Tattoo the Teacher Fundraiser Tips + Free Templates
"Tattoo the teacher" is a fun, viral school fundraiser where students pay a few dollars to cover willing teachers in temporary tattoos (now that's school spirit!). We round up tips and supplies, along with a free tattoo the teacher fundraiser flyer, order form and social media graphic.
Tattoo the teacher is one of those viral, “so crazy it just might work” fundraisers (just like selling coffee in the school drop off line). Many of the PTOs that have brought this unique fundraising idea to their school community are raking in the dollars—in fact, Western Plateau PTO raised almost $9,000 during their tattoo the teacher fundraiser! Funds aside, this out-of-the-box fundraiser is also a fun morale booster for teachers and students.
The way a tattoo the teacher fundraiser works is simple, with students paying $1 for a small tattoo, $3 for a medium tattoo, and $5 for a large tattoo (some schools also up the ante by offering half and full sleeves, along with neck and face tattoos!). Below, we round up tips from our community for a tattoo a teacher fundraiser, along with our free tattoo the teacher fundraiser flyer and social media graphic (Canva template).
First, get staff buy-in for a tattoo the teacher fundraiser
Make sure your school principal, teachers and staff are on board (and not just feeling pressured into a participating in a fun tattoo day). Not everyone wants to be covered head to toe in temporary tattoos, but you'll quickly get a pulse on which staff members are willing to "take one for the team"!
Once you have a list of teachers and staff members who want to participate, let families know about your school's “Tattoo a Teacher” fundraiser by sending home a flyer and posting on social (you can use our free Tattoo the Teacher Fundraiser flyer and social media Canva templates). Remind families the tattoos are temporary and let them know when "tat day” will happen to build excitement and participation. Be transparent with parents about how your PTO plans to use the funds generated through your tattoo the teacher fundraiser, too. For example, “The more teacher tats we get, the more tech can we get for our classrooms”. When parents know exactly what their money is going to support, they’re more likely to jump in and participate.
Tattoo the teacher fundraiser pricing
We recommend having a variety of tattoo sizes, but not too many - think "small", "medium", and "large". This pricing tier has worked really well in other schools:
- Small tattoo...$1
- Medium tattoo...$3
- Large tattoo...$5
- Get creative and up the ante by offering special pricing for "half sleeve" (tattoos covering half an arm), "full sleeve" (tattoos covering a whole arm), along with face and neck tattoos!
Tattoo the teacher fundraiser tips
- Buy tattoos in bulk from reputable suppliers, like Amazon. We recommend going through tattoos ahead of time so that any designs deemed "not school appropriate" can get pulled out.
- Estimate how many of each size tattoo you think you'll need. While tattoos come in bulk at an affordable price, a good estimate is twenty tattoos per staff member, but order a little more than you think you’ll use. The good thing about using an order form (provided on our FREE Tattoo the Teacher Fundraiser Flyer) is families pay in advance for their tattoos, allowing your PTO to get an exact count on the number of tattoos needed before placing your order.
- Decide if you'll also have a “tattoo booth” on-site during school where students can purchase last-minute tattoos for teachers on the spot to up the ante. Make sure you order enough "extra" tattoos to cover on-the-spot ordering.
- Offer a prize for the teacher or staff member who gets the most tattoos! This makes the fundraiser even more exciting for students— and more successful for your PTO. Mrs. Bauwens from Franklin Elementary in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, was the school's most tattooed teacher during their fundraiser, with a total of 92 tattoos...wow!
- Tally up those tats: build momentum and excitement among students and families with a tattoo counter to track your "Tat Stats" (how many tattoo orders each teacher has received to date).
- On "Tat Day", organize a “tat-parade” around the school so that teachers can show off their tattoos! Post a reel or photos from your event on social media to keep families engaged. Remember to let families know how much your PTO was able to raise, and how funds will be used. And, of course...be sure to thank your teachers and staff for participating!
Applying teacher tattoos on "Tat Day"
- Promote "Tat Day" ahead of time to build up anticipation among teachers and students.
- Have parent volunteers or staff oversee the tattoo application. Teachers and staff can also apply tattoos themselves, of course, that's more comfortable for them. PTOs have recommended refillable roll-on water applicators like this set from Amazon to make it easy and quick to apply temporary tattoos. Other PTOs recommend purchasing a 2-pack of sponges (and cutting them in half and quarters) or these round sponges from Amazon, along with a few spray bottles from the dollar store for water (or a bowl). Be sure to have paper towels handy to wipe up any excess water. Some schools use natural unscented baby wipes to apply tattoos. Hold the wipe firmly in place for about 30 seconds (a little longer than you might with a wet paper towel), and be sure to avoid wipes with lotion or oils—those can interfere with the adhesive and make the tattoo lift.
- To remove temporary tattoos, simply use rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer on a cotton pad.
Free tattoo the teacher fundraiser flyer (with order form) and social media graphic
