Fundraising Ideas for Teachers

School fundraising is something that can happen across the year. Whether you’re a teacher experiencing budget cuts, wanting to raise money to take your students on a field trip, or want to help pay for an extracurricular activity, we’re here to help you fundraise for it! Keep reading for some of our favorite teacher fundraising ideas.

Fundraising Ideas for Teachers:

1. Restaurant Fundraiser: Restaurant fundraisers are one of the best options for teachers and schools wanting to host an easy and successful fundraiser. We have great kids meal options with real ingredients as well as other meals that the whole family can enjoy! Chipotle fundraisers give back 25% of event sales, subject to achieving a minimum of $150 in fundraiser sales, and are easy to set up and host. If your supporters want a convenient ordering option, we offer a digital option where they are able to place their order online or in the app for pickup by using the unique fundraiser code. To host your next fundraiser with Chipotle, apply here.
2. Screens Away Challenge: Since so much time is spent on electronics, challenge your students to put the screens down and spend time outdoors with an off the screen challenge. Parents will love this challenge and students can be sponsored by friends and family to spend time away from their devices. Create excitement around the idea that students can compete against one another in a friendly and beneficial way.
3. School Book: Put together a school book for your teacher fundraiser. Whether you want this to be a picture book or work with a teacher, parent or student to write a storyline, this is a fun and unique teacher fundraising idea. Students can work as the book’s illustrators and can even put their heads together to come up with the story and title. Ask supporters to pre-order the book so you know how many to print. Try to work with a printer to donate their service or give you a discounted price to print your books. Another option is to put together a cookbook where each student shares their favorite family recipe and the book can be broken into sections for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert.
4. Raffle: Sell raffle tickets for the chance to win fun prizes that the whole family can enjoy. Ask around to local businesses to donate those prizes for your classroom’s fundraiser. Make it fun and create incentives for your students, including lunch off campus with a friend or extra recess time.
5. Service Day: Ask around within your community for individuals who would like to “hire” your students for different tasks. This can include mowing lawns, walking dogs, and babysitting. All tasks will be completed in exchange for a donation to your fundraiser. While this type of activity requires keeping safety in mind, this can be a great way to get your school and class involved in the community and helping others.
6. Pancake Breakfast: Work together with the school cafeteria or other teachers to host a pancake breakfast in the cafeteria or gym. Students, teachers and staff can purchase a ticket for a delicious breakfast before school starts.
7. Fun Run: Organize a fun run or walk for your students. Help them reach out to friends and family to receive pledges for their participation by donating a certain dollar amount to your fundraiser. Make this a fun event with music, snacks, and even games at the finish line.
8. Class Competition: Hosting any sort of competition is a hit with students. Either challenge other teachers and their students or create a competition between grade levels to raise the most amount of money. The students who raise the most can win a pizza party, movie day, or anything else that will get them excited.
9. Hat Day: An easy teacher fundraising idea to host any day of the school week. Make sure the school administration is on board and charge students to wear a hat to school. This requires little work to plan and can raise money quickly for your fundraiser. Encourage the teachers to participate, too, and let them rock their favorite cap.

Here’s a list of more successful school fundraising ideas to use for your teacher fundraiser. Check out the rest of our resource posts to help you plan your next fundraising event.