Even under normal circumstances, fundraising can be hard work but with unexpected circumstances, the challenge of raising money can increase tenfold. Add that to the regular, ongoing pressures that every teacher feels and it can be hard to find the time or energy to give it much thought.
So to help, we’ve put on our Twinkl thinking caps and come up with 23 quick fundraising ideas for school – creating your go-to guide for quick and easy ways to raise funds creatively and have fun.
Of course, during events such as the Covid-19 crisis, school fundraising ideas and opportunities are more limited but many of the ideas we’ve covered could still be done or adapted for the times where social distancing is required.
Quiz Night
Host a quiz online or when possible, in person. Start by inviting parents and members of the community to enter individually or as teams. Perhaps have ‘themed’ questions and recruit a volunteer “quiz master” to ask the questions. Sell tickets to participate and offer a prize for the winners. fundraiser ideas for high schools
Raffle
Sell tickets for the chance to win a donated prize (perhaps a hamper) or a local service, etc. This is one of the easiest primary school fundraising ideas.
Playground Challenge
One great way to involve children is to ask them to design a fundraising obstacle course in the playground for Unicef’s annual Soccer Aid campaign. Invite them to use everyday items from school, such as benches, hoops, balls, skipping ropes and mats, etc, and ask each class to come up with their own designs. Pick the best and then build the course for the whole school to tackle. Being sponsored to complete the challenge helps children raise money for Soccer Aid. For inspiration, check out some of our resources here, including cross-curricular topics in, plus STEM, citizenship, PE, RE, and lots more.
Cake Sale
Once we’re back to some semblance of normal, host a bake sale! Parents, students and school staff can all contribute cakes, buns, biscuits and more for a one-day sale – invite children and parents to buy them at times during the day. For now, you could always have a bake off event where teachers & parents show off their best bake and people vote for their favourite – £1 per vote perhaps!
Bingo
Host a fundraising bingo night, online or in-person (eventually), where families can pay to play and try to win small prizes, or something bigger? To make this even easier, check out our Bingo Template resource – helping you create school fundraising ideas with no selling.
Valentine’s Day Chocolate Sales
Lots of us love chocolate and it often makes a great gift, especially at Valentine’s Day. So one of the fun ways to raise money for schools and spread a little love is with a themed chocolate sale. Some of the more creative children and parents might even make their own.
School-Boot Market
No, we’re not suggesting you sell footwear. This is our take on the much-loved car boot sale, but it’s held inside your school instead. Let families donate items from home, such as clothes, CD/DVDs, books, toys, even nick-nacks, then arrange them on tables and watch them sell. It’s great fun, everyone gets to grab a bargain and your school raises funds. For a socially distanced version maybe allow parents to sell items through the school website or online then donate the funds raised.
Halloween Cake Sale
Host a Halloween themed cake sale in school or online. Ask the children and families to bake their own Halloween goodies to sell but if taking place online, remind parents they’ll have to post their goods! Remember to request a mix of healthy treats, and perhaps sell bags or tubs of ‘Trick or Treat’ sweetie mixes too.
Halloween treats and cakes
Craft Sale
Children and parents need little excuse to get craft, so here’s the perfect school charity idea to get their creative juices flowing – a School Craft Sale. You can even give each year or class a ‘theme’, then sell their masterpieces to other children and parents. For a Covid-friendly version, schools could potentially sell the materials needed to do the craft to parents and donate the profits.
Pizza Party
A great (and tasty) way to raise funds is by organising a pizza lunch. Why choose a selection of popular pizza toppings and charge by the slice. Work with a local take-away or restaurant to keep the cost down and it’s a win-win for everyone. And a yummy treat too?
Fun Run
Great for raising funds and even better for staying healthy – a fun run or fun walk lets the children raise sponsorship for the laps or distance they cover. Why not add a little extra fun and make it a fancy dress run or walk, even encourage parents to join in from home or at the weekend.
Craft Sale
Children and parents need little excuse to get craft, so here’s the perfect school charity idea to get their creative juices flowing – a School Craft Sale. You can even give each year or class a ‘theme’, then sell their masterpieces to other children and parents. For times requiring social distancing, schools could potentially sell the materials needed to do the craft to parents and donate the profits.
Disco-a-Thon
Everyone loves a boogie, right? So dust off those turntables – or simply plug into your favourite Spotify disco playlist if that’s easier – and invite pupils and families into the school hall for an evening of dance floor dynamics. Charge a small entry fee, sell crisps, pop and assorted nibbles and watch your fundraising coffers soar. This could be done from home by hosting a video call, playing some music and watch parents and children dance from home! Just as much fun, everyone stays safe and can still raise lots of money for a good cause.
disco ball
Your School’s Got Talent!
What school isn’t bursting with talented children, teachers and staff? So here’s a great way to showcase all those budding singers, dancers, comics, magicians and actors with your very own fundraising talent extravaganza. Who knows, you might even discover the next big thing…or a secret Simon Cowell? For a social distanced version, invite parents or pupils to record their act, compile into a video and host an online screening for everyone!
Cake Walk
How’s this for a fun game and a great schools charity idea? Ask children and parents in your class to bake a selection of yummy cakes. Once collected, number them all then arrange them in a big circle within your class bubble and let children pay a small fee to walk around the circle to music. When the music stops, draw a number at random and whoever is standing in front of that numbered cake gets to keep it.