Fundraising as a school

Schools play a vital role in our work, and the generosity of pupils and teachers has helped us to transform the lives of people across the world. There are lots of different ways you can fundraise as a school, help change the lives of some of the poorest people in the world, and have great fun doing it.

Ready to get inspired? Here’s our A-Z list of school-friendly fundraising ideas, followed by a few quick tips to help you reach those fundraising goals!

Fundraising ideas for schools

A – Arts and crafts sale

Paint, draw or sculpt and sell your homemade masterpieces.

B – Bingo

Host a family bingo night at the school. Charge a small entry fee and offer donated prizes for winners.

C – Cake sale

From cookies to cupcakes, everyone loves a sweet treat. Invite your classmates and their families to contribute their favourite bakes and let the delicious fun begin.

D – Danceathon

Turn up the music and let everyone show off their best moves! Whether it’s a lunchtime dance party or an after-school disco, this is a fun and energetic way to raise funds.

E – Exercise challenge

Get fit and raise money. Challenge your school a monthly challenge to walk a set amount of steps or have a competition to do the most star jumps, burpees pull-ups. 

F – Fancy dress

Dress up as your favourite cartoon character or superhero, all in the name of a good cause. 

G – Games night

Host a board game tournament or video game competition. Charge an entry fee and offer a prize for the winner.

H – Harvest Festival

Organise a harvest festival themed fundraiser. Host a harvest raffle with donations provided by friends or family.

I – Ice cream sale

Who doesn’t love an ice cream on a sunny day? Watch as the students (and teachers) come running!

J – Jumble sale

Get families involved by donating toys, books and other items for a school jumble sale. It’s a great way to recycle and find treasures while raising money.

K – Karaoke contest

Turn the classroom into a stage! Find out who has the best voice and the best dance moves. 

L – Learn a new skill

Combine fundraising with learning something new. It could be learning to play a musical instrument, taking up a new sport or learning a foreign language. 

M – Movie night

Set up a projector, grab some popcorn and host a movie screening in the school hall. Entry fees and money raised from selling snacks can help raise funds while giving everyone a fun night out.

N – Nature walk

Plan a sponsored walk through a local park or nature trail. How about a competition to see who can spot the most wildlife?

O – Obstacle course

Create a fun obstacle course on the school field and let students pay to enter. Add silly challenges and a friendly competition for a day of action-packed fun.

P – Penalty shootout

Find out who is the deadliest striker from the penalty spot. 

Q – Quiz night

Who doesn’t love a bit of trivia? Put your friends (and teachers!) to the test on your chosen subjects. 

R – Read-a-thon

Encourage a love of reading with a sponsored read-a-thon. Get sponsored based on how many books or chapters they read over a set period.

S – Sports day fundraiser

Get the whole school involved with fun challenges like the egg-and-spoon race or three-legged races. 

T – Table tennis tournament

Find out who is the master with a tennis table paddle and raise money by paying to enter. 

U – Ugly jumper day 

Charge a fee for students to wear their favourite (or not!) ugly sweaters. 

V – Variety show

Everyone has a hidden talent! Let students show off their skills on stage while spectators pay a small entry fee to watch the fun.

W – Winter wonderland fair

Get your school into the festive season by hosting a winter fair with festive themed games, crafts and snacks.

X – X marks the spot (Treasure hunt)

Organise a treasure hunt around the school grounds. Charge a small entry fee and hide fun prizes for students to find.

Y – Yoga class

Host a yoga class for some relaxation and mindfulness while raising funds.

Z – Zumba class 

Host a zumba class in the school gym and charge an entry fee.

Tips for successful school fundraising

If you’re planning to fundraise at your school, here are a few tips that might help you on your way.

Set a goal

Have a clear idea of what you’re raising funds for and share this with everyone involved. People love knowing what they’re working toward!

Follow the guidelines

Depending on your fundraising activity, there may be important rules you’ll need to follow. For example, if you are planning to hold a raffle or tombola, then there are rules around betting; or if you’re serving or preparing food, you’ll need to look at food hygiene regulations.

If you need any advice, then SCIAF will be delighted to help. We can advise on what rules you’ll need to follow, as well as providing fundraising materials like a donation bucket or fundraising pack. Just let us know what you’re planning. 

Get everyone involved

The more the merrier. If your activity is taking place outside of school hours, see if you can get more people involved. If it’s a bake sale, auction or movie night, why not invite families and the local community to either help or come along? 

Keep it fun

Fundraising shouldn’t feel like a chore. The most important thing is making sure everyone has fun; don’t worry too much about reaching perfection - just enjoy the process.

Use an online fundraising platforms

Online platforms such as JustGiving are perfect for making fundraising accessible by allowing family, friends and the local community to contribute. For schools, this makes it easier to share updates, track progress and celebrate each milestone.

Share your success

Celebrate your fundraising achievements, whether it’s on the school’s website, social media, newsletter or fundraising platform. Celebrate even the small wins and thank everyone who took part!