The crisp air, changing leaves, and excitement of a new school year make fall the perfect season for schools to kickstart their fundraising efforts. With creative Events and Activities, schools can engage students, parents, and the community while meeting financial goals.
In this blog, we’ll explore 25 fun and profitable fall fundraising ideas for schools of all types to make the most of this festive season.
1. Pumpkin decorating contest
Students can get creative decorating pumpkins for a contest judged online. Charge entry fees and encourage votes through donations.
2. Virtual Halloween party
Host a virtual Halloween party with games, costume contests, haunted house tours, and more for a ticket price.
3. Apple orchard field trips
Coordinate with a local apple orchard to organize a community field trip with a portion of ticket sales donated.
4. Chili cook-offs
Faculty and parents can enter their favorite chili into a cook-off event with taste testing and prizes. Charge entry fees.
5. Holiday shopping Events
Organize a holiday shopping bazaar featuring gifts and crafts from local businesses. Earn a commission on sales.
6. Pie baking Auctions
Auction off homemade pies and baked goods right before Thanksgiving.
7. Turkey Trot 5K run
Organize a Turkey Trot 5K run/walk and charge registration fees to participate.
8. Football tailgate parties
Host tailgate parties at home football games with food trucks, activities, and spirit gear for sale.
9. Fall festivals
Organize a fall festival on campus with carnival games, contests, food, music, and crafts to raise money.
10. Corn maze field trips
Plan a trip to a local corn maze and negotiate for a portion of ticket sales to be donated.
11. Halloween grams
Students can buy Halloween grams including candy and notes delivered during school.
12. Pumpkin launching contests
Students build devices to launch pumpkins for distance and accuracy in a fun competition.
13. Bonfire nights
Host bonfire nights with food trucks, music, games and charge admission for an evening of fall fun.
14. Leaf raking service days
Students offer leaf raking services to neighbors for donations.
15. Soup cook-offs
Enter your best soup into a cook-off contest with tastings and prizes for all skill levels.
16. Haunted house
Transform your school into a haunted house and charge admission for those brave enough to enter!
17. Fall craft fairs
Rent vendor booths to crafters and artisans for a holiday craft fair. Earn a commission on sales.
18. Harvest festival
Celebrate the Fall harvest with food, games, contests and activities for the community.
19. Apple bake Sale
Sell homemade apple pies, treats, and cider around fall flavors.
20. Pumpkin painting Auction
Paint pumpkins in creative designs and Auction them off.
21. Scarecrow making contest
Competing classes create their own themed scarecrow masterpiece for votes.
22. Rake-A-Thon
Students get pledges for raking leaves and yards to support their fundraising goal.
23. Fall family photo sessions
Offer seasonal family photo sessions with a portion of sales as a donation.
24. Halloween Raffle
Raffle off gift baskets, gift cards, and treats for the Halloween season.
25. Thanksgiving pie Sale
Sell homemade pies for Thanksgiving feasts as a delicious fundraiser.
6 Fundraising Success Tips
- Promote on social media and in email newsletters leading up to the Event.
- Engage your supporters with Peer-to-Peer fundraising
- Send fundraising progress updates to keep momentum going.
- Offer fun incentives for top student fundraisers.
- Have students make short videos to promote Events.
- Give online donation options for out-of-town supporters.
Learn more about how to launch the most successful school fundraisers in this blog. It breaks down everything you need to know when it comes to running school fundraisers, online, in-person or both!
Take your school fundraising online
While these creative ideas are key, bringing any fundraiser fully online makes the process easier and more profitable. Finding top online fundraising solutions like RallyUp will help you do just that! RallyUp provides a complete platform designed just for school fundraising. It is jam-packed with all the bells and fundraising whistles you need to get your school community wanting more fundraisers (and then more!)
RallyUp offers more ways to raise funds than any other fundraising solution out there. It is easy to navigate, fun to customize and makes your fundraising management a dream! Visit RallyUp to unlock the benefits of online fundraising and take your fall campaigns to the next level.
