7 proven ways for schools to raise money
School fundraising often begins with a clear need: new classroom technology, transportation for a field trip, sports equipment, arts supplies, or support for an after-school program. However, the challenge is choosing a fundraising idea that fits the school’s goal, timeline, volunteer capacity, and family community.
Education remains a major focus for donors. Giving USA reports that charitable giving to education reached $92.01 billion in 2025, up 8.9% after inflation. Although that total includes colleges and other education nonprofits, it shows that donors are willing to support clear, education-based needs.
Schools get better results when the fundraiser is easy to explain, simple to join, and tied to a specific outcome. The 7 methods below compare practical options for quick needs, large projects, community events, and year-round fundraising, so schools can choose a format they can run well.
What are the best ways for schools to raise money?
The best ways for schools to raise money include direct donation campaigns, a-thons, auctions, family events, spirit challenges, business sponsorships, and peer-to-peer fundraising.
Fundraising method | Best use | Upfront cost | Volunteer effort | Earning potential | Planning time |
Direct donation campaign | Urgent, specific needs | Low | Low | Medium–high | 1–2 weeks |
Read-a-thon or walk-a-thon | Student participation | Low | Medium | Medium–high | 3–5 weeks |
Online or hybrid auction | Larger annual goals | Medium | High | High | 6–10 weeks |
Ticketed family event | Community building | Medium | High | Medium | 4–8 weeks |
Spirit day or class challenge | Quick, inclusive campaigns | Low | Low–medium | Low–medium | 1–3 weeks |
Business sponsorship | Projects and events | Low | Medium | High | 4–8 weeks |
Peer-to-peer or crowdfunding | Wider community reach | Low | Medium | Medium–high | 2–4 weeks |
These are practical planning estimates, not guaranteed results. Digital fundraising platforms like BetterWorld can support donation forms, events, auctions, peer-to-peer pages, crowdfunding and a-thons in one system.
7 proven school fundraising methods
The seven methods below give schools practical ways to match their fundraising goals with the right level of time, cost, volunteer support, and community involvement.
1. Launch a direct donation campaign
What it is: A focused online appeal that asks supporters to contribute towards one clear need, such as library books, classroom technology, uniforms, or playground repairs.
Considerations: Set a specific target, deadline, and cost breakdown. Show what different gift amounts can provide. For example, “$25 buys two library books” is clearer than a general request for support.
Pros: Direct campaigns have low setup costs, require no stock and are easy to share through email, text and social media.
Cons: Results depend on trust, message reach and the strength of the school’s case for support.
Example: “Help us raise $8,000 for 200 new library books” gives donors a measurable goal.
2. Organize a read-a-thon or walk-a-thon
What it is: Students collect flat donations or pledges linked to pages read, reading minutes, steps taken or laps completed.
Considerations: Offer a flat-donation option for supporters who do not want to calculate pledges. Protect student information, use parent-approved communication, and avoid asking children to sell or solicit donations from strangers. National PTA advises that only adults should lead fundraising
Pros: A a-thon connects fundraising with reading, exercise, teamwork or another school priority.
Cons: Pledge tracking, student registration and event-day logistics can take time.
Expert tip: Run a four-week read-a-thon and finish with a school-wide reading celebration.
3. Hold an online or hybrid school auction
What it is: Supporters bid on donated products, services or experiences online, in person or through a combination of both.
Considerations: Start collecting items early. Ask businesses and families for experiences with little or no fulfillment cost, such as a principal-for-a-day or a local restaurant package. Check state rules before adding raffles or other games of chance.
Pros: Auctions can support larger goals and create strong opportunities for business partnerships.
Cons: Item collection, bidder registration and checkout can become labour-heavy without suitable technology.
Example: Hartsbrook School used BetterWorld to manage an auction with a one-person development team and a limited budget. The school reported higher revenue totals, simpler management, better donor communication and no platform cost.
4. Host a ticketed family event
What it is: A trivia night, fun fair, breakfast, talent show, movie night or cultural evening that earns income through tickets, food, activities and additional donations.
Considerations: Price tickets at a level that works for local families. Offer sponsored or free tickets, and prepare a budget covering food, venue costs, equipment, insurance, permits and payment fees.
When a payment over $75 combines a donation with goods or services, a charitable organization may need to provide a written disclosure showing the value received by the donor.
Pros: Family events raise money while bringing parents, staff and students together.
Cons: Weather, attendance and fixed costs can reduce net income.
Expert tip: Sell family tickets before the event, then add a short “fund a classroom item” appeal during the event.
5. Run a school spirit day or classroom challenge
What it is: A short campaign based on pajama day, hat day, house points, reading goals, kindness challenges or a shared school target.
Considerations: Do not make payment the only way to participate. Students should also be able to join through volunteering, reading, acts of kindness or another free activity.
Pros: Spirit campaigns are quick, visible and easy to repeat.
Cons: Average donations may be small, and too many themed days can cause family fatigue.
Expert tip: Ask the whole school to work towards a $5,000 target. When the target is reached, everyone receives a shared reward, such as an outdoor activity afternoon. It is more inclusive than ranking individual children by the amount they collect.
6. Ask local businesses to sponsor a school project or event
What it is: Local businesses provide cash, services or donated goods in return for suitable public recognition.
Considerations: Create a short written proposal explaining the project, audience, sponsorship levels and benefits. Recognition should be age-appropriate and consistent with school or district advertising policies.
Pros: A few sponsorships can bring in more money with fewer transactions. Sponsorships can also develop into long-term community partnerships.
Cons: Outreach takes time, and the school must deliver every promised benefit.
Example: A dental practice could sponsor field-day water stations, while a hardware shop supplies materials for a school garden. Corporate giving reached a record $44 billion in 2025. It accounted for about 7% of all charitable donations.
7. Use peer-to-peer or crowdfunding to reach a wider community
What it is: Parents, alumni, staff, teams or other supporters create personal fundraising pages and share the school’s campaign with people they know.
Considerations: Give participants approved text, images, and instructions. Set rules for student privacy, and do not require families to share personal contact lists.
Pros: Peer-to-peer fundraising extends the campaign beyond current parents and allows supporters to explain why the school matters to them.
Cons: Participation may be uneven, and the school may need to review messages and images before they are published.
Example: Recruit ten volunteer team captains and give each a $500 goal for a new science lab. Peer-to-peer tools can give each participant a personal page, story, and target, while crowdfunding pages can combine progress tracking, campaign updates, and social sharing.
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How should a school choose the right fundraiser?
Schools should select a fundraiser based on net income, budget, available volunteers, timeline, and the audience most likely to respond.
School situation | Budget | Volunteer capacity | Timeline | Main audience | Best method |
Urgent classroom need | Low | Low | 1–2 weeks | Current families | Direct donations |
Student-led participation | Low | Medium | 3–5 weeks | Families and relatives | Read-a-thon or walk-a-thon |
Large annual target | Medium | High | 6–10 weeks | Families and local donors | Auction |
Community engagement | Medium | High | 4–8 weeks | Local families | Ticketed event |
Quick morale campaign | Low | Low | 1–3 weeks | Students and carers | Spirit challenge |
Capital item or event costs | Low | Medium | 4–8 weeks | Local businesses | Sponsorship |
Wider or alumni reach | Low | Medium | 2–4 weeks | Extended networks | Peer-to-peer |
Choose by net income, not gross revenue. A $20,000 event with $9,000 in expenses produces less usable income than a $14,000 online campaign with $1,000 in expenses.
How to run a successful school fundraiser in six steps
1. Set a clear fundraising goal. Set the amount, purpose, deadline and student benefit. A goal such as “Raise $15,000 by 30 December to replace 30 classroom computers” gives supporters a direct answer to what, why and when.
2. Review school policies and legal requirements. Obtain approval from the principal or district. Check privacy, food-service, sales-tax, raffle, auction, insurance and permit requirements.
3. Create a simple campaign budget. List expected income, fixed costs, variable costs, platform or processing fees and a contingency amount. Calculate the break-even point before committing to a venue or supplier.
4. Assign volunteer roles. Give one person responsibility for each key area, including finance, promotion, volunteer scheduling, sponsorships, event logistics and donor follow-up.
5. Promote the fundraiser. Use email, text messages, the school website, social media, classroom updates and business partners. Repeat the goal and deadline, but avoid sending so many messages that families tune them out.
6. Share the results and thank supporters. Report gross income, expenses, net proceeds and how the money will be used. National PTA guidance places strong weight on transparency about both fundraising and spending.
Common school fundraising mistakes to avoid
Avoid vague goals, hidden expenses, too many campaigns in one term, and plans that depend on more volunteers than the school can realistically recruit.
Do not create public student rankings based only on money collected. Avoid using student names, photographs or personal stories without the right approval. Schools receiving US Department of Education funds must comply with federal student privacy requirements.
Start raising funds for your school with BetterWorld
BetterWorld gives schools tools for donation forms, auctions, ticketing, peer-to-peer campaigns, crowdfunding and a-thons in one platform.
Our Free plan lists a $0 subscription and 0% platform fee. Standard payment-processing fees apply, and more than 95% of donors cover them.
This makes BetterWorld a practical fit for schools that want to begin with a simple donation appeal and later add an auction, family event or student-led campaign without moving information between separate systems.
Request a demo or sign up for free!
FAQs
1. What is the best time of year to hold a school fundraiser?
There is no single best month for every school. Choose a period with regular attendance and avoid school breaks, testing weeks, parent-teacher conferences, and other major fundraisers. These conflicts can reduce participation and leave less time for promotion.
2. Does a school need approval before starting a fundraiser?
Usually, yes. Schools and parent groups should check district policies and obtain approval from the principal or other designated administrator before signing vendor agreements or collecting money. State fundraising laws also vary, so National PTA recommends checking applicable state requirements before beginning.
3. Can students create and manage their own online fundraising pages?
Adults should manage accounts, payments, and personal information, especially for children under 13. National PTA recommends that adults, rather than children, take the active fundraising role.
4. How can schools avoid putting pressure on families?
Make donations optional, offer free ways to participate, and avoid public rankings. Let families help by volunteering, sharing the campaign, or donating supplies. Use a school-wide goal rather than comparing individual children.
