14 Preschool Fundraising Ideas That Parents and Kids Will Love

Why Preschool Fundraisers are Needed

Preschool fundraisers aren’t just about raising money, they bring families together, teach kids about community, and support early childhood programs that rely on parent involvement.

Whether you’re raising funds for playground upgrades, classroom supplies, or a field trip, these creative preschool fundraising ideas make giving feel fun and easy for everyone.

1. Art Show & Auction

Get your preschoolers imagination running and early in their development show your appreciation for your work. Your preschool could host an art show where parents can “mock bid” on their child’s artwork.

Go back and forth with parents and make it fun! After the auction, hang up the artwork to be displayed proudly in the preschool.

2. Read-A-Thon

Encouraging your kids to read early is an important part of a child’s development. And yes, preschool is a little bit ahead, but no time like the present.

An a-thon fundraiser is a pledge based fundraiser where people can donate based on how many words, pages of children’s books, or for advanced preschoolers, number of books they can read! Flat donations are also popular with this fundraising style.

It requires no setup, no product sales, and encourages learning.

3. Trike-A-Thon

Another fun “a-thon” idea. Ok hear us out. 5k’s, races, lift-a-thons, these are great for high schoolers, middle schoolers, but preschoolers and families? You’ve got to get a little creative and this one is maybe the most fun one yet.

Turn your playground or parking lot into a racecourse! Kids bring their tricycles or balance bikes and complete laps for pledges. It would be great Facebook content!

4. Bake Sale

Parents and teachers can contribute baked goods to sell after school or during pickup. Classic items like brownies, cookies, and cupcakes always sell out fast.

Pro Tip - Read our ideas on how to 3x your bake sale fundraiser.

5. Calendar Fundraiser

Create a custom preschool calendar fundraiser with us here at Teamfi. Parents are of course the driving forces of preschool fundraisers, and these digital calendar fundraisers allow for easy sharing both locally and online.

You can add a picture of your preschooler, their artwork, or a classroom memory to their donation page to personalize the fundraiser.

Also available: Pen and Paper Calendar Templates

6. Preschool Merch Night

Set up a small shop early in the school year where parents can buy preschool t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, hats, stickers, and any other school items.

They can be gifts for family members or just good for general wear. They promote your preschool to other prospective families while raising funds.

If your preschool is tied to a specific school district, partner with that district’s elementary, middle, and high school to sell their gear as well.

Merch nights are great near the holidays too, it’s one of many great winter fundraising ideas.

Idea: Stock items like bookmarks, mugs, or handmade crafts from the classroom too!

7. Family Movie Night

Transform your preschool gym or classroom into a mini movie theater. Charge small admission and sell popcorn, juice boxes, and candy.

An important note though, public screenings of most movies require a license unless the movie is in the public domain.

There are a number of old movies in the public domain that don’t require a license to play including Popeye the Sailor Man Meets Sindbad the Sailor.

8. Spirit Week

Plan a week of fun theme days like Pajama Day, Crazy Hair Day, Favorite Color Day, and encourage $1-2 donations each day to participate.

It’s easy, free to run, and the kids love it.

9. The Popcorn Fundraiser

Product fundraisers have been around for a long time, and popcorn with its universal appeal and long shelf life is among the most popular items for fundraising.

Partner with a company, national, or if you’re fortunate enough to have one, a local popcorn company. Use fundraising sheets that most companies will have for you and sell to parents, family, neighbors, friends, or co-workers!

14 fundraiser ideas not enough? Here’s hundreds more!

10. Family Game Night

Host a game night with community style games. An example is Bingo, not like the ones at your local VFW, no more family style bingo with prizes for small kids.

Super easy game for kids to understand and they have fun winning prizes.

Other games you can do for small prizes include Duck, Duck, Goose, Simon Says, and board games.

11. Penny Fundraiser

This one works great with multiple preschool classrooms where you can compete.

Have kids bring in change for your preschool’s fundraiser. Like any fundraiser, be clear with both parents and the kids what you’re raising money for. Add up brought in change over the course of a month and at the end, add up the totals!

Offer an incentive, like if we hit $1,000 we get a pizza party.

Pro Tip: Definitely roll up change when you give to preschoolers to give to teachers or have them in a bag.

12. School Auction

Maybe you need to make a lot of money? Well besides a calendar fundraiser or a crowdfunding fundraiser (more on that later), silent auctions can be a big winner for your preschool.

Teachers, families, and local businesses can donate baskets, gift cards, or handmade crafts for auction. During the event, often paired with a kid-friendly dinner, parents place silent bids on their favorite items, with all proceeds supporting the preschool’s programs or classroom needs. It’s a relaxed, social fundraiser that helps build relationships while generating meaningful support for early education.

13. Parent’s Night Out

Offer an evening of supervised childcare where teachers and volunteers watch the kids while parents enjoy a night out.

Charge per child and include simple games, snacks, and a movie. It will give the parents a little bit of a break, and they’ll gladly pay for it.

14. Crowdfunding Campaign

Use a digital platform like Teamfi to raise money for your preschool, preschool organization, or parents group or church supporting preschoolers.

Here’s how a crowdfunding campaign works.

• Set up your campaign by inputting your organization, goal for fundraising, why you’re fundraising, and a photo.
• Have your preschooler parents share their fundraising pages which are personalized to their preschooler, or your preschool fundraising home hub.
• Next they’ll add contacts who could be potential donors, our app will help reach out to them up to four times to help you raise money. Remember all money goes toward you!
• Finally, conclude your crowdfunding campaign and thank your donors. We’ll send a check or direct deposit your way!

Let’s Start Your Preschool Fundraiser Off Right

The best preschool fundraising ideas are the ones that make parents smile and kids feel proud to participate. From creative art auctions to simple bake sales and digital fundraisers, these ideas can help your preschool meet its goals while keeping the fun front and center.

If you’re ready to take your preschool fundraiser online, check out how Teamfi can help your group raise more with less hassle.