Super Charge Your Year With School Fundraising Ideas

The major drawback of the most popular fundraising activities - the sponsored walks, runs, or biking events - is the complex logistics of setting up the event itself.

However, their scale and visibility to the community as a whole often makes them more effective in raising funds than other smaller-scale events.

Additionally, the competitive and athletic aspects make them popular among the students.

The concept, at least, is simple. Teams gather sponsorships then walk, run or cycle an agreed-upon distance.

Teenagers are quick to decide that something is dull or boring, and getting their ‘buy in’ to something like fundraising for their school can be a bigger challenge than raising the money itself.

To make an event fun, give it a theme! Let the students decide.

Onesie fun run? Superhero walk? Tutu cycle? The options are endless.

Whether it's old clothing, games, workshop tools, sporting equipment or computers, the 'Bring And Buy Sale' is a school classic.

For this fundraising activity, students are your greatest resource as they come from homes with store rooms and garages crammed full of old stuff they no longer use or want. 

Often easy to go from conception to an event in just a matter of days, these fundraisers can be implemented in conjunction with local markets when the school’s budget needs a little help.

Different from sales of specific fundraising items, the traditional bring and buy sale can be an effective short-term and emergency fundraiser.

It has a high profit potential as the inventory is cost-free and sales are 100% profit.

It's not something you can run all the time as you'll eventually exhaust the supply of unwanted items. Success is dependant on donations.

It’s popular with the community as well because, as ever, one person’s trash is another one’s treasure.

Still effective after all these years, the traditional sale of chocolates remains a popular school fundraising activity.

Companies now exist solely to supply schools with fundraising inventory and systems, making it very easy to plan and execute a sale with a high profit margin.

While there are a range of products now available to sell, chocolates remain at the top of the list.

That said, it can be quite labour-intensive. Parents often quickly tire of being asked to purchase items they don't need or, in the case of chocolates, often don’t want their children to have.

It's a great activity for long-term budget planning, but not so great for emergencies or any time-crunch scenario.

The challenge to raising funds is finding good fundraising ideas for schools that the students will also love.

School dances are a wonderful opportunity for students to see each other in a different light - disco light!

Any event that makes it easy for kids to interact with each other and enjoy themselves will be popular, so a school dance with a cover charge will help raise funds.

Just keep in mind that you’ll need to arrange for chaperones and supervision, something the parents will demand.

Create some fun fines on the night. $2 fine for not dancing. $1 fine for dancing with the same group of friends for too long.

Get the kids to come up with their own fines prior to the event. 

In fact, if you leave it to the kids to decide on a fundraising approach, they'll often vote for a party.

Money is raised through ticket sales and refreshment sales at the event.

It's often not a lot of money, but enough to help fund a specific project, program or club champion trophy.

If you keep it simple, parties are fairly easy to plan.

All any party really needs is music, some refreshments and a usable space - schools can usually provide the space.

The trend right now is for schools to do away with complex fundraising schemes and simply send letters home requesting donations and stating clear financial goals.

This may be suitable in a private school context, but in public schools it may not fly at all.

While the direct approach can be effective, you may also end up fielding complaints which can make administration staff uncomfortable.

There's nothing wrong with including it in your annual mix of fundraising activities, but as a substitute for other ideas it's risky business.

Parents want to give back, but sometimes they may also want something in return.

Bringing back the retro car wash is ideal for short-term fundraising for specific goals like uniforms or class trips.

It does require some upfront costs and often the logistics can be a challenge, but overall the commitment is pretty minimal.

You'll be surprised how many takers you'll get for a weekend car wash from parents and the community alike.

Just be sure to publicise it widely in the school newsletter, local newspaper and on local community Facebook pages.

School fundraising should be, above all, fun for all involved.

Remember that it’s a long school year – if one idea fails, move on to the next!