As every parent knows, fundraisers are a part of life. However, when a school hosts the same fundraiser yearly, people may not want to participate. Neighbors may close their doors and pretend they aren’t home to avoid buying anything, and grandparents and other loved ones might not answer the phone. Why not mix things up this year? Try the following creative fundraisers to get people excited.
Goodsearch
Parents want elementary school fundraisers that they can easily participate in. Memorial bricks are popular because they can buy a brick, choose the inscription, and be done. However, schools need cash coming in regularly. Why not supplement a memorial brick fundraiser with an ongoing event? Goodsearch allows parents to buy things they plan to, and the school earns money from these purchases. It’s like Amazon Smile but offers a variety of shopping sites. School fundraising is simplified with the help of this site.
Electronics Recycling
Every family has one or more electronic devices in the home that don’t work. Turn these items into cash for the school with the help of EcoPhones. While each device brings in very little, the money adds up.
50/50 Raffle
The school should consider holding a 50/50 raffle whenever it hosts an event. People buy tickets hoping to win half the money collected in the raffle, and the school keeps the other half.
Trivia Night.
Have a trivia night and charge a small entry fee. Ask for donations from businesses as prizes and let families compete against one another for these items. Another option is to have parents go against students. Sell snacks and earn more money.
Used Book Sale
Kids look forward to book sales, but parents often dread them. Host a used book sale to help parents save money while buying new books for their children. Have families bring in books their children no longer read and host the sale. Charge little for the books because any money made is profit.
Mini-Golf
Partner with a local business for a friendly mini-golf competition. The school advertises a family-friendly event, and the partner provides a percentage of the profits. This type of competition is much easier to set up than a complete tournament, and anyone can participate, even those who have never played a round of golf.
Principal for a Day
Schools may host a raffle every month. Students pay to enter the raffle, and the winner becomes principal for a day. Kids love to swap roles with school leaders, which is an easy way to raise money. Parents can encourage their children to do household chores to raise funds and buy additional tickets so everyone wins.
Family Photo Day
Partner with a professional photographer to host a family photo day. The photographer donates their time in exchange for free advertising, and families get mini-photo sessions. The pictures are shared digitally rather than printed, so the family chooses which they want. The photographer only needs to donate their time and backdrops for the photos.
Paint Tiles
Anyone who has been in a school knows how ugly the ceiling tiles are. Dress them up while raising money for the school. Allow families to buy a tile and decorate it as they please. This fundraiser brings in cash while beautifying the school.
Meal Fundraiser
Everyone knows how stressful certain times of the year can be. While kids love the first day of school, parents know the paperwork that comes home that day can be overwhelming. To simplify dinner on stressful nights, sell cold sandwiches. Families can order sandwiches a week before, and children bring them home on the designated day. The school raises money, and parents don’t need to cook.
These are only a few of the countless fundraisers ideal for elementary schools. Every school needs to find ones that work for its families. When they do, parents will no longer dread participating, and participation will increase. The school benefits from the extra funds, which are always appreciated.
