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Nearly 60 Years of PTA & PTO Fundraising

Fundraising Ideas for School

Fundraisingzone has helped thousands of schools raise money for nearly 60 years. There are no platform fees or subscription costs eating into what you earn. Your group keeps up to 50% of everything raised. Choose the format that fits your school: Catalog Only, our Online App, or a Hybrid of both.

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$25 MillionRaised for Schools
The Fundraisingzone difference

Why Choose Fundraisingzone For a School Fundraising Idea

Keep More of What You Raise

With no platform fees and no subscriptions, your group keeps up to 50% of every sale. More of your fundraiser goes straight to your school, not to overhead.

60 Years of School Fundraising Experience

We've spent nearly 60 years working specifically with school groups.

Flexible Programs to Fit Your Group

Choose between Catalog Only, our Online App, or a Hybrid of both, and boost participation with a built-in student prize program that keeps kids motivated to sell.

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Trusted by schools & parent groups nationwide

The Academy of Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church
Trinity Christian School
Thomas Page Academy
Tri-Star Career Compact
South Lewis Middle School
Passos Avante Preschool
Los Fresnos CISD Liberty Memorial Middle Band
Je-Neir Elementary School
Jackson Avenue School
Iber Holmes Gove Middle School
Har-Bur Middle School
Emmanuel Children Mission
Del Rio Elementary School
Butterfly Garden Learning Center
Brenda's School of Dance
Boys & Girls Club of Palacios
Western Academy Charter School
West Iron County Public School
Vivian Fowler CEW National Elementary Honor Society
Union Grove Elementary School
The Academy of Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church
A knight in armor with a "Crusaders" sword and shield stands on a black and blue background, symbolizing strong fundraising solutions.
Circular logo for Thomas Page Academy, blue background, yellow and black tiger, "Home of the Tigers"—ideal for fundraiser catalogs.
Tri Star Career Compact logo with "Star" as a bold five-pointed star between "Tri" and "Star," illustrating unique fundraising success.
South Lewis Middle School
Passos Avante Preschool
Los Fresnos CISD_Liberty Memorial Middle Band
Je-Neir Elementary School
Jackson Avenue School
Iber Holmes Gove Middle School

Fundraising Made Easy For 5,000+ School Groups

Ran a cookie dough fundraiser for my recreation softball team. The Fundraising Zone staff was super helpful and knowledgeable, and we ended up raising over $5,000 for our uniforms and travel, which surpassed our goal! I was pleasantly surprised, and we are definitely going to run this fundraiser every year.

AB Allyson BrooksVerified Google review

The best fundraising company our school has worked with in a while. They shipped the catalogs and order forms quickly, then sent extras when we needed more than anticipated. … We made a good amount of profit on our sales in comparison to other companies that offer similar items. Highly recommend and will use for many future fundraisers.

CB Carla BonerVerified Google review

Fundraising zone is great to work with and makes it all so easy! This is the third year I have worked with them for the Winter Wonderland fundraiser. Joe is quick to respond and went out of his way to help us through the process. They send out everything we needed, including social media uploads. The parents all love the wrapping paper, both for being two-sided and high quality.

RM Round MountainVerified Google review

I have used Fundraising Zone to do fundraisers for my dance & music studio. We typically do the Winter Wonderland and the Happy Spring fundraisers, and these have always been great experiences. … It's super convenient to have both the online and paper order forms, and the organizer can track the online sales. 10/10 would definitely recommend!

JL Jamie LatuszekVerified Google review

This company is great to work with, we have done three fundraisers with them and I would recommend them to anyone. Their staff is courteous and quick to respond, and answer all my questions. They offer a wide range of products and quickly ship once the order is placed. Highly recommend!

DM Danell MorrisonVerified Google review

Fun Fundraising Ideas for School

Below are the most popular fundraising ideas for schools. At Fundraisingzone, we offer catalogs (hard copies and digital copies via the app) for each of these top-performing categories, so your group can raise more and work less.

Tips for Starting Your School Fundraiser

1

Define your fundraising goal: Know the exact dollar amount you need and how it connects to a school priority.

2

Decide how much time your team can commit: Map out who will distribute materials, track orders, and oversee delivery.

3

Confirm your approval process: Check guidelines for handling money, sending home materials, and collecting orders.

4

Identify your audience and communication plan: Use your school's existing channels (like classroom folders, email, or an app) since families are far more likely to participate when the ask feels familiar and easy to find.

5

Set your fundraising calendar: Choose a window that avoids testing weeks, holiday breaks, and heavy school events.

6

Assign clear roles: Decide who will be your fundraiser lead, who handles teacher communication, and who manages order pickup day.

7

Understand your school's limitations: Know whether your school can store large shipments, handle after-school pickup, or provide enough volunteers.

Speak with a Fundraising Expert
Volunteer team at a fundraising event
Fundraisingzone Success Story
$20,000+
raised across three campaigns

Toni Pierce, fundraising sponsor for the Congress Elementary School PTO, has partnered with Fundraisingzone for nearly two years. Leading a group of about 180 students, she's run three campaigns to date — Winter Wonderland, Snackin' in the USA, and Pop Daddy — raising more than $20,000 in total sales.

Winter Wonderland Snackin' in the USA Pop Daddy

How It Works

Getting started is simple, and your group stays in control of the format, timeline, and how funds get used.

1

Sign Up

Get started on our website, and a Fundraisingzone team member will reach out to learn about your group's goals and timeline.

2

Choose Your Format

Pick Catalog Only, our Online App, or a Hybrid of both. With the Online App, participants create a profile and share their personal store link via text, email, or social media — no printed order forms required.

3

Launch Your Campaign

Run your sale over a focused 2 to 3-week window while we handle brochures, reporting, and ordering support.

4

Raise Your Funds

Collect your proceeds and keep up to 50% of every sale, with no upfront inventory risk.

Get Your Free Kit Now

Frequently Asked Questions

A school fundraiser is a structured initiative designed to raise money for educational needs that fall outside a school's core operating budget. These efforts are typically organized by PTOs or PTAs, booster clubs, teachers, or administrators and are intended to directly support students, classrooms, or school-wide programs.

Some schools invite students to sell tickets for a raffle or partner with local businesses for sponsorships. However, often the most effective fundraisers are ones that align financial goals with what the school community can realistically manage, which is why many schools turn to catalog sales as a simpler way to raise money.

No. At Fundraisingzone, we don't charge setup fees, platform fees, or subscriptions to schools and parent groups running a fundraiser. We simply keep a portion of each sale — typically between 30% and 50% — which means your group keeps up to 50% of total sales (or up to 55% with our incentive offer).
There are zero upfront costs to get started — no contract, no credit card, and no products to buy in advance. We simply keep a portion of each sale, so your school earns up to 50% profit on everything you sell (up to 55% with our incentive offer). Your free fundraising kit, samples, catalogs, and dedicated support are all included at no charge.
For most catalog and direct-ship programs, orders ship pre-sorted to your group once you reach the free-shipping minimum, so there's nothing extra to pay and nothing to sort by hand. Reaching that threshold is easy for most school groups, and our team will confirm the exact minimum for the program you choose. Have a question about your order? Call us at 1-800-645-6550.
It's our free incentive program built to boost student participation on most of our fundraisers. Groups can choose between free prizes for their sellers or a 2% cash rebate to the organization. The prizes give kids a fun reason to keep selling, while the cash-back option puts a little extra straight back into your school's budget.
Schools run fundraisers to cover the many things a core operating budget doesn't stretch to — field trips, classroom supplies, technology, library books, arts and athletics, and other enrichment that directly benefits students. A well-run fundraiser lets a PTA, PTO, or booster club fund these priorities without relying solely on district money or out-of-pocket contributions from families and teachers.
Yes. A clear dollar goal, tied to a specific school priority, gives your campaign focus and gives families a concrete reason to give. It also helps you choose the right program and timeline, track progress in real time, and rally students and volunteers around a target. Even a simple goal — like funding one field trip or a set of new classroom supplies — makes the ask easier and the results easier to celebrate.
Popular, easy-to-run ideas for elementary schools include snack, popcorn, pretzel, and cookie dough catalogs, along with seasonal favorites like gift wrap and candles around the holidays. Low-cost items (around $10–$12) tend to work best because nearly every family can participate, and our online app lets students share a personal store link so out-of-town grandparents and relatives can order too. Browse the catalogs above to see our most popular school programs.