Ways to Raise
Fun Ways to Raise Money for Your School, Team or Club
The best fundraisers don't feel like fundraisers. They feel like a treat, a night out, or a game everyone's talking about. FUNraiser gives your group one place to run any of these — or several at once — with every dollar landing in one live total. Here are the formats groups love most.
1. Sweet treats & products
The classic for a reason: families buy something they wanted anyway, and your group keeps the profit. Candy jars, snacks and seasonal gifts sell themselves at games, pickup lines and events. Sell on the spot with a cash and carry fundraiser, take orders online through each seller's personal page, or both. See our product programs.
- •Best for: any group, any season
- •Effort: low — the product does the talking
- •Fun factor: kids love selling something people actually want
2. Tickets & events
Movie night on the field, a talent show, a pancake breakfast, a family game night — sell entry to something fun and the fundraiser becomes a memory. Events are also the easiest way to bring the whole school or league together in one evening.
- •Best for: schools, PTAs, leagues and churches with a space to gather
- •Effort: medium — you're hosting, but the payoff is community
- •Fun factor: the event IS the reward
3. Games & contests
Guess how many candies are in the giant jar. Trivia night. A "principal gets slimed if we hit the goal" challenge. Games create buzz that lasts all week, and they pair perfectly with a treat sale — every jar bought comes with a guess. Keep entries tied to something people are already buying or make them free, and check your local rules for prize games.
- •Best for: classrooms, teams and clubs that want energy
- •Effort: low — one jar, one sheet, one winner
- •Fun factor: highest of all
4. Direct donations
Some families and local businesses just want to give. FUNraiser welcomes direct donations right alongside your products and events, so nobody has to choose between "buy something" and "support us." One page, every way to help.
- •Best for: reaching grandparents, alumni and local sponsors
- •Effort: lowest
- •Fun factor: the fun is in what it funds
5. Mix and match
Most groups do best when they combine formats: a two-week candy sale, a movie night at the end, and a guess-the-jar contest running the whole time. FUNraiser tracks all of it on one fundraiser page with one live total, so every seller, parent and coach can see the goal getting closer.
Not sure which to pick?
Start with the one your group can pull off this month, then add a second format once you see the total moving. Use the free fundraising profit calculator to set a realistic goal, and read our step-by-step guide to starting a fundraiser.
Ready to make fundraising fun?
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Fun fundraising FAQ
What's the easiest fun fundraiser for a school?
A sweet-treat sale at pickup or a game, especially cash and carry, is the easiest to run — no order forms, and it's done the day your event ends.
Can we run more than one type of fundraiser at once?
Yes. Many groups run a product sale, an event and a contest together, all tracked on one fundraiser page with one total.
Can families just donate instead of buying something?
Yes. Direct donations are always available alongside products and events.
Are guessing games and contests okay to run?
Guessing games tied to a purchase or offered free are a popular, low-risk format. Rules for prize games vary by state and city, so check with your school or local office before you run one with paid entry.
How much can a fun fundraiser raise?
It depends on your group size, format and how actively you promote it. Use our free fundraising profit calculator to estimate your total.