24 Quick Fundraising Ideas for Schools

Updated: January 2025

Summary:

• School fundraising doesn’t need to come with high upfront costs or require months of planning. These 24 quick ideas can help you get results faster.
• Ticket campaigns help your school make money by charging a fee to attend movie nights, karaoke, yard sales, and other special events.
• Fundraisers like pajama days, wishlists, letter campaigns, and direct-donation drives let donors contribute directly to your projects.
• Use purchase campaigns to sell food, cookie dough, sports bracket templates, snack packs, or spirit gear to raise money. Or, run a Paint-A-Thon or Dance-A-Thon and have students commit to an activity in exchange for donations.
• External campaigns help schools coordinate events that involve third-party platforms or

Making a fundraiser too complicated can make it harder to set up and run—which can mean raising less money for your school group at the end of the day. But there are lots of quick and easy fundraisers that you can organize in practically no time at all!

Below, you’ll find fast options for fundraisers that raise money for important school causes without months of planning. FutureFund is packed with features that streamline your fundraising campaigns, and we’ve got plenty of ideas for potential projects as well. Find your favorite idea on this list, then get started with us to put it in motion.

1. Bowling night

Strike up some fun with a bowling night fundraiser! Partner with a local alley and sell tickets to a family-friendly evening event in support of your school. Ask the venue to donate the proceeds or split them so everyone wins.

How to run a bowling night

• Set a date at least a month in advance and reach out to venues right away.
• Reserve regular and bumper lanes to accommodate all ages and skill levels.
• Sell tickets priced for kids, adults, and families through your FutureFund account.  
• Invite a food truck to drop by if your alley doesn’t have concessions available.

Ask about cosmic bowling to really amp up the fun. Not all alleys offer this feature, but if they do, it can really take your bowling night to the next level.

2. Movie night

Bring your community together for a fun-filled Movie Night at your school! This classic fundraiser requires almost no effort and is a great way to engage families while raising funds. All you need to get started is a projector and an open space or seating area!

How to run a movie night

• Set a date at least two weeks out to give parents time to plan.
• Let kids vote on a movie—but give them age-appropriate options first. 
• Sell tickets to your movie night event in advance with our ticketing tools.
• Set up a snack stand and sell popcorn, drinks, or candy for added revenue.

To turn this into a truly special event, consider partnering with a local theatre that can host your movie night. Most already have programs aimed at supporting schools and other charities.

3. Karaoke night

Hit a high note this year by hosting a fun-filled karaoke night in the school gym! This in-person event is simple to organize and brings everyone together in support of your school. 

How to run a karaoke night

• Set a date at least one month out to give attendees time to plan.
• Check with school officials about using equipment, like microphones or speakers.
• Cultivate a playlist in advance, or hire a DJ to come in and play songs on the fly.
• Use FutureFund to accept payments online in Apple or Google Pay.

Kids can sing whatever they want, whether it’s good, silly, or even just plain awful—it’s all entertainment to them. Still, it’s best to make the rules clear (like no explicit lyrics).

4. Community yard sale

Bring your community together for a day of fun and raise money with an old-fashioned community yard sale. To make it a fundraiser, use FutureFund’s tools to sell tickets that cover table rentals or entry fees at the door.

How to run a community yard sale:

• Set a date at least one month in advance.
• Find a venue as early as possible—the school gym is a great place to start!
• Promote the event to the community through social media, newsletters, and flyers.
• Offer concessions or in-person offerings, like door prizes, to boost interest.

To get even better results, ask vendors to donate a small portion of their proceeds after the event wraps up. Or, collect items to sell at a table that specifically supports your school.

5. Virtual workshops

How-to workshops can be a great way for school groups to bring in cash, but they can also be a lot of work to organize. To get faster results, focus on engaging but straightforward topics that don’t require any special expertise, but are still fun for attendees.

How to run a how-to workshop

• Put out a call for volunteers before setting a date or planning details.
• Encourage hosts to suggest event ideas based on their hobbies.
• Choose fun, easy-to-lead topics like crafting, art, baking, or basic science.
• Sell tickets to your virtual event online to raise money faster.

Virtual workshops can help you raise funds long-term, too. To keep the momentum going, use our pre-built volunteer management template to keep track of host pitches year-round.

6. Viral video challenge

Remember the ice bucket challenge? Bring the excitement back and raise money for your school with your own viral video challenge! Get participants to record themselves completing a fun and silly task, then have them challenge others to do the same.

How to run a viral video challenge

• Start with a hype video and use it as a demonstration to kick off the challenge.
• Collect donations online or in person, then use our free tools to track them.
• Promote it on social media and encourage people to share it with their friends.
• Keep the energy high by re-sharing the most creative or entertaining videos.

For best results, choose a challenge that’s entertaining and easy for anyone to do, but just a little outside of everyone’s comfort zone. There’s a reason the ice bucket challenge worked so well!

7. Pajama Day fundraiser

We’ve all had days where we just want to stay in our PJs all day. Canceling school might be out of the question, but you can use the opportunity to raise money for important school causes. Let students and staff donate to stay in their PJs.

How to run a Pajama Day fundraiser

• Schedule it in whatever way best fits your school—weekly, monthly, or just once.
• Encourage participation by reminding everyone that donations of any size are welcome.
• Share photos of the day—you can use our built-in templates to get permission.
• Use the money to buy classroom supplies, pay for field trips, or cover pizza parties.

Kids love having the opportunity to relax in their PJs, and schools get access to the funds they need to meet their goals. Don’t sleep on this one!

8. Wishlist fundraiser

Need donations for specific supplies or items fast? Run a wishlist campaign! Let your school or individual classrooms create a wishlist full of the items they need most. Then, ask your local community to chip in by covering the cost of at least one item when they donate.

How to run a wishlist fundraiser

• Put out a request for lists at least one month in advance—or at the start of the year. 
• Prioritize needs first, like art supplies, sports equipment, learning toys, or books.
• Promote the wishlist on social media, in flyers, and in email updates to parents. 
• Share regular updates that highlight donor efforts and show your results!

In general, you want to keep the asks reasonable for the average person, but don’t be afraid to include a few fun wants—you just might get them!

9. Grocery store partnership

Need to raise money for your school’s lunch program? Join forces with a local grocery store by asking them to host a one-day or weekend event where a portion of all sales go directly to your cause. Even just 5% can really add up!

How to run a grocery store partnership

• Contact local stores by mail or telephone to ask if they offer charitable support.
• Let them know what you need: direct donations, donations in kind, or food. 
• Promote all partnerships through social media, newsletters, and school emails.
• Post a public thank you on social media to draw attention to the grocer.

Run this one as a fundraiser on your FutureFund account to set a specific monetary goal for each partnership. Don’t forget to thank your donors personally when you wrap up!

10. Letter-writing campaign

This fundraiser is completely free to launch—all you’ll need to get started is a little time and our free fundraising tools! Build community connections with a letter-writing campaign and ask local businesses to sponsor your school with a donation, corporate matching, or services in kind.

How to run a letter-writing campaign:

• Get started quickly by customizing our free sponsor request template.
• Recruit students to write heartfelt, personalized letters to each potential donor.
• Make it educational by having teachers provide writing guidance during class.
• Follow up with a thank you to nurture donors long-term.

Remember: it’s the personal touch that matters, here. Encourage kids to decorate their letters or include special drawings—it will make donors feel like they’re more than just another dollar sign.

11. Direct-donation drive

Short on time, volunteers, and other resources? Direct donation drives can help your K-12 group bring in money quickly and effectively with very little effort. Pick a goal or project, then set up your campaign to crowdsource donations from supporters who want to help you make it happen.

How to run a direct-donation drive

• Record a hype video to draw donors in and encourage them to take action.
• Share the video on social media to launch the donation drive on day 1.
• Include a link to your school’s FutureFund account to streamline donations.
• Post updates often—at least three times per week—for best results.  

Use our built-in donation thermometer to help drive more excitement by sharing screenshots of your progress on social media.

12. Sell cookie dough

Net big smiles and generous returns by selling frozen cookie dough back to the community! Otis Spunkmayer, Classic Cookie, and Mrs. Fields will make the dough for you, and then ship it out to you at a reduced cost. Another option is to have volunteers make and freeze the dough so you can keep even more of the money your campaign brings in.

How to run a cookie dough fundraiser

• Decide on a format—prepurchased and homemade each have pros and cons.  
• Apply early in the year if you decide to buy it; lots often book up quickly. 
• Let students compete to see who sells the most cookie dough.
• Promote the sale through social media, newsletters, and school events.

You’ll need a little help with logistics for this one, so we recommend appointing someone to lead the fundraiser and organizing a small committee. See our step-by-step cookie fundraiser guide for a closer peek at how these campaigns work.

13. Sell school merch

Selling spirit gear and other school swag can be a great way to bring in funds for important school causes. Create a listing for items like t-shirts, hoodies, water bottles, and tote bags, and let people buy them right from your school’s online store.

How to run a school merch sale

• See our guide on selling spirit wear to get insider tips that bring optimal results.
• Sell spirit wear in-person at school events and online for better returns.
• Promote the sale with signs at sports games, concerts, or open houses.
• Include a QR code to let people scan and buy from a mobile device.

This is one of the best options for schools with sports teams that compete in local or national tournaments. Keep it going year-round for a steady flow of cash when you need it most.

14. Host a sports bracket tournament

A sports competition fundraiser is a great way to raise money for sports-related expenses! To make it work, ask people to support teams by paying a small fee to predict the winner of each bracket in advance. Use our free battle template on Canva as a starting point.

How to run a sports bracket tournament

• Pick a school-friendly sport like hockey, basketball, football, or volleyball.
• Give small prizes to the people with the most accurate picks.
• Promote the event as a family-friendly way to support your school
• Accept payments online securely with your free FutureFund account.

For even better results, run multiple brackets for each sport or team your school is involved in. Or, make it a regular part of March Madness celebrations each year.

15. Sell self-care kits

Raise money for important school causes and give teachers, students, and parents a chance to unwind by selling self-care kits. Have volunteers fill baskets or bags with soothing items like candles, bath salts, mugs, hot cocoa, and face masks, then sell them for a flat rate through your online store.

How to run a self-care kit fundraiser:

• Seek sponsorships from local businesses who can donate products or kits.
• Include gift cards to local spas and salons, if they’re willing to take part.
• Get the word out with social media, flyers, hype videos, and emails.
• Track orders and generate financial reports right from your FutureFund dashboard.

You can also ask parents and other local community members to donate products—just be sure they’re new and the safety seal is still in place on any food or toiletries.

16. Sell student recipe books

Food brings communities together, which is why cookbook fundraisers are such a great option for schools. Ask students to bring in recipes, pictures, and anecdotes, then compile everything into a printed booklet you can sell to raise money.

How to run a recipe cookbook fundraiser:

• Set rules for submissions and send out an update to parents one month prior.
• Ask older students or talented parents to help design and print the booklet.
• Make it educational by hosting conversations in class about food and culture.
• List the booklet on your FutureFund store when you’re ready to sell to accept payment online. 

Shutterfly’s printing service makes it easy to design and order cookbooks that look and feel professional, but they can be costly. If that’s out of your budget, you can print the pages out at school and have volunteers bind them—there’s a good tutorial here. 

17. Sell snack packs

Raise money for field trips and other special needs on short notice by putting together snack packs your school can sell in school or at special events. Take payments in person or let people order online right on your campaign page.

How to run a snack pack fundraiser

• Keep costs down by asking local businesses to donate ingredients.
• Stick with prepackaged goods like candy, chips, and popcorn that stay fresh.
• Use cheap packaging like cardboard boxes or kraft bags to keep costs down.
• Let kids decorate the packaging during class time for extra fun!

FutureFund’s purchase campaigns make it easy to sell products like snack packs or spirit wear in whatever way best fits your school. Best of all, you always keep 100% of the funds!

18. Paint-A-Thon

Paint-A-Thons are a great way to foster creativity and get kids involved in fundraising. Students commit to painting for a specific number of hours and collect donations from their friends and family when they meet their goals.

How to run a Paint-A-Thon

• Set a date at least one month in advance to give kids time to collect pledges.
• Make it virtual and let people participate from anywhere for maximum flexibility.
• Include themes like holidays, pets, portraits, and places to prevent artist’s block.
• Use categories like age groups to adjust the event for students of all ages.

Encourage students to display their art in school or take pictures of it for your school’s social media account. For younger kids, use our free customizable Paint-A-Thon participation award to boost their confidence and make them feel valued for taking part.

19. Dance-A-Thon

Dance-A-Thons aren’t just tons of fun; they’re great fundraisers too. Like most other A-Thons, participants commit to dancing for a certain amount of time and collect donation pledges in support of their efforts.

How to run a Dance-A-Thon

• Get started by reading our Dance-A-Thon how-to guide.
• Set a date at least one month in advance to give kids time to collect pledges.
• Keep energy high by providing easy access to snacks and hydrating drinks.
• Track your progress with our free, built-in leaderboard feature throughout.

Want to foster a little friendly but competitive spirit throughout the sale? Activate our built-in leaderboard when you start your campaign. See how they work here.

20. Bottle drive

Raise money for your school quickly while helping the environment by hosting a bottle drive in your local community. Have students collect refundable bottles and cans, then turn them into cash at your local recycling depot.

How to run a bottle drive

• Set a date or time frame for collection one month in advance. 
• Advertise the drive widely on social media and through flyers or school newsletters.
• Ask local depots if they can create an account for your school for direct drop-offs.
• Offer a pickup service if you have a volunteer with a large truck who can help.

This eco-friendly fundraiser is easy to organize and requires almost no upfront costs, which makes it perfect for school groups on a tight budget. For even better results, get kids excited about recycling by incorporating educational elements about recycling during class.

21. Community car wash

A community car wash is a fantastic way to raise money on the spot in less than a day. Partner with a local car wash or host your own on school grounds during warmer weather months. Either way, all you really need is a hose, car soap, and a few volunteers with sponges!

How to run a car wash fundraiser

• Set a date at least two weeks in advance to allow time for planning.
• Use our tools to streamline signups and manage volunteers.
• Promote the event widely through social media and flyers to drive traffic.
• Use bristle board signs to draw attention to the car wash locally the day of.

Charging just $5 or $10 per wash as people arrive can result in really positive results. Or, you can let people order a wash in advance by listing it as an item in your store.

22. Jewelry fundraiser

Giving back is another way of being glamorous! Companies like Kendra Scott and Park Lane happily support fundraising efforts for 501(c)(3) organizations every year—including schools!

How to run a jewelry fundraiser

• Apply early—most companies have a limited number of slots available.
• Set a date at least three months in advance, or once you’re approved.
• Spread the word with flyers, social media posts, and community outreach.
• Share pictures and videos of donated jewelry to amp up the excitement!

In most cases, companies like these will donate jewelry to sell at auction or provide a code that directs a portion of any sales back to your school. Just be sure to read the fine print! 

23. Gift-wrapping fundraiser

This fundraiser is perfect for the festive season. Set up a gift-wrapping service and let people in your local community come in to have presents wrapped in pretty paper for a small fee.

How to run a gift-wrapping fundraiser

• Accept and track payments online or in person with your FutureFund account.
• Partner with local stores to set up a wrapping station, or host it at your school.
• Play Christmas music and offer free treats, like candy canes, to make it festive.
• Promote the event online, on social media, and in your local community.

To take this fundraiser to the next level, run it during your yearly winter festival. Get volunteers to dress up like elves and have Santa make a surprise appearance!

24. Restaurant fundraiser

Restaurant fundraisers work especially well for schools that don’t have the space or capital for a large-scale in-house event. Ask one or more local restaurants to donate a portion of their proceeds on a designated day—then promote it widely to help bring them more business. 

How to run a restaurant fundraiser

• Contact restaurants first to work out details like dates and timelines.
• Don’t skip chain restaurants—many have fundraising programs available for schools!
• Share details like menus, dates, times, and photos on social media to promote it.
• Get the word out by asking local TV or radio stations to help spread the word.

For even better results, expand your options to include food trucks, cafes, candy stores, and other unique local spots. You scratch their back, they’ll scratch yours!

Get a jump start on fundraising now with FutureFund!

When your fundraisers are quick and easy to set up, you can start collecting donations and hitting your targets faster. FutureFund is specifically built to support the work of K-12 school groups at the national, state, district, and local levels. In fact, our platform is so easy to use and intuitive, that most new users are able to launch their first campaign in less than five minutes.

Learn more about where to start when you book a demo of our platform—we’ll match you up with a fundraising expert who can walk you through the process step-by-step. From zero to hero, we always have your back!