Best Elementary School Fundraisers: A Complete Guide

When it comes to raising money for elementary schools, there are plenty of fundraiser options to choose from. Between the three buckets of fundraising; Digital, Community, and Product, the next step is to figure out which fundraising style works best for your needs. 

It is always recommended to run different fundraisers over the course of the year to help avoid monotony and fundraiser burnout. Picking one from each category is crucial to fundraising success.

Elementary school fundraisers work best when they are simple, motivate the students and parents, and clearly state what you’re fundraising for. In this guide, we break down the most common types of elementary school fundraisers, how each one works, and why certain styles tend to perform better at the elementary level.

Product Fundraisers

Product fundraisers are one of the most traditional fundraising options for elementary schools. These campaigns involve selling physical items or access to experiences, with a portion of each sale supporting the school. There are literally HUNDREDS of different product-based fundraisers out there.

Many of these are musts regardless of whether you’re fundraising or not. School merchandise for example. A fundraiser even if you don’t typically think of it as a fundraiser.

One of the most famous product-based fundraisers out there if you’re trying to get a grasp of the idea? Girl Scout cookies. Now your elementary school won’t sell girl scout cookies, but there are a variety of different starting points for PTOs and PTAs.

Traditional Product Sales

These are the classic catalog-style fundraisers many families recognize and have done over the course of the years.

Common examples include gift wrap, candles, chocolates, popcorn, cookie dough, and seasonal merchandise. These are just some of the many fundraising ideas out there! Students sell items to friends and family, place orders, and deliver products once they arrive.

These fundraisers are easy to explain and often perform well around holidays. The main drawback is logistics. Sorting, storing, and distributing products can be time consuming, and profit margins are usually lower than other fundraising styles.

Spirit Wear and School Merchandise

Elementary schools use logos and branding all the time. Cubs are one of the most popular. So if you have an elementary school with a nickname or not, you can sell branded merchandise from your school.

Examples include T-shirts, hoodies, hats, water bottles, yard signs, and stickers featuring the school name or mascot. Parents love this sort of thing for both themselves and their kids. Especially when they have options to purchase conveniently online or at events.

Spirit wear fundraisers can be run multiple times per year or you can have an online spirit store that runs year round. These work especially well when tied to back-to-school events, spirit weeks, or school celebrations.

Community Fundraisers

Branch number two of fundraising for elementary schools is the community fundraiser. These are all about participation, and using events to get kids and families involved.

Examples include school carnivals, fun fairs, bingo nights, movie nights, trunk-or-treat events, and family activity nights. You can raise money by purchasing tickets, wristbands, entry passes, or through concessions at the event.

Examples include color runs, fun runs, field day fundraisers, school dances, talent shows, and themed activity days. 

These fundraisers keep money within the school community and double as social events, which makes them especially effective at the elementary level.

Food-Based Fundraisers

Food-based fundraisers are one extremely popular style of community fundraiser, these remain a staple for elementary schools because they are simple and universally appealing. After all, everybody likes food.

Popular options include pizza nights, restaurant giveback nights, bake sales, popcorn days, concession stands and food truck partnerships, and dessert sales during school events. These fundraisers work best when paired with existing school activities like concerts, open houses, or family nights.

The key to food fundraisers is keeping things simple. Fewer menu items and clear timelines help reduce volunteer workload while still generating solid results.

Digital Fundraisers

Digital fundraising, while seemingly fairly new, has a history that goes back decades. In today’s modern world, digital fundraising is not just a want, it’s a need for elementary school PTOs and PTAs. 

If your school is not fundraising online, you are missing opportunities to reach donors beyond your immediate community. Grandparents, extended family members, and supporters across the country are far more likely to give when donating online is quick and convenient. Where if you’re selling chocolate bars, it’s a lot more challenging to send chocolate bars to your aunt five states away.

That's one of the big highlights of digital fundraising. A nationwide reach. It’s not the only highlight though. They’re extremely efficient, there’s no cost of goods, and the only costs associated with your fundraiser at most fundraising organizations are costs to process credit cards.

Digital fundraisers also eliminate the need for cash handling. When multiple people are handling cash from kids to parents to boosters, it only complicates things. That’s why so many people are turning to digital fundraising, including three elementary schools that just recently raised over $13,000 each!

Below we’ll break down the different styles of digital fundraising.

Crowdfunding

One of the simplest and most flexible fundraising options for elementary schools.

Schools create an online donation page explaining what they are raising money for and share it through email, social media, and text messages. Clear goals like playground upgrades, classroom supplies, or field trips tend to perform best.

Crowdfunding campaigns are fast to launch and can be used multiple times throughout the school year without donor fatigue.

Calendar Fundraisers

Calendar fundraisers are a proven option for elementary schools looking for structure and predictability.

Supporters choose a day on a calendar and donate the corresponding dollar amount. For example, donating $10 for the 10th or $25 for the 25th. Donors can participate at a level that fits their budget, which makes this fundraiser feel accessible.

Calendar fundraisers work well as paper campaigns, digital campaigns, or a combination of both.

A-Thons

A-thons are one of the most engaging fundraising options for elementary schools.

Popular examples include walk-a-thons, read-a-thons, swim-a-thons, and really any custom a-thon you can think of. These a-thon fundraisers can also double as community fundraisers, so you’re getting both a digital fundraiser and a community event where you’re getting everyone together. Students collect pledges based on participation rather than selling products.

Parents and teachers often prefer a-thons because they promote activity, effort, and inclusivity while still generating strong fundraising results.

Online Auctions

Definitely a once a year event. Online auctions take a lot of planning. They take a lot of work on the front end to get donated items from area businesses, create some ideas like front row seating at events and a priority parking spot, or buy items that are then auctioned off at a higher price.

While online auctions require more planning, they can generate large donations from a smaller group of supporters. You also need to facilitate a trusted online auction partner to help make the process simple. 

So it is a lot of work, but is a good like any fundraiser, when promoted heavily through school communications, can be effective.

A Unique Outlier: Sponsorships and Advertising

Sponsorships are an often overlooked but powerful fundraising option for elementary schools and most fundraising takes place digitally now.

Let’s say your elementary school has a gym, and in that gym you host events like book fairs, youth basketball games, and community events. You can put signage up in that gym with sponsors. Maybe there’s a scoreboard where you can add sponsors? Just one of the many examples where you can take a vetted and trusted sponsor and help them out as they pay your school money for advertising rights.

Local businesses may sponsor events, purchase banner placements, buy yearbook ads, or support specific programs in exchange for recognition. These partnerships can generate meaningful revenue without placing financial pressure on families, which every other fundraiser does.

Choosing the Right Fundraisers for Your Elementary School

There is no single best elementary school fundraiser. The most successful PTOs and PTAs use a mix of fundraising styles throughout the year.

Product fundraisers work well for familiarity.

Event-based fundraisers build school spirit. 

Digital fundraisers expand reach, reduce volunteer workload, and are extremely efficient. That's why so many teams are using them!

By combining these approaches and keeping things simple, elementary schools can raise the funds they need while creating positive experiences for students and families alike.

Looking for a effective, secure, and zero-fee fundraising option for your elementary school? Look no further!

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