Are you a parent or student entering the world of school fundraising for the first time? Without a clear roadmap, it can feel overwhelming, right? But your fundraising endeavors should be fun and rewarding if they’re going to thrive. This frequently asked questions guide equips you with the knowledge you need to come up with creative fundraising ideas, along with a few tips and secrets missed by most beginners.
Welcome to our updated, easy-to-follow FAQ guide on school fundraising for PTAs, PTOs, or booster clubs. Here, you’ll find answers to the most burning questions asked by new parent volunteers and fundraising organizations. Feel free to print a copy of this handy resource and take it to your group meetings throughout the year.
What Are the Most Popular School Fundraising Ideas?
Many school fundraising events offer diverse opportunities for raising money and community engagement. However, what works for one organization might not work for another. That’s because group sizes, available resources, interests, and communities differ greatly. Still, the most popular fundraisers almost always succeed due to their broad appeal and high participation. Fundraisers are always a good idea for new clubs.
Dare to Be Creative!
Safe bet fundraising activities come with a caveat: they’re unlikely to raise as much money as the more innovative or targeted campaigns. If you opt for these popular activities, consider adding your own unique spin to maximize the potential. Creative school fundraising ideas will captivate donors’ attention and boost contributions.
This table puts the most popular high school fundraising activities into two categories: Classic and Easy-to-Organize, sorted alphabetically for easy reference.
| Classic School Fundraising Events | Easiest-to-Organize Events |
| · Bake Sale · Chocolate Sales · Flower or Bulb Sale · Pancake Breakfast · Pizza Day · Popcorn Sales · Raffle · Summer Carnival · Winter Carnival | · Flea Market · Craft Sale · Fun Run · Car Wash · Coupon Book Sale · Food Drive · Dress Down Day · Game Day · Recycling Round-Up |
Read the Dos and Don’ts of School Fundraising for inspiration and ideas on how to make your events more profitable, engaging, and fun.
How Can Parents Involve Students More in Fundraising?
There are several ways to get students more involved in your fundraising endeavors. Student participation amplifies the significance of your causes, which helps enhance profits and broaden campaign visibility. So, students can be a great asset to your group’s fundraising efforts. The secret is knowing how to attract them.
Approach Matters: Empower, Don’t Force!
Parents should avoid using pressure and the guilt angle when attempting to involve students in school fundraising. This dated approach is sure to backfire and potentially bring up negative emotions that lead to resentment toward your causes. Instead, appeal to the young learner’s passions. Focus on fun, choice, and the positive impact their contribution will make. Also, allow them to decide on their level of participation based on interests and comfort level. Lastly, recognize student efforts by publicly celebrating their contributions.
When Is the Best Time to Hold Our School Fundraisers?
The timing of your fundraisers is just as important as choosing the right type of event. But did you know that you can raise money year-round? Despite this, many parent groups focus most of their efforts on the prime time, which is the beginning of the school year. By diversifying the timing of your campaigns, you get to engage in different segments of the community and maintain momentum throughout the year.
Let’s go over the eight best times to hold a PTA/PTO or booster club school fundraiser.
#1 Prime Time (August/September)
The start of the school year offers several advantages. New students and families are joining the school, so enthusiasm is high. People are more receptive to contributing to campaigns during this time in the school calendar. That’s because they haven’t been overwhelmed yet by multiple fundraising drives and endless requests for support.
#2 Before Major Holidays
Keep a note of all forthcoming major holidays. Americans tend to be in a giving spirit in the lead-up to breaks like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. These are opportune times for holiday fundraising campaigns, especially themed events centered around the specific occasion. Some examples could be Thanksgiving raffles, gift wrapping, caroling, and snow shoveling drives. You get the idea!
#3 During Special School Events
Consider coordinating your group’s fundraisers around well-organized, highly publicized, school events. People who attend these functions are usually more inclined to donate during special occasions. Consider what type of campaigns will work around your school’s sports competitions, talent shows, high school plays, etc.
#4 Year-Round Community Events
Community support plays a huge role in a thriving school parent group. Look for ways to participate in or organize events that occur year-round in local areas. You’re sure to discover opportunities to set up booths or activities to raise funds at community fairs, festivals, markets, and other such occasions.
#5 During Seasonal Changes
Seasonal transitions, such as the beginning of spring, the start of fall, and the end of winter, offer incredible opportunities for school fundraising.
Here are seven ideas to inspire your creativity:
- Spring cleaning yard sale
- Spring plant sale
- Fall fun run/walkathon
- Fall harvest festival
- Winter wonderland gala
- Winter warmth drive
Be creative and add to or modify these suggestions to create a unique list of events.
#6 Around National Holidays
There are 11 national holidays in the US, which include:
- New Year’s Day, January 1
- Martin Luther King’s Birthday, the third Monday in January
- Washington’s Birthday, the third Monday in February
- Memorial Day, the last Monday in May
- Juneteenth National Independence Day, June 19
- Independence Day, July 4
- Labor Day, the first Monday in September
- Columbus Day, the second Monday in October
- Veterans Day, November 11
- Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November
- Christmas Day, December 25
Americans are more relaxed and willing to participate in community activities during national holidays than on regular weekends. Your organization can easily capitalize on the festive spirit and community engagement that goes with these occasions. Examples of school fundraisers to consider around these annual breaks could include craft fairs, fun runs, concerts, auctions, shopping nights, and many others.
#7 End of the School Year
As the school year comes to a close, look at hosting community-based fundraisers. Some well-received options include clean-up campaigns, car washes, yard sales, and community service projects. Other popular community-based events to host could be fun runs and sports tournaments hosted to celebrate accomplishments and raise funds.
#8 During Sporting Events
Local sports seasons or significant sporting events get people in high spirits. You can channel this electric energy into fundraising gold. The idea is to align the occasions with related fundraising initiatives such as half-marathons, walkathons, and selling school spirit merchandise. A more ambitious option would be to organize a large pep rally that has a fundraising element.
What Resources Are Needed for a Successful Fundraiser?
Every school fundraiser has needs that are unique to the organization. Even so, it helps if you categorize your resources into the following four groups.
| 1. PEOPLE (HUMAN RESOURCES) Volunteers and committee members are essential human resources. These are the people involved in planning, organizing, promoting, and executing your fundraising campaigns and events. | 2. FINANCIAL RESOURCES Financial resources fall under budget and payment processing. Budgets cover expenses like marketing and venue rental, while payment processing uses tools and systems for donation collections. |
| 3. COMMUNICATION RESOURCES Communications need marketing resources, e.g., flyers, posters, social media pages, and email campaigns. Some groups have dedicated websites to promote their initiatives. Other communication aids can be newsletters, social media influencers, alumni engagement, and more. | 4. EVENT RESOURCES Space is an essential resource for holding in-person events. You also need various tools and supplies, such as tables, chairs, decorations, audiovisual equipment, banners, signs, and food-related apparatus. Some events require special permits from local authorities. |
Additional Resources
As your group grows over time, additional resources may be necessary. Fundraising software can be a huge time-saver for donor management and task automation. Your club might want to invest in prizes, merch, and other paraphernalia to expand its reach.
The 3 Essential Elements of Fundraising
It’s worth mentioning three essential school fundraising elements that are critical for running profitable events. They include Pitch, Platform, and People. These elements help guide you on how best to use your resources. Equally, you need your group’s resources to put these essential elements into action.
The Pitch element highlights your group’s mission and goals and uses storytelling to solicit donations. Platform refers to the communication channels used to get your message out. The People are the valuable individuals involved in your fundraising efforts.
How Can Parents and the Community Support Fundraising?
Parents and communities can support your school’s fundraising in several ways. The most obvious is through financial donations, but cash isn’t the only option. Families and local communities can offer in-kind contributions such as products and services or loan out venues and equipment. They can help by volunteering their time or resources for event planning and execution. A pro tip is having others spread awareness about your organization’s upcoming fundraisers through social media and community outreach.
How Can Parents Boost School Fundraising with Creative Ideas?
Creative fundraising can significantly boost campaign success. These can be totally new ideas or innovative approaches to traditional fundraisers. Themed events, community engagement, and interactive activities like talent shows and escape rooms force you to be creative. But for regular safe bet fundraisers, you need to put your thinking caps on.
Use this simple checklist to help you explore your creative side while brainstorming ideas:
- Consider ditching traditional activities for theme-oriented events
- Incorporate interactive activities into campaigns
- Look for ways to engage the school community
- Include technology, e.g., virtual fundraisers, online donations
- Encourage student participation
What Are the Best Fundraising Ideas for School Trips?
There are several factors to consider when choosing fundraising ideas to help fund school trips. First, align the student’s age group with the most appropriate activities. Next, take the cost of the trip into account, the available resources, and community demographics. Tailoring campaigns to these factors helps resonate with your target contributors and community.
This table gives an overview of popular ideas used to raise funds for school trips:
| Category | Description | Examples |
| Traditional Events | Ideal for all age groups. Minimal investment, easy to organize. | Bake sales, car washes, talent shows, small concerts. |
| Creative/Engaging | Fun and interactive activities that generate buzz and excitement. | Themed events and Minute to Win It challenges. |
| Community Engagement | Leverage community support to broaden your group’s reach. | Community yard sales, car washes, restaurant partnership nights. |
| Online and Virtual | Reach a larger audience. | Virtual raffles, social media campaigns, online auctions, selling school-branded merchandise, crowdfunding. |
Can Fundraising Boost Spirit and Community Involvement?
Absolutely! Effective fundraising is a powerful tool for boosting school spirit and encouraging community involvement. It creates shared goals and builds positive recognition and community engagement. The most successful campaigns often include engaging activities. They also promote transparency about how funds are used and recognize all contributions, big or small. Following these principles forms a positive and unified environment while strengthening the connection between your group, the school, and the local community.
Is There Liability with School Fundraisers?
All school fundraisers come with potential liabilities. However, the laws and regulations vary by state. If you’re starting a new group, consult with your school’s administration and insurance provider. This will help you understand the risks and how to cover them.
Here’s a breakdown of the liability concerns:
Are You Insured?
Your school district’s insurance policy might cover your organization but never assume. In most cases, it’s unlikely to cover liability for fundraising activities run by parent groups.
Accidents Happen
Parent organizers and fundraising volunteers could be held accountable for injuries or damages that occur at events. If someone sues, the consequences could be serious if the group doesn’t have adequate insurance. To mitigate these liability risks, follow safety guidelines, obtain the proper permits from local authorities, and have insurance.
Volunteer Waivers: Mitigating Risks and Liability
Ask your volunteers to sign waivers acknowledging the “potential risks” involved and releasing the organization from liability.
Get Covered: It’s More Affordable than Most Uninsured Groups Think!
Purchase affordable insurance that specifically covers your school fundraisers. Having the right coverage offers great peace of mind. More importantly, it helps cover the costs associated with injuries, property damage, or other unforeseen incidents. AIM provides a range of affordable insurance for PTAs, PTOs, and booster clubs. We offer specialty cover foryourevents,https://aim-companies.com/protect-your-property/property,https://aim-companies.com/embezzlement-insurance/embezzlement, andhttps://aim-companies.com/professional-liability/directors’ and officers’ liability.
Are School Fundraisers Exempt from Taxes?
Tax exemptions for school money-raising activities vary by jurisdiction. In some states, fundraisers are not required to collect sales tax. Donations made directly to campaigns are usually tax-exempt for donors. This is provided the organization holds a tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. [1]
In Texas, for example, fundraisers involve tax exemptions for a school’s registered nonprofit organization. Certain entities can hold tax-free sales days twice a year. Fundraisers involving taxable items need proper tax handling by the group. Various other exemptions are outlined for online sales and food and beverage sales.
Navigating tax laws can be confusing to new groups or those with no experience. For more accurate information and resources, refer to your state’s tax authority guidelines. Alternatively, seek professional help if you’re unsure about any of it.
In Conclusion
PTAs, PTOs, and booster clubs that engage in successful school fundraising enhance educational experiences while fostering a sense of community and shared purpose. Remember, every contribution, big or small, plays a crucial role in supporting the continual growth and enrichment of your school community. Addressing the FAQs outlined on this page empowers you with the knowledge and confidence needed to embark on a successful fundraising journey.
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Resource Links
- Internal Revenue Service (.gov), Exempt Purposes – Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), IRS (.gov) https://www.irs.gov/501c3-organizations