Updated November 2025
Table of Contents
Easy to Implement Fundraisers
- Bake Sale
- Pie Eating Contest
- Hot Dog Eating Contest
- Kickball Tournament
- Cornhole Tournament
- 4th of July Scavenger Hunt
- Name the Capitols
- Ultimate Lemons
Moderate to Implement Fundraisers
- Fireworks Show
- Movie in the Park
- Pie Auction
- Barbeque Cookout/Competition
- Treasure Box
- Star-Spangled Slime
- Craft Corner
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Movie In The Park
| Ease of Implementation | Moderate – requires projector/screen setup and nighttime staffing |
| Time to Implement | 2–4 weeks |
| Expenses Required | $$–$$$ (projector, screen, movie rights, snacks) |
| Volunteers Needed | 6–10 (concessions, equipment crew, ticketing, setup/clean up) |
| Ideal For | Family nights, all-school events |
Set up a projector and a screen in a park at night and charge an entry fee for patrons to watch a 4th of July movie, like THE SANDLOT! This would be a great alternative to the fireworks show if its not feasible for the budget or if another organization already called dibs on it.
See also: 20 Summer Fundraising Ideas for Schools
Pie Auction
| Ease of Implementation | Moderate – requires pie donations and auction setup |
| Time to Implement | 2–4 weeks |
| Expenses Required | $–$$ (tables, decor, pies if not donated) |
| Volunteers Needed | 2–4 (auctioneer, registration, display) |
| Ideal For | All-school events, community events, festivals |
Pull out those favorite pie recipes and sell them at a 4th of July event! If the Booster Club doesn’t have any community favorites on hand, they can also reach out to a pie shop in town and see if they would be willing to donate or discount a few pies for them to then resell at the event.
Fireworks Show
| Ease of Implementation | Moderate – requires permits, safety planning, and a crowd area. |
| Time to Implement | 6–8 weeks |
| Expenses Required | $$$ (fireworks vendor, security, barriers, insurance) |
| Volunteers Needed | 10+ (crowd control, ticketing, safety) |
| Ideal For | Community-wide events, evening fundraisers, summer festivals |
This is the perfect big event to bring all of the smaller fundraising opportunities together for the summer holiday! Make sure to put up signs around town to have the largest turnout possible and start the event around mid-afternoon to give everyone the chance to explore and give as much as they can.
Bake Sale
| Ease of Implementation | Easy – requires baked goods and easy table/booth setup |
| Time to Implement | 1–2 weeks |
| Expenses Required | $ (ingredients, packaging, signage) |
| Volunteers Needed | 2–4 (bakers, sales helpers, setup/clean up) |
| Ideal For | All grade levels, PTA events, add-on for larger 4th of July events |
Red, white, and blue treats for everyone!
Pie Eating Contest
| Ease of Implementation | Easy – Straightforward setup with pies, tables, and a timer |
| Time to Implement | 2–3 weeks |
| Expenses Required | $–$$ (pies, table covers, small prize) |
| Volunteers Needed | 3–5 (registration, setup, judges, clean up) |
| Ideal For | School festivals, community events, add-on for larger 4th of July events |
Charge a registration fee for contestants to compete in a 4th of July pie-eating contest. Whoever eats the most pies within the designated time frame wins!
Hot Dog Eating Contest
| Ease of Implementation | Easy – minimal setup; requires hot dogs, tables, and safety monitoring |
| Time to Implement | 2–3 weeks |
| Expenses Required | $$ (hot dogs, buns, water jugs, trophy/prize |
| Volunteers Needed | 4–6 (registration, judges, safety monitors, setup/clean up) |
| Ideal For | Middle/high school groups, family cookouts/festivals, July 4th carnivals |
Have competitors register to compete for the GOLDEN HOTDOG, aka a trophy in the shape of a hot dog, by eating the most hot dogs within a designated timeframe.
Kickball Tournament
| Ease of Implementation | Easy – standard kickball equipment and field |
| Time to Implement | 2–4 weeks |
| Expenses Required | $-$$ (field and equipment rental if applicable, medals) |
| Volunteers Needed | 4–8 (refs, registration, scorekeeping, setup) |
| Ideal For | All-school tournaments, community field days |
Allow teams to sign up and pay a registration fee to compete in a 4th of July kickball tournament!
Cornhole Tournament
| Ease of Implementation | Easy – requires cornhole boards and scoring area |
| Time to Implement | 2–3 weeks |
| Expenses Required | $-$$ (boards, bean bags, prize items if applicable) |
| Volunteers Needed | 3–5 (registration, scoring, setup) |
| Ideal For | Family events, community fairs, multi-age groups |
Have teams register to compete in a cornhole tournament to celebrate the 4th of July!
Barbeque Cookout/Competition
| Ease of Implementation | Moderate – requires grilling areas, food-handling plans |
| Time to Implement | 4–6 weeks |
| Expenses Required | $$-$$$ (sides, plates, utensils, signage, pits/BBQs if not provided) |
| Volunteers Needed | ~10 (food stations, judges, setup/clean up) |
| Ideal For | Community fairs, all-school summer events, add-on to larger 4th of July events |
This is a perfect pairing for a fireworks show! Event organizers can decide if they want the barbeque to be a competition or a more relaxed cookout environment. Either way, provide the sides and space for the patrons to set up their pits in exchange for a donation!
4th Of July Scavenger Hunt
| Ease of Implementation | Easy – printable lists and small prizes |
| Time to Implement | 1–2 weeks |
| Expenses Required | $ (printing lists, small prizes or treasure box items) |
| Volunteers Needed | 2–4 (setup, check-in table, prize distribution) |
| Ideal For | All grade levels, festival add-on activity, community events |
In exchange for a donation, provide the young explorers of your community with a list of things to find at a 4th of July gathering! The person who completes their list first gets to pick a prize from the treasure box!
Name The Capitols
| Ease of Implementation | Easy – printed worksheets and pencils |
| Time to Implement | 1–2 weeks |
| Expenses Required | $ (printing, optional prize) |
| Volunteers Needed | 1–2 (monitoring, judging, distribution of sheets) |
| Ideal For | Classroom competitions, history clubs, quieter event zones |
Print out pages of US states and have groups of people compete to see who can fill out the capitol names the fastest. Whoever fills out the correct names the fastest gets a prize!
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Treasure Box
| Ease of Implementation | Moderate – requires purchasing, wrapping, and displaying prizes |
| Time to Implement | 2–3 weeks |
| Expenses Required | $$ (box items $10-$20 each, wrapping supplies) |
| Volunteers Needed | 2–4 (setup, prize distribution, restocking) |
| Ideal For | Add-on prizes for contests, carnival booths, younger students |
Go to the local Walmart or Target and grab some cool items priced between $10 and $20 each. Once you get them home, wrap them in plain brown paper, newspaper, or a decorative gift wrap and put them in a box for winners to grab as they compete in the smaller fundraising games.
Star-Spangled Slime
| Ease of Implementation | Moderate – requires hands-on craft station |
| Time to Implement | 1–2 weeks |
| Expenses Required | $ (glue, starch, glitter, bowls, mixing tools) |
| Volunteers Needed | 4–6 (setup, supervision, clean up) |
| Ideal For | Elementary school events, craft corners, family activity stations |
Set up a slime station where people can mix their own star-spangled slime (washable glue, skin-safe starch, and red, white, and blue glitter stars) and buy slime kits to take home and mix themselves.
Craft Corner
| Ease of Implementation | Moderate – requires craft supplies and guided instruction |
| Time to Implement | 2–3 weeks |
| Expenses Required | $$ (craft kits, paints, brushes, table coverings) |
| Volunteers Needed | 3–5 (instructors, helpers, clean up) |
| Ideal For | Elementary and middle school groups, festival craft tents, community events |
Have any cool and festive crafts for independence day? Set up a booth and seating space where you can take patrons through the steps to create the crafts for a small donation.
Ultimate Lemons
| Ease of Implementation | Easy – requires lemons, basin filled with water |
| Time to Implement | 1–2 weeks |
| Expenses Required | $ (lemons, basin, coins for demo, small prizes if applicable) |
| Volunteers Needed | 2–3 (setup, supervision, prize table) |
| Ideal For | Carnival-style fundraisers, elementary/middle school events |
This game is pretty easy to organize and play. All you need are a few lemons and a deep container filled with water. When set in the water, the lemons will float! The name of the game is balancing a coin on the lemon for either a certain amount of time or indefinitely. The money that rolls off of the coin and falls into the water is for the club to keep and whoever can do it gets a prize!
