School Fundraising in Canada (& How To Do It for Free)

School fundraising in Canada used to be something done occasionally to fund an outing or special event. But for many cash-strapped schools, ongoing fundraising has become a necessity. Without it, they cannot offer extracurricular activities such as music, drama, and sports programs important to kids’ development. Luckily, schools today can accept donations through various fundraising activities, such as Fun Runs and school picnics, to maximize their efforts and effectively engage the community.

So, let’s dive into this article, which explores fun and profitable school fundraising ideas tailored to Canadian schools.

How Is School Fundraising in Canada Done?

Parent Advisory Councils (PACs) do most of the school fundraising in Canada. PACs are parent-teacher forums that inform parents and give them a say in their children’s education. Over time, cuts in funding have increased the demand for PACs to fundraise. Many now see it as one of their primary roles.

School fundraising can be done through product sales, hosting fundraising events, offering services, and sponsorship. School events involving the students, parents, and surrounding community are a favourite for school fundraising in Canada.

Fortunately, fundraising has kept up with the times, and online fundraising activities or events allow schools to reach a larger audience. Today, many Canadian schools host virtual fundraisers to buy laptops and items necessary for distance learning.

Planning a Successful School Fundraising Campaign

Effective communication is critical to the success of any school fundraising campaign. Clearly defining your goals and objectives helps to focus your efforts, engage students and parents, and measure your progress. Keep these ideas in mind when communicating your fundraising goals:

• Be specific: Clearly state what you want to achieve through your fundraising campaign. Whether it’s raising funds for new sports equipment or supporting a school trip, be sure donors understand the impact of their contributions.
• Be measurable: Set fundraising goals to track progress and stay motivated.
• Be achievable: Ensure your goals are realistic and attainable, given your resources and timeframe. Setting achievable goals builds confidence and encourages continued support.
• Be relevant: Align your goals with your school’s mission, values, and priorities. Create a strong connection between your fundraising efforts and your school’s mission.
• Be time-bound: Establish a specific timeframe for your campaign, including deadlines and milestones. A clear timeline creates a sense of urgency and will keep your campaign on track.

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Canadian School Fundraising Ideas

When considering fundraisers, remember that every school is different. Consider your school’s location, fundraising requirements, and the time and hands available when choosing the best fundraising idea for your school. Here are a few unique and profitable fundraising ideas for Canadian schools and PACs to consider.

Hold a Charity Auction

Successful charity auctions are popular school fundraising events that can take several forms.

Live Auctions

Online Auctions

Organize a Community Craft Fair

Hosting a craft fair helps raise funds for the school and assists the wider community of local artists and craftspeople. Have the PAC committee publicize the event and sell tables to craftspeople at a set fee. On the big day, parents set up the tables for the artists and can also have food and beverage stalls at the event to raise additional income. Ask everyone to bring some baked goods and include a sweet community bake sale. The crafters keep the proceeds from their sales, and the school keeps the proceeds from the table sales and concessions.

Hold a Games Night and Charity Raffle

This fun event is held at the school and involves the entire family. Parents plan the games and get prizes donated for the fundraising raffle, and older children volunteer at the game booths and sell raffle tickets. Younger children and those not volunteering participate and enjoy the evening. The school raises funds by charging admission to the games and selling raffle tickets and refreshments.

Raffles can be done online or in addition to any school event and are a fantastic way to raise additional funds.

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Sell Candy and Treats

Start a Coin Drive

This fun fundraising idea is a week-long event that builds class spirit. It is easy to do as most people don’t mind parting with loose change. The top-earning class gets a group prize like a pizza party or ice cream sundaes and extra recess time.

Here’s how it works:

• On Monday, kids bring pennies to school
• On Tuesday, nickels
• On Wednesday, dimes
• On Thursday, quarters;
• And on Friday, anything goes

Host a Shoe Drive Fundraiser

Hold a Pledge-Athon or Peer-toPeer Fundraiser

A-thon fundraisers involve students getting sponsorship to complete units of a particular activity. With this type of fundraiser, you collect the funds once the event is complete.

For example, sponsors pay for every lap a student completes within the allowed time limit at a school walk-a-thon. Pledge fundraisers are fun and engaging, and you can get creative. Some favorite pledge fundraisers for schools in Canada are Fun Runs, dance-a-thons, read-a-thons, and even spell-a-thons. These events can also be run as peer-to-peer fundraising events where donors are asked to make flat-rate donations for the school.

Organize a Scratch Card Fundraiser

Have a Dress Code Vacation Day

This fun fundraiser is very popular with students who enjoy the change in routine. On a special day, they bring a dollar to school and can wear whatever they want. You can also have themed Dress code vacation days such as pajama day, crazy hair day, or pop star day. Some schools host a school spirit week where students can dress up every day for a $1 donation to the school. This is a great fundraiser, as there are no up-front costs involved. So, gear up to collect donations and have fun at the same time.

Takeaways on Canadian School Fundraising Ideas

School fundraising is a crucial aspect of the Canadian education system. With decreasing government funding, schools rely heavily on fundraising efforts to provide essential resources, programs, and activities for students. Fundraising helps schools bridge the financial gap, enabling them to offer a well-rounded education that prepares students for success.

So pick a suitable school fundraising idea or two, and remember to have fun while fundraising for your school!

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