Every school needs a little (or a lot) of extra cash. Whether it’s to support trips to museums, theatre workshops or a new climbing frame, the parent-teacher association can raise thousands. Many fundraising activities aren’t too strenuous—from event ideas to websites that give you cash back, we’ve created a list to put your school PTA in the black.
1. Easyfundraising.com
Most people shop online and this site makes it super easy to raise funds. Parents sign up (they can even download an optional donation reminder), and a percentage of every purchase they make goes to your school. With retailers including M&S, John Lewis, Argos and Amazon participating, let the pounds roll in.
2. Disco night
What kid doesn’t love to dance the night away—okay, the early evening away. Get a parent or two who want to relive their glory days as a DJ to donate their time, and all you need is the hall of your school and a semi-decent sound system. Come on and get down!
3. Art exhibition
As part of their art class in school, children create glorious paintings or drawings, usually with a theme (self-portrait, still life, landscape). The art is framed and put up in an exhibition in the school and then parents can buy the masterpiece. Even the most ‘abstract’ painting is a work of art when mounted in a lovely frame.
4. Quiz night
Put those brains to the test! For the adult version add some wine; for the kiddie version juice will do. Everyone pays to play.
5. Organised Mum/Boxclever Press
Never miss a birthday again with Organised Mum! Sell their great products and receive up to 40% back to your PTA.
organised-mum.co.uk/Fundraising-sp-15.html
6. School sleepover/campout
Pack a sleeping bag and let the headteacher/volunteering parents host a Saturday night at school with an evening of movies, popcorn and games. Or if you’ve got the outdoor space, everyone brings tents for a campout. A popular fundraiser—tickets always sell out.
7. Gift wrap for sale
Northbrook Fundraising supply gift wrap that gives back—a good one for the Christmas fair.
8. School haircuts
If there’s a hairdresser at the school ask them to donate an afternoon of cuts at the summer fair with all proceeds going to the school. Local salons might also be interested for the promo!
9. Pamper night
Contact local beauticians for a day of pampering for the mums. Most are willing to do it for a flat fee with the remaining profits going to the school.
10. Stamptastic
With all school uniforms and gear needing to be labeled, Stamptastic make the job easy—no more sewing or ironing. And they make the fundraising easy too: send out the leaflets in bookbags or via school email and your registered PTA gets 20 to 30% kickback on all purchases.
stamptastic.co.uk/pages/fundraising
11. School calendar
With so many dates to remember, a school calendar for the year is ideal. Create a theme, whether it’s photographs of the kids or artwork created by different classes. The calendars can be sold at the Christmas fair just in time for the new year ahead.
createcalendars.co.uk/fundraising
12. Talent shows
Forget Britain’s Got Talent—your school has talent! Nothing is as cute or funny as watching the kids ham it up. Friends and family pay on the door and everyone has a great time.
13. Movie night
Once a term, turn the school into a cinema. Make some popcorn and watch a classic.
14. School cookbook
Collect all those yummy dishes the kids have been making all year or that parents have donated to various events and create a school cookbook. Blurb make great books, plus you can order on demand.
15. Abel & Cole boxes
Each week, the school is supplied with bags of freshly harvested organic fruit and vegetables. The bags are excellent value and prices start at an accessible £6.50. The school receives 25% of the price of every bag sold.
abelandcole.co.uk/content/pdf/FC-starter-book-new.pdf
16. Micro scooters
Sign your school up to receive 10% of sales (in scooters or money—you choose). Find out more
17. Skills raffle
Are any of the parents in school plumbers, electricians, gardeners, designers? Parents can buy raffle tickets for a skill prize—you might finally get that ceiling lamp installed or room painted, all for the cost of a raffle ticket.
18. Cake sale
Tried and tasted. It works and everyone has a great time. Either weekly or monthly, parents and/or kids bake cakes and cookies and sell them after school. You’d be surprised how much a weekly cake sale can make.
19. Sainsburys Gift cards
The scheme is pretty simple: sign up your PTA and purchase gift cards at a discounted rate. Then sell the gift cards to parents at full price and the difference goes directly into the PTA coffers.
sainsburysbusinessdirect.co.uk/fundraising.htm
20. 50-50 Lottery
Parents buy £1 lottery tickets (as many as they like!), usually on a monthly subscription or ‘membership’ basis. Every month there’s a draw and the winner gets half the lottery takings. Fun, gentle gambling for a good cause.
