School Fundraising project Ideas to Raise Money Really Quick

Traditional school fundraising projects send kids door-to-door selling things like wrapping paper and chocolate bars to everyone they know. Not only is this inefficient, but students and schools typically have to pay a good portion of the money to the supplier of the products sold. Crowdfunding is a much more efficient and effective alternative. Students and schools can make far more from their efforts and keep the funds they raise, as AmtelWebFunding is free.

Making it easy to spread the word

AmtelWebFunding’s social sharing tools make it easy for schools to spread the word via social media with the click of a button. By sharing your fundraiser on Twitter and Facebook, and other social media channels, you can quickly and easily raise the money you need for programs and projects—and students participate in service-learning. Schools can begin withdrawing donations right away, so you don’t have to wait weeks to receive your funds. There are no penalties for not reaching your goal, and you can extend the fundraising project deadline at any time. 

• From elementary school to high school, students can learn leadership skills by taking charge and raising money for an important cause.
• Working with fellow students to effectively plan and run a fundraiser is an opportunity to learn valuable team skills and rise to the challenge of group participation. 
• Practicing acts of kindness and love plants the seeds of compassion and sets a precedent for a lifetime of public service.

Six Best-In-Class Ideas for School Fundraising project

1. Enrichment programs

Field trips, summer learning programs, study abroad, and enrichment programs are often costly—but they’re also an ideal fit for crowdfunding because your needs are so well defined. 

• Based on your needs, raise funds for one classroom, a favorite program, or an entire school. 
• Students can promote the fundraiser and generate a lot of support by sharing it on social media. 

They can also create photos and videos for fundraising project updates, write thank-you notes to donors, and more

2. Sports booster clubs

A large number of students are involved in sports and athletic clubs. Booster clubs are formed to help coordinate events and raise money for the equipment and supplies that student-athletes need. A great way to raise funds is to have parents create a fundraiser that outlines the club’s needs and what supplies they need to purchase.

3. Prom and student activities

Proms and other special school events come with a price tag—decorations, food, music, and prize giveaways add up. Coordinate with those in charge of planning the event and come up with a creative fundraiser to make your plans come to life. Students can really make these events special and fun without dipping into the school treasury.

4. Computers or tablets for education

Classrooms often make use of laptops and tablets—for reading books, doing homework assignments, accommodating student learning needs, and more. If you want to upgrade or expand your capacity in this area, start a crowdfunding or fundraising project and make it happen. 

• Create a list of the most crucial items your classroom needs. Be sure to include only the most essential supplies and the pricing for each. 
• Talk with the person in charge of making purchases for the school to determine the budget and find out the policy on buying certain items. 
• In order for your fundraiser to be as successful as possible, be sure to set a realistic fundraising project goal that isn’t too high. You can always increase your goal if you meet it right away.

5. Causes close to students' hearts

Supporting humanitarian causes is a key component of service-learning––one that teaches students about compassion and the value of helping others. 

• Before getting started, take a poll to find out what causes students at your school are passionate about or interested in. 
• It could be local, national, or international—there’s no shortage of wonderful causes to support. 
• One popular option is for students to help other students who are in need of extra help elsewhere.

6. Memorial funds or scholarship funds

If a teacher, student, or other community members who are important to your school passes away, honor the person by starting a scholarship fund in his or her name. Don’t forget to check with the person’s family before getting started.

• Come up with ideas for appropriate ways to spend the funds you raise, such as creating a scholarship to be awarded to one student at the end of the year, dispersing donations to a group of students for summer camp, or earmarking money for a special school event. 
• Memorial fundraising projects are the perfect way for your students to transform their loss into something positive and be involved in a legacy project.

Get Your School Fundraiser off the Ground

No need to waste time trying to figure out how to raise funds for that important school event, your next class trip, or a worthy cause. AmtelWebFunding is here to provide you with the best crowdfunding platform and unique fundraising project ideas to help and support you and your school along the way. Say yes to crowdfunding for your school and launch your school fundraiser today. 

(Note: If you’re 12 or younger, please have a parent or guardian start your AmtelWebFunding. If you’re between 13 and 17, please get your parent or guardian’s permission to start an account.)

Elementary school fundraising project ideas

While many elementary school fundraising projects focus on meeting a school’s financial needs, for school districts with ample funding, consider using crowdfunding to give back instead. Launching a charitable fundraiser can provide amazing opportunities for personal growth. Teachers can use online fundraising projects as opportunities to engage students and encourage them to cultivate compassion inside and outside the classroom.

Teaching children to be human and compassionate

The sooner kids are exposed to resources they can use to do good and make the world a better place, the more comfortable and confident they’ll become in leading the charge for change. By starting a crowdfunding or fundraising project with students, you equip them with skills that will benefit them down the road, all while promoting values that positively shape the future of our society.

Fundraising projects benefiting children are among the most talked about on social media, reports Nonprofit Tech For Good.

According to a survey cited by AFRDS, 71% of parents in the US said their children sold at least one product in the past year as part of a fundraising project.

The Center For Public Education reported that 65% of parents surveyed said they participate in school fundraising projects.

Six ideas for an elementary school fundraising project

1. Fundraising project for endangered animals

If your child is an animal lover or concerned about endangered species, set up a crowdfunding or fundraising project to help protect a species, preserve a habitat, or protect wildlands. 

• Local organizations or the World Wildlife Organization might be an appropriate recipient of your funds. 
• Ask your city zoo or a nearby school for access to a space you can use for a fundraising project event. 
• If your child is studying endangered species in school, consider working with teachers to get a classwide effort going. Consider a bake sale to kick off your fundraising projects and spread the word about your online fundraiser.   
• When children take a hands-on role in a fundraising project for a cause close their hearts, they gain leadership skills, a sense of social responsibility, and direct experience making the world a better place.

2. Support worthy causes the class chooses

Teachers who want to encourage empathy in students should consider starting a fundraiser with their classes. This can be a great educational experience that helps students be proactive about the injustice they see in the world. 

• Consider partnering with a sister school that needs help paying for school supplies or other necessities. Or, raise money for a nearby children’s hospital or company that serves a charitable purpose. 
• Encourage students to use critical thinking skills and creativity to come up with fundraising project ideas.
• To take the fundraising project offline, students can sell candy, homemade cards, or a talent show that they can sell tickets to.

3. Hold a mock game show-night

Hold a fundraiser in your auditorium, and invite parents or families to participate in a quiz-show contest. 

• Prior to the event, form teams and have each team raise funds together. 
• Ask a local business to donate the top prize. 
• Get a staff member to emcee. 
• Set up a trivia competition like Jeopardy!, but with a twist: focus on information that relates to your school or town history. 
• Provide breaks in the competition for snacking and socializing, prizes, or other interactive events. 
• Have a station where guests can each take a turn making a suggested donation. 
• Publicize the event on social media. This is a great opportunity for teachers and parents to work together and give back.

4. Host a recycling-themed fundraiser

Organize a waste reduction project—for example, an e-waste drive where supporters donate money to your fundraising project and, in return, you pick up and safely recycle their electronic waste. 

• You can also collect pledges for distance covered in a park or beach cleanup or pledges for a certain amount of energy or water saved within a certain timeframe. 
• Host a classroom recycling contest where the classroom with the most recyclable materials can receive a prize. 
• To double the impact, donate funds to an organization that works to address the effects of climate change.

5. Host a performance for a charity night

Organize a “coffeehouse” event encouraging kids to put themselves out there and express themselves creatively. 

• Use this night of musical performances to spotlight and celebrate the talents of your students. Make sure there is time reserved for the school choir to perform, if possible. 
• Sell snacks and drinks to make a profit, and ask for donations from the audience. 
• You can expand this fundraising project idea into a formal talent show, raising money for your fundraiser through ticket sales. Suggest that students wear specific costumes to make the event even more fun. 

6. Organize a read-a-thon competition

Ask your class to gather pledges in a read-a-thon fundraising project event. 

• For every page read by a student, sponsors agree to donate a certain amount of money to the fundraiser. This is a great way to encourage students to read while raising money for a cause. 
• Have them record the number of pages they read, as well as the names of the books and a short synopsis of each. 
• You can even collect some of their summaries and post them as updates to your fundraiser. 
• Set a fundraising project goal at the outset, so you know how many pages need to be read to reach the goal. 
• At the end of your fundraising project, use the funds to improve your library, or donate the funds to an organization that promotes child literacy.

The road to the better world

Children are the future, and by instilling in them an appreciation for the greater good and being compassionate, we help fund hope for a better tomorrow for people, animals, and communities around the world. If you haven’t already started a fundraiser with your children or students, get together with them, pick a cause they’re passionate about and start giving back by launching a fundraiser through our site today. 

Note: To create an AmtelWebFunding account, you must be at least 13 years old and have your parent or guardian’s permission.

Middle School Fundraising Projects

It can be challenging to come up with fresh fundraising project ideas that excite both students and parents. The start of the school year can be an incredibly busy time, and parents who have spent money on school supplies and clothes may be reluctant to spend even more on a fundraiser—but the money raised early on can give you resources to last throughout your academic year.

Get your students actively involved

• Give your students a sense of ownership in your crowdfunding or fundraising project. By trusting middle-school students with an active role in your fundraising project efforts, you impart an appreciation for all of the work that goes into funding their education. You also encourage them to express their creativity and take on leadership roles. Ultimately, they’ll value the things or experiences their fundraiser helped make possible.
• Among middle-school students, the California Department of Public Education sees a preference for active over passive learning.

You may like to read this comprehensive article on more fundraising tips

Young people prefer to address real-life situations or problems with a real-life context.

• Retired teacher Peter Lorain argues that children in middle school are just becoming comfortable with problem-solving, planning, and controlling impulses.

Six ideas for a middle school fundraising project

1. Organize a pancake breakfast 

• Publicize your pancake breakfast in advance via email, school newsletters, and social media. 
• Invite members of the community to support your crowdfunding or fundraising project. 
• Charge a flat fee per breakfast in the form of a donation to your fundraiser.
• Solicit parent volunteers to help prepare the food in your cafeteria, like pancakes and other breakfast foods. 
• Recruit students to serve meals and refill coffee. 
• Encourage parents to bring extended family, friends, or members of the school community.

2. Host a dancing competition 

Preteen students are often eager to socialize with classmates outside of school, and fundraising project dances provide an opportunity to do so while benefiting your cause. 

• Offer alternative activities for kids who aren’t comfortable dancing. 
• Ask the student government to take on an active role in planning and publicizing the dance. 
• Recruit parent and teacher volunteers to chaperone. 
• Ask families to make a donation to your crowdfunding or fundraising project in lieu of buying a ticket. 
• To reduce overhead, find a trusted alum or community member to DJ, or recruit a local band to perform.

3. Arrange for a tie-dye event

Here’s how to set up a tie-dye booth: 

• Shop for a low-cost fabric dye in a variety of colors. 
• Invite students to bring their white t-shirts, socks, or sweatshirts to dye in exchange for a donation. 
• Have them write their name in Sharpie somewhere inside each article of clothing. 
• Fill buckets with cold water and a few dye packets to ensure bold colors. 
• Teach students how to tie up their clothes and watch as they create a bullseye or swirl pattern.

4. Give students the opportunity to leave their mark

If your middle school fundraising project benefits a construction project or other upgrade to your facilities, brainstorm ways you can raise money by letting students contribute a handprint, quote, or some other artistic flourish to the building. 

• You could ask them to find a sponsor for each tile in a garden mosaic. Or, you can charge students a small amount to leave their handprint in paint or cement or to make their own mini-mural on a small section of the wall. 
• Encourage creative expression and simultaneously helps raise money in small amounts can add up to a huge success.

5. Host a cake-decorating competition

Here’s how to organize a cake-decorating contest. 

• Participants can donate a set amount to your fundraiser to participate. 
• Ask a local bakery or grocery store to donate plain, unfrosted cakes, and see if any other businesses are willing to donate gift cards or goods for a winning prize. 
• Have contestants make their own frosting and decorate the cakes however they like, then bring the cakes to school on the day of the event. 
• Gather a panel of judges to choose the winning cake, then sell all of the submitted cakes so you can receive the funds raised.

6. Arrange a gaming night

From Scrabble to Catchphrase to Jeopardy!, there are dozens of options for group games that help expand vocabularies and keep students entertained. 

Encourage families or groups to sign up for the game night as teams, making a minimum donation as an entrance fee. 

Host the event in a gym or auditorium. It can be tournament style, or groups can choose from different board games or interactive games. 

Provide snacks and ask for parent volunteers to keep the evening running smoothly. 

This can provide an opportunity for students to socialize in a low-pressure atmosphere and connect with peers outside their immediate friend groups.

If you want to foster some fun competition, offer a prize to the first team to complete certain speed games.

Blaze new trails

For many people, middle school is a difficult time––an awkward in-between period in which students struggle to adjust to bodily changes as well as increased responsibility and freedom. But middle school fundraising projects can actually be constructive projects that make this new territory less threatening for students. By organizing a crowdfunding or fundraising project that features events that allow kids to socialize and express their creativity, you help them become more confident young people while raising money for the school. If you haven’t already, launch a school fundraiser today.

Note: To create an AmtelWebFunding account, you must be at least 13 years old and have your parent or guardian’s permission.

Private school fundraising project ideas

It isn’t uncommon for private schools to have a large and active philanthropic program that requires students and families to make contributions of time and money. For example, families may be required to volunteer a specific number of service hours to the school. Service-learning builds community, encourages compassion, and helps instill a sense of ownership and pride. As part of these efforts, students and parents can use crowdfunding to help finance clubs, sports, community service projects, or add to the school’s endowment or general fund.

Reach your goals with crowdfunding

• Whether you’re a parent on the school’s fundraising project committee or a student involved in a community service project, crowdfunding can help you reach your goals. Along with crowdfunding, many schools organize offline fundraising project events, which can help boost awareness and encourage involvement.
• One of the biggest needs in private school communities is for need-based scholarships. Dedicate a crowdfunding or fundraising project or event to the school’s scholarship fund to take the pressure off stretched low- and middle-income families.
  
• Private-school students often have a wealth of supplies and resources. Raising money for supplies for a sister school, nearby or around the world, can help students appreciate their good fortune.
  

Let students lead. When giving arises out of students’ passions and interests, it helps build commitment and motivation.

Six ideas for a private school fundraising project

1. Support refugee relief efforts

Encourage students to be citizens of the world. Climate change and regional conflicts have created huge waves of refugees globally. 

• One way for students to showcase compassion is to start a fundraising project and raise funds to keep refugees safe and ease their suffering. 
• Find a reputable charity aimed at helping refugees and raise funds for it.

2. Keep scholarships alive

Often, a school’s fundraising project committee dedicates a fair amount of time and resources toward raising money for financial aid. Private schools offer scholarships and discounted tuition to students whose families can’t afford to pay the full cost of tuition. 

• By providing need-based and/or merit-based scholarships, private schools maintain a more vibrant and diverse student body. 
• Crowdfunding can help students, parents, staff, and alumni replenish the coffers that make financial aid possible.

3. Stay active

Depending on your school’s extracurricular budget, participating in a school sport may require fundraising projects for things like uniforms, field maintenance, and repair, coaches’ salaries, travel to tournaments, equipment, and more. Student-athletes welcome the opportunity to raise funds for their athletic programs. Whatever the team’s needs are, crowdfunding can help make the season a smashing success.

4. Host a cook-off

To start a friendly competition between students, faculty, and parents, organize a cook-off to display cooking or baking skills. 

• You can either charge an entrance fee (via a donation to your fundraising project) or require tasting fees from participants (in the form of a contribution). 
• Find a venue such as your school’s dining hall or auditorium to host this event. 
• The winner is awarded bragging rights as the best chef at your school. 

5. Organize a march

As a play on the movie March of the Penguins, hold a school-wide march. This works especially well for green clubs or students interested in protecting and preserving the environment. 

• Have everyone design his or her own penguin costume and require an entrance fee to participate in the march. 
• The costumes allow people to get creative while raising awareness for your chosen environmental cause.

6. Host an outdoor movie night

Host a social gathering for parents and their children by organizing an outdoor movie fundraising project event. 

• Pick a famous movie (or vote on one) and invite everyone to enjoy the film together from the comfort of lawn chairs and blankets. 
• Find an outdoor space, a powerful projector, a screen (or sheet, or flat white wall), and speakers that can fill the space with the right level of sound. 
• Take donations with a mobile device. Whip up some popcorn and sell it for a small price. 
• A fun variation: host a summer dive-in movie in a swimming pool.

Get your school fundraiser off the ground

No need to waste time figuring out how to go about raising funds for your school event, class trip, program, club, or a worthy cause. Get the ball rolling with a crowdfunding or fundraising project on AmtelWebFunding —since it has a 0% platform fee, you get to keep more of the funds your raise. We also offer a wealth of free resources and unique fundraising project ideas. If you haven’t already launched your school fundraiser, create your fundraising project today!

Note: To create an AmtelWebFunding account, you must be at least 13 years old and have your parent or guardian’s permission.

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