20 Halloween Fundraisers For Schools | Unique & Effective

Let’s be honest, planning a school fundraiser can feel like herding cats while juggling pumpkins. Between busy parents, tight budgets, and the eternal volunteer shortage, it’s no wonder so many leaders feel burned out before the first flier even goes home. 

That’s exactly why Halloween might just be your secret weapon.

The season hits at just the right time: early enough in the school year to spark momentum, but far enough in that families are ready to connect. It’s festive, fun, and already on everyone’s radar, so instead of creating buzz from scratch, you’re tapping into a moment the whole community’s excited about.

Creative & Inclusive Halloween Fundraising Ideas for Schools

When it comes to Halloween fundraisers, we always tell schools: don’t overthink it, just lean into what families already love. The magic happens when you mix a little fall flair with activities that bring people together, no matter their budget, background, or costume collection. Here are a few ideas I personally love because they’re fun, doable, and make every student feel like they belong.

1. Pumpkin Patch with a Twist

Nothing says fall like pumpkins, but your patch doesn’t have to be a full-blown festival. Buy pumpkins in bulk from a local farm or supplier and create a mini pumpkin patch right on school grounds. Add simple but charming touches: ring toss games, photo props, or a mini hay bale maze. Parents and kids can stroll through, sip warm apple cider, and pick their favorite gourd to take home.

Want to keep it inclusive?

Offer “suggested donation” pricing so families can contribute what they’re able. Trust me, flexibility makes all the difference, and often inspires more generosity, not less.

2. Haunted Hallway (Not a Full House!)

If a haunted house sounds like too much, scale it back to a haunted hallway. Choose one section of the school, like a gym entrance or breezeway, and decorate it with age-appropriate spookiness. Dim the lights, cue the eerie music, and recruit some older students (or brave parents) to play the ghostly hosts.

Bonus tip: Create “scarometer” signs, like green for silly, yellow for spooky, and red for scary, so kids can choose how spooked they want to be. It’s a simple, scalable idea that works with just a handful of volunteers.

3. Bingo (With a Halloween Costume Spin)

Combine a family bingo night with Halloween costumes, spooky prizes, and a pizza dinner. Print themed cards, hand out fun prizes like glow sticks or treat bags, and encourage everyone (kids and grownups) to show up in costume. 

4. Book Character Costume Parade + Swap

Let’s face it: costumes can get pricey. This idea makes Halloween fun without making it exclusive. Host a parade where kids dress up as their favorite book characters, think Harry Potter, Fancy Nancy, or even The Very Hungry Caterpillar. It ties perfectly into literacy goals and takes the pressure off buying elaborate costumes.

Want to take it a step further? Pair it with a book swap. 

Ask families to donate gently used children’s books, then set up tables where students can “shop” for a new read, for free. It’s budget-friendly, screen-free, and builds school pride one story at a time.

Halloween Fundraisers Without Candy (Or Meltdowns!)

Not every family wants more sugar, especially around Halloween. That’s why we love brainstorming fundraisers that are festive but don’t rely on sweets. These ideas are fun, food-based, and way easier to manage than frozen cookie dough or melting chocolate. Plus, they’re healthier, allergy-friendly, and way more memorable.

5. Pumpkin Spice Latte Workshop (For Parents!)

This is such a fun way to bring your school community together, especially during those chilly October mornings. Host a PSL workshop where parents can learn to make their own version of the fall favorite. You can offer this before school drop-off, during a fall festival, or even at a teacher appreciation night.

Set up tasting stations with cinnamon, whipped cream, oat milk, go all in. Sell custom mugs, charge a small entry fee, and offer bonus treats for donations. It’s the kind of event that gets people talking and returning year after year. And let’s be honest… parents deserve a little fall magic too!

6. Spooky Snack Stand (Healthy Edition)

Not every Halloween snack has to be loaded with sugar. Set up a spooky snack stand during pickup or recess with creative, allergy-conscious treats like:

• Fruit “monsters” made from bananas and googly eyes
• Trail mix “witch bags” in themed baggies

You can even let older students help prep and run the stand as part of a service project. It’s classroom-safe, super visual (hello, Instagram!) and a great option when you want to keep it simple and snackable.

High-Participation, Low-Pressure Ideas

In our years of working with schools, we’ve seen one big truth: the best fundraisers make everyone feel welcome. Not just the high sellers or the families who can give big, but every student, every classroom, every parent. These three Halloween ideas are light on pressure, full of fun, and totally budget-flexible. If you’re looking for high participation without the stress, these are for you.

7. Read-a-Thon with a Creepy Twist

This one is a classic for a reason, but with a Halloween makeover, it gets a whole new level of excitement. Instead of just tallying reading minutes, theme it around spooky (but age-appropriate) stories. Think Goosebumps, Room on the Broom, or Coraline, depending on the grade.

You can also make donations optional. 

Instead of rewarding the biggest earners, offer small prizes or recognition for participation milestones, like “first 30 minutes read” or “spookiest reading spot photo.” This keeps it inclusive for Title 1 schools or families who may not be able to contribute money but can contribute time and effort.

Reading builds confidence. Pairing it with a theme builds community. That’s a win-win.

8. Decorate-a-Door Contest

Every classroom gets to showcase their creativity, and you get a fun school-wide visual event and fundraiser in one. Each class decorates their door with a Halloween theme, spiders, ghosts, pumpkins, you name it. Then, let the school community vote by dropping $1 into that class’s “door fund.”

Not only does this raise money, but it builds friendly competition and gives kids a sense of pride in their shared space. Teachers love it because it’s low effort with big payoff, and families love seeing their child’s creativity on display when they visit the school.

Don’t forget to snap photos of the doors and share them on your school’s social media. (Yes, that helps with voting and visibility!)

9. Costume Coin Drive

This one’s as easy as it gets, and it’s always a hit. Each grade picks a costume theme, like “Decades Day,” “Famous Characters,” or “DIY Monsters.” On costume day, students (and staff!) come dressed up and drop coins in labeled jars for categories like “Funniest,” “Scariest,” or “Most Original.”

It’s affordable, just spare change, and gets everyone involved. No fancy costumes required, and the focus is on fun, not cost. We’ve even seen schools award hand-drawn certificates for the winners to keep it completely cost-free.

Minimal setup. Maximum giggles. And no one feels left out. That’s our kind of fundraiser.

Halloween Events That Raise Money (and School Spirit)

When schools ask us how to create fundraisers that also strengthen the community, this is where we point them. These Halloween events aren’t just about raising dollars, they’re about building connection, creating memories, and reminding families why they love being part of your school. And let us tell you, when you combine school pride with seasonal fun, the results are magical.

10. Witch’s Brew Tasting Night

This one’s an instant fall favorite for parents and staff alike. Set up a cozy tasting station featuring warm fall drinks, think hot chocolate, apple cider, pumpkin punch, even mocktails with spooky garnishes. Offer “tasting tickets” that guests can purchase at the door or in advance.

It’s a fundraiser that doubles as a parent social, and schools love how easy it is to pull together. 

Decorate the tables, pop on a fall playlist, and you’ve got an inviting atmosphere that feels like a treat. Plus, it’s perfect for weekday evenings or after a school concert or conference night.

Want to take it up a notch? Partner with local coffee shops to donate a signature drink and showcase their brand.

11. Spooky Movie Night (Family-Friendly)

You don’t need a projector in the park to create movie night magic, just your gym, cafeteria, or multipurpose room. Pick a family-friendly Halloween film (Hotel Transylvania or It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown are always a hit), and invite families to bring blankets, bean bags, and little siblings along.

Sell popcorn, glowsticks, or even raffle tickets for a Halloween-themed basket. This is one of the easiest events to scale depending on your volunteer crew and budget, and it’s weather-proof, which is a huge win when planning fall events.

12. Scavenger Hunt with School Lore

Here’s a brilliant way to engage older students and families: a Halloween scavenger hunt built around your school’s history, staff, and traditions. Create spooky or silly clues that send kids around campus (or even the surrounding neighborhood, with supervision), solving riddles and checking off themed challenges.

Make it personal by weaving in trivia about beloved teachers, your mascot’s origin story, or fun school facts. You can charge team entry fees and award small prizes for completion, or raffle off a grand prize for those who finish.

It’s active, educational, and packed with school pride. And when older students get involved, the younger ones follow their lead.

Interactive and Artistic Fundraiser Ideas

Some of our favorite fundraisers are the ones that let kids create something they’re proud of. And when you give students a chance to express themselves through art, stories, and imagination, it’s not just a fundraiser, it’s a memory. These Halloween ideas let students shine, parents engage, and schools raise funds in meaningful, low-pressure ways.

13. Pumpkin Carving + Photo Contest

Not every school has the space (or energy) for an on-campus pumpkin carving event, and that’s totally okay. This version is perfect for busy families and remote-friendly setups. Kids (and parents!) carve pumpkins at home, snap a photo, and submit it for a school-wide contest.

Want to drive up participation? Add a staff category, you’d be surprised how competitive teachers get when there’s a prize on the line! Let families vote online for categories like “Silliest,” “Spookiest,” and “Most Creative.” It’s festive, fun, and incredibly easy to organize.

No space? No problem. This idea works entirely virtually, which makes it great for schools dealing with weather uncertainty or limited facilities.

14. Halloween Art Auction

Let your students become the featured artists in your school’s own “Fall Fright Gallery.” Have each class or grade level submit Halloween-themed art pieces, paintings, drawings, collages, and host an auction for families to bid on their child’s work.

If your community includes remote or working families, create a digital gallery on your school website or fundraising platform. You can even include short bios or quotes from each artist. Parents love buying meaningful keepsakes, and kids light up knowing their creations are valued.

It’s a beautiful blend of creativity and fundraising, and all it takes is some art supplies and a little imagination.

15. Halloween Story Contest

If you’re trying to build a love of reading and writing and raise money? This one’s a must. Invite students to write short spooky stories, ghost tales, magical adventures, even monster mysteries, and submit them for a school-wide contest.

Compile the winning entries into a printed booklet or PDF and offer it for sale to families. You can even include an option for donations if the booklet is distributed digitally. Bonus: let teachers or staff record a dramatic reading of the winning stories and post the videos for families to enjoy.

It’s inclusive, educational, and a perfect fit for schools that want to emphasize enrichment without extra costs.

Fundraisers That Don’t Require Many Volunteers

Let’s address one of the biggest challenges schools face today: not enough hands on deck. We hear it all the time from PTO leaders,

“We want to do something fun, but we only have a couple of parents who can help.” Sound familiar?

The good news?

You can still run incredibly successful Halloween fundraisers with a small but mighty team. Here are three low-lift ideas that deliver high results, even if you’re short on volunteers.

16. Online-Only Pasta Fundraiser

This one is an absolute lifesaver, and yes, I’m a little biased, but We’ve seen it work wonders.

With Fun Pasta Fundraising, you can run your entire campaign online. We give your school a custom link where families can shop Halloween-themed pasta (or any of our bestsellers), and we track each student’s sales automatically. 

If you’re low on bandwidth but still want to hit your goals, this is your no-brainer solution.