Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs) play a vital role in enriching the school experience for students, teachers, and families. From funding field trips and classroom supplies to organizing community events, PTOs often rely on fundraising to make these opportunities possible.
The best PTO fundraisers are fun, easy to organize, and bring people together. Below are some tried-and-true activities that engage families while helping your PTO meet its financial goals.
Raffles
Raffles are a classic PTO fundraiser because they can be customized to any budget or school community. Families purchase tickets for a chance to win prizes, which can be donated by local businesses or created as themed gift baskets. Raffles are low-cost, high-reward, and a great way to raise money quickly. [read more about raffles]
Cake Walk
A Cake Walk combines fun and fundraising in one event. Participants pay a small fee to walk in a circle to music, and when the music stops, a winner is chosen to take home a cake or baked good. It’s a family-friendly activity that works especially well at carnivals or school festivals. [read more about Cake Walk]
Raise Craze
Raise Craze is a unique online platform that helps schools fundraise through acts of kindness instead of traditional sales. Students request donations from friends and family while completing service-oriented activities like writing thank-you notes or helping neighbors. This fundraiser not only raises money but also promotes character-building and kindness. [read more about Raise Craze]
Penny Wars
Few fundraisers generate as much excitement as Penny Wars. Classes or grade levels compete to collect the most points by filling jars with pennies (positive points) while sabotaging other groups with silver coins and bills (negative points). Penny Wars are fun, competitive, and can raise impressive amounts of money in just a couple of weeks. [read more about Penny Wars]
Making PTO Fundraising a Success
Whether you choose raffles, a cake walk, Raise Craze, Penny Wars, or a combination of these activities, the key to success is involvement. The more parents, teachers, and students participate, the more fun and rewarding the fundraiser becomes.
With the right planning and creativity, your PTO can raise funds to support important school initiatives—while building stronger connections in your community.