Best Fall Fundraisers for Kids

We believe that fundraising should always be fun, especially when kids are involved in the event. If you’re looking for fun ways for kids to raise funds, keep reading for 14 fundraising ideas for kids.

1. Restaurant fundraiser: Restaurant fundraisers are a great fundraising option for kids and families wanting to host an easy and successful fundraiser. Chipotle has great kids meal options with real ingredients and meals that can be enjoyed by the whole family! Chipotle fundraisers give back 25% of event sales, subject to achieving a minimum of $150 in fundraiser sales, and are easy to set up for hosts. Chipotle now offers a digital option where supporters 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. Field Day: This is a fun option with nice weather. With proper approvals, a school’s or public field can be a great place to set up games like bean bag races, egg tosses, and water balloon fights. Field Days can be hosted on a weekend to bring in more family participation, or hosted after school for students. Parents can volunteer to help set up and referee the games. 
3. Read-A-Thon: Read-a-thon fundraisers are a great way to encourage students to continue reading throughout the year. Teachers often like to use read-a-thons during seasonal breaks to keep students engaged in reading books. For help on how to host a Read-A-Thon fundraiser, click here.
4. Raffle: Local businesses can be a great resource to collect items for a raffle. You can host a raffle with your kids on or offline, but don’t forget to comply with any laws in your state regarding conduct of a sweepstakes promotion.
5. Carnival: In the summer months, a carnival can drive a lot of participation and buzz in the community. Booths for face painting, balloon animals, and other carnival games are all activities loved by the kids. 
6. T-Shirt Fundraiser: T-shirt sales are great fundraisers for kids. T-shirt fundraisers are fairly easy to execute, such as by partnering with companies like Bonfire who make designing shirts quick and easy while using their platform to fundraise for causes.  Hosts need to be sure to check into any sales tax collection requirements.
7. Scavenger Hunt: Kids and families will love participating in this event and raising money for a great cause! You can organize a scavenger hunt with teams or individuals, and partner with local shops and restaurants. For some inspiration and tips for your next event, click here to read an example of a successful scavenger hunt fundraiser. 
8. Talent Show: This event is a fun opportunity for kids to celebrate their talents! Talent show planning can take a lot of time, but students will love showcasing their talents with the school. The show can be an after-school event for the whole family, or if approved by the school administration, can be hosted as an assembly during the school day. Teachers or members of the community can be the judges.
9. Family Photo Day: A local photographer who will discount their services can be a great partner to help your fundraiser. An ideal time for family photo day is before the holidays so families have pictures to send out in their next holiday cards.
10. Shoe Drive: You can collect gently worn, used and new shoes from members of the school and community. Once you have the items, donate the shoes to an organization like this one and receive a check for the donated shoes. To learn more about how it works, click here.
11. Bake Sale: This can be a school-wide event or more specific to classrooms. Students and parents can bring in treats to the school and all proceeds will go towards your elementary school fundraiser.  Remember to keep food safety top of mind for the event.
12. 5K: This is a popular outdoor fundraising idea. You can work with the city to close streets or paths for people to run/walk during the duration of the race. Promote your outdoor fundraiser ahead of time by making a Facebook event.
13. Rubber Duck Race: This can be a fun and unique kids’ fundraiser for the whole family. For a small fee, supporters can “sponsor” a certain amount of ducks for a chance to win a larger prize. You can find a river to empty all the ducks into and watch them race to the finish line. 
14. Hat Day: An easy fundraiser to execute and one that students love is a hat day! You can plan a day that all students can wear a hat to school if they pay the “admission fee.” 

We hope this list helped you decide on your next fundraiser for kids and got you excited for the fun to come. If you’re ready to host your next fundraiser with Chipotle, apply here.