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The Ultimate List of 75+ Easy School Fundraisers

North Canton Elementary PTO

Get ready to plan a year's worth of school fundraisers with the ultimate list of 75+ school fundraising ideas for PTO and PTA groups, along with quick links to resources to help you get started. 

by PTO Today Editors

09/01/2026

Whether you're a seasoned PTO pro or a first-time fundraising chair (welcome aboard 👋), bringing fresh new school fundraiser ideas to the table is always a good thing. We asked our community for their school's most popular fundraisers and compiled the ultimate list of 75+ school fundraiser ideas—jam-packed with fun and effective ways your PTO can raise money for your school, along with quick links to providers and resources to help you get started. Whether you're looking for your next big school fundraiser, a quick way to bring in extra money, or something new to shake things up, there’s an idea in here worth stealing!

Product and Catalog Fundraisers

Food Fundraisers

Raise money with food-based fundraisers—always a hit with families.

  • Baked goods fundraiser (e.g., donuts, Bundt cakes, cinnamon buns, etc.) ✨Sponsored provider: Booster
  • Beef jerky/dried foods fundraiser
  • Candy/chocolate fundraiser ✨Sponsored provider: Gourmet Goodness
  • Coffee/tea fundraiser ✨Sponsored provider: Java Joe's Fundraising
  • Cookie fundraiser ✨Sponsored provider: Best Fundraising Ideas
  • Fruit fundraiser
  • Pasta fundraiser
  • Pickle fundraiser
  • Pie/cake fundraiser
  • Pizza/pizza kit fundraiser
  • Popcorn fundraiser ✨Sponsored provider: Bri Marie Gourmet Popcorn
  • Pretzel fundraiser

Other Product Fundraisers

Discover high-earning product fundraisers that offer great profit margins and community appeal.

  • Bed sheet, blanket, pillow and/or mattress fundraiser
  • Calendar magnet fundraiser
  • Candle fundraiser ✨Sponsored providers: Yankee Candle/Gifts 'N Things, Best Fundraising Ideas
  • Car magnet fundraiser
  • Cookbook fundraiser
  • Coupon/savings fundraiser
  • Cutlery fundraiser
  • Discount card fundraiser
  • Flower and bulb fundraiser (poinsettias, mums, etc.) ✨Sponsored provider: Dutch Mill Bulbs Fundraising
  • Gift catalog fundraiser ✨Sponsored providers: Gifts 'N Things, Booster
  • Greeting card fundraiser
  • Holiday seasonal/ornaments/wreaths
  • Jewelry fundraiser
  • Personalized product fundraiser ✨Sponsored provider: Active Literature
  • School spirit wear/school spirit products fundraiser ✨Sponsored provider: Spirit Hero
  • School photography/school yearbooks fundraiser ✨Sponsored provider: Project Yearbook LLC
  • School store fundraiser
  • School supplies fundraiser
  • Socks fundraiser
  • Student art fundraiser
  • Tote and bag fundraiser
  • Water bottle or tumbler fundraiser
  • Wooden roses fundraiser
  • Wrapping paper fundraiser ✨Sponsored provider: Winter Wonderland

Event-based Fundraisers

Plan memorable events like fun runs, danceathons, school carnivals, and movie nights that double as fundraisers and community-builders—ideal for engaging students and families while meeting your fundraising goals.

Online and Direct Donation Based Fundraisers

Simplify fundraising with tech-savvy tools and low-effort donation drives. These options are perfect for busy volunteers and can reach a wider community fast.

Community Service Fundraisers

Combine giving and fundraising with projects that teach students the value of helping others while raising money for your school.

Passive Fundraisers

Set it and forget it! Maximize your school’s earnings with low-effort passive fundraisers like grocery rewards and affiliate programs—great for boosting your PTO's income year-round with minimal volunteer time (we like the sound of that!).

  • Box Tops for Education
  • Cashback shopping sites that send a portion of each purchase to your school
  • Consumer surveys
  • Grocery store loyalty programs
  • Ink cartridge and electronics recycling
  • Local restaurant/business givebacks
  • Snack or concession stand
  • Vending machine 

Creative School Fundraiser Ideas from Our Community

We asked our Facebook community of PTO and PTA leaders for their fan favorite fundraisers—check out the list below. (Got one you'd like us to add? Tag @ptotoday on social so we can see it!)

  • Skip the carline fundraiser: PTOs are auctioning off coveted skip the carline passes or selling low-cost raffle tickets for a chance to bypass the pickup line. Just work with your school administration to determine how the pass will work safely.

  • Gram fundraisers: Turn holidays into easy, low-cost fundraisers with themed “grams” students can buy for friends, teachers, or staff. Try Boo Grams for Halloween, Turkey Grams for Thanksgiving, Candy or Cupid Grams for Valentine’s Day, and Sham Grams—lollipops attached to shamrock cutouts—for St. Patrick’s Day.
  • Viral iced coffee in the drop-off line fundraiser: Set up a grab-and-go coffee station in the drop-off line and sell iced coffee to parents on their way into school.
  • “Snow Cone Day” fundraiser (charge a flat fee, like $45 per year, and students get a snow cone once per month)
  • Tattoo the teacher fundraiser: Let students pay to give a willing teacher a temporary tattoo (or two...or three!)—the sillier, the better! Set a price per tattoo or let students vote on which designs the teacher has to wear, making it a fun, low-cost fundraiser with a guaranteed laugh.
  • Porch Goose fundraiser: Parents pay to put a porch goose in a friend’s yard for a fee (like $20).

  • Flamingo Flocking fundraiser: Just like a Porch Goose fundraiser (see above), but this fundraiser uses pink plastic flamingos instead. Charge extra for "flamingo insurance" to keep them away: families can pay to send a flock to someone else’s yard, making it a playful fundraiser that gets the whole community involved!
  • Hat pass fundraiser: Sell a hat pass that gives students permission to wear a hat at school on designated days. Families pay for the pass, making it a simple, low-effort fundraiser that’s easy to run throughout the year.
  • Jeans pass fundraiser: Sell a jeans pass that lets students wear jeans on designated school days when uniforms or dress codes usually apply. Families pay for the pass, and the PTO keeps the proceeds—easy for the school, easy for families, and easy to repeat throughout the year.
  • Sticker machine fundraiser: Add a little fun to the school lobby with a sticker vending machine stocked with school-themed, seasonal, or custom stickers. PTOs can purchase or partner to place a machine at school, then keep the proceeds from each sticker sold.
  • Mini family photography session fundraiser: Offer families quick, affordable holiday-themed mini photo sessions with a local photographer. Schedule them when families are already thinking about holiday cards and gifts, and send a portion of each session fee back to the PTO.
  • Duct tape the principal to the wall fundraiser: Give students the chance to duct-tape the principal to a wall—for a price! Sell strips of duct tape or charge by the foot, then let students take turns adding tape until the principal is officially stuck.
  • Human slot machine fundraiser (a fun game at the fall fest!): Turn your fall fest into a Vegas-style game night with a human slot machine! Players pay to pull the lever, then three volunteers (or students) reveal their “symbols”—with matching combinations winning prizes.
  • Chili cookoff fundraiser
  • Cookie kit fundraiser: Sell ready-to-decorate cookie kits with cookies, icing, and sprinkles for families to take home and decorate together. Lean into seasonal themes—like Halloween, fall, or the holidays—to make them especially appealing for parties, gifts, or a fun family activity.
  • Birthday club fundraiser (parents sign up their child to get their picture taken with the school mascot, a special birthday button and a lollipop during their birthday month)
  • “Paint and Sip” fundraiser: A “Paint and Sip” is a ticketed adult social event where attendees follow along with a painting instructor while enjoying drinks and snacks. Partner with a local artist or art studio, charge admission, and consider adding raffles or a cash bar to raise even more for your PTO.
  • Pie a teacher fundraiser: Students purchase a small ticket—like 50 cents—to vote for the teacher they’d most like to see get a pie in the face. At the end of the fundraiser, the teacher with the most votes gets pied, making it a simple, low-cost fundraiser with a fun payoff.
  • Stuffie (stuffed animal) sleepover fundraiser: Kids bring their favorite stuffed animal to school for a special “sleepover,” and families pay for the experience. PTO volunteers can set up a cozy overnight scene, snap photos of the stuffies’ adventures, and send the pictures home for a fun keepsake.
  • Locker decorating fundraiser: Set a fee for each decorated locker, then let your PTO handle the decorating—or offer a few fun themes to choose from.
  • School spirit rock fundraiser: Sell families the opportunity to paint a birthday shoutout or tribute on a large rock near the school. Charge by the rock or by the message, and let your school community create a colorful, ever-changing display! 

Love this list? Get more in 15+ unique school fundraising ideas 👉

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