Fundraising Ideas for
School PTAs and PTOs
School Fundraiser
Examples
BEST PRACTICE: Fun Run hosted by
a Boise elementary school
Let’s Move! Boise is dedicated to helping kids live healthier lifestyles by engaging them in fitness
and wellness activities. Schools are the best way to reach kids and encourage them to move more.
Here are ideas for parents and school staff members to pursue fundraising initiatives that involve physical
activity for kids.
Kid-Centric Fundraiser Events
• S
eparate Grades: K–3rd grade, and
4th–6th grade
• C
reate school spirit shirts and sold
sponsorships for logo placement
on shirts
Dodge Ball Find a gym, then set the
competitors: teachers vs administrators,
or parents vs. kids. Balls are available for
purchase by competitors.
• S
tudents who raise the most
donations win prizes and the class
with the most donations wins a prize
Car Wash Pre-sale tickets to a school car
wash, powered by kids. Find a convenient
location and prepare for a plan B for inclement
weather.
Keys To Success
Jump-Rope-A-Thon Good for cold weather days and
similar to the fun run concept.
• Select two events to focus on for a
year and do them well rather than
try to tackle four or more events
Dance Marathon Get a DJ and have some fun
dancing with school friends.
• Refrain from sending kids out for
door-to-door sales
Field Day Host a day of field events such as a fun run, an
obstacle course, and tug-of-war. Include a teacher-student
competition.
• Define a goal for funds raised and
select a project/program that will
benefit from the proceeds
PJ Parade Fluffy slippers and flannel pants are fun to wear
to school. Turn the PJ Parade into an opportunity of giving.
Students, staff and teachers donate or gather $5 donations
to earn the right to wear PJs to school. Students can then
vote for a charity of choice to share the funds. This could be
an animal shelter, zoo, or children’s charitable organization.
• K
ids gather pledges for how
many laps they can run/walk in
15 minutes
• C
reate a “track” in the school yard
with cones
Bowling Night Kids set a goal for how many
pins they can knock down within one game.
They collect a penny per pin knocked down.
Or, set a Bowling Night open to all school
families and charge admission.
Jog-A-Thon or Fun Run Students can collect pledges for
laps run or a basic donation toward their efforts.
• A
nnual Event – first year proceeds
were $10,000 and second year
proceeds were $3,000
• Communicate with parents and
involve them in activities
• Involve community partners, find
collaborating organizations
Get Moving with existing Community Activities
FitOne Walking Challenge – Engage your school in this week-long walking challenge.
Kids track how many miles they walk and the school calculates the percentage of
participation. Learn more at: www.letsmoveboise.com
Harrison Classic Kids Run – Form a school team to participate in this annual fall event.
Create team shirts and gather donations, for completing this one-mile run.
An annual event sponsored by the Treasure Valley YMCA this fun run is an event for
the whole family. Learn more at: www.ymcatvidaho.org/runs/harrison-classic-kids-run
Capitol Classic – Open to kids ages 6 to 14, of ALL abilities. The one-mile course starts
at the historic Boise Train Depot and ends at the State Capitol. Proceeds benefit children’s
health at Saint Alphonsus. Learn more at: www.saintalphonsus.org/capitol-classic
The information contained within this flyer are all movement-based fundraising ideas. Therefore, this meets the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids
Act of 2010 directed by the USDA and the Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.
BEST PRACTICE: Jog-A-Thon hosted
by a Boise elementary school
• Annual Event - raises $15,000 or more
• Jog-a-Thon is held during school hours
• K
ids run/walk for 20 minutes, as
many laps around the school as they
can (donation is not based on laps).
• P
ost-race, every racer gets a water
bottle and a healthy snack.
• T
he class with the best average of
money raised per child receives a
special prize
• S
ponsor Prizes: Two pairs of tennis
shoes are awarded: one pair for a
student participant, drawn randomly;
the second is for the child that makes
the most laps. • J og-a-Thon shirts created with
sponsors. The shirts bring in an
additional $2,000 for the day.
• C
ommunication with school staff,
parents and students is essential and
helps build excitement. Every student
takes home an informational packet
two weeks before event. Thank You
letters are sent out to sponsors,
volunteers, etc.
• E arly solicitation and communication
with sponsors helps create a
community event.
To discover other healthy fundraising ideas for schools, visit Alliance for a Healthier Generation: http://bit.ly/HealthySchoolFundraising
www.letsmoveboise.com