11 Fundraising Ideas for Schools That Do Not Require Selling Products

The central idea of commerce is simple: someone gives you money in exchange for products or services, and vice versa. That works well for businesses that have the space for inventory and the capacity to absorb overhead expenses, but school clubs don’t have that luxury.

More and more, schools are turning to fundraising ideas that don’t involve products. Besides, many parents (and grandparents, and neighbors, and church friends, etc.) are a little tired of the popcorn, candy, and other sugary treats. 

If you want a fresh idea to help your club raise money for field trips, equipment, and other expenses, we’ve got a handful that are sure to get your kids excited!

11 Fundraising Ideas for Schools That Don’t Require Selling Products

Here are just a few of the many school fundraising ideas that don’t put constant pressure on loved ones to give, give, give.

1. Shoe Drive Fundraising

Did you know there’s a way to collect gently worn, used and new shoes and get paid for them? A shoe drive fundraiser is a simple, low-cost, and easily repeatable fundraiser option that works great for schools. Keeping shoes out of landfills is a bonus!

To get started, simply contact a shoe drive partner and ask about the logistics of getting the necessary supplies to your location. They’ll provide all the guidance you need and pay your club cash based on the collective weight of the donations.

2. Crowdfunding Campaigns

Sometimes, all people really need is a direct solicitation to donate money. Plenty of donors would gladly give a few dollars online to worthy causes if they could simply donate without further obligations. 

Make sure your crowdfunding campaign is tied to a specific need, such as uniform repairs for the marching band or fuel expenses for field trips.

3. Fundraising Calendars

Another no-sell idea is having students send personalized fundraising calendars to family and friends. The idea is that each donor chooses a day and donates the dollar amount corresponding to that date. Although individual donations won’t exceed $31, the total adds up to nearly $500 if students fill their calendars.

4. Walk-A-Thon

One of the most popular fundraising structures is the “XYZ-A-Thon,” in which students are paid based on the number of units they complete. 

A classic example is the walk-a-thon, where participants go to a local walking track and complete as many laps as they can. Two common alternatives are read-a-thons and, for baseball and softball teams, hit-a-thons. These fundraisers can get the competitive juices flowing.

5. Talent Show

If your high school orchestra or drama club needs money to get to the state competition, donors might be more inclined to give if they can put a face to the donations. Arts students are already honing their skills, so why not give them a community-wide audience?

You can cast a wider net and invite any student, regardless of club affiliation, to share their talents. Charge a nominal attendance fee for parents and loved ones, and you’ve got a zero-inventory fundraising vehicle on your hands!

6. Restaurant Fundraiser Days/Evenings

Looking for a turnkey fundraiser? Simply turn to a local restaurant or business and ask whether they’d like to donate a portion of their proceeds for a day or evening to your school. 

The only real work you’d have to do is inform the public. Some of the students could even donate their labor (bussing tables, refilling drinks, or bagging groceries) to sweeten the deal for donors.

7. Art Show

Got a few artistically inclined students? Let them showcase their masterpieces to the community and get some much-needed cash for clubs. 

Getting a local eatery to donate light snacks can make an afternoon art show even more enjoyable. If students agree to it, they could sell their artwork at reasonable rates. 

8. Pajama Day

As we all know, most students (high schoolers especially) would show up to school in their pajamas every day if they could. They’d almost certainly pay $5 on a random Friday to do just that. Have the school announcements communicate the opportunity several times before the event to maximize participation.

9. Cornhole Tournament

Cornhole (or beanbag toss) is an easy-enough game for unskilled players to have a little fun with and compete against their peers. 

Charge a small entry fee for each team to raise money for the needy club or organization. You could make things a little more interesting by having students compete against parents or convincing local shops to donate gift cards as prizes.\

10. Haunted House

Taking advantage of seasonal trends is almost always a good bet for school fundraisers. 

Students can really get into the spirit of Halloween if you put them in charge of a haunted house or similar spooky experience. 

Let their imaginations fly with their costumes and set decorations, and they’ll be counting down the days until next October.

11. Tutoring Sessions

Another fundraising idea that puts students to work is offering tutoring to younger kids in the school system. Tutor fundraising may work better if you simply “suggest” donations from pupils’ parents instead of setting firm rates. They often pay more than you’d anticipate!

Pro Tip: Combine Fundraising Ideas to Boost Your Impact

It’s understandable to be a little nervous about the fundraising power of a single campaign. Perhaps there’s not much demand in your community for certain services. If you’d like to add a layer of security, you can give donors two chances to part with some cash.

A good example of this is holding an on-site shoe fundraiser with QR-coded banners that send smartphone users to a crowdfunding campaign. Complementary fundraisers allow organizers to get the most value out of a Saturday morning or afternoon. 

The Best School Fundraisers Are Made of Memories

Wouldn’t it be nice to raise money for the school sports teams or drama club without worrying about a heap of products that may not even sell? 

If your school is supported by a caring community, it might be worth exploring no-sell fundraisers that harness the power of human emotion. Donors might also appreciate not having to go out of their way to pick up the products.

Make your product-less fundraiser even easier with a purpose-made digital platform like Teamfi. We have zero platform fees so schools can keep more of their hard-earned money, all you have to worry about is low transaction fees and managing the fundraiser.