Students are typically the people who benefit most from money raised at school fundraisers, yet they are also typically the ones who contribute the least – which doesn’t seem very fair.

There are a number of great fundraising ideas that – with a little bit of adult supervision – can be organised and led by the children themselves. There are ideas here suitable both for younger children as well as high-school aged students.

Not only will the students have a lot of fun getting involved but there is a lot they can learn from planning and organising an event including forming committees and working in teams, money handling and marketing, being strategic and public speaking to promote the event in class and at assembly.

It is also important to remember that students should also have a say on what the money raised will be spent on.

Here are some ideas for fundraisers:

Teddy Bears Picnic: perfect for pre-schoolers, children can start by drawing their own poster to take home to their parents. On the day of the picnic (which can be held at lunchtime or after school), students can bring their favourite teddy to school in exchange for a small donation. Ask parents to pack some fruit or biscuits to share, or everyone can just sit on picnic rugs to enjoy their everyday lunch.

Lunchtime markets: these can be as simple or as involved as you like depending on the age of the children. High school students could run weekly stalls selling ice blocks in summer and hot soup or gourmet hot chocolate in winter. Younger students could sell mini muffins or homemade lemonade.

Ride or Scoot to School: nominate a day when children ride their bikes or scoot to school. Ask children to decorate their bikes and scooters at home and then host a bike beauty pageant in exchange for a small donation. Ask students to design posters to promote the event and ask the principal or a visiting VIP to judge.

Publish your own recipe book: students contribute a recipe for a lasting and practical keepsake. Cookbooks that are being sold in primary schools could have themes such as ‘Healthy Kids Party Food’, ‘Dinners Kids Can Cook’ or ‘Picnic Favourites’ while high school students (about to graduate and move into the big wide world) can create recipes based on ‘How to Make Toast and Other Easy Recipes’, ‘Party Food on a Budget’ or ‘Dinners My Mum Used to Make’.

Silver coin fundraisers: each classroom is given a glass jar and students are encouraged to collect five, ten and twenty cent pieces from parents, neighbours and the change from the shopping.

Free dress day alternatives: take a vote to select an alternate theme for a free dress day. Nominate students to go to each class with a bucket to collect a gold coin donation from each child. Find some unusual ideas for free dress day here.

Sell the principal’s chair:  sell raffle tickets at lunchtime to students, with the prize being ownership of the principal’s chair for the day. This is even more popular if the winning student is able to swap their child sized chair with the principal, especially on the day of an assembly.

Quiz Night: definitely one for senior students, this would still need a fair degree of adult assistance, but students could help write the questions, design the marketing materials, and organise raffle hampers or other prizes. Learn how to run a quiz night here.

Does your child’s school involve them in the fundraising? Please share in the comments below.