Elementary School Fundraising Ideas

26 Elementary School Fundraisers

It’s important to pick the right fundraiser for your elementary school. Some important questions to ask are: How much money do you need to raise? How many elementary school students will you have participating in your school fundraiser?

Before we continue please go ahead and click the image below for a FREE SAMPLE  of the most popular elementary school fundraisers

Top 3 Fundraising Ideas For Elementary Schools

1. Discount Card Fundraiser

One of the most popular elementary school fundraisers we have seen this year has been the Discount Card Fundraiser. ABC Fundraising® has recently created a discount card fundraiser that is completely turn-key for your elementary school.

Instead of having to spend your time trying to get local vendors for your discount card, ABC Fundraising® will actually do all that for you at absolutely no extra charge!

The only thing you will need to do is brainstorm a list of local stores and then put them down on the merchant wish list that we supply for you. Next, simply Fax the wish list in or email it and ABC Fundraising® will secure the merchants in your area for your discount card.  Fundraising ideas for elementary school fundraisers have never been THIS easy before.

You can now focus your energy on generating excitement about the discount cards and then sharing that excitement with your other group members.

You should easily be able to sell the ABC Fundraising® discount cards to friends, neighbors, family, and people all over the community. In fact the average student can sell 10 cards each.

Many elementary schools have had great success with selling their discount cards at a local community event, a farmers market, school sporting events, grocery stores or an event related to the cause. You can even sell out all of your cards in a couple of hours at the right type of event.  Don’t worry – you can always order more ABC Fundraising discount cards at any time in the future. Remember, the more discount cards you sell, the higher your profit with this easy fundraiser for elementary schools.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Cookie Dough Fundraiser

Supporters get excited when their delicious tubs of gourmet cookie dough arrive and they often wish that they had ordered more! It’s easy to get started right away with a cookie dough fundraiser from ABC Fundraising®.

To get started you can print out the cookie dough order taking forms for either the pre-portioned dough or the actual tubs right from our website to your home printer. Then you can take those to your friends, family and supporters.

Did you know that you can even email them to supporters and they can call and let you know what they want. ABC Fundraising® has made our cookie dough fundraiser the most profitable cookie dough fundraiser available. You can earn up to 80% profit for your elementary school. Take advantage of our special bonuses to raise even more money.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Pretzel Fundraiser 

To start your fundraiser simply call ABC Fundraising® at 888.212.1344 or use our ONLINE ORDER FORM In addition to pretzels, your supporters can buy delicious CINNABON® kits to make their own yummy treats at home. You should encourage them to order more to give out as gifts – they definitely won’t be sorry they did.

Fundraising ideas for elementary school fundraisers are only successful if you and your group members make them successful. It is totally up to you to motivate and generate excitement for  your group and to get everyone involved in raising as much money as possible for your middle school.

More Great Elementary School Fundraisers

4. Car Wash

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $800
Cost To Get Started? $50
Popularity: √√√√

When the weather is good, a car wash fundraiser is an easy-to-do elementary school fundraiser with very little start-up costs.

Here’s how it works:

1. Have members of the team each bring a bucket, some rags, soap, and a good attitude.
2. Ask a local market, restaurant, or gas station to let you run your cash wash at their parking lot.
3. Publicize your car wash in advance, with a huge boost on the day of the event, so you have a steady stream of cars coming through.
4. You can either collect donations or charge a flat fee for the car wash.

Make sure to schedule your car wash fundraiser strategically. For example, a warm Saturday in the middle of the summer is likely to be more successful than a rainy Wednesday in the wintertime.

Learn more here.

5. Bake Sale

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $300
Cost To Get Started? $20
Who is it for? Elementary Schools
Popularity: √√√

Grab the flour, eggs, milk, and mixer because—it’s time for a bake sale! This is one of our favorite fundraisers for elementary schools looking to raise a bit of money for their cause.

Here’s how it works:

1. Purchase the ingredients you need to make your favorite sugary snacks and recipes.
2. Get a group together to bake and decorate cookies, cakes, cupcakes, and more.
3. Set up a table in a well-trafficked area in your community with a sign describing what you’re raising money for.
4. Invite friends, family, and neighbors to check out your bake sale and buy a snack or two.

To make the most out of your bake sale, try to be original and bake fun and unique cakes, breads, or cupcakes. And don’t forget to decorate them, too! Plus, you can make your bake sale accessible to all by adding in some gluten-free, vegan, and/or sugarless options for individuals who might have a dietary restriction.

Learn more here.

6. Email Donation Requests

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $1,300
Cost To Get Started? NONE
Who is it for? Elementary Schools
Popularity: √√

Email donation requests are a quick and easy way to raise money using basic technology for a myriad of causes.

Here’s how it works:

1. Make a list of supporters, family members, friends, colleagues, neighbors who might be willing to support your campaign.
2. Send a brief description of your fundraising need and detailed instructions for how to give (i.e. a link to an online donation form or an address that gifts can be dropped off/mailed to) via email.
3. Supporters make a donation to your fundraising campaign.

If you have a ton of contacts to email, you can leverage email automation software to send out mass messages at once. Just remember to tweak each email so that it’s personalized to each recipient!

Learn more here.

7. Fundraising Letters

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $4,300

Cost To Get Started? $20
Who is it for? Elementary Schools
Popularity: √√√

When it’s time to raise money, many nonprofits turn to the tried-and-true method of the fundraising letter. This is something that can be done on an annual, semi-annual, or more regular schedule to maximize supporter engagement and overall fundraising revenue.

Here’s how it works:

1. Draft a basic letter template that can be used to solicit donations from supporters.
2. Be very descriptive as to what your organization is raising money for. For example, are you planning an expansion into new countries? Are you raising money for a trip or a new office?
3. Ask for a specific donation with a concrete impact (i.e. “please donate $50 to feed a family in need for one week”).

Fundraising letters are effective because your supporters want to hear from you, and in this day and age of email and text communication, a personalized fundraising letter is a great way to get attention for your cause.

Learn more here.

8. Grants

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $2,300
Cost To Get Started? NONE
Who is it for? Elementary Schools
Popularity: √√

One of the best ways to find funding for your nonprofit is through the use of grants. These are large sums of money provided to nonprofits and other charitable organizations, generally for a specific purpose in mind.

Here’s how it works:

1. Research grant-giving organizations that are offering funding to nonprofits like yours.
2. Submit a proposal to the organization that positions your nonprofit as the best possible recipient of the funding.

Governments, corporations, and foundations offer a myriad of generous grants to nonprofits that meet certain criteria. More than likely, there’s a grant out there for you—you just need to know where to look.

Learn more here.

9. Book Sale

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $700
Cost To Get Started? $50
Who is it for? Elementary Schools
Popularity: √√√√

Everyone has some old books lying around that they don’t plan on reading, right? Instead of just collecting dust, why not turn those books into funds for your nonprofit organization. A book sale or a rummage sale is an inexpensive way to raise money for your Elementary school.

Here’s how it works:

1. Start by asking all of your members to collect books from their homes as well as from their friends and families. Each member should try to collect at least 30 books.
2. Price them for a fair amount (or accept sliding donations) and make your book sale a fun event.

For even better results, you can pair this fundraising idea with a community bake sale! Sell refreshments and treats, and you should do very well with this exciting combination fundraiser.

Learn more here.

10. Phone-a-Thon

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $10,000
Cost To Get Started? NONE
Popularity: √√√

Perhaps the easiest way to raise money quickly is by asking for donations during a phone-a-thon fundraiser. When done right, this can be a fantastic way to garner support for any cause.

Here’s how it works:

1. Divide your contact list of supporters by the number of fundraising volunteers who are willing to make calls.
2. Come up with a basic script describing the background behind your fundraiser and what you’re raising money for.
3. Start making calls and asking supporters to contribute to your phone-a-thon fundraiser.

Be prepared to spend a few days making calls to your supporters and donors. Some larger elementary schools

will subcontract this work to a call center to speed things up, but you’ll need to be prepared to pay a percentage of donations if you choose to outsource your calls.

Learn more here.

11. Coin-in-a-Can

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $700
Cost To Get Started? NONE
Popularity: √√√

Many stores will allow nonprofits to place a can by their cash register to collect coins and other change. This is great for collecting money passively and easily, although you’re not likely to raise a ton of money this way.

Here’s how it works:

1. Partner with local businesses and restaurants to place cans by their cash register.
2. Include a simple sign with the cans that explains what you’re raising money for.
3. Be sure to have someone on your fundraising team in charge of collecting the money each month or on a semi-monthly basis depending on how much money is being deposited.

If you can get a local franchise to place a can at all their stores in your area, your nonprofit could raise a lot of funds fairly quickly. You might be surprised at how often people will donate their loose change just because there’s a can there!

Learn more here.

12. Car Donation

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $11,000
Cost To Get Started? NONE
Popularity: √√√

For a tax write-off, some people like to donate their used car to a charity they love. There are many organizations that accept car donations, and these individuals will be able to write off the value of the car on their tax returns.

Here’s how it works:

1. Register with a company like Car Donation Wizard who will handle the donation process for you. However, you’ll need to be prepared to pay as much as 50% of the value the company can get for the car.
2. Encourage your supporters to consider donating an old car to your organization (and remember to emphasize the significant tax benefits!).

As a nonprofit, it’s a good idea to consider this fundraising idea if you think you might have supporters willing to donate their old vehicles.

Learn more here.

 

13. Teacher or Principal Challenge

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $1,700
Cost To Get Started? NONE
Popularity: √√√

Hosting a teacher or principal challenge is a great way to motivate students to raise money on behalf of your Elementary School.

Here’s how it works:

1. Set a lofty yet realistic fundraising goal for your team—and a time frame to complete it in.
2. Choose an embarrassing or funny challenge (i.e. dunk tank, kiss a pig, etc.) that a favorite teacher or principal will agree to do if the fundraising goal is met.
3. Encourage your students to collect donations from family and friends.
4. Once the goal has been met, have the teacher or principal complete the challenge for everyone to watch.

You can even host this type of fundraiser alongside one of our favorite product fundraisers. Then, instead of your fundraising goal being a dollar amount of donations, you can seek to hit a certain number of product orders.

Learn more here.

14. Auction Fundraiser

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $4,500
Cost To Get Started? $100
Popularity: √√√√

Charity auctions are popular fundraisers for all sorts of fundraising organizations—including elementary schools!

Here’s how it works:

1. Gather items that supporters will bid on (student-made artwork works well for this).
2. Invite supporters and community members to browse your offerings and bid on the ones they like (either live or silent auction-style).
3. Check out, collect payments, and distribute items to winners.

Auctions have a unique advantage over the typical charity auction because you have an existing base of support (parents, family members, alumni, etc.) that will be more than happy to participate in your fundraising event.

Learn more here.

15. Calendar Fundraiser

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $900
Cost To Get Started? $50
Popularity: √√

A calendar fundraiser works especially well toward the beginning of a new year—meaning January or August, depending on how you look at it. Then, buyers will have a beautiful new calendar they’ll be able to make use of all year long.

Here’s how it works:

1. Collect high-quality photos (one for each month) to compile into a custom-made calendar.
2. Order your calendars from a printing company or fundraising-specific platform.
3. Sell custom calendars to supporters, community members, families, and friends.

To add an extra layer of fun, you can hold a contest leading up to the fundraiser in which students can submit their favorite photos or artwork to be featured in the calendar!

Learn more here.

16. Recipe Book

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $800
Cost To Get Started? $50
Popularity: √√

A recipe book fundraiser is a fantastic way to raise money for any group or organization, including schools.

Here’s how it works:

1. Collect favorite recipes from students and their families.
2. Compile recipes into a single book and organize by category.
3. Sell your unique recipe book to families, friends, supporters, and community members.

This fundraiser is popular because in the end, you’ll have an extremely unique product that you can’t buy just anywhere. Students and families will love having the opportunity to try out their classmates’ favorite recipes and perhaps discover a new favorite food.

Learn more here.

17. Game Tournaments

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $1,300
Cost To Get Started? $100
Popularity: √√√

A game tournament is an engaging fundraising event that leverages the power of gamification to maximize fundraising revenue.

Here’s how it works:

1. Gather a group of eager and competitive players and exciting games (board games, card games, video games, etc.).
2. Charge a small fee for participants who would like to enter the tournament, and secure an exciting prize for the winner (our suggestion is branded merchandise).
3. Allow participants to play their favorite games until you’ve narrowed it down to a single winner.

This exciting fundraiser provides participants with an opportunity to showcase their gaming skills while raising money for a cause they care about. Plus, everyone will be vying for first place (even if the only prize is bragging rights).

Learn more here.

18. Gift Card Fundraiser

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $2,100+
Cost To Get Started? $200
Who is it for? Elementary schools
Popularity: √√

A great fundraising idea for elementary schools! This works especially well during the holiday season when people are buying gifts for their friends and loved ones.

Here’s how it works:

1. Team up with a fundraising company like Fundscrip who will supply discounted gift cards for your club or organization to resell.
2. Receive your discounted gift cards and start selling them at full price to families, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and your overall community.
3. The difference between the discounted price you pay and the price you resell the gift cards for is your profit.

When you buy these gift cards upfront in bulk, you can receive significant discounts on the face value. More than likely you’ll be able to earn an average of 10% profit on each gift card. It’s a super easy fundraiser, and it’s a way for your supporters to contribute by purchasing something they can get good use from.

Learn more here.

19. Gift Wrap Fundraiser

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $3,100
Cost To Get Started? $100
Popularity: √√

Another great fundraising idea to consider running leading into the holiday season is a gift-wrapping fundraiser.

Here’s how it works:

1. Find a great location with a lot of foot traffic and advertise your gift wrapping services to everyone in your local area. You might even want to contact local shopping centers and see if they’d be willing to let you set up your gift-wrapping station there.
2. You can charge a small fee for each item wrapped or work off of tips/donations.

Make sure your volunteers have plenty of gift-wrapping experience, as you’ll raise more money when people are happy with their beautifully wrapped gifts.

Learn more here.

20. Sponsorship Banner

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $1,100+
Cost To Get Started? $50
Popularity: √√√

A sponsorship banner is a fantastic way to leverage community relationships with local businesses and organizations.

Here’s how it works:

1. Contact local businesses (either businesses that you have existing relationships with or ones that you are interested in building relationships with) and propose a potential sponsorship.
2. Offer them a banner on your website and a physical banner at a high traffic location such as a school in response to a certain donation amount.

This is an easy fundraising idea for clubs to run because you’ll only need a few volunteers to make calls to local businesses or visit them in person to sell your banner sponsorship. Plus, it strengthens existing corporate relationships and paves the way for future partnership opportunities as well.

Learn more here.

21. Cell Phone Fundraiser

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $4,300
Cost To Get Started? $20
Popularity: √√√

Many elementary schools are turning to cell phone recycling fundraisers to raise a ton of money without having to ask for financial contributions from supporters.

Here’s how it works:

1. Set up a date to run your fundraiser and advertise your cell phone recycling initiative for about a month.
2. Place flyers on people’s doorsteps, on telephone poles, and at stores and coffee shops.
3. Collect old cell phones from members and supporters that are no longer in use.

The more places you advertise your fundraiser, the more phones your club will collect and therefore the more money you’ll be able to raise. The best phones to collect are iPhones and Samsungs, as you’ll be able to turn these phones into a company like ecoATM that will pay you a surprisingly high amount of money for each phone.

Learn more here.

22. Ink Cartridge Fundraiser

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $4,300
Cost To Get Started? $20
Popularity: √√√

This next fundraising idea, in a similar fashion to the cell phone recycling fundraiser, is the ink cartridge recycling fundraiser. You can run this fundraiser the same way you would run the cell phone fundraiser, or even host these simultaneously.

Here’s how it works:

1. Gather outdated and/or used-up inkjet printer cartridges and toner cartridges.
2. Encourage friends, family members, neighbors, and colleagues to donate their old cartridges as well.
3. Place bulletins all over the community to inform individuals within the neighborhood to know exactly where they can drop their old items off.

Some elementary schools have been able to raise thousands of dollars by partnering with recycling organizations for this easy and practical fundraising idea. This can easily end up being a long-term fundraiser, where funds can be gathered year-round and set aside for upcoming group fundraisers.

Learn more here.

23. Rummage Sale

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $1,000
Cost To Get Started? $30
Who is it for? Elementary Schools
Popularity: √√√

Having a lawn or rummage sale is a relatively easy method to raise some of the funds you require for the successful operation of your day-to-day activities.

Here’s how it works:

1. Encourage participants to contribute items they no longer make use of such as quilts, apparel, home furniture, or electronics.
2. Host your rummage sale on a gorgeous weekend morning in a well-trafficked area of your community.
3. Sell items at reasonable prices, making sure your shoppers know their payments are going toward a good cause.

Your supporters will not only be happy to help your group by buying some items, but they will also appreciate the opportunity to explore an exciting rummage sale in their community.

Learn more here.

24. Raffle

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $1,500
Cost To Get Started? $100
Popularity: √√√

A raffle is a popular fundraiser for elementary school students —and for good reason. Your supporters will love to partake, and they have the potential to bring in substantial fundraising revenue for your team.

Here’s how it works:

1. Collect items and experiences (i.e. free hot air balloon ride, all-expense-paid vacation) that you think your supporters will want.
2. Sell tickets for a small price (typically a dollar or two), and encourage supporters to purchase tickets for the items they’d like. The more tickets they purchase, the more chances they have of winning.
3. Pull a winning ticket for each item, inform the winner, and provide them with their prize.

The better your raffle items are, the more your supporters will be willing to pay for tickets. The more people buy your tickets, the more you raise for your school!

Learn more here.

25. Casino Night

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $1,700
Cost To Get Started? $300
Popularity: √√√

If you’re looking for a unique and engaging fundraising event, you might consider hosting a themed event with Casino-style gaming.

Here’s how it works:

1. Set up poker tables, card games, roulette, and more.
2. Invite your supporters to show up for an exciting night at your DIY casino.
3. Raise money by charging for drinks at a bar, event admission, or for chips to play various games.

While this elementart school fundraising idea has the potential to raise a ton of money for your school, it’s a good idea to double-check your state’s gambling regulations to make sure you’re not inadvertently breaking any laws.

Learn more here.

26. Pancake Breakfast

Average Fundraising Amount Raised: $3,700
Cost To Get Started? $50
Popularity: √√√

A cheap and popular event for all sorts of causes and groups is a pancake breakfast fundraiser.

Here’s how it works:

1. Enlist a group of your members to be the chefs and servers at your pancake breakfast.
2. Purchase some cheap pancake ingredients and supplies in bulk.
3. Invite friends, family members, and supporters to attend your pancake breakfast.
4. Charge an admission fee or accept rolling donations from attendees.

To maximize your profits, you can buy a ready-made mix like Krusteaz at a big box store so all that you have to do is add is water and cook your pancakes.

Learn more here.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

About ABC Fundraising®

 

ABC Fundraising® provides dozens of Unique Fundraising Ideas with Ultra High Profit! Whether you’re looking for School Fundraisers, Church Fundraisers, Youth Sports Fundraisers or Non-Profit Fundraising Ideas, ABC Fundraising® can help your group raise money fast! We’re constantly developing new and unique fundraising products that can help our clients earn the Highest Profit Possible in the fundraising industry.

Did You Know That You Can Earn Up To 97% Profit With ABC Fundraising®?

ABC Fundraising® offers Fundraisers for all types of Youth Sports Teams including Soccer Teams, Cheerleaders, Baseball and Basketball Teams, High Schools Sports Teams, Football Leagues, Dance Team Fundraisers & More!

Since 1993 our Youth Sports Club Fundraising Ideas, and Non-Profit Fundraisers have helped groups of all shapes and sizes raise over 10 million dollars. Our High Profit School Fundraising Ideas have helped over 30,000 schools raise over 30 million dollars and our Church Fundraising Ideas, have helped over 10,000 Churches all across the US Raise Over 10 Million Dollars!

Try one of our High Profit Fundraising Ideas today and see why thousands of groups all across the United States choose ABC Fundraising® for all of their fundraising events!

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Request your FREE FUNDRAISING INFO-KIT Now, And Receive It Within 1 Week!

About the ABC Fundraising® FREE INFO-KIT:

The ABC Fundraising® FREE INFO-KIT provides information on the top fundraising programs available in the United States today. With over 60 years of combined fundraising experience, our team members hand-pick only the most profitable fundraising ideas which are time-tested and we’ve placed them in our 16 page full color catalog for you to browse through to determine which fundraiser is best for your group.

ABC Fundraising® Has Fundraising Ideas With Up To 97% Profit & No Money Up Front!

YOUR FREE FUNDRAISING INFO-KIT will include answers to Frequently Asked Questions, about our easy fund raisers which include The Scratch & Help® Scratch Card Fundraiser, our brand new Cookie Dough Fundraiser with up to 80% Profit as well as Spinners®, the World’s First Re-Usable Fundraiser with up to 97% Profit & No Money Up Front. You will also receive a sample of the ABC Fundraising Card®, which is the most profitable Discount Card Fundraiser in the country with up to 93% Profit!

The FREE INFO-KIT is sent via the US Postal Service and comes in a standard 6×9 envelope and arrives within 1 week.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Our fund raising programs have been specifically designed to bring in a huge profit for your School, Youth Sports Team, Church or Non-Profit Organization! No matter what type of group you have, if you need to raise money, ABC Fundraising® is bound to have a fundraising idea that is perfect for your organization.

We work with Elementary Schools that have thousands of students participating in our fundraisers and we also work with small groups fundraising with as little as 1-10 participants.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________