Best Fundraiser Ideas for Busy Event Planners
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Looking for quick, creative ways to raise money without adding extra stress to your schedule? This guide shares 13 easy fundraiser ideas perfect for schools, PTAs, booster clubs, and nonprofits — from bake sales and bingo nights to fun runs and raffle events. You’ll also find editable flyer templates and design tips to help you plan, promote, and host your next fundraiser with ease and confidence.
Best Easy Fundraiser Ideas For School PTO PTA
Trying to find unique fundraising ideas that help you raise money fast? The key is to pick a fundraiser that your potential participants will be in to. Whether you are raising money for school, kids, sports, charity or a non profit organization planning a money making fundraiser doesn't have to be stressful!
Keep reading for 13 ways to raise money for your school PTO, PTA or team fundraiser!
Bingo Night Fundraiser
Hosting a bingo night is one of the best fundraiser ideas for small communities because it brings people together for fun and friendly competition. With minimal setup, it’s easy to host at a school gym, church hall, or community center. Sell tickets in advance and offer donated prizes to maximize profit. A well-designed flyer sets the tone — use an editable bingo night fundraiser flyer template to customize your event details, add logos, and print quickly. This simple yet engaging event appeals to all ages and encourages repeat participation every season.
Included in this Bundle: 11x14 Poster, 8.5x11 Flyer, 8x10 Sign, 5x7 Invitation and 2.5x4 tickets so you can send your invitations however you like!
Use the formal invitation for administrators, board members, and staff. You can send the flyers out digitally and post on social media to draw a big crowd!
Check out one of these other fun Bingo Night Event Bundles and get your creative juices flowing!
How to Host A Fun Run or 5K 10K Color Run Fundraiser
If your group thrives on energy and teamwork, a fun run or color run is one of the best active fundraiser ideas for schools. Encourage families, teachers, and local businesses to participate as runners or sponsors. These events promote fitness, community pride, and school spirit while raising impressive funds. Simplify your marketing with a printable fun run flyer Canva template — customize colors, add sponsor logos, and include sign-up details to share online or post around town. The visual excitement of a bright, cohesive design helps boost registration and donations.
Hosting a 5k or 10k run or walkathon is a great way to raise money for your school PTO or neighborhood HOA.
The best part is, kids and pets have the ability to participate as well making this a great idea for an annual event that everyone looks forward to! Another bonus to hosting a walkathon or active event is the cost is really low.
So, regardless of whether you're a new organization trying to raise money or an event planner looking for a fun new event to add this year, you'll love it!
Included in this Bundle: 11x14 Poster, 8.5x11 Flyer, 1/2 Sheet Take Home Flyer and 2 per page template for take home flyers!
Be sure to include water stations along the path for your activity. If you want assistance from your local police department, just clear the path that you have planned with them prior to the event.
Want to add some competition to your event? Get donations from local businesses as prizes for the top 5 participants.
Cash Calendar Fundraiser
Looking for something low-maintenance? A cash calendar fundraiser is one of the best passive fundraiser ideas for nonprofits. Supporters purchase a calendar where each day corresponds to a prize drawing or donation goal. It’s creative, easy to manage, and runs quietly in the background. Promote your event with an editable cash calendar fundraiser template that highlights prize dates, donor sponsors, and contact info. This design-forward approach saves time and gives your fundraiser a polished, trustworthy appearance — perfect for recurring monthly or seasonal campaigns.
How it works: Let's say I choose to pick the 10th and 25th to donate to little "Sarah". I am pledging to donate $35 to her fundraising efforts. The idea is to fill up the calendar.
If your sport runs August through November, you can do the fundraiser for all four months, a few months or just one. This is a great fundraising idea for competitive teams that have high travel and competition costs to cover.
Bake Sale Fundraiser
A classic bake sale never goes out of style! It’s one of the best simple fundraiser ideas for PTAs because it’s easy to organize and appeals to everyone. Invite volunteers to donate baked goods and encourage creative packaging for higher sales. Use an editable bake sale flyer template to promote your event at schools, local businesses, and online. Include the date, location, and featured treats to grab attention. Consistent, professional design helps your bake sale look as sweet as it tastes — and keeps supporters coming back for more.
The best part about baked goods fundraising is the food is donated and it requires very low manpower to run. This is a great fundraiser for small PTO or PTA groups with low membership or participation.
See more bake sale fundraiser templates here!
Remember that all text being editable on your flyer templates gives you more flexibility. Pick the flyer template that works best for you!
Holiday Breakfast Fundraiser
If you're looking for a fun fundraiser that kids will love definitely go for a holiday breakfast fundraiser!
Add a dash of magic to your holiday season with a breakfast-themed event. Pancakes with Santa, Winter Waffles, or Easter Bunny Brunch are among the best seasonal fundraiser ideas for families. They create lasting memories while raising money for a good cause. Simplify promotion with a holiday breakfast fundraiser flyer template that matches your theme and brand colors. Highlight ticket prices, photo ops, and menu items to attract families. A polished flyer not only boosts attendance but also reflects the care and creativity behind your organization’s mission.
One of my favorites is a Breakfast with the Easter Bunny or Pancakes with Santa fundraiser. This is a popular event for kids and families that has the potential to be your biggest fundraiser of the year.
Planning this event is easy if you have a team that can divide and conquer. One person can oversee all of the marketing for your event. Designate a volunteer or member to coordinate the featured guest (Easter Bunny, Santa, Elves, etc.). Have a member of the committee or volunteer oversee any other activities for the event. And most important, pick who will plan the meal.
Some other ideas to bring in for your school or church fundraiser are face painting, games, seasonal activities like a pumpkin patch or cookie decorating table. You can also include small competitions and a picture taking element to raise even more funds at your event!
Browse holiday fundraising ideas here! There are so many ideas to see. Just pick one that you are excited about and run with it!
Candy Grams Fundraiser | Holiday Grams
Short on time but still want results? Candy grams are one of the best classroom fundraiser ideas because they’re quick, fun, and customizable for any holiday. Students or volunteers can sell sweet notes with candy attached — perfect for Valentine’s Day, Halloween, or Teacher Appreciation Week. Use an editable candy gram flyer template to streamline orders and showcase pricing and delivery dates. The cheerful design and personal touch make this fundraiser a heartwarming favorite year after year.
You'll find loads of options for Easter grams ideas, candy grams fundraiser, valentine candy gram, and so many Valentine's gram ideas! Whether you're after Christmas grams or any holiday grams, it's all here!
Make an even bigger impact by choosing candy gram ideas that come with a flyer to promote your candy fundraiser!
Check out some popular candy gram fundraisers here! There are so many ideas to see. Just pick one that you are excited about and run with it!
Garage or Yard Sale
Declutter for a cause! A garage sale is one of the best community fundraiser ideas because it encourages donations while supporting sustainability. Collect gently used items from neighbors, set up easy shopping stations, and advertise across social media. Promote the event with a garage sale fundraiser flyer design that lists key details and accepted donation types. The right flyer draws crowds, while the shared community effort makes the event rewarding and memorable for everyone involved.
The best part is you can feel great about doing something good for the environment and community at the same time.
School Carnival or Community Carnival
When you want to make a big impact, a school carnival is among the best large event fundraiser ideas. Combine games, food booths, raffles, and entertainment for a full-day community celebration. Organize volunteers for each station and seek sponsorships to cover costs. Boost attendance with an editable carnival flyer template — add your event name, date, and ticket info to create excitement. Vibrant visuals and consistent branding help build anticipation long before the big day.
School Carnival or Community Festival Fundraisers are huge moneymakers. This is a fun fundraiser idea with so many choices for activities for kids and adults, food fundraisers, food trucks, games, face painting, presentations and fun competitions really pays off.
The bigger you can make it, the more people will come as a family night event. This is a great way to get the whole community involved in raising money for your organization.
Key things to remember when planning a carnival fundraising event:
- charge a space fee for outside vendors (don't shortchange yourself)
- accept donations at a designation station in the carnival
- run as many booths as you can within your organization
- ask your band or choir to perform for entertainment
- host a talent show at your carnival
- include activities for kids of all ages
Hosting a carnival can be a lot of work but it's totally worth it! You will find that the community will love it so much it will become an annual event!
Host A Skills Camp Fundraiser
One amazing way to make money for your athletic club or team is to host a skills camp. There is the potential to bring in a lot of cash and build the confidence of your team at the same time.
Turn local talent into opportunity with a skills camp fundraiser, one of the best athletic fundraiser ideas for schools and clubs. Offer weekend workshops or mini camps led by coaches or alumni. Participants learn, play, and support your cause simultaneously. Market your event using a sports camp fundraiser flyer template to outline dates, registration fees, and age groups. A professional flyer reassures parents, attracts sponsors, and fills spots quickly — perfect for teams building spirit and funds.
What better way to make money than capitalize on the skills that your team already has, build more awareness and support around your organization and potentially gain the interest of new recruits!
Offer certificates and a scrimmage at the end of your camp to invite guests to see what everyone learned!
Sports Fundraising Ideas
Game-day excitement drives donations. Sports raffles, tournaments, or pep-rallies are among the best team fundraiser ideas for athletes. Offer team-branded prizes, photo ops, or dinner nights to engage supporters. Promote your event with an editable sports fundraiser flyer template that uses your team colors and logos. Strong visuals elevate your event and make sponsors proud to be featured — turning community support into real results.
For food, go with a casual BBQ dinner, spaghetti meal or seek out donations from local restaurants.
Include a demonstration by the team or a video of highlight reels to show during the event.
Charge for your athletic fundraiser per person or per family!
Host an Educational Event
Engage families and students with a cause that fuels learning. Literacy nights, art shows, and STEM fairs are the best educational fundraiser ideas because they combine enrichment with fundraising. Create inviting promotions using a school literacy night flyer template featuring clear event details and student artwork. A clean, coordinated design shows professionalism and increases attendance from parents eager to support educational growth.
Want to have fun with this? Consider hosting a book sale fundraiser with your literacy night. Include CTE (career & technical education) stations to show how your students knowledge can propel them through life.
This makes a great classroom event as well!
Summer Camp Fundraiser
If your organization serves kids or teens, a summer camp fundraiser is one of the best youth fundraiser ideas. Host a weekend or one-day camp with activities, crafts, or sports sessions. Families love opportunities that blend fun with learning. Use an editable summer camp flyer template to share your schedule, pricing, and age ranges. A cohesive flyer builds trust and excitement, encouraging quick registration and word-of-mouth promotion.
Offering full day, half day or even evening summer camps is an easy way to raise a lot of money in a short period of time. It does require some planning and coordination, but this could be a huge moneymaker for your team, club or organization.
The best part of camp fundraisers is you can run them for a week, month or the whole summer. It's totally up to you and what your organization can handle!
Sell Tickets for a Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser
Browse the collection of our favorite Breakfast Fundraiser Ideas
A cozy pancake breakfast is a timeless favorite and one of the best breakfast fundraiser ideas for schools and nonprofits. Families love starting the day with good food and great company. Pair your event with raffles or silent auctions to increase earnings. Promote it with a pancake breakfast fundraiser flyer Canva template that captures your theme in warm tones and simple typography. A unified, professional design helps sell more tickets and builds anticipation for the event.
Want to really mix it up? Try having a pancake dinner fundraiser!
These templates are amazing because ALL of the text is editable. Just customize your fundraising flyer and ticket templates and you're set!
If you have social media be sure to pick an editable fundraiser flyer template that includes a square social media template!
Easy Fundraiser Flyer Templates
With the right tools and creative direction, any event can become a meaningful, well-organized fundraiser that brings people together for a good cause. Whether you’re planning a school carnival, a community fun run, or a pancake breakfast, each of these best fundraiser ideas for busy event planners can help you raise funds with confidence and ease.
Simple Desert Designs is here to make your work even simpler. Our editable Canva templates save you time while ensuring your event looks cohesive and professional — and if you’re ready for something truly unique, we can help you create a custom design that perfectly reflects your organization’s spirit.
💛 Ready to elevate your next fundraiser?
Contact Simple Desert Designs for a free quote on a custom flyer design and let’s create something beautiful together that inspires generosity and helps your cause shine.
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Simple Desert Designs is focused on providing affordable solutions for busy event planners, school PTO, PTA, PTC leaders, church, neighborhood and community leaders. Our editable and printable templates have no limit on downloads so you can adjust them and use your design year after year.
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