According to CheddarUp stats, only 64% of schools believe they are well-funded. The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) are important school groups, and many schools look to them for PTA fundraising ideas. PTA and PTO fundraisers are valuable sources of revenue that can help pay for vital school programs and much-needed supplies.
This guide includes 42 PTA and PTO fundraiser ideas that will help generate revenue for your school and engage students, teachers, and the community along the way. The fundraisers range from simple and inexpensive to ambitious and costly. Regardless of the fundraisers you choose, your students and staff will benefit from increased parental and community involvement and the enjoyable experiences they create.
Table of Contents
| Fundraiser | Cost | Effort | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silent Auction | $$ | Moderate | Great revenue potential; strong community/business involvement; fun atmosphere. | Time-intensive to plan; requires many donated items and good promotion. |
| Bake Sale | $ | Low | Easy to organize; low cost; flexible timing; appeals to a wide audience. | Lower revenue ceiling; outcomes depend on foot traffic and donated baked goods. |
| Read-a-thon | $ | Low | Promotes literacy; simple to run; strong student and family participation. | Requires consistent tracking; dependent on student motivation. |
| Walk-a-thon | $$ | Moderate | Encourages health and teamwork; scalable; high donor potential via pledges. | Logistics and permits can be challenging; weather can impact turnout. |
| Dine-out Night | $ | Low | Easy to coordinate; promotes local business partnerships; recurring potential. | Lower return unless well-attended; revenue share is usually small. |
When reviewing Parent Teacher Association fundraising ideas, a silent auction is a fun and engaging choice. In this type of event, donated items or services are displayed, and attendees can place bids on their favorite items. This is a great way to showcase the talents and generosity of your school community and local businesses.
To make your school auction ideas successful, focus on securing various items that appeal to different interests and budgets, such as gift baskets, artwork, or even experiences like a spa day or cooking class. Remember to advertise your event well in advance and encourage people to invite friends and family to join in on the fun.
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A bake sale is a classic PTA fundraising idea for a reason. It's a popular way to raise money for your school's PTO or PTA. Everyone loves delicious treats, making this an excellent choice to help meet your fundraising goals. You can set up a bake sale at the school or a community event, selling homemade goods from parents, teachers and students.
Consider organizing your bake sale around a theme, such as seasonal favorites, healthy treats or even international flavors. This can create excitement and interest, encouraging more people to attend and participate in promoting PTA fundraisers.
A read-a-thon is an educational and enjoyable PTA fundraising idea. For this event, students pledge to read a certain number of books or pages within a set time frame, such as a week or a month. Family members, friends and neighbors can sponsor students by pledging a donation for each book or page read.
Peer-to-peer fundraising ideas like this encourage students to read more while raising money for schools. To make it even more exciting, a read-a-thon fundraising event can also include special readings, such as a pajama reading party or a book character dress-up day, or challenges in which the student who reads the most wins a prize.
Walk-a-thon ideas are healthy and active ways to implement PTO fundraising. Students, teachers and parents can participate in the event, walking a predetermined route or distance to raise money for your school.
With these PTO fundraising ideas, Participants can ask for pledges from family and friends based on the distance they plan to walk, generating funds to support your school's programs and initiatives. A walk-a-thon is not only a fun and engaging event, but it also encourages physical activity and a sense of accomplishment for those who participate.
This may be one of the most delicious PTO fundraiser ideas. Enjoy a meal and support your PTA or PTO with a dine-out night. Partner with a local restaurant that agrees to donate a percentage of sales from a specific night to your school.
Encourage parents, teachers and students to dine at the restaurant that night, generating funds for your school while supporting a local business. Dine-out nights can be a recurring event, with different restaurants participating each time to provide variety and encourage more people to join in on these tasty PTO fundraiser ideas.
A talent show brings your school community together while raising funds for your PTA or PTO. Students, teachers and even parents can sign up to perform and showcase their unique talents, such as singing, dancing or playing an instrument.
Charge participants an entry fee and sell tickets for audience members, generating revenue to support your school's needs. A talent show is entertaining and celebrates the diverse skills and abilities within your school community.
An art show is one of the more creative school fundraisers. It raises money for your PTA or PTO while showcasing students’ artistic talents. Displaying their artwork gives students a chance to shine and build their confidence. Parents, teachers, and community members can attend the event, admire the artwork, and purchase it to support your school.
You can also include a silent auction or raffle for some pieces, raising money for schools in a fun and engaging way. Choose a theme or style for the art show that reflects your students' interests and skills for optimal participation and engagement.
A movie night is one of the most simple yet enjoyable PTO fundraisers. Choose a popular family-friendly movie and show it at your school's auditorium or outdoors if the weather permits. Sell tickets for the event and offer snacks like popcorn, candy and drinks for purchase.
A movie night is an entertaining event for families and a chance to spend quality time together. This is one of the many PTA fundraising ideas that can help build a strong sense of community within your school.
Organizing a school carnival is a fantastic PTO fundraiser idea that raises money while providing a fun-filled day for your school and the surrounding community. School carnivals can feature a variety of activities, such as games, rides, and food stalls, making them exciting events for people of all ages.
When planning your carnival, consider what activities will be most popular with your attendees. For example, you might include a bounce house, face painting or a dunk tank to create a fun and memorable experience.
Selling tickets for individual activities or offering an all-access pass can generate revenue to support your PTO or PTA initiatives. Additionally, partnering with local businesses to sponsor the event or donate supplies can help offset costs and increase your fundraising potential.
Hosting a trivia night is an entertaining way to bring your school community together and raise funds for your PTO or PTA. Parents, teachers, and students can form teams to compete in a friendly quiz-style competition, answering questions on a range of topics. Make your trivia night enjoyable for everyone by choosing categories that appeal to various interests, such as history, science, pop culture, or sports.
Charge an entry fee for each team and consider offering a prize for the winning team as an incentive. Encourage participants to bring snacks or beverages to share, creating a relaxed and social atmosphere that can help build stronger connections within your school community.
Bingo night is a fun, interactive PTA fundraising idea in which participants pay a small fee to play. People of all ages can enjoy this game, making it a perfect fit for a school fundraiser.
During bingo night, players try to complete a pattern on their bingo cards by marking off numbers called out by a host. Players who complete the pattern shout "Bingo!" and win a prize.
For a successful bingo night, consider providing small, fun prizes for the winners and offering refreshments for sale.
Game night is a PTO fundraiser idea that promotes a fun and social atmosphere where people can play board games, card games or even video games. To host a game night, set up various gaming stations throughout your school's gym or cafeteria, ensuring a wide selection of games for different age groups and interests.
To increase revenue, charge an admission fee for participants and offer snacks and drinks for sale. To make game night more engaging, consider organizing tournaments or offering prizes for winners.
Karaoke night is one of the most fun, interactive PTA fundraising ideas. People pay an admission fee to sing their favorite songs in front of an audience. This fundraiser can be held at the school or a local venue offering karaoke equipment.
To make karaoke night more appealing, consider offering a selection of popular songs for participants to choose from and providing a stage or spotlight for singers to perform. Encourage friendly competition by awarding prizes for categories like best performance or most enthusiastic singer.
A dance-a-thon is a lively PTO fundraiser idea where participants dance for an extended period, typically several hours, to raise money for the school. Participants collect pledges from friends and family members who agree to donate a certain amount for each hour they dance.
To make the dance-a-thon more entertaining, hire a DJ or create a playlist with upbeat music. Consider offering prizes for the dancers who participate the longest or with the best dance moves. Encourage participants to wear comfortable clothes and bring water to stay hydrated.
A family fun night is an entertaining way to bring your school community together and raise funds for your PTA or PTO. Plan a variety of activities, such as games, crafts, and performances, that appeal to all ages. To generate revenue, charge a small admission fee or sell tickets for individual activities.
To make the event even more special, consider choosing a theme, such as a decade or a favorite movie, and encourage attendees to dress up and participate in themed activities. A family fun night can help strengthen your school community while raising funds for important programs and initiatives.
School PTA fundraising rocks with a battle of the bands. This event is an exciting way to showcase local musical talent while raising money for your school. To host this event, invite local bands to perform and compete against one another for a prize.
Charge an entry fee for audience members and consider offering concessions or merchandise for sale to increase revenue. Have a panel of judges determine the winner and encourage audience participation by allowing them to vote for their favorite band.
Parents' night out offers parents a chance to enjoy an evening out while their children participate in supervised activities at school. This event raises funds for the school and provides a valuable service for busy families.
To make parents' night out a success, plan various age-appropriate activities for the kids, such as games, crafts, and movies. Charge a fee for each child attending and ensure there are enough volunteers to supervise and engage the children safely.
Another PTO fundraiser idea is to organize a sports tournament. It's a healthy and active way to raise funds. Choose a popular sport, like basketball, soccer or volleyball, and invite students, teachers and parents to form teams and compete against each other. Charge an entry fee for each team and offer prizes or recognition for the winning teams.
The event promotes physical activity and encourages teamwork and friendly competition within your school community.
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A family portrait day is one of the more creative and memorable PTA fundraising ideas. Partner with a local photographer who is willing to donate their time and skills for the event. Offer professional portrait sessions to families, teachers and students at a discounted rate, with a portion of the proceeds going to your school.
Family portrait day generates revenue and provides a valuable service to your school community, capturing precious memories that will last a lifetime. To make the event even more successful, consider offering a variety of packages and options, such as different backdrops or props, to cater to different preferences and budgets.
Sponsor-a-teacher is a unique and meaningful PTA fundraising idea. Invite parents, students and community members to sponsor a teacher by making a donation in their honor.
The donations can be used to purchase classroom supplies, fund professional development, or support other teacher-identified needs. This fundraising idea raises money for your school and helps show appreciation and support for the hardworking educators who make a difference in your students' lives.
Creating and selling a custom cookbook is a unique and delicious way to support your PTA or PTO. Ask parents, teachers and students to contribute their favorite recipes, creating a collection that reflects your school community's diverse tastes and traditions.
Organize the recipes into categories, such as appetizers, main dishes and desserts, making the cookbook user-friendly and enjoyable. Selling the custom cookbook to parents, teachers and community members is a great way to share cherished recipes while raising funds for your school.
Raise money for your PTA or PTO by selling discount cards. This is a practical and profitable fundraiser idea.
Partner with local businesses that agree to offer special discounts or deals to cardholders. The discount cards can be sold to parents, teachers, students and community members, providing them with valuable savings while supporting your school.
This PTO fundraiser idea benefits your school and the participating businesses, encouraging people to shop and dine locally. When creating your discount card, include various companies and deals that appeal to a wide range of interests.
Candy bar sales are a popular and tasty way to raise funds for your PTA or PTO. Purchase candy bars in bulk from a wholesaler or partner with a local candy company to supply the products at a discounted rate. Encourage parents, teachers and students to sell the candy bars to friends, family members and neighbors, generating revenue while satisfying their sweet tooth.
Candy bar sales raise funds for important programs and initiatives and teach children valuable lessons in salesmanship and responsibility. To ensure the best results, offer various candy options to cater to different tastes and dietary preferences.
A used book sale is one of the more eco-friendly and educational PTA fundraising ideas. Collect gently used books from parents, teachers and students to be sold at the event. Set up tables or booths at your school or a community location and invite people to shop for affordable books while supporting your school.
A used book sale generates revenue and promotes a love of reading and learning within your school community. To make the event even more successful, consider offering a wide selection of books, including fiction, nonfiction, and children's titles, to cater to various interests and reading levels.
Looking for a practical and eco-friendly way to raise funds for your PTA or PTO? Organize a schoolyard sale.
Encourage parents, teachers and students to donate gently used items, such as clothing, toys, books and household goods, to be sold at the event. Set up tables or booths on your school grounds and invite the community to shop for bargains while supporting your school.
A schoolyard sale generates revenue and promotes recycling and reusing items within your school community. To make the event even more successful, consider offering refreshments or entertainment to attract more visitors and create a fun and lively atmosphere.
A garage sale is an eco-friendly and community-focused PTO fundraiser idea. Ask parents, teachers and students to donate gently used items, such as clothing, toys or household goods, to be sold at the event. Set up tables or booths at your school or a community location and invite people to shop for affordable items while supporting your school.
A garage sale can generate revenue while promoting recycling and reuse within your school community. To make the event even more successful, consider organizing sale items by category, making it easier for shoppers to find what they are looking for.
A community yard sale is a large-scale garage sale that brings together multiple families or school groups to sell their unwanted items. This event is a great opportunity to raise funds while helping people declutter their homes.
To organize a community yard sale, designate a specific area for the sale, such as the school's parking lot, and have participating families set up their own tables or booths. Charge a small fee for each booth and consider selling refreshments to increase revenue.
A penny war is a fun and competitive PTA or PTO fundraiser. Set up jars or containers in each classroom or for each grade level, and have students, teachers and parents bring in pennies and other coins to fill the jars. The goal is to collect the most pennies, but participants can also add other coins and bills to "sabotage" the competition.
At the end of the event, count the money in each jar and award a prize or recognition to the winning class or grade. This friendly competition can encourage everyone to get involved and support your school.
A coin drive is a simple yet effective PTA fundraising idea. Encourage parents, teachers and students to collect and donate spare change over a set period, such as a week or a month. The process of designating containers or jars in classrooms, the school office, or other high-traffic areas, makes it one of the easy PTA fundraisers.
A coin drive generates revenue and teaches children about the value of money and the power of collective effort. To make the event even more successful, consider holding friendly competitions between classrooms or grades to see who can collect the most coins.
A flower sale is one of the most beautiful and fragrant PTA fundraising ideas. Partner with a local florist or nursery to purchase flowers, such as potted plants, bouquets or individual stems, at a discounted price. Sell the flowers to parents, teachers and community members, generating revenue for your school while brightening their homes and gardens.
A flower sale can be especially successful around holidays, such as Mother's Day or Valentine's Day, when people look for thoughtful gifts for their loved ones. To ensure the best results, choose various flowers that appeal to different tastes and budgets.
Set up a holiday shop for a festive and creative way to raise funds for your PTA or PTO. For example, you can open a temporary store in your school, offering a variety of holiday-themed items for sale, such as ornaments, decorations, gifts, or even baked goods. Parents and students can shop for holiday items while supporting your school.
To ensure a successful holiday shop school PTA fundraising ideas, source unique and affordable products that appeal to your school community. This PTA fundraising idea can help bring holiday cheer to your school while generating revenue for your PTA or PTO initiatives.
A direct donation campaign is one of the most straightforward and effective PTO fundraiser ideas. It simply encourages parents, teachers and community members to make one-time or recurring financial contributions directly to your school. Schools use this type of fundraising campaign to raise revenue and allow supporters to contribute without participating in a specific event or purchasing items.
To make the campaign even more successful, consider providing suggested donation amounts and explaining how the funds will be used to support important programs and initiatives at your school.
Securing corporate sponsorships is a powerful PTA fundraising idea. Reach out to local businesses and corporations, asking them to sponsor your school or specific fundraising events for schools in exchange for advertising and recognition.
Corporate sponsorships generate revenue and help build partnerships and connections between your school and the surrounding community. To make the most of these sponsorships, consider offering various sponsorship levels, allowing businesses to choose levels that align with their budgets and marketing goals.
A recycling drive is an eco-friendly fundraiser that encourages community members to recycle items such as electronics, bottles and cans while raising money for the school. Partner with a local recycling center that will pay for the collected items and set a specific date and time for the event.
Promote the recycling drive by distributing flyers and posting on social media to inform people about the items that can be recycled and the benefits of participating.
Raffle baskets are a fun and exciting way to raise funds for your PTA or PTO. Ask parents, teachers and local businesses to donate items or services to be included in themed baskets, such as spa day, movie night or gourmet cooking. Sell raffle tickets to parents, teachers, students and community members, who will have a chance to win one of the baskets.
Sell raffle baskets to generate revenue and showcase your school community's and local businesses' generosity and support. To make the event even more successful, consider offering a variety of baskets with different themes and values, appealing to a wide range of interests and budgets.
A themed gift basket auction is an enjoyable way to raise money. It involves auctioning various gift baskets created by volunteers or donated by local businesses. To make this event successful, choose a variety of popular themes for the baskets, such as movie night, spa day, or gourmet food.
Display the baskets during a school event and have attendees place bids on their favorite ones. Promote the auction ahead of time to encourage participation and increase the number of bids.
People may also support schools simply by shopping online or in brick-and-mortar locations. Box Tops is an excellent example. Shoppers can purchase products with a box top, cut it out, and send it to their local school. Each box top is worth 10 cents. Schools can cash them in for up to $20,000 a year in funding.
To make the most of this program, schools should:
Similar programs include:
Want to learn more about how to donate to schools when shopping retail? RevTrak's got you covered with a free comprehensive checklist.
Many schools find that selling spirit wear is an excellent PTA fundraising idea that promotes school pride. Collaborate with a local company to create custom apparel, such as T-shirts, hoodies or hats, featuring your school's logo or mascot. Offer the spirit wear for sale to parents, teachers and students, generating revenue while encouraging them to show their support for your school.
Spirit wear and other items like spirit flags, help fund important programs and initiatives and foster a sense of unity and pride within your school community. To ensure the best results, offer a variety of items and sizes to accommodate different tastes and needs.
If you need help selling school spirit wear, we have a complete kit with flyer templates, email announcements, fundraising guides, templates and a short video explaining the process of a school spirit wear fundraiser.
Access the spirit wear kit out today!
This type of fundraising involves partnering with local organizations for an employer matching initiative. Here's how it works:
Finding companies willing to participate will require the biggest effort. Schools should look for corporations that cater to families for the best outcomes.
With email prompting 31% of donations made by Gen Xers, email and letter writing can be powerful tools. These PTA fundraising ideas can accompany a direct donation campaign or other campaigns to raise money for schools.
The school can simply create an email or write physical letters to make community members aware of their needs or fundraising events. They can specify their fundraising goals and how to give to make the process easy for donors.
Writing an engaging letter or email may be the biggest battle, but Vanco's fundraising tools can help. We offer over 100 nonprofit tools, including design materials, AI bots, sponsorship proposals, and templates, to provide the basics of engaging donation requests. Vanco can help you reach your fundraising goals with less effort.
An event sponsorship package involves the school partnering with a business on a specific event. The business may help fund the event in return for advertising at the event.
For example, they may provide food, money, and silent auction items. In return, the school will hang a banner or signage advertising the business to attendees.
This type of funding can be complicated as schools may have a difficult time finding companies willing to sponsor their events and working out the terms of the sponsorship. However, they may develop mutually beneficial relationships over time, making the process easier.
The PTA or PTO is a vital part of any school community, and fundraising is an essential component of its efforts. By using school fundraising software like the platform offered by Vanco Payments—including our integrated school event ticketing system that streamlines ticket sales and event management—schools can boost PTA and PTO fundraiser revenue while simplifying the donation process.
The software enables PTAs and PTOs to create customized donation pages, set fundraising goals and track progress in real time. Donors can easily make online donations, and the software provides detailed reporting, supporting for PTA fundraiser ideas.
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