25+ Fundraising Ideas for School Clubs

See how Fun Pasta Fundraising helped River Bluff High School’s DECA club raise over $9,000.

Let’s be real, school club fundraising isn’t what it used to be.

Parents are burned out. Volunteer lists are shrinking. And if your team is still pitching bake sales and wrapping paper, you’re probably hearing crickets. Whether you’re leading a robotics club, a drama troupe, or student council, one thing is clear: you need ideas that are easy to run, actually fun, and don’t require a full PTO to pull off.

That’s where this guide comes in.

We’ve pulled together 25+ student-powered, low-stress fundraising ideas that are:

•  Perfect for small teams or solo advisors
•  Easy to run with minimal time and zero event planning
•  Designed to boost participation with fun incentives and creative twists

No more chasing volunteers. No more planning carnivals. And definitely no more melting chocolate bars.

Just smart, creative fundraisers that help your club reach its goals, with the energy and leadership coming from the students themselves.

Let’s dive in.

Fundraising Ideas That Cost Nothing

Short on budget? No problem. These ideas are proof that you don’t need upfront cash to run a fun, effective fundraiser. All it takes is creativity, school spirit, and a few students ready to rally the crowd.

1. Penny Wars

This classic never fails. Each class collects pennies to earn points, but silver coins subtract from other teams’ totals, making it a fun mix of strategy and sabotage. It’s fast-paced, easy to launch, and highly competitive. All you need is a few jars and a school-wide announcement.

2. Read-a-Thons

Great for book clubs, literacy teams, or any school promoting reading. Students collect pledges for every minute or book they read. You can run it over a week or month and use a simple online tracker or Google Form to log hours. No materials required, and it encourages a lifelong skill.

3. Spirit Chain Contests

Sell strips of paper in school colors, each one represents a small donation. As students buy links, create a growing chain in a hallway or gym. It’s visual, exciting, and ideal for building momentum during Spirit Week or Homecoming.

4. Rent-a-Song Campaigns

Let students pay $1 to “rent” a song played over the PA during passing periods or lunchtime. It adds energy to the school day and gives students a creative way to support their club while sharing their favorite tunes.

5. Trivia Nights

Turn your cafeteria into a quiz show! Charge a small entry fee for teams to compete in a themed trivia night, pop culture, sports, school history, you name it. Bonus points if students create the questions and run the event. It’s engaging, inclusive, and completely scalable.

Fundraising Ideas That Work for Small Schools

Smaller schools don’t need to think small. In fact, tight-knit communities often show up big when fundraisers feel personal and fun. These ideas are easy to organize, scale beautifully, and deliver solid results, no giant student body required.

6. Board Game Night

Invite families, teachers, and students to bring their favorite board games and pay a small fee to play. Set up stations in the cafeteria or gym, offer light snacks, and let the games begin. It’s low-cost, community-driven, and perfect for all ages.

7. Spirit Days or No-Uniform Passes

In schools with strict dress codes, students love the chance to show off their style. Offer a $1–$2 donation day for students to wear themed outfits (like Pajama Day or Twin Day) or skip the uniform. It’s easy to run and guaranteed to get smiles, and support.

8. Student Photography Sessions

Put your yearbook or media club to work with mini photo sessions. Think: holiday portraits, themed backdrops, or pet-and-owner photo shoots. Charge a small sitting fee, and let students gain real-world skills while raising money for their club.

9. Popsicle Fridays

When the weather warms up, nothing beats a cold treat. Sell popsicles for $1 each during lunch or after school. No freezer? Use a cooler and rotate volunteers. It’s simple, quick to set up, and makes every Friday feel like a party.

Fundraisers That Empower Student Leaders

When students are in charge, everything changes. Energy goes up, ownership kicks in, and fundraisers feel less like “work” and more like something they’re genuinely proud of. These ideas aren’t just about raising money, they’re about building leadership, creativity, and school pride along the way.

10. Teacher vs. Student Games

Flip the script and turn gym class into a sellout event. Whether it’s basketball, volleyball, or even dodgeball, these playful matchups get a huge buzz. Sell tickets, offer snacks, and let students emcee or manage the scoreboard. It’s a fun, competitive way to fundraise, and students love seeing their teachers sweat.

11. Dance-a-Thons

All you need is a speaker, some lights, and a theme. Let students register individually or in teams, then dance for pledges by the minute or hour. Add prize categories like “Most Creative Moves” or “Best Group Costume” to keep the vibe high-energy. 

These events are especially great for student council or arts-focused clubs.

12. Escape Room Challenges

Perfect for middle or high school clubs, escape rooms turn ordinary classrooms into thrilling puzzle zones. Students design the clues and decorate the space, then charge for entry by team. You can rotate groups every 20–30 minutes to raise even more funds. 

It’s smart, interactive, and great for team-building.

13. T-Shirt Design Contests

Let students submit original designs for a club, event, or school-wide theme. Open voting to the school, then sell the winning design as spirit wear. It’s creative, collaborative, and turns students into marketers, they’ll want to promote (and wear) the design they helped bring to life.

Fresh Spins on Classic Fundraisers

Just because an idea is familiar doesn’t mean it has to feel tired. With a little creativity, you can breathe new life into traditional fundraisers and make them feel brand new again, without reinventing the wheel.

14. Candy Grams With a Twist

Instead of generic Valentine’s Day treats, offer custom candy grams with funny messages, inside jokes, or themed packaging. These work year-round, try spooky versions for Halloween or congratulatory ones for end-of-year celebrations. 

A few thoughtful touches go a long way.

15. Holiday Photo Booths

Ditch the traditional school photo and go for festive fun. Set up a themed backdrop, gather props (Santa hats, sunglasses, glitter boas, go wild), and charge for quick family or friend portraits. Great for yearbook, photography, or art clubs. Bonus points if students run the camera and edit photos themselves!

16. Used Book Sales

Got shelves full of gently loved books? Turn them into a literacy-friendly fundraiser. Encourage donations from teachers, students, and parents, then set up a “pay what you can” sale. It’s affordable, educational, and eco-friendly, plus, it gets more books into more hands.

17. Craft Fairs

Forget the bake sale. Let students tap into their creative side by making handmade cards, ornaments, jewelry, or painted bookmarks. Host a lunchtime market or weekend mini-fair where friends and family can shop one-of-a-kind creations. It’s a win-win: students express themselves, and your club earns every sale.

Fundraisers That Involve the Community

Sometimes your best supporters aren’t just inside the school, they’re right down the street. When you involve local businesses, neighbors, and families in your fundraiser, you open the door to bigger reach, more sales, and stronger community ties. These ideas make it easy.

18. Restaurant Nights

Partner with local restaurants or chains that offer give-back nights, where a percentage of each order goes to your club. All you have to do is promote the night through flyers, emails, or student-made videos. Families get dinner, your club gets dollars, it’s a win-win.

19. Local Coupon Books

Work with nearby businesses to gather exclusive discounts and bundle them into a printed or digital coupon book. Sell the books to students, staff, and local shoppers. It’s a great way to support small businesses while earning funds for your club.

20. Wishlist Fundraisers

Instead of collecting money, share a wishlist of needed supplies, like art materials, tech gear, or uniforms, and let donors “shop” directly for your club. Platforms like Amazon or Target registries work well, and local stores may even offer in-kind donations.

21. Community Rummage Sales

Ask families to donate gently used clothing, toys, and household items, then host a weekend sale at the school. Let students help price, sort, and run the tables. It’s budget-friendly, sustainable, and brings the whole community together.

The more visible and connected your fundraiser feels, the more people want to get involved. Don’t be afraid to reach out, you might be surprised how eager your community is to help.

 Online-Only Fundraisers That Work Anywhere

Not every fundraiser needs tables, schedules, or in-person events. Online fundraisers are perfect for busy schools, stretched-thin volunteers, and clubs with supporters spread out across town or across the country. These ideas take advantage of digital tools to make fundraising faster, simpler, and more effective.

22. Fun Pasta Online Sales

Every student gets a personal fundraising link they can share with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and family friends. Orders are placed online, products ship directly to buyers, and your club earns up to 50% profit, no paper forms, no in-person selling, no inventory to manage. Its fundraising made effortless.

23. Social Media Campaigns

Let students take the lead on a campaign challenge. Have them create short videos, Instagram stories, or TikTok videos explaining what your club is raising money for and why it matters. Add a call-to-action with your online link. 

It’s authentic, student-powered marketing, and it works.

24. Wishlist Drives

Share a curated list of specific items your club needs, like team gear, instruments, or supplies, and ask for direct support. Donors love knowing exactly where their money is going, and tools like Amazon Wishlists or DonorsChoose make giving easy with just a click.

Online fundraisers aren’t just a backup plan, they’re a smart first choice when flexibility and reach are key. You can launch them fast, run them from anywhere, and track every dollar in real time.

Fundraisers That Don’t Require a Volunteer Army

Not every school club has a deep bench of parents or volunteers, and that’s okay. Some of the best fundraisers are the ones designed for simplicity. These ideas work beautifully with just one or two helpers, so you can spend less time organizing and more time celebrating.

25. Student-Run Photo Shoots

Yearbook or photography clubs can offer themed mini-sessions, think prom portraits, pet pics, or cap-and-gown photos. Students handle setup, shooting, and editing. You only need one adult to oversee, making it an ideal hands-off fundraiser that builds real skills.

26. Merchandise Preorders

Offer club or school spirit wear like t-shirts, hoodies, or hats, without stocking inventory. Use simple order forms or a free online store to collect pre-orders, then submit one group order. Items arrive ready to hand out. Easy, organized, and clutter-free.

Whether you’re a one-person show or part of a small-but-mighty team, these fundraisers are designed to do the heavy lifting for you.

Low-Cost Incentives That Drive Big Results

You don’t need a big prize budget to spark student motivation. Sometimes the smallest rewards make the biggest impact, especially when they’re fun, creative, and tied to friendly competition. Here are a few incentive ideas that work for any fundraiser:

Pizza or Ice Cream Parties

The classics never fail. Reward the top-selling class or club with a pizza party or ice cream social. It’s affordable, exciting, and easy to coordinate, plus, it builds buzz for your next campaign.

Principal for a Day

Let the highest earner swap places with the principal for a morning or afternoon. They can sit at the desk, make an announcement, or even assign “no homework” (with permission, of course). It’s fun, free, and unforgettable.

No-Homework Passes

A single pass can create huge motivation. Offer no-homework coupons to top sellers or students who hit a personal goal. Teachers love them, students live for them, and they cost nothing to implement.

Shoutouts & Recognition Walls

Call out top participants in morning announcements, hang a leaderboard in the hallway, or post spotlight stories on social media. Recognition fuels participation, and gives every student a moment to shine.

Incentives don’t have to be expensive. When students feel seen, celebrated, and appreciated, they’ll come back eager to fundraise again.

Put the Fun in Fundraising

We’ve worked hard to build a system that makes fundraising simple, effective, and repeat-worthy. Our platform offers custom online links for every student, real-time tracking, and a seamless experience from kickoff to delivery. 

So if you’re tired of the same old fundraising struggles, and you’re ready to try something fun, smart, and different, we’re here to help you get started.