Ideas for PTA Fundraising

Most people who sign up to join the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) don't quite realise what they've let themselves in for !

Sometimes also known as the PTO, the Parent Teacher Organization, it's a group of willing parent helpers who volunteer to help with tasks as wide as helping in the classroom to raising funds for the school, as well as being essential parental involvement in the life of the school.

The aim is to keep children safe, healthy and successful within their school environment and one way of helping this happen is to raise funds for items of equipment, school trips or even new classrooms and buildings.

Running an Annual Summer Fete

One of the most popular and successful ways to raise funds is the annual summer fete - where every child and many parents get involved in creating a memorable and fun event where parents and grandparents come along with the family to have fun and spend a few dollars having fun.

Here's a few ideas of stalls that you could have, although do ask your parents what skills they have to offer as well, you never know what creative ideas they may come up with:-

• Balloon Race -see whose goes the farthest
• Book Stall
• Cake stall – including dairy and nut free, allergy friendly
• Duck race
• Egg hunt
• Face painting - worth trying this out or buying a book to get ideas, kids love this and can take or wear home the fabulous results
• Guess the name of the teddy
• Guess the number of sweets in the jar
• Hair braiding - whilst it won't be the same as those done by a professional hair braider, it can last a few days and be fun
• Hoop La
• Ice cream - particularly useful if you can use the school kitchen or have a parent with a van
• Lucky Dip - kids love picking out small gifts from a barrel full of hay
• Necklace making with beads - kids love to make something to take home for mom
• Penalty Shoot Outs - a favorite with the boys who fancy themselves as the latest David Beckham
• Plant stall - popular with parents
• Shove halfpenny - or it's equivalent
• Soft Drinks , Tea & Coffee - on a warm day, this will be a successful stall alongside the cakes
• Sponge the teacher - for older children and brave teachers !
• Strawberries & Cream - especially popular around Wimbledon time
• Sweet Shop - somewhere for the kids to spend their pocket money
• Treasure Map - guess where the treasure is, on a map marked with squares
• White Elephant - sell anything that people will give you

Please do email us with your suggestions to additions to this list!

Recommended Resources

101 Fundraising Ideas - creative ideas for events, ways to donate and raise money

Fundraising Stories - how one school raise funds for a school trip and another school raise money for new computers

School fundraising ideas - tips for raising large sums for building projects