately, that's often not the case. If you're turning to fundraising to raise money for your school, here are the best school fundraisers to support the next generation—guaranteed to make you teacher's pet.

Our favorite fundraising ideas for schools

  • Read-a-thon
  • Farmers' Market

There's no such thing as a bad idea, but there are certainly some that are just a bit better. To kick things off, check out our favorite fundraisers for schools, with fundraising ideas that are sure to teach everyone a lesson. (But in a good way!)

1. Read-a-thon

Encouraging kids to read and raising money for a good cause? It's all here in one brilliant school peer-to-peer fundraising campaign. Friends and family sponsor aspiring bookworms by pledging a certain amount of money per minute of reading or per page read. Then, students turn off the television and read as much as possible to meet their fundraising goal!

2. Farmers' market

A lot of us grow our own vegetables, fruits, herbs, or flowers—and we often find ourselves with A LOT of zucchini on our hands. Instead of the usual bake sale, have students and their families sell their extra produce at a farmers' market in the school gym. And hey, if you want to include a mini-bake sale in the mix to bring in some additional donations, we won't judge. After all, kale and cookies totally cancel each other out.

3. Stone soup

We've all read the folk story, and it is more than a lesson: it's a great fundraising idea! Get some very large pots, and some very flavorful stones, and have everyone bring one ingredient that they enjoy. Simmer, stir, and then sell bowls of stone soup. And here's a bonus tip: consider making different stone soups to accommodate various dietary restrictions.

4. Other soup-er soups

While we're on the soup train (mmm … soup train), why not max out your fundraiser—or hold a follow-up event—by asking families to make a pot of their culture's favorite soup? From matzo ball and miso to minestrone and mulligatawny, you'll try some new flavors and learn about different cultures. Consider asking local business owners to donate soups, too! They can hand out 10%-off discount cards to entice people back to their restaurants.

Easy fundraisers for schools

  • Cute Letters
  • Dine Out To Donate
  • Candy and Bake Sale

Anyone with kids knows how it feels to be short on time and energy, and that means that the best fundraising ideas are the easy-breezy ones. If you want fundraising that's as easy as ABC, check out these easy fundraising ideas for schools.

5. Cute letters

First on our list of easy school fundraising ideas, ye olde letter-writing campaign. This works best for kids who are still finessing those writing skills because their letters are super adorable. Have all the kids write directly to friends and family members, explaining why they're raising money in their own words. Hand-deliver the notes to make this a low-cost, high-return fundraiser.

6. Dine out to donate

For this super-easy school fundraiser (and a classic in the world of nonprofit fundraising events), you just need a local restaurant or shop to donate a percentage of their profits for the day to your school. Since you'll be working with local businesses, you want to help them out, too. By choosing a slow day and advertising the event at school and across social media, you'll bring them more customers, making up for the amount they're donating back.

7. Sell yummy things

It's not the most creative, but it is one of those classic, easy school fundraisers. Plenty of places, from Krispy Kreme to Auntie Anne's Pretzels, let you buy their goods at a discount and sell them at a profit. Students of all ages can go door-to-door (with a parent for the little ones!) or set up shop in a popular area. Then, just wait for the hungry hordes.

Choose Funraise to help with your school's fundraising

Get started now, for free.

Fun fundraising ideas for schools

At Funraise, we believe fundraisers should be (wait for it) fun. So naturally, we've got lots of ideas for fun fundraisers for schools. Whew, can you say that three times fast? When you just want to let loose and raise funds in a fun way, these fun school fundraising ideas will get the job done.

8. Photo-licious fundraiser

Kids really, really love taking photos, don't they? Loan them your iPhones (get a warranty first), buy a bunch of polaroid cameras, or rent equipment. Then, let the kids snap pics to their hearts' content. Here's the fun school fundraiser idea: get a volunteer to help kids hone their photography skills and charge a small fee to participate, do some crowdfunding by posting them on social media, and/or select the best photos for a calendar for parents.

9. Iron Chef bake sale

Everyone loves a theme, so make your typical bake sale a bit more exciting by choosing a secret ingredient to feature in all the baked goods. Email it out to everyone a few days ahead of time; they then have to use it in their sweet-and-sticky creations. Chocolate or citrus is easy, but people just might shell out the big bucks to see who can successfully make a kale cake.

10. Board game night

When we think of fun activities, board games always top our fun-tastic list. So, next up in fun school fundraiser ideas, how about a board game night? Invite students and their families to dress up in their finest athleisure or PJs and engage in a night of friendly competition. Charge a small entry fee and sell popcorn and hot chocolate for extra fundraising oomph. You can even sell raffle tickets and raffle off a few game-themed prizes—old Atari games, anyone?

Preschool fundraising ideas

Fundraising in schools starts young these days! For the littlest students, there are plenty of ways to raise funds and make some memories. Start with these totally tantrum-free preschool fundraiser ideas.

11. Parent-kid talent show

Yes, preschoolers are likely to be less “talented” than older kids, but also any talents they do have will be very adorable. That's why we like the idea of a caretaker-kid talent show that gets everyone involved in fundraising. Charge admission to raise those funds, and sell candy bars or cocoa for a bit of extra money. Parents, guardians, or caretakers can support the kids in their big stage debut or vice versa. Calling all amateur magicians: a four-year-old assistant sounds very entertaining to us!

12. Parents' night out

For a small donation, teachers and staff play babysitter for the evening. This is a great fundraiser because everyone wins—the school gets some much-needed funds, the kids get to socialize, and the parents get to Netflix and chill (nope, we're not explaining that to the kiddos).

13. Toy makeover day

Bring in your furless Furbies and Barbies streaked with permanent marker: it's time for a makeover. Get the art teacher to help, gather parent-volunteers, or hire a professional makeup artist, then give those tired toys a brand-new life with a brand-new look. And here's a classic fundraising strategy: Post the results on social media and ask community members to vote on the best makeover—for a donation, but of course. The toy with the most votes gets a spa day.

Elementary school fundraisers ideas

We all know that time makes you bolder and children get older. Once kids are in elementary school, fundraising is a great opportunity to contribute to their community and learn about giving back. Below, a elementary schools fundraiser ideas.

14. Pajama day and pancake breakfast

Who needs pants anyway? A pajama day is a classic fundraiser for elementary school students: everyone wears their best pajamas to school, and you provide the pancakes, toppings, juice, and coffee (for the bleary-eyed parents, of course). Sell tickets to this fun event to enjoy the brunch-tastic morning. After the parents depart, schedule an early recess followed by a special nap time to sleep off the inevitable sugar crash.

15. Maple syrup fundraiser

Want to make that pancake breakfast a little more refined and up your fundraising efforts? If you live in New England, you can tap trees and teach elementary school students to make maple syrup. Sure, a gallon of sap makes a teaspoon of syrup, so you'll have to charge $100 an ounce, but … can you really put a price on learning how to make maple syrup? We didn't think so.

16. No-bake sale

Kids in elementary school are just learning to cook, so no-bake sales are a great way to teach them the ropes without ever turning on your oven—and they're a great elementary school fundraising idea. Wait until the weather's good and hot; then, host a sale of no-bake treats to keep everyone cool, even in the kitchen. You can sell candy bars, too, just in case the goodies aren't to everyone's taste.

17. No-bake sale part 2: even no-bakier

Want to expend even less effort? We get it, soulmate. Here's your two-for-one fundraiser ideas for elementary schools: Pick up day-old treats from local bakeries and sell them at a mark-up. Trust us, they're still super tasty!

Middle school fundraisers ideas

Ah, middle school, when you're not quite a girl, not quite a woman. (Can you tell that we listened to a lot of Britney in middle school?) When it comes to fundraising ideas for middle schoolers, your best bet is to make them as not-embarrassing as possible. With that said, here are some middle school fundraising ideas that make the grade.

18. Nightmare before Christmas

Double your holiday spirit with a Nightmare before Christmas fundraiser: it's like a haunted house but also Christmas-themed. Throw in some skeleton dreidel bears, maybe a mummy Krampus. Incorporate aspects of winter holidays around the world, from Diwali to Kwanzaa, and then throw in some mummies and ghouls. But please, for the love of all that is Jack Skeleton, consult with students and their families to make sure everything is culturally appropriate—and that nothing is too scary. These are still fundraising ideas for middle schools, after all.

19. Can drive

All those recyclables can really add up! Hold a can and bottle drive with all those nickels going back to your beloved middle school students. You can up the giving back-ness by holding a beach clean-up day, too, where students pick up garbage and then donate any recyclables. You can also hold a drive to recycle electronics, old clothes, and more.

20. Mini-golf tournament

This fundraiser is a hole-in-one. (We know; we're so clever and subtle with our humor.) All you need is a mini-golf course and a fundraising page to make this a successful fundraiser. You raise funds from selling tickets, asking local businesses to sponsor a hole, and selling additional raffle tickets. Invite the whole school community to join in!

High school fundraising ideas

The years go by so quickly, don't they? Somehow, we're already moving on to fundraising ideas for high schools.

21. Go screen-free

These fun high school fundraiser ideas are for all those parents who'd pay a small fortune to get their kids to look up from their phone for 10 minutes—though we bet those same parents could use less screentime, too. Make going screen-free a family sacrifice that pays off by soliciting pledges for every hour (or day) spent off-screen. You can download apps to hold yourself to your surprisingly difficult promise. Consider making it a friendly competition, with the student who lasts longest getting a prize. Another reason to go with this screen-free fundraiser is that it's one in a million free fundraising ideas .

22. Study-a-thon

Let's be honest: studying is super necessary, but sometimes, it can feel kinda thankless. With a study-a-thon, students get rewarded for putting their noses to the grindstone. For every 20 minutes spent studying for the SAT or working on college essays, the school gets a donation. Then everyone goes to Harvard, and all is well with the world! Talk about our best high school fundraisers.

23. Yard sale and craft market

Gather all those unwanted tchotchkes and put them to good use with a yard sale/flea market! If any students or parents have hidden artistic talents, they can set up a booth selling their hand-knit gerbil hats, too, donating 20% of profits to the school.

Senior class fundraising ideas

Before you head off to whatever lies ahead, you'll need some fundraiser ideas for senior class to make your senior year the best. Year. Ever. Check out our awesome-blossom senior class fundraisers below.

24. Community dinner

Close out the school year with a cozy, community-building fundraising dinner. The senior class cooks up a main dish and invites other high school students and their families to attend. Each group brings a side—and a donation, but of course. Consider supporting a local nonprofit, too, by asking guests to bring a canned good or toiletry item.

25. School spirit store

Before you go, show your school spirit by hosting an online or in-person school store, selling nothing but school-related merchandise. From pens and notebooks to T-shirts and face masks, everything is branded with your school's logo or decked out in your school colors. This one requires some upfront costs, but in the end, it can really pay off.

26. Teachers vs. students trivia night

Next up for senior fundraiser ideas: it's a trivia contest, students versus teachers. Form teams and try to split the categories evenly so that it's anyone's game. But be warned: you might be surprised by how much pop culture knowledge your math teacher has! You can sell tickets to attend the showdown.

Passive income ideas for schools

A fundraising event is swell, but wouldn't it be great if you could just sit back, sip a mocha, and watch the dollars roll in? In addition to all our (admittedly awesome) fundraising ideas, here are a few ways to make some extra money for schools through passive income.

  • Start a blog
  • Partner with local business owners
  • Corporate Donation Matching Drive

27. Start a blog

If you have some parents with a lot of time on their hands (hahaha ... oh, sorry), encourage them to start a parenting or education-related blog or social account  and donate any proceeds to the school. It takes some effort (and a bit of money) to get up and running, but soon, you'll be raking in the pennies from niche online advertisers.

28. Partnerships with local business owners

It's a popular fundraising idea for a reason. You set up an ongoing partnership with a local business or three. Anytime "your" ice cream or "your" llama food is bought, a small donation goes to the local elementary students. 

29. Corporate donation matching drive

Remind all those working parents that their match their donations thanks to the magic of matching gifts. It's super low-effort for you (besides putting the word out), and it can turn hundreds of dollars into thousands of dollars. BTW, Funraise’s integration with Double the Donation makes it super easy to tap into a pool of up to $7B in unclaimed matching gift funds each year, if you're interested.

Spring school fundraiser ideas

As the snow melts (if you're in a warmer climate, it's a metaphorical melt), everyone wants to get outside and get fundraising! These spring fundraiser ideas for schools are sure to put a spring in your step.

30. Easter egg/scavenger hunt

Kiddos love, love, love an easter egg hunt! But why stop there? Do a combo scavenger hunt and Easter egg hunt (scavEGGer hunt?) and drop off the eggs all over town. Provide clues to the kiddos and offer a special prize to the first one who finds all the eggs! One more tip: now's the time to stop with the plastic eggs—instead, look for compostable ones, made from cornstarch or paper. Then, fill them with all sorts of eco-friendly treasures, from seed packets to snacks, for this spring fundraising idea for schools.

31. Anything wash

You could hold a car wash—or you could hold an anything wash, where community members bring in anything they need washed and you scrub it clean. Dog? Bathed. Shoes? Shined. Couch? Vacuumed. Apple? Peeled. Well, we're not sure about that last one, but you get the idea.

32. Block party

The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, and we all want to get outside. That makes a block party fundraiser the perfect school spring fundraiser. Make it a potluck or catered, live music or a playlist, BYO lawn chair or seating provided, and make sure you have lots of entertainment for students of all ages—think sidewalk chalk, hula hoops, jump ropes, and bubble wands.

33. School picnic

And while we're at the sun shining and the birds tweeting, how about a school picnic? Lay out some blankets on the school lawn or take a field trip to the local park. Ask student bands to provide the entertainment and have everyone bring their favorite cheese, fruit, or dip. Then, bask in a delightful day of community.

Back to school fundraiser ideas

The lazy days of summer are over, and the kids are back in school. That means it's time to ramp up the fundraising! Set the stage for a successful school year with these back-to-school fundraiser ideas.

  • School Sleepover
  • Eternal Summer Party
  • School Supplies Sale
  • Shoe Drive Fundraiser

34. School sleepover

Having the kids back in school is a nice break for some parents, but you know what's an even better break? Having the kids back in school overnight. Kick things off by inviting the whole family to a movie night in the gym. Then, parents leave and students stay until the morning. It's a party for everyone! Well, except the teachers, but that's a problem for the PTA.

35. Eternal summer party

Everyone is already missing summer, so why not capitalize on their yearning with a summer-themed school fundraising event? Cover the gym floor in sand, put a slip-n-slide on the lawn, and eat ice cream even if it's freezing out! It's all about having one last hurrah.

36. School supplies sale

When a new school year dawns, students of all ages need their pencils, notebooks, and three-hole-punches. Rather than supporting Amazon, selling school supplies to students provides a great opportunity to support the school community. Set up shop in front of the school at drop-off and pick-up.

37. Shoe drive fundraiser

Gather everyone's gently used, no-longer-loved shoes, sell them to a third-party seller, and take your profits to the bank. That's how most shoe drive fundraisers go. But what if you switched things up and hosted a shoe drive fundraiser as a back to school fundraising event? Charge an admission fee to attend the big event, and then sort shoes by size and style. The entire student body can start the school year with the spiffiest feet around!

38. More creative shoe drive fundraiser

If you want to really break out of the shoe drive fundraiser (shoe)box,  collect all those shoes, charge students and parents for entry, and then set up crafting stations with shoe improvement tutorials. Add tassels, cap toes, and heel accents, or just make those stilettos into a super-cute planter for a cactus . 

Favorite DIY fundraising ideas

One of the great things about school fundraisers is that you have a built-in network of dedicated supporters in the form of students and parents who just want their school to be the best darn school it can be! With so many folks happy to take an active role in fundraising, DIY campaigns are a perfect fit. 

39. Community yard sale

Harken back to the dreamy days of Marie Kondo and encourage parents and students alike to clean house and give back. Yard sales are classic fundraising activities that require minimal planning beyond some ads in the school newsletter. You can staple some fliers to telephone polls if you really want to bring in the masses. To put the Y in DIY, let everyone put their own spin on their yard sale. Maybe the items for sale include fresh bouquets from local gardens, or perhaps some art students want to take their DIY to the next level and sell some paintings?

40. DIY Giving Day

Crowdfunding and pper-to-peer campaigns are one of the easiest ways to raise money for schools. You say the word and your supporters set up personal campaign sites and do some DIY online fundraising. To turn up the fundraising heat, announce an official Giving Day,. Everyone can set up a personal fundraising page ( complete with a must-click online donation form via Funraise ), customize the format and rewards, and watch those donations roll in. 

41. Birthday fundraisers

Encourage high school students to set up online fundraisers to support their favorite school programs for their birthdays. After all, their neighbor probably won't chip in for that new Xbox, but they might throw in $10 to support Model UN.

School fundraisers that make the most money

  • Walk-a-thon-dance-a-thon
  • Family Field Day
  • Foodie Festival

Maybe you need to fund a new playground or maybe you need to upgrade your computer lab. When you have a big school expense, you need big bucks, and that means you need high-profit fundraisers for schools. Here are a few ideas for school fundraisers that make the most money.

42. Walk-a-thon-dance-a-thon

We've all seen many a walk-a-thon and many a dance-a-thon. But what about a walk-a-thon-dance-a-thon? Each participant sets up a fundraising page for online donations, then shakes and shimmies their way to their fundraising goal along a pre-set route. Costumes and original dance moves are highly encouraged.

43. Family field day

When you look up “family fun” in the dictionary, you probably see “field day.” Imagine the adorableness of children jumping in sack races or the sweet clumsiness of a grownup being paired with a kid for a three-legged race. Make this fundraising event a big deal (with big fundraising opportunities) by soliciting sponsorships with local vendors, selling T-shirts and water bottles, and setting up a concession stand. If you're rained out, you can always go virtual and livestream your egg-and-spoon relay race from your living room—just put down a tablecloth first.

44. Foodie festival

If you're willing to be ambitious, a food festival can be a great fundraiser. Choose a foodie theme, be it garlic, cheese, or boba, and go wild. You'll need to source vendors, find a space, and then market the heck out of the event. You can host all sorts of fun headliners, including a themed cook-off, tastings, and lectures. Sell tickets in advance, with higher tiers including additional samples and swag.

Fundraising ideas for school clubs

Most school clubs don't have the biggest budgets; luckily, we have some school club fundraising ideas to help out. Whether you need airfare for a trip or new uniforms, these fundraisers for school clubs will get you where you need to go.

45. Cultural fashion show

Every culture has food, traditions, and fashion to be proud of! Instead of holding another food-based event, how about educating about cultural fashions, their history, and how they're a part of that particular culture's traditions? This is a particularly great fundraiser for clubs based around a certain culture or language.

46. Lessons for good

A classic among club fundraising ideas in high school: offer your academic and experiential expertise in exchange for donations. French club members can teach French, soccer club pros can give private soccer lessons. There's something for everyone! You can also consider hosting a silent auction, where community members can bid to learn from talented team members. Bonus! If you're looking for fundraising ideas during COVID , this is a great one.

47. Hot drinks across the world

Plenty of clubs sell baked goods or hot chocolate to raise funds. But here's how you can make it more interesting: sell traditional hot drinks from around the globe. Set up a stand before school, but rather than selling the usual coffee and doughnuts, sell a different warm beverage every morning. Masala chai Monday, Turkish coffee Tuesday...

Student-led fundraising ideas

Rallying the entire school community in support of a new gym is a sure-fire path to school fundraiser success, but what about all the student clubs and extracurricular activities that need a little support? At some point, the art club will need to buy new art supplies, and the yo-yo team will need to fund a field trip to the National Yo-Yo Museum. ( It's a thing .) For those fundraising occasions, we suggest a student-led fundraiser.

Band fundraising ideas

48. niche pop culture concert.

Scan the headlines to see what everyone's listening to, then charge  an admission fee to attend a concert for our times. New Zelda game? Play some Koji Kondo. Is it all about the Barbie Movie? Play through the soundtrack—with your own spin, of course. Or you could just do Taylor Swift covers, which will be popular forever and Era.

49. Instrumental walk-a-thon

From the marching band to your friend's dad's barbershop quartet, invite everyone, everywhere to join in on a jam-band-a-thon on the move. Different groups can play different tunes, or you can let the music flow down the line and embrace a little dissidence. During the holiday season, consider an instrumental caroling version.

Art fundraising ideas

50. art show.

A student-led fundraiser in every sense of the word, a student art show a) raises funds, b) gives student artists a platform for their work, and c) is a great excuse to serve fancy cheese and charcuterie. Funds come from ticket sales, art sales, and maybe a raffle or two. Open up the exhibit during the school day to create some buzz.

51. Art classes

Middle school and high school students can offer up their talents in the form of fun lessons for younger aspiring artists. Host a "Draw-the-monster-under-your-bed class", a paper-doll making workshop, or take a few kiddos out to gather materials in nature and use them to make amazing prints and collages. For smaller kiddos, ask an adult to join you.

Theater fundraising ideas

52. broadway karaoke night.

Host a karaoke night, but make it Broadway. Bring down the house by doing an all-club version of "Seasons of Love" for the final song. Maybe throw in "One Day More" for an encore. 

53. Improv games

Get your fellow students—and maybe some of the cool parents?—out of their shells with an improv night. Pop some corn and play a few rousing rounds of Two Truths and Lie, One Word at a Time, and Yes And. Give prizes for the best performances.

Language and cultural fundraiser ideas

54. culturally appropriate cooking lessons.

Sushi making for Japanese club, dumplings for Chinese club, baguette for French club. (And if you tackle baguette, you'd better have an expert on hand.) Sell snacks for the hungry chefs to earn a little extra money.

55. Dessert sale

We talked about bake sales, and we love 'em so, but here's something extra-special about sampling sweets from another culture. Each student bakes (or doesn't! We're looking at you kakigori and maja blanca) a delicious treat and sets up shop right after school. It's the perfect event for students, parents, and hungry passersby.

Field trip fundraising ideas

56. letter writing fundraiser.

Break out those pens, pencils, and watercolors and rediscover the wonders of direct mail with a letter-writing campaign. Describe exactly why this field trip is so important to you in a handwritten letter, decorate the heck out of it, and send it to family and friends with an extra stamp.

57. Mini-field trip

Saving up for a day at the museum for history club? Host a mini-exhibit in the school gym with student-written captions. Sending the fashion club to NY Fashion Week? A pet fashion show is right on brand.

Food fundraisers for schools

Some people like steak; others prefer tofu. Some are chocolate-holics and others are vanilla beans. But we can all agree that food is great, and that makes school food fundraisers a mighty tasty idea. If you want to reach donors' hearts, you can go through their stomachs with these food fundraising ideas for schools.

58. Food fight

We've all seen food fights in movies, but how many of us have really been in one? If you ever wanted to get slimed or pied in the face, this food fundraising idea is for you! Cover the cafeteria with plastic and get out all those foods that are nearing their expiration date. Students get to participate in exchange for a small donation and a canned good for a local nonprofit organization. We'd suggest waiting until last period so that everyone can go home and hose off.

59. Food-eating contest

Rather than forcing everyone to wolf down hotdogs, make it a peer-to-peer fundraiser where each participant chooses their own food to gorge themselves on. Everyone sets up their own page for some online fundraising, sharing what delicious item they'll be cramming into their gaping maws. Then, they gather and go to town. Personally, we'd choose potatoes, but the allure of eating limitless cheesecake is always there.

60. Battle of the yams

It's a battle of the bands but for aspiring chefs. This unique school fundraising cook-off features a dueling duo making their best creation within a set amount of time. Yams are optional but encouraged.

School supplies fundraisers

From glue and glitter to chalkboards and globes, schools require a lot of supplies to provide every child with an exceptional education. In response, many teachers end up purchasing their own supplies for their classrooms. Instead, school supply fundraisers are a great way to raise money for your school. Read on for our school supply fundraiser ideas.

61. Backpack fundraiser

Encourage community members near and far to fill backpacks with much-needed classroom supplies. You can supply branded backpacks for some extra school spirit! This is a perfect matching gift opportunity, too, if you can get a local business to join in. They give the school a certain amount of money for every 10 backpacks filled.

62. Crowdfunding school supplies

If you're a teacher or staff member in an underserved area, chances are local community members won't have the funds to help out much. That's why crowdfunding campaigns work so well—it gives you access to a community of donors across state lines and time zones. Set up an online fundraiser, tell your story, and share it far and wide—and across social media channels.

63. Student art sale

Last in our school supply fundraising ideas, it's a student art sale! This works especially well if you're in need of art supplies. Have all the students make DIY arts and crafts—they can design their own cards, decorate face masks, make jewelry, or just get out the paints and let their inner Picasso shine. Families and community members can then buy the masterpieces, with all proceeds going to purchase school supplies.

Student council fundraising ideas

Student council members have a lot on their plates, from representing their classmates to planning activities. That means they need to fundraise their way to a fun school year for all—and that's where our fundraising ideas for student council come in. And remember: the best student council fundraiser ideas double as class events.

64. Giant pumpkin paddle

You know those enormous pumpkins and squashes you see every October and think, “What will they do with that afterward?” Well, here's your answer. Gather up the largest pumpkins you can find post-Halloween, hollow them out, and hold a race at your local lake or pool. You can form teams and have staff members race student council, with teachers and students betting (i.e., donating) on the winner. Sell cider and seasonal treats to make this an extra-profitable student council fundraiser.

65. Seasonal flower delivery

Celebrate the people you love most—platonically or romantically—by selling single carnations or roses (or go really wild with some dahlias) to your fellow student leading up to V-day. On the 14th, student council members deliver the blooms, bringing all the mushy feels to everyone's day. But really, you can do this type of fundraiser at any time of the school year. Sprigs of decorative greenery for December, anyone? Anyone?

66. Wrap it up

Offer your gift-wrapping services to parents, teachers, and students alike when the holidays come around. Hit up the dollar store for an assortment of supplies, or make it green by using old newspapers adorned with miniature pinecones and other festive found items.

67. Rap it up

For an extra donation, offer to improv a personalized rap or spoken-word poem for each donor. Honestly, they'll probably be so embarrassed that they'll just give you the money.

5 most successful school fundraisers

So, what do all these school fundraisers look like IRL? Here are a few examples of successful school fundraising to show you that it really can be done.

1. Jacobs Elementary’s 18th annual read-a-thon doubled expectations

Jacobs Elementary’s 2021 read-a-thon raised $20,000—more than doubling their previous fundraising record from 2018. Students set individual reading goals, tracked how many minutes they read, and asked friends and family to pledge their support. Plus, students surpassed their group goal of 195,000 total minutes of reading by nearly 19,500 minutes.

2. Achieve Plant City’s wine tasting and silent auction raised over $40k

Achieve Plant City, which provides general education, parenting classes, and ESL classes, has relied on its annual fundraising auction to help purchase classroom supplies for the past 10 years. This year, the event raised over $40,000.

3. Fremont Middle School’s walk-a-thon helped students and others

Fremont Middle School’s walk-a-thon raised over $9,000, with students walking laps around the school track. They raised money for student and staff activities but also donated 10% of the funds to help disabled veterans.

4. Lyles-Crouch PTA’s Lion Fest raised almost $50k after cancellation in 2020

Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy’s 2021 Lion Fest Fundraiser raised almost $50,000 through online donations. The event itself included an outdoor scavenger hunt and a photobooth, delighting everyone since the 2020 event was canceled due to COVID.

5. Norwood High School’s Craft Fair was all about community

Norwood High School’s annual craft fair is a popular local event with over 80 crafters from all over New England. But in addition to being a fun way to shop, this successful fundraiser raises money for Norwood High School and other local organizations. The whole school helps set up the event, making it a true community event. In 2021, they raised $10,000 in profits.

Find out all the ways Funraise can help with your fundraiser ideas for schools

Raise funds for free

Fundraising for schools: Final points

With all these ways for schools to raise money, you’re sure to get an A for effort—and sure to raise funds for your school community. As with any good class, let’s wrap things up by reviewing what we learned today.

  • Many schools don’t have the budget to purchase necessary supplies and upgrade their technology. That’s where school fundraising comes in—it raises essential funds and builds community.
  • The most effective school fundraising initiatives involve raising money for a specific need, such as new laptops, upgraded playground equipment, or a school trip. Be specific when you share your fundraising goals, both for students and for supporters. Students need to understand why they’re raising money—and why they should strive to meet their fundraising goals. And supporters need to understand why they’re donating to your school.
  • Fundraising volunteers can include students, parents, teachers, staff members, and PTA leaders.
  • Profit margins vary based on the fundraiser. If you choose a fundraiser where you sell products, your school will get a percentage of the profits, so consider fundraisers that allow you to keep 100% of the money you raise.

essay about fundraising in school

First, find your nonprofit...

If you are not a US based organization or you cannot find your nonprofit in the list above, no worries! Talk to Sales.

Next, create your account

By creating an account, you agree to our  Privacy Policy  and  Terms & Conditions . You may receive communications from us and can opt out at any time.

essay about fundraising in school

Share the love

essay about fundraising in school

  • All Features
  • Integrations
  • Knowledge Base
  • Funraise University
  • Community Forum
  • For Developers
  • For Salesforce
  • Case Studies
  • Growth Stats
  • Nonprofit Causes
  • Nonprofit Podcast
  • Nonprofit News
  • Downloads & Webinars
  • Fundraising Ideas
  • Why We're Different
  • Refer a Friend

Download at the appstore button

Get Fully Funded Logo

Master the skill of writing for fundraising with these tips

Fundraising is based on relationships. Relationships are built through communication and trust.

That means if you’re not communicating regularly with your donors, you will lose them, plain and simple.

Since most of your donor communications will be in print, writing for fundraising is key to your success.

writing for fundraising

It would be great if you could always be face to face with donors so you could personally share stories and they could feel all of the passion and energy you pour into your organization.

But since you don’t have that kind of time, you must rely on the written word to educate and inspire.

When done well, your writing can communicate both passion and purpose to your donors, volunteers, and a whole community of potential allies, setting their hearts on fire for the work your nonprofit does.

So, how do you build your skill in writing for fundraising? How do you overcome writer’s block and stay motivated, especially if you don’t consider yourself a writer?

3 main kinds of writing for fundraising

Not all writing that you need to do for raising money is the same.

Different styles of writing are required for different fundraising efforts and forums.

The easy-breezy conversational quality of an upbeat announcement on your website is different from the very specific, information-heavy language of a grant.

It’s important that you decide what kind of writing you need before you begin the piece you need written so you can get the tone right from the start.

Some of these types of writing will require information and input from your whole organization, while others you can handle on your own. Stories may require details from front-line staff or from those you serve, so be prepared to get input from others before you write.

Here are the 3 main kinds of writing you will need to be able to write:

Persuasive (grants or appeals) – Use persuasive writing to appeal to both loyal donors, potential donors, and foundations that may offer grants to nonprofits. A fundraising appeal letter should weave a story that tells your reader exactly what you need from them financially and how their money will be used. Grants usually have very specific parameters requesting details about your program or project. In both of these situations, it’s your job to convince the reader that your request is the right one right now and that it’s the best investment of their charitable dollars. Your ability to persuade them in writing is key to getting donations and grant funding.

Informative (fact sheet, website) – Informative pieces are perfect for first interactions with donor prospects, whether online, through the mail, or in person. Even though these pieces are educational by nature, don’t tell everything you know or you risk overwhelming your reader. Provide only the details the donor needs to understand your message and trust your nonprofit. Remember that you need to connect emotionally with your donors every time you write and informative pieces are no exception. So, choose facts that will build that heart connection, like the number of children going hungry in your area or the number of families living in substandard housing. One well-chosen statistic can paint the picture you’re trying to convey in your reader’s mind.

Nurturing/connecting (newsletter, thank-you letter) – Your donors have a relationship with you (whether they realize it or not) and the better job you do of strengthening that relationship, the more likely you are to get repeat gifts from them. Donors care about the lives your nonprofit is changing and they love feeling like they’re part of your team making a difference in the world. Keep this in mind when you are writing newsletters and thank-yous. Draw your readers into the stories using hero language like “We couldn’t have done this without you.” Use the pronoun “you” a lot, in fact check out this video for the “You” test. Above all, let them know the pivotal role they play in accomplishing your mission.

What to do if you’re not a great writer

Not everyone loves to write and not everyone is good at it.

Maybe it’s hard for you to translate your passion into words on the page. Maybe you don’t like to sit still for that long. Or maybe you’ve been told somewhere along the way that you’re not a good writer and you believed it.

What should you do if you’re one of those people?  There are three possibilities.

writing for fundraising

  • Outsource – There are plenty of freelance writers out there who would love to write for you. Depending on your budget, you can farm out some, most, or all of your writing to them. Some freelance writers specialize in writing for fundraising, and they already understand the intricacies of donor communications. Experienced writers already have tried and tested ideas and techniques, but if you’re struggling with your budget, don’t discount writers who are trying to break into the business as they may be more affordable. Younger and newly graduated writers have grown up surrounded by social media and may be able to create online communications in ways you’ve never thought of!
  • Delegate – You may have staff or volunteers who are good writers and can take over some of your writing tasks. Ask around and find out if you have an English or journalism major hanging around somewhere (because you just might)! If you find someone who loves to write, you can brainstorm ideas and then hand off the actual writing of the letter or the blog post. A staff member or a volunteer already shares your passion and has insider knowledge of your organization and its impact. Depending on the size of your organization, you may eventually even consider hiring a staff member whose time is entirely devoted to communications.

4 steps to writing anything

Before you sit down to write, here are some basic steps to take you from blank screen to finished piece.

1. Start by identifying the call to action – Figure out what you want the reader of your piece to do , then gear the entire article or letter to that goal. Make the call to action urgent; they need to do this now .  Use powerful and passionate action verbs to make your case like transform, change, and donate.  Make sure your writing is not tentative.  Don’t say, “Many animals could be helped if people like you would be willing to give.” Say “You can help animals today.” Better yet, clearly tell people exactly what you need .  Say “You can give a dog a bed and food for a week at our rescue by donating fifteen dollars today.”

2. Brain dump your ideas then organize them – Don’t try to fully form ideas or get too worried about whether you’re expressing them exactly right at this stage. Just write thoughts as they tumble out and catch them on paper or on screen. If you are an extrovert, sometimes sitting with someone else, a spouse, friend, or staff member, and talking ideas through as you write can help.

3. Create an outline then fill it in – When you come up with your main idea, begin an outline. What areas will you have to discuss to cover your main topic?  For instance, if you want to write the appeal letter for your summer campaign, write down the main ideas of paragraphs you will need: an emotional appeal, problems to be solved, your organization’s solutions, and the call to action.  It keeps you on track and it’s less overwhelming to see a piece of writing as smaller more doable sections.

4. Start with a summary sentence or short paragraph about the topic then elaborate – This summary helps you to keep the main point in mind. Once you have written a summary or focus paragraph, you can refer to it while you write the piece and afterwards when you edit it.  Does everything you wrote center around this topic?

Tips for writing for fundraising

No matter what kind of writing for fundraising you’re doing, it’s important to write with your reader in mind so it’s interesting and relevant to them. There’s nothing worse than trying to read something boring.

Here are some tips to help you.

  • Get organized – You’ll find that writing for fundraising requires a certain ability to organize and categorize information in addition to the technical skills required to put words on the page. One great way to get organized is to create a digital file of paragraphs that have been refined and are ready to cut and paste into whatever piece you’re writing. This digital file can save you a lot of time and keep you from reinventing the wheel later.

writing for fundraising

  • Short sentences, short paragraphs – Your readers are busy and they need to be able to quickly read and understand what you are trying to tell them. This is no time to write the great American novel! Keep your sentences simple and short so people can easily understand your message.
  • Leave out extraneous details – Stay focused and go straight to the point. When telling a story, lead with the main point, then fill in a few supporting details. Only include the parts of the story that build emotion or provide context. Don’t bother telling us what color shirt a woman had on the day she arrived on your doorstep looking for help. But do share the look of fear and exhaustion on her face and how heart-broken she seemed.
  • No jargon or insider language – Leave out all jargon and insider language from your writing. If the average person doesn’t understand what an ‘at-risk population’ is, don’t include it in your writing. Describe things using conversational terms, as if you were explaining it to your mom or a friend over coffee. Stay away from acronyms when you can. If a reader doesn’t recognize an acronym, it will slow them down while reading your post or article.  More than one unknown acronym can make them quit reading altogether. If you have to use an acronym, define it the first time you use it.
  • Keep it donor focused – What part of this story is important to your donor? Donors typically want to know what it costs to make a difference and that they can trust you. They don’t want to know about fidgety details, staff changes, office equipment, or any other administrative information. So, only include the parts they’re interested in.
  • Simple language is best – Make your writing easy to read. Say what you mean plainly and don’t make your readers work to figure out what you’re saying or what you want them to do. Keeping language simple does not mean you think your donors aren’t smart!  It means that you are respectful of their time and mental bandwidth. Simple language is easier to read and soak up. Try my ‘Kitchen Table Exercise’ to make your writing super easy to read and understand.
  • Don’t assume the reader knows anything about the organization – You may think you’re repeating yourself, but remember, your donors don’t think about your organization day and night like you do. Besides, some of your readers may be new donors and some of your readers may be potential donors. It’s perfectly ok to repeat key messages including the facts about who you are and what your organization does to impact the world.
  • Be clear and concise – Try to write as clearly and concisely as you can. After you’ve written the piece, re-read it again. See if you’ve repeated yourself. See if you have used passive voice instead of active voice.  See if there are sentences that don’t contribute to the main goal of the piece and eliminate them. Finally, have someone else read it.  Many times, writers have a hard time seeing the flaws in their own writing and will skip over typos or wrong word usage like saying “from” when you meant “form.” Someone else may be able to pick up on confusing or overly flowery language, especially someone who doesn’t know much about your nonprofit.

What to do when you have writer’s block

When you’re super busy and your plate is full, drumming up the creativity to write can be a monstrous task. Or overwhelming when you aren’t sure exactly what you want to say.

That’s when we procrastinate.

What’s really happening is avoidance. We avoid things that are uncomfortable.

And if you’re not clear about exactly what you want the article or letter to convey or if you’re putting a lot of pressure on yourself to make it perfect, you’re in an uncomfortable situation that avoidance will get you out of. (No worries – I do it, too!)

Here are a few things you can do to break through writer’s block and get started writing.

  • Research – See what someone else has written about this topic. Sometimes a fresh perspective can be just what you need to help you clarify your own point of view, giving you the perfect angle for your writing.

essay about fundraising in school

  • Pick up another task for a few minutes – Sometimes it’s best to change gears. Your brain will work on a problem for you while you are distracted with another task. When you return to the writing, the path forward may be much clearer.
  • Go for a walk – or a swim, do some gardening, or ride a horse! Physical exercise can get your blood flowing, clear your mind, and generate a different idea for your writing. I literally just took my dogs for a mid-afternoon walk before I began the final edit of this article to clear my head.
  • Start in the middle – If you can’t figure out how to start your letter or article, skip over the first few paragraphs or the opening section and start writing in the middle. There may be a story you want to tell or a piece you can cut and paste from something else, and once you get something on paper, the rest may start to flow.

The Bottom Line

Writing is a key skill that all fundraisers need. Your ability to inform people about what your nonprofit does and persuade them to join your team through their support will make all the difference in your success.

[bctt tweet=”Your writing doesn’t have to be perfect – it just needs to be authentic. A well-told story can engage your reader fast, inspiring them to give. So, write from the heart, keep it short and simple, and share your passion for your cause.” username=”@sandyrees”]

You’ll be raising more money in no time!

Additional resources:

As a final step in writing, run your article or letter through Grammarly to check for spelling, grammar, and usage errors. It’s a free tool, so why not? www.Grammarly.com

Check out this awesome guide from Hubspot on writing for marketing: The Marketer’s Pocket Guide to Writing Good Well

Kivi has a ton of good articles about copywriting: https://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/resources/articles/favorite-topics/nonprofit-copywriting/

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

About the author: sandy rees.

' src=

Related Posts

Understanding Why People Give

Understanding Why People Give

Build a Nonprofit Website that Works [Steal These Ideas!]

Build a Nonprofit Website that Works [Steal These Ideas!]

How to Win the Game of Facebook Fundraising

How to Win the Game of Facebook Fundraising

3 Innovative Ways to Use QR Codes to Boost Your Fundraising

3 Innovative Ways to Use QR Codes to Boost Your Fundraising

How to Craft a 1-Page Nonprofit Annual Report

How to Craft a 1-Page Nonprofit Annual Report

' src=

Thank you for this post. Working at a nonprofit, I often wear many hats (as most of us do.) This is a great resource with a lot of great tips for the types of writing I produce regularly.

' src=

Glad it’s helpful!

' src=

Great post, this content is unique and informative. Thanks for sharing with us.

' src=

Good work, keep it up.

' src=

Thanks for the pointers to help non profits raise money. Students are always looking for ways to fund their school projects, the local volunteer fire departments always need funds for equipment, and local animal shelters are always in need of donations/funding.

This can be a love/hate job for those in charge of raising money. Although your article deals with a larger aspect of raising money, schools and local organizations can also use this information to help with smaller projects.

' src=

That’s great!

Leave A Comment Cancel reply

The FundMyTravel Blog

How to Write a Fundraising Story + 6 Compelling Examples

brown typewriter on a wooden desk

Looking for examples of compelling fundraising letters? We’ve got ‘em for ya—plus the 411 on why fundraising stories matter. ☆ Let’s just put this out in the open: it’s hard to ask people for money , especially when it’s a hefty chunk of change. Luckily, FundMyTravel distributes contributions among tons of people (#crowdsourcingFTW). This makes reaching fundraising goals more attainable.

Thank goodness we don’t live in a world where we rely on a single patron to fund all of our hopes and dreams! Crowdsourcing makes it more attainable, but how do you actually go about asking people for money without making things awkward? Enter: fundraising stories .

woman writing on tabletop near globe

Great fundraising stories may be unicorns in a herd of horses, but they don’t live in an unattainable mythical realm. That being said, you may need to do some soul searching to find your perfect ivory stallion.

The best examples of compelling fundraising stories are the ones that come from the heart and connect with potential donors’ emotional sides without making them feel sorry for you. If you want to have a successful FundMyTravel campaign, you need to know how to write a fundraising story that will knock people’s socks off…and we have just the tips for you!

Why are compelling stories important to your fundraiser?

Connecting to emotions leaves a lasting impression, and stories are the easiest way to do that. Fundraising stories are more than a quick “hello, I need money and this is why, thanks bye”. They have a narrative. They draw people in and give them a reason to learn about you and your travel goals. 

Stories live beyond your initial fundraiser. They are an opportunity to extend your journey beyond reaching the monetary goal. Crowdsourcing is cool because it turns an individual’s goal into the goal of an entire community.

Every person who chips in becomes more than an investor—they become part of your story. They want to know what happens next on your journey. This is the perfect opportunity for you to incentivize donors with special newsletter updates, blog posts, or even a snapchat story feed.

Tips for how to write a fundraising story

1. be authentic (aka…be yourself).

We know you’re already pumped about your next meaningful travel experience, but how are you going to get others on board? Your story is the ticket to ride into the beautiful sunset of travel bliss. The best fundraising stories tap into raw emotion and authenticity. We’re only human, after all; we adore a good story.

Make a list of your goals and dreams for this trip and sprinkle that magic fundraising dust all over your story. Share your history! How did you learn about this project? Why does it resonate with you? Don’t just copy + paste why X organization is good for the world; why does their mission drive your travel ?

Connect to your reader’s humanity by sharing personal details and experiences, but don’t turn it into a sob story. You want to travel to do some good somehow, right? Lean into that aspect. You may want to volunteer with orphans or sick elephants, which is devastating, but talk about the great work you’ll be doing in that arena rather than dwell on the sad parts. Positivity will get you places. You need a plane ticket, not a sympathy card.

You don’t need to look far to know how to write a fundraising story, because the story is inside you. Yes, we know how cheesy that sounds, but it doesn’t make it less true. It’s easier to read a book that’s already open. 

2. Be honest about why you’re fundraising

Don’t be slim shady; let people know why you’re asking (nicely) for money. State the obvious, then elaborate on the details. Obviously, you need a little help with the cash situation. But what else? 

Maybe you’re a student who is trying to keep on top of loans, but has a dream to do medical research abroad. Maybe you just quit your job to find yourself, and you are drawn to humanitarian work abroad. Or maybe you just don’t have enough saved to cover the cost of your ticket to Thailand, but you’ve been planning on studying abroad for a semester and just need help to go the extra step.

Fundraising stories that outline specifics of what the money will cover are going to be more successful.  Why? It feels good to help others. If people see that their $30 donation paid for your visa, they get a tangible, warm, fuzzy feeling that they made a difference. Be straight about why you need the cash, and what the money is going towards. Transparency is key.

3. Be short and sweet

Writing a fundraising letter doesn’t have to be a full time job. Yes, you should take time and be intentional, but please don’t send out a novel. Fundraising stories should be short and sweet. Like Lil’ Sebastian. Or a corgi. You’re writing for the internet now, and believe us when we say your audience is a sea of skimmers.

Get to the point (#minimalism, yo). Yes, you need to include your beautiful soul-story and dirty details, but don’t bury the lead. State the facts early!  

Use simple yet powerful language. Keeping it approachable and skimmable will draw a wider audience, so don’t use ridiculously big words that make people stop reading and pull out a dictionary. 

Some formatting tips:

  • Call attention to details with bold words
  • Try a bulleted list to break up text
  • Keep paragraphs under 7 sentences
  • Pad your key info with white space

4. Be assertive with your ask

This is one of the hardest parts of writing a fundraising letter, but one of the most important. You need to actually ask for money. 

It’s important to be assertive with your ask, but that doesn’t mean aggressive. You need to be clear in your fundraising letter that you’re asking for money so people know how to help out. Right off the bat, the reader should know you’re asking for money. Then, weave in your story and goals. Finally, tell them how to contribute:

“By donating $25 dollars you can help me reach my goal of planting 300 trees in Tanzania. Follow the link to my profile on FundMyTravel and click donate ”. 

This fundraising writing sample makes it clear that you’re asking for money, and explains exactly how to do it.

We get it, it’s awkward. But if you go about it graciously, stay humble, and be honest about why, people won’t judge you for it. Trust us…we’re in the business of asking people (nicely) for money. ?

5. Be gracious—add gracias 

Saying thank you goes a long way. Fundraising stories that end with gratitude are more likely to win people over because it shows that you really appreciate the extra help. You get to prove that you’re not a greedy little goblin just trying to cash in on a sweet vacay.

We already know you’re a good person since you crave meaningful travel experiences, so your heart is already in the right place! We bet saying “thanks” will come very naturally to you, so this should be easy peasy.

5 examples of compelling fundraising letters

1. help sana get to japan.

Hello. My name is Sana Erskine although I hope most of you already know that. I’m raising money to go on an educational trip with Midtown International School to Japan for a fresh new cultural experience. This will be my first international trip without a parent. While I’m doing all I can to raise money for this trip, I just can’t do it without you. Why do I want to go to Japan? To start with, I’ve wanted to go to Japan since I was 10 years old and hope to live there one day. In preparation, over the last 2 years I even started teaching myself Japanese using foreign language apps on my cell phone. My interest started out for superficial reasons like my admiration for anime and vocaloid. However, as I learned more about Japanese history and culture, my fascination for the island grew. For example, did you know Japan was until recently (relatively speaking) completely isolated from the world by a government policy called Sakoku (country in chains)? Sakoku didn’t let anyone leave or enter Japan under penalty of death.  When the country opened to the world an interesting culture was revealed. There are a few things that are unique to Japan that I hope to experience should I receive the required donations: Delicious rice cakes called Mochi, that are mostly eaten on the Japanese New Year but are available year-round. Shintoism are three different sets of characters used in writing.                        Ikebana (the art of arranging flowers inspired by Shintoism)                Waka (a form of poetry)                                                                          Nanga (painting with less color) Hopefully, while I’m there I can learn some art tips and get a better grasp on drawing human and animal anatomy. Language immersion, including slang, so I can have regular conversations with my Japanese peers. To show my appreciation, I will send each person who donates a piece of my original artwork. I assume you know that art is my passion and I want to share a little bit of me with all of you. All the art is digital so you can save it to your favorite device or print and hang it. Thank you again for your support. Sana

Why we like it

  • Makes the “ask” straightforward and gracious
  • Short and sweet
  • Bold text to draw your eye to the call to action
  • Bullets help break up the text (#skimmable) 
  • Creates personal connection: why Japan is so meaningful to her
  • Invites people to be a part of her story by sending them original artwork

2. Reiza’s Pursuit in Greece

Hello my name is Reiza and thank you for taking the time to visit my fundraising page 🙂 I am travelling to Europe for the second time for a whole month and this time through Greece (my dream destination). My original flight date, April 24 was rescheduled which led to me being able to rebook my flight within the 7 day mark for no charges. I have decided back in 2018 that after I complete Uni I will save up, pack up, and contribute to a disadvantaged community. How timely that this just presented itself out of nowhere and I knew right away that I wanted and will do it. Rather than adding more countries to my trip I’ve decided that I wanted to volunteer instead. I turned my dream holiday into an opportunity of a lifetime. Hit 2 birds with 1 stone, right? I have chosen to volunteer in Athens, with an organisation called Our House. I spent a month researching and finding the right community I wanted to be part of and I believe this is the right fit. The organisation is very well rounded and as much as possible, they focus on all the things needed by the refugees. They host feeding programs every night in 2 locations, they deliver supplies to refugee camps, accompany refugees to the hospitals, give them haircuts, regular home visits, and the most important of all…they find shelter for the refugees that are left on the streets of beautiful Athens. They’re very hands on and present and I resonate well with that. At the age of 22 I’ve travelled to 25 countries. I realized I have been really fortunate. I’ve seen so much of the world, have a place I call home, food in my belly, an education. Many of the displaced people in Athens do not have this. My primary goal is to help anyone in need and ensure their well being, comfort and safety. I want to make use of my knowledge and passion for the world and life in the best way possible. In the past year me together with my brother and cousins have organized a few feeding programs for children here in the Philippines and being from a third world country myself, I know and see how it is with my own two eyes. This will be my first time on a long haul trip alone, and this experience will be both challenging and hopefully incredibly rewarding for me. My parents are worried, yes but they see how passionate I am about it and understand. I also asked Scoot airlines if they could help me out and waive the 7 day mark so I can stay longer and help more and they gladly moved it with no charges. I am here because I want to do this solely on my own without the help of my parents, for once. I am 22 and it’s about time. I also believe it will be more meaningful this way. My expenses for the holiday part of the trip I’ve already dealt with (visa, plane tickets, insurance, whatnot) so the funds will go towards my accommodation, vaccinations, local travel expenses, and most importantly the housing and supply needs of the refugees. Since I only have 20 kilos at the moment an extra 20 kilo luggage for clothes that I was hoping to bring and donate would also be substantial. To raise funds for my volunteer trip I will be: Selling my old clothes bags and shoes on Carousell Using the money I earned from Youtube Taking on sideline jobs from my Mom   Thank you for any donation that you can make, big or small. Your contribution will help me make a difference to those in need and I promise to keep you posted about my fundraising and the trip itself.  Thank you!

Why we like this fundraising writing sample

  • Talks about how she’s raising funds in other ways
  • Her story connects to your emotional side; draws you in 
  • Her history with travel + interest in volunteer work = clearly thought out, worth your financial support
  • Talks about what she already has funds for and outlines what your contribution will be going towards 
  • Ends with a thank you

3. Child Care Project – Uganda

This fundraising story was written in German and English.

Hey there! In case you know me personally, you probably already got a snap from an over-excited me talking about my Uganda trip. In case you don’t know me, I’m glad you somehow made it here. For everyone that is not just interested in the project, but also wants to know who I am, I wrote a little introduction. I’m 16 (17 by the time I leave in August), talk a little too much, laugh a lot and would love to drop out of school right now to go and save the world. I usually spend my summer holidays traveling with my mum (and my brother), go out with my friends, swim in public pools, try to get a tan and end up gaining around 5 pounds, from all the ice cream I eat. As much as I love my summers, I really wanted to change up 2019’s. Actually do something meaningful. “Be the change I wanna see in the world.” So I decided I wanna go overseas and volunteer in a project. Looking for volunteer options is almost a little like scrolling through tinder, there are so many options at some point I just hoped for that “this is it / “I’ll marry him” kinda moment. That’s when I stumbled over the Child Care Project – Uganda. It was love at first sight! The Child Care Project offers children of all age groups, ranging from the really little ones to those that are almost my age, a safe place to be. Around 30-50 kids come here from Mondays to Fridays to laugh, learn, play and eat. They really get to be a child, free of all worries. The daycare is open all day and provides a meal for every child. For many of the children this is the only meal they get a day.The daycare is not only important for the children, but their parents, especially their mothers. Knowing their kids are safe allows many women to go to work (KALiARE Frauen-Projekt) and earn money to provide food for their families.  Karmalaya has many other projects in Central Uganda that all tie together so if you want to know a little more about the project or organization here is the link to the website , or my email in case you want to ask me directly: [email protected]. I am grateful for every dollar you decide to donate, in order to allow me to help out in the Child Care Centre in Uganda for four weeks in the summer (August) and who knows – maybe it is your dollar that provides a hot meal for one of the kids.
  • She writes in a very approachable/relatable tone
  • Talks about why she’s passionate about this travel experience 
  • Breaks up text: skimmable 
  • It’s short and sweet
  • She expresses gratitude “for every dollar you decide to donate”

4. OCEAN 2 OCEAN, Running Across America

Our oceans are dying and time is running out. Every second breath comes from the ocean and we can no longer stand by and watch as we destroy our most precious resource. Especially when 80% of all plastic in the ocean comes from us on land. That’s why this summer I’m setting out on my biggest expedition yet, a five month-long journey to become the first person to run across America on recycled shoes.   The Journey: On July 26th, I will begin my Ocean2Ocean run, covering 3,000 miles and 13 U.S. states, from N.Y.C to L.A., from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Beyond the physical demands of running such a long distance, the goal is to engage with as many communities as possible, to create awareness about the ocean plastic pollution crisis and ignite a national conversation of what each one of us can do to make a change. The Problem: Plastic has become one of the most produced man-made materials and it is everywhere. Plastic waste is quickly accumulating around the globe in cities, in landfills, on some of our most pristine shorelines, in the open sea and even in the deep sea. If we don’t stop our consumption habits, by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. And as of today there are already more micro plastics in our ocean than stars in our galaxy. It’s affecting our water, our corals and our marine life. Studies have found that close to 95% of seabirds are ingesting this ocean plastic and researchers have found plastic in rain samples and in the air that we breathe around the world. These are just a few statistics that highlight the urgency of acting now. Outreach : Along our journey, I’ll be hosting educational presentations at schools and universities, organizing events such as zero-waste workshops, documentary screenings, street and city cleanups and run-alongs (plogging) with running clubs and athlete organizations. During this expedition, we will also be producing a series of videos to document this journey and the people we will meet along the way. By producing weekly videos, we will include portraits of sustainable initiatives  as well as updates on my running adventures. By running 20 miles a day, 6 days a week for 5 months, I want to show that anyone can make a difference if they take the first step. Whether that step be to run across America, to reduce plastic consumption, or to make a single donation. How You Can Help: In order to make this expedition happen, we need YOUR help. Along with our sponsors, we need to raise an additional 30,000 USD in order to make this project a reality. Other ways you can help, include forwarding this campaign to friends and groups concerned about plastic pollution, which would be a HUGE help. THANK YOU FOR SHARING! Join us in our fight against ocean plastic pollution. Together we can make our oceans great again!

Why we like this fundraising writing sample 

  • Clearly outlines PURPOSE of travel 
  • Explains in details what your contribution will do
  • Breaks up the story with images, headers, and graphs, making a longer fundraising story easier to digest
  • Includes a call to action
  • Ends on positive even though the subject is kinda a bummer (oceans dying and whatnot)

5. Study abroad to Germany, Holland, and Denmark!

Hello Everyone! This campaign will help provide funding for my Study Abroad trip this coming May to Germany, Holland and Denmark. While there, I will be traveling to study Architecture and Landscape Architecture. This experience will expand my views on different techniques and styles of Architecture as well as an opportunity to study historical sites and their design techniques. It will also give me a chance to study Landscape Architecture by providing an opportunity to visit numerous famous gardens.  On this trip, I will have the opportunity to complete a required credit for graduation from University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s College of Art and Architecture. I will travel with 19 of my peers as well as two faculty of UTK. I will be given a few “free-time” opportunities to experience the different cultures and lifestyles in Germany, Holland and Denmark. This trip is quite costly, however, and I would greatly appreciate any help people are able to provide. I am so excited for this once in a lifetime chance and to be able to grow as an architect and share my experience with all of you!
  • Sometimes less is more: short, sweet, simple
  • States her purpose for travel, her goals for the trip, and the reason she’s asking for help
  • She includes a way to extend the narrative (“share my experience with all of you”)

6. Changing Lives in Thailand

Hello,  To those who know me well, it’s no surprise that I am going to Thailand this summer to volunteer in an elementary school. I am thrilled to have found a program that combines my passion for teaching and my love of Thai culture. This trip means so much to me because I believe that education can change people’s lives, and the sad reality is that not everyone has easy access to quality education. While I can’t change the world, I can make a difference in one community by contributing my time, energy, and knowledge to students in Thailand. But I need your help to get there.  Beyond just exploring a new place and having fun, I chose to go to Thailand because I studied abroad there during my undergrad. Before going to Thailand, I never thought much about the country. I ended up going because it was affordable and totally different from any place I’d ever been. Spoilers: it stole my heart. The people are so caring and welcoming, the language is beautiful, and the countryside is stunning.  My passion for providing education to communities in need made me interested in this program. While abroad I will be: Teaching English Supporting teachers  Learning about education systems in Thailand Connecting to more volunteer opportunities Spreading the word on realities of underfunded schools around the world on my blog On this trip I expect to grow, be challenged, and learn so much about myself. But I can’t do it alone! Every little thing helps. Here are some of the ways you’ll be supporting me: $25 will get me to the airport $50 will pay for the visa $60 will help me pay rent Sharing my FundMyTravel link will help spread the word! 🙂 While I’m abroad I’ll be sharing my story at EducationMakesMeThaiSmile.blog and sending special video updates to donors. This trip is the best real-world experience I could ask for. It is a way for me to gain new perspective, push myself to try something new, and make an impact on a community in need. I know I’ve made it to where I am today because of the amazing people in my life such as yourself, and I hope you will join me in this next step.    With gratitude, April Ludgate
  • Connects her story to her passion for travel
  • Includes an ask right off the bat
  • Breaks up paragraphs and includes bullets
  • Outlines details and specifics on what money could go towards
  • Extends the narrative on blog, includes ways for donors to get special perks 
  • Asks nicely; says thanks

Writing compelling fundraising stories will get you more donations!

open notebook with pen next to green plant and cup of coffee

Now that you know how to write a fundraising story, you know how easy it is! Sure, it’s intimidating at first, but that’s life, right? You don’t have to look far, because the story is you. Your hopes, dreams, and goals. All you need to do is format that in a way that encourages people to support you and your journey. 

Travel is a beautiful thing, and money should never come between you and a life changing adventure. FundMyTravel is here to get the word out and make your journey go smoothly. Don’t miss out on more tips and tricks to get your dream trip off the ground.

[ Sign Up for Our Newsletter for More Fundraising Tips! ]

Comments (5).

[…] [How to Write a Fundraising Story + 7 Compelling Examples] […]

[…] goals of your trip. Yay! Good for you! The next steps in fundraising involve telling your story. AKA creating a compelling story that motivates others to donate. Sound difficult? Trust us, it’s not as hard as it […]

[…] can be overwhelming to think about all the fundraising stories and letters you need to write, Instagram posts you need to polish, and bake sales you need to organize to meet […]

[…] friends and family would love to learn more about why you’re funding for a gap year. Personalize your story in a video or some other creative way (photo slides, diagrams, art, etc.), and you may even see […]

' src=

Very good article

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

We use cookies to enhance our website for you. Proceed if you agree to this policy or learn more about it.

  • Essay Database >
  • Essays Examples >
  • Essay Topics

Essays on Fundraising

100 samples on this topic

Crafting a bunch of Fundraising papers is an inherent part of present-day studying, be it in high-school, college, or university. If you can do that on your own, that's just awesome; yet, other students might not be that skilled, as Fundraising writing can be quite difficult. The collection of free sample Fundraising papers introduced below was formed in order to help flunker learners rise up to the challenge.

On the one hand, Fundraising essays we publish here distinctly demonstrate how a really well-written academic paper should be developed. On the other hand, upon your request and for a fair price, a professional essay helper with the relevant academic experience can put together a fine paper model on Fundraising from scratch.

Education Above All Foundation Essay Samples

Executive Summary

A-Level Business Plan On Pitch Plan To Investors For Free Use

<< Name>> <<School>> <<Date>>

Expertly Crafted Essay On The Old Pass

Free question & answer on finance.

Question 1:

Statement Of Interest In The Global Leadership And Change Program Essay Samples

Expertly crafted essay on non-profit marketing, good considerations on fundraising essay example.

CONTENTS I. Introduction 3 II. Overview of Fundraising Activities 3 a. Collecting online donations 4 b. Sending Direct mail appeals 5 c. Requesting Foundation Grants 6 III. Plan 7 a. Objective One – Development of the comprehensive, detailed and informative project proposal 7 b. Objective Two – Selection of the grant providers 8 c. Objective Three – Making Impressive and Persuasive Presentations 8 IV. Summary of the Grant Proposition 9

References 11

Readability Of The Gwinnett Daily Post: A Sample Research Paper For Inspiration & Mimicking

Role of board of directors and staff: free sample essay to follow, good example of critical thinking on critique of a nonprofit grant writing, free planned giving programs: essential to long term sustainability of non-profit organizations essay sample, cyber jihad research paper samples, good example of critical thinking on common road blocks to successful fundraising, project management critical thinking examples.

Introduction

Free Article Review About Sustainable Funding For Non-Profit Organization

Article Identification

The video under evaluation is drawn from the Benevon firm. The CEO, Terry Axelrod teaches nonprofit organizations how to obtain sustainable funds. Benevon (2012). Creating Sustainable Funding for Your Nonprofit 55-Minute Recorded Seminar. Retrieved April 30, 2016 from http://www.benevon.com/fundraising-training- video.

Good Report On An Organizational Analysis Of The Mission Continues

Different organizations have different ways of carrying out their activities. The different ways are influenced by the organization missions, the management, the environment the organization is in among others (Kettner, 2013). The following essay conducts an assessment of the organization The Mission Continues. The assessment includes; organizational marketing strategies, management, and structure, organizational policies, regulations to which the organization adheres, the leadership within the organization, how the organization handles change, their use of volunteers, funding streams and their fundraising strategies.

About the organization

Expertly Crafted Essay On External And Internal Environments

Fundraising online: research paper you might want to emulate.

Fundraising Online

Free Business Plan On Letter Of Instruction

Resource-based view (rbv) and blue ocean: the perspectives of wikipedia case study examples.

A. Introduction 3

B. Part I - Analysis of Strategic Capabilities of Wikipedia under RBV Model 4 Resource Based View Model in Wikipedia Perspective 6 Heterogeneity and immobility of Wikipedia resources 7 VRIO Nature of Wikipedia Resources 8 C. Part II - Wikipedia in Blue Ocean Dimension 9

Elimination Aspect 10

Performance Raise Aspect 11 Reduction Aspect 12 Creative Aspect 12 Complexity Theory: The Wikipedia Case 13 D. Conclusions 15

Bibliography 17

Anti-Oppression And Equity In Child And Youth Care Relational Practice Essay Example

Non-profit organization report: doctors without borders essay to use for practical writing help, good fundraising for shining light charity essay example, free make-a-wish foundation report example, argumentative essay on research methodology.

Does uber continuous business model upgrade help them to stay ahead of the local cab companies and the competition in the US cab industry?

Free Essay About What Is Your Initial Opinion Of Elections In The United States? Should The Process Be Simplified?

Example of dissertation proposal on evaluation of the perspective performance of online magazine.

Waadthemagazine.net

A Dissertation Proposal submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of

The Executive Master of Business Administration

Soliciting Donations. Creative Writing Examples

Millennial moms

Free Essay On Food Bank Meeting Preparation

Good example of business plan on letter of instruction.

The main purpose of this document is to provide the volunteers with an overview of the upcoming events at Branding Town Hall. This document gives instructions with the pertinent information regarding the fundraising event for orphans living in and around the community of Branding to be held on March 28, 2016 at the town hall.

Good Essay On Bethesda Lutheran Communities:

Introduction:

Competitive Environment For Fundraising In Canada Report Samples

Identifying Competitive Environment for Fundraising in Canada

Free Balancing Strategy And Environmental Sustainability: Kimpton Hotels. Report Sample

Foundation course – essay samples.

Report for mountaineering training organization (MTO)

Good Example Of Essay On DB Big Sky/Big Money

Introduction of the Problem in three different Paragraphs

Good College Sports Industry Course Work Example

Part I: A Problem Exists

Sample Presentation On Using Social Media Tools To Connect To Customers To Support The Libraries

A. Major Issue and Focus

- Interesting issue of web content management about Using Social Media Tools to Connect to Customers to Support the Libraries

BULLET 1: I find the way libraries use social media an interesting topic for this presentation. I will cover most of the major issues surrounding the use of social media by libraries to connect to their customers to support libraries I have defined briefly in this presentation my audience, which will be the library management.

B. Context and Audience Descriptions

Free Presentation About Analyze the Audience

Audiences: You need to know that who you want to target for your fundraising event. Also, you need to think over whether your audience can be anyone to be invited at your fundraising event. Or you just want specific audience to attend your fundraising event such as, business people, young professionals or parents. In short, you need to decide the target audience as to who you want to attend the fundraising event.

Free Presentation About Theater Studies

Sample course work on project risks and constraints.

The assessment of risk for a project of fundraising for Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation charity is best identified by SWOT analysis. SWOT analysis is a method applied for managing areas of risk and planning, as well as highlight areas within the project, which can be maximized for the benefit of the entire project. SWOT can also be used in specific areas in which competitive advantage can be gained.

Operations Management Annotated Bibliographies Examples

Annotated Bibliography

Anderson, M. & Ramos-Reid, R. (2011) Core competence-definition and dynamics in the not-for-profit sector. School of Management Blekinge Institute of Technology Sweden.

Goals And Use Of Funds Course Works Examples

Analysis of World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

The organization’s set up should always be working within the mission in which it’s established. This will enable the organization delivers and be objective. The mission of the organization should be believed in by all the staff members; hence the results will be delivered. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) operates in a wide range of activities which go beyond conservation. The organization is a nonprofit institution that has been in operation for the last 50 years, making it a leader in the wildlife conservation industry.

Communication and Crisis Essay Example

Abc program admission essay examples.

During the first year at my current university I was a motivated, dedicated and driven student. I was hoping to reach my goals of graduating as a successful mechanical engineer. I had maintained a perfect balance between academics and extracurricular activities. I was accepted into the ABC engineering program. The program focuses on issues that engineers face in a competitive marketplace.

Good Example Of The Salvation Army National Headquarters Essay

615 Slaters Lane P.O. Box 269

Alexandria, VA 22313

FOR IMMAEDIATE RELAEASE: [final version’s due date]

Jerry Maguire

GSO Strategy Case Study

- What is the strategy of the GSO? Please be as specific as you can in identifying both the GSO’s environmental constraints, and how it differs both from the symphony orchestras, and from a professional sports team, which has many similar constraints and objectives? Why do these differences exist?

Good Example Of Research Paper On Water Is Life

Analyzing the royal voluntary service fund raising mix essays examples.

<Tutor> <Department>

The Royal Voluntary Service Fund Raising Mix: An Analysis

Good An Example Of Managing Project Risks Essay Example

Project risks could occur at any time. These risks could damage the work and reputation that a business has worked to build. To manage these risks, project managers develop a risk assessment plan, which tries to identify a risk before it actually occurs (Stanleigh, n.d.). Taking this step lessens the damage that the risk could cause. Below, is an example of risk mitigation and risk management.

Project Risk – Recognized in Advance

Free Law Case Study Sample

Company Law

Law Case Study Samples

Free essay about services marketing, new strategic direction at teen challenge research paper examples.

BMAL 504-B07

Music Therapy Research Paper Samples

Free thesis about non-governmental organization management.

Differences between National and International NGOs -

A Case Study of the US, Bahrain and India (Author name) (Supervisor name)

Free Argumentative Essay On Campaign Fundraising

Example of term paper on sales pitch.

Opening Hi Michael, this is Alfred Stevens calling from National Kidney Foundation. You have been one of our best supporters in our bid to continue helping people with kidney problems by making donations. I recognize that you are a really busy man especially during these hours of the day, have you got a minute?

We are a charity organization that helps people with Kidney problem by financing dialysis and kidney transplants. We have put smiles on faces of more than one thousand persons who had lost hope in life after developing different kidney conditions.

Quick next step

Fundamentals Of Restructuring Fundraisings Activities - Training Manual Business Plans Example

Example of paper #1 is qi plan 4 paper #2 summary of the four qi plans essay.

275 words = 1 page double-spaced

submit your paper

Password recovery email has been sent to [email protected]

Use your new password to log in

You are not register!

By clicking Register, you agree to our Terms of Service and that you have read our Privacy Policy .

Now you can download documents directly to your device!

Check your email! An email with your password has already been sent to you! Now you can download documents directly to your device.

or Use the QR code to Save this Paper to Your Phone

The sample is NOT original!

Short on a deadline?

Don't waste time. Get help with 11% off using code - GETWOWED

No, thanks! I'm fine with missing my deadline

Fundraising Everywhere Logo

A Reflection on Fundraising in 2020

  • Simon Scriver
  • February 26, 2021

Fundraising Objects

This article by Simon Scriver first appeared in the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand magazine .

At one point or another this year I think I've questioned everything we do.

Being a fundraiser is hard enough as it is. I’ve questioned why we came in to 2020 with higher targets and a lower budget...still reporting to our 12-month-bosses on monthly targets in an industry that hopes for an 18 month return on investment.

I’ve questioned us getting in to bed with companies and politicians who create the very problems we address. I’m not sure I can face one more charity’s annual conference that opens with Minister Hyde gushing about the work while Dr Jekyl slashes the budget.

And we weren’t exactly celebrated. It can sometimes feel like we’re criticised from every direction in our role, and besides the odd FINZ award or networking event we don’t get many pats on the back. Fundraising is a lonely job: A successful fundraiser is at the back of the room while those on stage are applauded.

If it was a difficult environment before (and the high turnover of fundraising staff said it was), then 2020 has really shaken our buckets.

There were glimmers of hope. We caught a glimpse of what a world could be: less cars on the road, more time with the ones we loved, a contagious sense of caring, and finally a moment to take a deep breath and ask ourselves what we were doing.

But COVID obliterated fundraising. Let’s be honest here. While there are success stories, small victories and rewards for those who moved quickly, nobody can deny that charities have felt and will feel the effects of this for years to come. I’m thinking of my fundraiser friends: some of whom were quick to be furloughed, suspended or let go. A baffling knee-jerk reaction by some organisations who seemed to forget what a fundraiser’s role is.

Others had survivor’s guilt as they watched friends and co-workers deal with uncertainty. All the while continuing to try and raise money from individuals and companies who were as lost as the rest of us.

Not everyone struggled...in a crisis the rich get richer. We’ve all heard about Zuckerberg, Bezos and Gates snatching even more personal wealth during this global pandemic. But there are ghouls in every corner of the world profiting off the struggles your charity addresses. I try not to think about how our sector hopes against hope that another billionaire will wake up tomorrow feeling generous enough to dip in to their stockpile and decide to sprinkle some equity.

If the politics annoys you, you wouldn’t be the first. One of my badges of honour this year was being told to “stay out of politics and stick to fundraising”, like our whole industry doesn’t exist to clean up the pathogens of a political sneeze.

And that’s what the future holds for us: A full embracing of the idea that we can’t achieve our missions without changing the system.

Fundraising has been a plaster. No, not in a bad way. You might hear someone describe charities as just a plaster, but it’s necessary in the short-term while we address the long-term changes. They work in harmony. If you accidentally chop the end of your finger off you still grab a plaster while you address the inherent flaws in your knife-juggling skills. Fundraising is a plaster. A beautiful, and necessary plaster. A safety net for the vulnerable.

And it also funds change.

It funds our advocacy, our campaigns, our petitions and our protests.

It funds the voices. And it buys louder megaphones.

It helps us change minds and move our followers off fences. It powers a wave of change that trickles in to the laws we live by. It looks beyond the growing waiting lists charities deal with every day and makes changes that will be felt for generations.

I think 2021 is an opportunity. A chance to reset and build on what fundraisers have always done well. We must continue the work we have always done: successful fundraising has allowed and continues to allow our organisations to change lives.

And we must adapt. We must speak louder in a noisy world. We must work together in a divided system. And we must elevate and amplify each other in an understanding that we are working together as a sector. There’s no room for scarcity thinking.

We’ll see a permanently virtual-world. Not an endless lockdown, but even further confirmation that the online and offline worlds don’t operate independently or competitively.

We’ll see the rise of community-centred fundraising and the decline of donor-centred fundraising. We’ll have to question and re-evaluate some of the principles of our fundraising because the world is outgrowing us. It will be a time to be brutally honest about what we’ve been so wrong about.

It won’t be easy. But fundraising never was.

Do you know the story of the starfish? The grumpy old man (who looks like me) spots a boy on a beach throwing starfish back in to the sea?

“What are you doing there, boy?” the old man asked, walking closer.

“I’m saving these starfish that are stranded” replied the boy, “if they stay on the beach they will dry out and die, so I’m putting them back into the ocean so they can live.”

The old man was silent for a few seconds.

“Young boy” he said, “on this stretch of beach alone, there must be more than one hundred stranded starfish. Around the next corner, there must be at least one thousand more. This goes on for miles and miles and miles – I’ve done this walk every day for 10 years, and it’s always the same. There must be millions of stranded starfish! You’ll never make a difference.”

The boy replied “well I just made a difference for that one...now shut up and grab a starfish or help smash the system that allows so many starfish to die. And wear a mask.”

© Fundraising Everywhere. [email protected] +44 333 015 6154 Designed & developed by mtc.

Ecologi - Climate positive workforce

Save with membership!

  • Unlimited FE event access (worth €1000)
  • Exclusive members clinic
  • Priority for all FE events
  • Weekly newsletters
  • Extended event access
  • A global fundraising community

FE Memberships

Let students in PTECH schools use TAP funds for community college classes

President Barack Obama steps off the Marine One helicopter as...

President Barack Obama steps off the Marine One helicopter as Sen. Chuck Schumer waits at left, after he landed in Prospect Park in Brooklyn to visit Pathways in Technology Early College High School in October 2013. Credit: AP/Charles Dharapak

In his 2013 State of the Union speech, then-President Barack Obama called out a new New York school for praise. PTECH, which had opened in Brooklyn two years before, was the nation's first school providing students in grades 9-14 a concurrent high school diploma and a competitive two-year community college degree. The school's business partner, IBM, offered students mentoring and paid internships, and ensured completing students would be first in line for available jobs. Obama later helicoptered into Prospect Park and visited the school, saying that this was an opportunity that should be “made available to all students”

Eleven years later, there are over 350 PTECH schools across 15 states and 28 countries involving hundreds of business partners, all attempting to realize Obama's vision. Rosabeth Moss Kanter of the Harvard Business School says PTECH was the most scalable and effective school model in the nation.

The state that started it all, New York, now has 60 PTECH schools across every economic development region of the state. One program pairs students at Uniondale and Freeport high schools with Farmingdale State College. A recent independent evaluation completed by the MDRC research institute documented increased passing rates on state Regents exams, increased college course completion, and higher graduation rates for PTECH students despite the schools serving more low-income students and students of color. Two-thirds of the cybersecurity degrees awarded by Orange County Community College go to PTECH students from upstate Newburgh.

But there more than 1,500 public high schools in New York. While PTECH schools don't involve higher spending than other schools, the cost of college tuition has perhaps been a barrier to broader expansion.

Now there is an opportunity to address that problem and realize Obama's vision. Legislation in the State Senate and Assembly would allow the state's Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) to be extended to cover the tuition for college courses taken by all financially eligible students while still on their high school register. Since the overwhelming number of PTECH current and future students would be eligible, this would remove college tuition costs for students in PTECH schools and it would likely lead to significant increases in both the number of PTECH schools and the number of students in each PTECH school across the Empire State.

From our Editorial Board, get inside the local, city and state political scenes.

By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy .

While the total amount of TAP funding would not increase, students would simply be able to access existing funds earlier in their academic careers with a clear pathway toward completion and employment. Assuming PTECH's record of success continues, more students will enroll and graduate from college and move into high-wage career opportunities where their lifetime earnings will be more than a million dollars more than those entering the workforce with only a high school diploma. This innovative use of TAP has been endorsed by The Business Council of New York State and its members as well as the Hispanic Federation, New York Urban League, The Education Trust, SUNY Student Assembly, and many other organizations representing students, businesses, and educational advocates.

New York State has strong career growth opportunities in multiple industries, including cybersecurity, biotech, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, and green jobs to name but a few. By creating a seamless pathway from school to college to career, the state can have an economic engine to grow and sustain economic growth and New York students can achieve their dreams. Let's keep hope alive

This guest essay reflects the views of Stanley S. Litow, a Columbia University professor and member of the SUNY board of trustees.

My experience here started with an essay on English lit. As of today, it is quite difficult for me to imagine my life without these awesome writers. Thanks. Always.

Customer Reviews

Finished Papers

  • Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Guest Essay

One Way to Help a Journalism Industry in Crisis: Make J-School Free

An illustrated drawing of a man shackled to a ball and chain. The man, who has a pipe in his mouth and is wearing pinstripe pants, a pink shirt and tie and a red hat, is kneeling, using wire cutters to cut the chain tied to his ankle.

By Graciela Mochkofsky

Ms. Mochkofsky is the dean at CUNY’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism.

Many uncertainties haunt the field of journalism today — among them, how we can reach our audience, build public trust in our work, and who is going to pay for it all. But one thing is certain: as complicated and dark as the world looks today, it would be much worse if journalists were not there to report on it.

Research shows that towns that have lost sources of local news tend to suffer from lower voter turnout, less civic engagement and more government corruption. Journalists are essential just as nurses and firefighters and doctors are essential.

And to continue to have journalists, we need to make their journalism education free.

This might sound counterintuitive given the state of the industry. Shrinking revenue and decreasing subscription figures have led to a record number of newsroom jobs lost. Much of the local news industry has fallen into the hands of hedge funds focused on squeezing the last drops of revenue out of operations by decimating them. Billionaires who appeared as saviors just a few years ago have grown tired of losing money on the media organizations they bought. Public trust in the value of news is at historical lows, while a growing percentage of people are avoiding the news altogether.

Generative artificial intelligence, which is on the verge of reshaping almost everything around us, is bringing yet another technological disruption to the industry. Against this grim backdrop, authoritarian leaders are increasingly targeting journalists as political enemies both at home and abroad.

And yet there are still tens of thousands of jobs in news media in America, with exceptional journalism being produced every day. Some major organizations have even found ways to thrive in the digital age. Prominent foundation leaders have started an effort to pour hundreds of millions of philanthropic dollars into local journalism, and a movement has formed to push for federal and local legislation to direct public funding to news. An initiative to replant local news has founded dozens of nonprofit newsrooms in cities around the country. And a small but growing number of organizations are redefining the way news agendas are set, focusing on rebuilding public trust within small communities.

No matter how the news industry evolves, we will continue to need journalists. Successful business models for media are necessary, but the most crucial element for strong, independent journalism is the people who make it. Given the present stakes in the industry, our society and the world, we need mission-driven, imaginative news leaders who are not bound by the models of the past, who have the motivation and freedom to reimagine the field, and the empathy and commitment to serve the public interest, undaunted by attacks and threats.

We must also move beyond the lack of economic and demographic diversity that has long been a problem in the industry. News has too often been reported by predominantly middle-class, white, male journalists, resulting in coverage that has repeatedly missed the issues that are most important to the people receiving the news, contributing to the public’s lack of trust in the media.

In a resource-starved industry, few newsrooms can offer the type of mentoring, guidance and time that it takes to shape a great journalist. This is now primarily the responsibility of journalism schools. It is the civic duty of these schools to find and train reporters and news leaders, instill in them an ethical foundation, help develop their critical thinking skills, allow them to try and fail in a safe environment, open doors and provide a support network. (Journalism schools should also contribute research in a variety of areas, from the impact of A.I. to new business models to identifying and responding to emerging threats.)

But the cost of a journalism education has become an insurmountable barrier for exactly the kind of people we need the most. And those who, with great effort, manage to overcome that barrier, carry a weight that could limit their professional options.

Reporters burdened with debt are less likely to take professional risks and more likely to abandon the field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median reporter salary in America is less than $56,000 a year, or about $27 per hour. In low-income areas, where news deserts are more prevalent, annual salaries can be as low as $20,000. A Wall Street Journal report about the debt-to-income ratio of alumni of 16 journalism masters programs found that many graduates leave with debts that exceed their postgraduate income.

As the dean of the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York, I can tell you that half measures won’t solve this quandary. My school was founded in 2006 as a public alternative to elite journalism schools in the city and it remains one of the most affordable in the nation.

Our in-state students pay about a quarter of the cost of an equivalent degree from top-tier schools with which we successfully compete. This year alone, 90 percent of our students are on scholarships, and a record 25 percent are attending tuition-free. We also waived the $75 application fee this admission cycle and saw an increase of more than 40 percent in our applicant pool.

Thanks to these policies, we have succeeded where the media industry keeps failing. Over 50 percent of our students are people of color and from underserved communities. Many couldn’t have attended our school if we hadn’t offered significant scholarship support. But that’s not enough. Though we rank as one of the journalism schools with higher-medium-income and lower-median-debt alumni, our students still don’t graduate fully debt-free.

This is why this year, we began a campaign to go fully tuition-free by 2027. While other schools might face different financial challenges, we hope that many more will follow us.

We need journalists whose only obligations are to the facts and the society they serve, not to lenders; who are concerned with the public interest, not with interest rates; who can make risky decisions and take the difficult path if that’s what the mission requires, free of financial burden. Journalism schools can help achieve that. In tough times, it is natural to mourn the past or lament the present, but what we really need is bold action.

Graciela Mochkofsky is the dean at CUNY’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. She is the author, most recently, of “ The Prophet of the Andes: An Unlikely Journey to the Promised Land .”

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , WhatsApp , X and Threads .

Customer Reviews

essay about fundraising in school

Fundraiser to preserve, repair historic integrated school in Cass County

CASS COUNTY, Mich. (WNDU) - The Underground Railroad Society of Cass County (URSCC) needs your help to preserve the longest integrated public school in Michigan, and perhaps the country.

Brownsville School is a legacy of the Underground Railroad, helping over 1,500 freedom seekers on their journey to Canada. It opened in the 1840s and was integrated from the day it opened until it closed in 1957.

URSCC purchased the school in Calvin Township in late 2022 with plans to restore it and display historic items from other public, one-room schools in Cass County.

Now instead, URSCC plans to preserve the school as it is and repair the foundation, roof, floors, siding, windows, and the bell tower. The repairs are estimated to cost $150,000.

For more information about the project and to donate to it, click here .

Copyright 2024 WNDU. All rights reserved.

A boat moves past a container ship as it rests against wreckage of the Francis Scott Key...

LIVE: NTSB to give update; 6 are missing after cargo ship rams into Baltimore bridge’s support column, causing collapse

FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY TUESDAY: Wind Gusts over 50 mph, Storms This Afternoon

FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY TUESDAY: Wind Gusts over 50 mph, Storms This Afternoon

A photo of an Elkhart street.

17, 16, and 12-year-old injured in Elkhart shooting

Four-year-old Michael Nadalin is believed to be in extreme danger.

Missing 4-year-old boy from central Indiana found safe

FILE - Former President Donald Trump holds up a copy of a story featuring New York Attorney...

Court agrees to block collection of Trump’s massive civil fraud judgment if he puts up $175M

Latest news.

essay about fundraising in school

Michiana Crime Stoppers holding Spring Shredding event in April

Fans excited as the Notre Dame Women's Basketball team advances to the Sweet 16.

Fans excited as Notre Dame advances to Sweet 16

Traffic alert

Basketball traffic jam

essay about fundraising in school

Big Balloon Build in Elkhart County to raise funds for good cause

essay about fundraising in school

Independent film made in Michiana premiering at the Morris this weekend

Well-planned online essay writing assistance by PenMyPaper

Writing my essays has long been a part and parcel of our lives but as we grow older, we enter the stage of drawing critical analysis of the subjects in the writings. This requires a lot of hard work, which includes extensive research to be done before you start drafting. But most of the students, nowadays, are already overburdened with academics and some of them also work part-time jobs. In such a scenario, it becomes impossible to write all the drafts on your own. The writing service by the experts of PenMyPaper can be your rescuer amidst such a situation. We will write my essay for me with ease. You need not face the trouble to write alone, rather leave it to the experts and they will do all that is required to write your essays. You will just have to sit back and relax. We are offering you unmatched service for drafting various kinds for my essays, everything on an online basis to write with. You will not even have to visit anywhere to order. Just a click and you can get the best writing service from us.

Finished Papers

essay about fundraising in school

Customer Reviews

Free essays categories

COMMENTS

  1. Why School Fundraising Is Important

    School fundraising is important because it funds students' extracurricular activities, field trips, and other educational enrichment opportunities. It helps to offset the costs of school supplies and textbooks and even can help erase school lunch debt. Also, school fundraising can help fund scholarships and financial aid for needy students.

  2. Fundraising Essays: Examples, Topics, & Outlines

    Fundraising Doing Well by Doing. The first step is dubbed "Stop and Think." As the steps' name implies, it advises that the decision maker take it slow to avoid bad decisions based on emotions. The second step, "Clarify Goals," is about understanding both short- and long-term impacts of the decision. Next, in step three, the decision maker is ...

  3. Why School Fundraising Is Vital To Education

    These cuts weaken schools' capacity to develop the intelligence and creativity of the next generation of workers and entrepreneurs.". That's why we asked a principal and two PTO Presidents why schools need to fundraise. If you're wondering why we fundraise or how do school fundraisers work, their responses may give you a better ...

  4. Essay On School Fundraising

    Essay On School Fundraising. 861 Words4 Pages. School Fundraising Sucks. Imagine this, your son or daughter comes back from school, crying after the teachers have continually harassed them to buy the overpriced food for school fundraising. This is obviously bad for the kids and their education, and schools never manage to fundraise properly.

  5. How to Write an Speech for School Fundraising? (Sample Included)

    However, a school fundraiser speech can differ since your audience will include students, parents, alumni, and potential donors. School fundraising speech should spell out the specific financial need and outline how the parents can get involved, along with a powerful story to create a bond between parents, donors, and the school.

  6. Persuasive Essay On School Fundraisers

    Persuasive Essay On School Fundraisers. Good Essays. 1401 Words. 6 Pages. Open Document. Most people have gotten either that knock on their front door or one of their family members coming up to them trying to sell them something from a school fundraiser. It is normally some kind of discount card, pizza, or nuts.

  7. 4 Reasons Why School Fundraising Is Important

    As you can see, fundraising greases the wheels of your efforts to provide a top-notch educational experience for your students, from covering basic expenses like school supplies to financing more advanced endeavors, like funding international projects. For instance, a recent study found that the average teacher spends almost $500 of their own money per year on supplies.

  8. Fundraising for Charity and Helping Others: Ideas for Schools

    Some Fundraising Ideas for Schools. Fundaising ideas for schools include the following: Run a sale: Popular examples include bake sales and candy sales, but many other items could be sold. These include potted plants, produce grown in a home garden or on other land owned by the family, and homemade crafts. Collect donations: Items that could be ...

  9. 53 Proven Fundraisers for Schools

    41. "Seed" money. This school fundraising idea is unique and interesting, and stimulates creativity and entrepreneurial mindset in students. Give each student a small amount of "seed money" and ask them to use their creativity to come up with a way to turn the initial $5 or $10 into a larger amount of money.

  10. 33 Fundraising Ideas for Schools

    8. Dance-a-Thon. Host a dance-a-thon as another way to keep students moving and motivated to give back. Spin up a great playlist and encourage passionate students to come together to dance for a set period, collecting donations through peer-to-peer fundraising for every hour they stay on their feet.

  11. 10 School Fundraising Ideas that Actually Work & Increase Donations

    Whether you work with a student leadership team, PTO, or other school-related organization, the key to a successful school fundraiser is to have a plan in place. Work together to explore some new, fresh fundraising ideas for your school. Some of the best fundraising ideas for schools include: 1. An Online Auction Everyone loves an auction!

  12. 47 Easy and Profitable Fundraising Ideas For Schools

    Here are a few of our favorites: 7. Walk-a-Thon. Walk-a-thons are hugely popular fundraising ideas for schools for many reasons. For one, walk-a-thons typically take a peer-to-peer approach, where individuals raise money on behalf of the fundraising organization.

  13. 60+ Fundraising Ideas for Schools and Education [Updated!]

    For the event, you'll need ice cream and toppings as well as a place that can be easily cleaned (like the cafeteria). Assign a fundraising goal to each topping. For example, $100 buys a scoop of ice cream, and to add sprinkles the students have to raise $150. Each topping should get messier and thus cost more to add.

  14. 50 Successful School Fundraising Ideas

    Here is a list of fundraising ideas your school could consider for your next fundraising need! Bake sale: Parents, students and staff can contribute baked goods for a one-day sale. Children and/or parents can be invited in to buy these treats. Raffle: Sell tickets for the chance to win a particular prize - this could be a basket of goods, a 50/ ...

  15. How to Raise Money for a School Trip the Smart Way

    Start by raising money through your school trip and utilize FundMyTravel for additional funds. While you are working on selling, start your account with FundMyTravel. Come up with creative ideas to motivate and incentivize your supporters. Remember, lots of people need to fundraise in order to afford a trip.

  16. 67 Good Fundraising Ideas for Schools in 2023 (High, Middle

    Another reason to go with this screen-free fundraiser is that it's one in a million free fundraising ideas. 22. Study-a-thon. Let's be honest: studying is super necessary, but sometimes, it can feel kinda thankless. With a study-a-thon, students get rewarded for putting their noses to the grindstone.

  17. Master the skill of writing for fundraising with these tips

    Persuasive (grants or appeals) - Use persuasive writing to appeal to both loyal donors, potential donors, and foundations that may offer grants to nonprofits. A fundraising appeal letter should weave a story that tells your reader exactly what you need from them financially and how their money will be used. Grants usually have very specific parameters requesting details about your program or ...

  18. How to Write a Fundraising Story + 6 Compelling Examples

    Be straight about why you need the cash, and what the money is going towards. Transparency is key. 3. Be short and sweet. Writing a fundraising letter doesn't have to be a full time job. Yes, you should take time and be intentional, but please don't send out a novel. Fundraising stories should be short and sweet.

  19. Fundraising Essay Examples

    Essays on Fundraising. 100 samples on this topic. Crafting a bunch of Fundraising papers is an inherent part of present-day studying, be it in high-school, college, or university. If you can do that on your own, that's just awesome; yet, other students might not be that skilled, as Fundraising writing can be quite difficult.

  20. A Reflection on Fundraising in 2020

    Fundraising is a lonely job: A successful fundraiser is at the back of the room while those on stage are applauded. If it was a difficult environment before (and the high turnover of fundraising staff said it was), then 2020 has really shaken our buckets. There were glimmers of hope. We caught a glimpse of what a world could be: less cars on ...

  21. 20 School Fundraising Statistics That Might Surprise You

    Understand Fundraising Trends and Opportunities Unfortunately, school and college fundraising has fallen behind other nonprofit sectors when it comes to new and recurring donors, as is seen in the above list of school fundraising statistics.. One reason for this may be institutions' limited response after receiving the donation.

  22. Let students in PTECH schools use TAP funds for community ...

    PTECH, which had opened in Brooklyn two years before, was the nation's first school providing students in grades 9-14 a concurrent high school diploma and a competitive two-year community college ...

  23. Essay About Fundraising In School

    The best essay writer should convey the idea easily and smoothly, without overloading the text or making it messy. Extensive work experience. To start making interesting writing, you need to write a lot every day. This practice is used by all popular authors for books, magazines and forum articles.

  24. Enter the Harvard Salient's Essay Contest

    All high-school students (or homeschoolers enrolled in an equivalent grade) are eligible to participate in an essay contest run by Harvard's student-run conservative paper.

  25. How Trump Is Scrambling to Raise Cash

    Records show the previous high for online fund-raising was last August, when Mr. Trump raised $22.3 million. Still, Democratic donors have been pouring money into Mr. Biden's coffers.

  26. One Way to Help a Journalism Industry in Crisis: Make J-School Free

    Though we rank as one of the journalism schools with higher-medium-income and lower-median-debt alumni, our students still don't graduate fully debt-free. This is why this year, we began a ...

  27. Essay About Fundraising In School

    4.9/5. Free Revisions. Toll free 24/7 +1-323-996-2024. 347. Essay About Fundraising In School -.

  28. Fundraiser to preserve, repair historic integrated school in ...

    Fundraiser to preserve, repair historic integrated school in Cass County. The repairs are estimated to cost $150,000. ... Brownsville School is a legacy of the Underground Railroad, helping over ...

  29. Essay About Fundraising In School

    4.8. For expository writing, our writers investigate a given idea, evaluate its various evidence, set forth interesting arguments by expounding on the idea, and that too concisely and clearly. Our online essay writing service has the eligibility to write marvelous expository essays for you. View Sample. Presentation on Healthcare.

  30. Bill Seeks Funding Ban for Medical Schools With DEI Programs

    It comes amid a flurry of other proposed and passed state-level legislation banning DEI programs at colleges and universities, and about nine months after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled race-based admission policies unconstitutional.. At the same time, some medical schools, including the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and New York University's Grossman School of Medicine, have eliminated ...