What Percentage Do Schools Get from Fundraisers?

Most schools earn 30–50% profit on product fundraisers. Programs offering up to 50% profit, with no hidden fees or minimums, deliver higher ROI with less hassle, making them a smart pick for schools aiming to raise more with less effort.

With shrinking budgets, fundraising is no longer a “nice to have.” From classroom supplies to field trips, music programs to sports gear, schools rely on fundraisers to close the funding gap. But not all fundraisers are created equal. 

If you’re wondering which options offer the highest returns with the least stress, you’re in the right place.

Below, we’ll break down typical school fundraising profits, explore the best high-ROI strategies, and share expert tips to help your next fundraiser go further, no matter your school size or budget.

What Percentage Do Schools Keep from Fundraisers?

When you’re selecting a fundraiser, the bottom line matters. One of the most important questions you can ask is: How much do we actually keep? The answer depends on the type of fundraiser you choose. Here’s a breakdown of the most common models and their typical profit margins.

Product-Based Fundraisers

This is the most familiar type of school fundraiser, think chocolates, wrapping paper, cookie dough, popcorn, and yes… pasta! These campaigns are convenient and family-friendly, often offering students the chance to sell items to neighbors, relatives, and friends.

On average, schools keep 30% to 50% of the total sales, depending on the vendor, product cost, and how the program is structured. Some companies charge additional shipping fees or require order minimums that can eat into your take-home earnings.

We believe in transparency and simplicity. That’s why we offer schools up to 50% profit, one of the highest margins in the industry. 

Online and Cash Donation Campaigns

Digital giving platforms like Donorbox or Classy are growing in popularity. 

These programs typically allow schools to retain 85–90% of donations after processing fees, which is a fantastic return, especially when paired with strong email campaigns or donation matching.

What’s more, monthly donor programs create predictable, long-term ROI by turning one-time givers into consistent supporters. Still, these campaigns work best when you have a wide digital reach and a clear mission that inspires recurring gifts.

Event-Based Fundraisers

From carnivals and auctions to restaurant nights and fun runs, event-based fundraising offers strong profit potential, often 60–80% after costs. But success here hinges on volunteer time, event planning skills, and upfront expenses (think permits, signage, food).

For schools with the capacity to host events, the returns can be fantastic. But for many smaller groups or teams with limited resources, product-based and hybrid models often provide the best mix of effort and earnings.

The Hidden Variables That Affect School Profit Margins

When schools evaluate a fundraiser, it’s easy to focus on the advertised profit percentage, whether it’s 30%, 40%, or 50%. But in our two decades of working with schools and groups across the country, we’ve learned that the actual outcome depends on several less-visible factors.

Participation Rates Make or Break Campaigns

Even a high-margin fundraiser won’t deliver strong results if only a handful of families take part. The difference between 30% and 80% student participation can be night and day, sometimes doubling your total earnings.

That’s why we give schools the tools they need to track participation easily, and we encourage leaders to keep goals simple, clear, and achievable. Whether it’s “sell five bags of pasta” or “share your link with 10 friends,” engagement starts with clarity.

Sales Channels Matter More Than You Think

Traditional catalog fundraisers come with their own charm, but they also come with paper forms, manual tracking, and added delivery logistics. On the other hand, digital platforms allow families to shop from anywhere, simplify sharing via text or email, and often reduce shipping and printing costs.

With Fun Pasta’s online-only option, schools avoid the logistics headache and still earn 50% profit. It’s especially helpful for families who prefer not to handle cash, or for schools with remote or hybrid populations.

Geography and Income Influence Outcomes

It’s a difficult truth: not all schools have the same fundraising potential. Wealthier districts can often raise thousands more per student than their lower-income counterparts, even for the same fundraiser. One district may suggest a “voluntary donation” of $2,000 per student, while others struggle to raise $20 per child.

Best Practices for Maximizing School Fundraiser Profit

A successful fundraiser is about how you run the campaign. After two decades of supporting schools and groups across the country, we’ve seen firsthand that small, strategic changes can lead to big financial wins.

If your goal is to keep more of the funds you raise, here are the practices we recommend most:

Choose High-Return, Shelf-Stable Products

Products that ship well, store easily, and appeal to a wide audience are the backbone of a great fundraiser. That’s why shelf-stable items like our fun-shaped pasta outperform things like frozen cookie dough or meltable chocolates. They’re easy to handle, affordable for families, and perfect for gifts or meal planning, no freezer required!

This is especially important for schools without access to refrigeration or who want to keep logistics stress-free.

Focus on Individual-Based Tracking

Tracking individual sales isn’t about pressure, it’s about motivation and fairness. Especially for band programs, sports teams, or schools raising money for student-specific goals (like travel or uniforms), having an individual dashboard gives each participant ownership of their progress.

Our platform makes this seamless by offering real-time tracking so students, parents, and group leaders know exactly where they stand.

Communicate Goals with Bite-Sized Updates

Donors are more likely to give (and give again) when they understand the why. Instead of one big fundraising blast, break your campaign into short, story-driven updates. For example:

• “We’re halfway to new science lab tables, only $2,000 to go!”
• “Every pasta purchase this week gets us closer to our field trip bus!”

This style of communication builds momentum and makes supporters feel part of something meaningful.

Thank Donors the Right Way

It sounds simple, but a thoughtful thank-you can double your donor retention. Many schools skip this step, or send a generic note. Instead, personalize your appreciation. Share photos of what the fundraiser achieved, mention student names when appropriate, and show donors the direct impact of their support.

We provide tools to help you do that, because gratitude is powerful, and every donor deserves to feel it.

Fundraising success isn’t about pushing harder, it’s about planning smarter. And when you combine high-margin products, clear goals, and real engagement, your fundraiser becomes a win for your entire school community.

Tips from Schools and Fundraising Consultants

After working with schools, PTO leaders, coaches, and volunteers over the past 20+ years, we’ve learned that the most successful fundraisers don’t happen by accident, they’re planned with intention. Whether it’s your first campaign or your fiftieth, here are some tried-and-true strategies from groups who consistently reach (and exceed) their goals.

Start Online Sales 2 Weeks Early to Build Momentum

One of the easiest ways to boost early engagement is to launch your online fundraiser ahead of your official kickoff. That gives families time to preview the products, share the link with relatives, and begin spreading the word before the first in-person announcement.

With Fun Pasta Fundraising, your group gets a personalized online storefront that can go live at any time, and we’ve seen huge success from teams that use a soft launch to prime participation.

Pre-Order Product Samples to Increase Buy-In

People are more likely to purchase something they’ve seen, touched, or tasted. By having a few product samples on hand, whether it’s pasta bags at a PTA table or samples during an open house, you give families a chance to engage physically with the product.

Even better? Kids get excited when they see shapes like footballs, dinosaurs, or music notes. That excitement is contagious, and it leads to stronger sales from the start.

Set Up Friendly Competitions by Grade or Classroom

You don’t need elaborate prizes or over-the-top gimmicks to inspire student participation. In fact, many of our partner schools have had incredible success by offering simple, team-based incentives:

• The class with the most sales gets a pajama day
• The top grade wins extra recess or a popcorn party
• Each participant who meets their goal gets a shoutout at the school assembly

With our platform’s built-in tracking tools, it’s easy to measure progress and keep the momentum going.

Choose Fundraisers With No Minimums or Upfront Costs

Too many fundraising companies lock schools into contracts that require product pre-purchases, inventory commitments, or minimum order quantities. That adds risk, and stress.

We believe in zero upfront costs and no minimums. Whether you raise $500 or $15,000, you only pay for what you sell, and you’ll keep up to 50% of the proceeds.

Every school is different, but the fundamentals of a successful fundraiser remain the same: start early, make it fun, and remove as many barriers as possible. We’re here to help you do exactly that, with support, tools, and products that work for your community.

Why Schools Choose Fun Pasta Fundraising Again and Again

At the heart of every successful fundraiser isn’t just what you sell, it’s how you make people feel. When schools choose transparent, joyful, and community-driven programs, they don’t just raise money, they raise confidence, connection, and lasting support.

That’s why so many schools return to Fun Pasta Fundraising year after year. With a 50% profit guarantee, fun-shaped products families actually want, and tools that simplify every step, we make it easy to run a fundraiser your school community will love.

Let’s turn fundraising from a chore into a celebration. Request free info today and see how easy, and fun, it can be to make your next campaign your best one yet.