24 Funny Fundraising Ideas For Schools

Published on May 2, 2022
Funny fundraisers are some of the easiest ways to boost engagement and bring in donations fast. These 24 ideas use humor, school spirit, and low-cost setups to turn ordinary events into high-energy, high-revenue fundraisers.
24 Funny Fundraising Ideas For Schools

Updated November 2025

Table of Contents

Easy to Implement

Moderate to Implement

Traveling Toilet

Ease of ImplementationEasy – simple, funny rotating prop with straightforward donation structure
Time to Implement1–2 weeks
Expenses Required$ (paint, cleaning supplies, signage, toilet usually donated or thrifted)
Volunteers Needed2–3 (delivery/relocation drivers, coordination, record keeping)
Ideal ForNeighbourhood fundraisers, high-engagement school communities, clubs with strong parent involvement

For this event, find a toilet and clean it up as much as you can. Then paint it and put it in someone’s front yard with a note attached. It can say something like this: “You’ve been blessed by the traveling toilet! If you want us to remove it, contact us at (your number here) and we’ll relocate it for a $20 donation. We can relocate it to a friends yard for $30. We can remove it for good for $50. We can also remove it at no cost to you. Just give us a call and we’ll come pick it up.”

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See also: 30 Awesome Donation Ideas for School Fundraisers

girl saying shhh

Penny War

Ease of ImplementationEasy but needs tracking
Time to Implement1 week+
Expenses Required$ (collection jugs)
Volunteers Needed1 per class to monitor
Ideal ForSchool-wide competition

All you’ll need for this event are some empty gallon jugs, similar to the ones that are used in water coolers. You can get one per class or one per grade. Each jug is competing against all of the other ones. A penny war is pretty straight forward: each penny that you add to your own jug adds 1 positive point to your class total while every silver coin that you add to your competition’s jugs subtract from the overall total based on the value of the coin. Whoever has the most positive points will win a class prize and all of the money collected goes to the PTO/PTA!

Tape The Principal To The Wall

Ease of ImplementationEasy – fun, low-cost stunt with massive student engagement
Time to Implement1–2 weeks
Expenses Required$ (duct tape, plastic sheeting, safety mats)
Volunteers Needed3–5 (crowd control, tape sales, safety monitoring, photography)
Ideal ForSpirit weeks, pep rallies, assemblies, school-wide celebrations

Charge the students per strip of tape to tape the Principal to the wall. Be sure to get a picture of them afterwards for the school paper or the year book!

Soccer Prom

Ease of ImplementationModerate – requires photo setup, field preparation, and messy play planning
Time to Implement4–6 weeks
Expenses Required$$ (photographer, lighting, props, optional refreshments)
Volunteers Needed6–10 (registration, field setup, photo assistance, cleanup)
Ideal ForHigh school events, homecoming week, end-of-year celebrations, athletic communities

Hire a photographer to catch your friends rocking the soccer field in prom dresses and cleats! Accept a flat fee and make sure theres plenty of mud and fun to be had.

Doggy Kissing Booth

Ease of ImplementationEasy – requires a friendly dog, simple booth setup, and sanitation supplies
Time to Implement2–3 weeks
Expenses Required$ (booth decor, wipes, water bowls, treats)
Volunteers Needed3–4 (dog handler, line manager, donation collector, cleanup)
Ideal ForOutdoor events, pet-friendly communities, fall festivals, school carnivals

If you know any particularly kissy pups, hold a kissing booth for them where $1 will get you 1 sloppy puppy kiss.

cute puppy

MORP

Ease of ImplementationModerate – requires indoor venue, music, and activity planning
Time to Implement4–6 weeks
Expenses Required$$ (decor, snacks, DJ/sound system, lighting)
Volunteers Needed6–10 (chaperones, ticketing, concessions, setup/cleanup)
Ideal ForHigh school spirit events, alternative dances, fundraiser-friendly social nights

MORP=PROM backwards. Sell tickets to spend time with friends doing the exact opposite that you would normally do for prom. Do you normally wear a fancy dress and spend a bunch of money on hair and make up? Wear sweats and throw that hair in a messy bun. Normally eat at a fancy restaurant? Mcdonalds baby! Normally dance the night away? This part is optional. For the actual event, utilize a space like the gym but depending on what your seniors want, you can either play pump up music or music that inspires a calm mood instead.

Bailout

Ease of ImplementationEasy – simple themed setup with high entertainment value
Time to Implement2–3 weeks
Expenses Required$ (cardboard “jail,” signage, props)
Volunteers Needed3–5 (promotion, donation tracking, on-site supervision)
Ideal ForSchool fairs, hallway fundraisers, community days, lunchtime events

Pick a popular person from your school or community and set them up in a makeshift jail in a high traffic area and post signs requesting money for their bail. All the money raised goes to the PTO/PTA/club and everyone gets a kick out of seeing their favorite person behind bars. 

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Wine Toss

Ease of ImplementationModerate – requires organized prize structure and safety management
Time to Implement3–4 weeks
Expenses Required$$ (wine bottles, rings, table setup, signage)
Volunteers Needed3–5 (booth operators, prize distribution, ID checks for adults)
Ideal ForAdult-only fundraisers, community festivals, evening events

Set up a bunch of wine bottles of varying price points then sell the opportunity to toss rings to try to make it on a bottle of wine. If the patron is able to make it on the bottle, they’re able to take the bottle home with them.

wine bottles

Punch O Rama

Ease of ImplementationEasy – simple construction and highly engaging game play
Time to Implement1–2 weeks
Expenses Required$–$$ (poster board, tissue paper, small prizes, plastic cups)
Volunteers Needed2–4 (booth operation, prize restocking, setup/cleanup)
Ideal ForSchool carnivals, block parties, fall festivals, indoor or outdoor events

Cut a bunch of grapefruit sized holes in a few pieces of poster board and attach a piece of tissue paper to the back of the poster board. Then, add either a prize or a slip of paper notating the prize in a cup and attach it to the back of the tissue paper with the mouth of the cup facing the back of the posterboard. Then charge a flat fee for patrons to PUNCH a hole through the tissue paper to claim their prize.

Gift Baskets

Ease of ImplementationModerate – basket assembly + auction setup
Time to Implement3–5 weeks
Expenses Required$–$$ (basket materials, donations)
Volunteers Needed4–6 (assembly, auction coordination)
Ideal ForAdd-on to dances, cookouts, community events, or galas

This event is pretty customizable, as you can make up the baskets for any occasion. Our personal favorite is doing craft beer and cheap beer baskets next to one another for people to bid on but get as silly as you want with the contents and theme of each basket.

“P” Party

Ease of ImplementationModerate – requires themed decorations, food, and activity planning
Time to Implement3–4 weeks
Expenses Required$$ (decor, themed snacks, music, signage)
Volunteers Needed6–10 (setup, check-in, activity stations, cleanup)
Ideal ForMiddle/high school dances, themed community nights, spirit events

Throw a party with everything that starts with the letter P. People can only wear colors that start with the letter P, eat food that starts with the letter P, play games with the letter P, etc. And feel free to use any letter of the alphabet if P doesn’t work for your community.

pink balloons

Flock the Yard

Ease of ImplementationModerate – requires flamingos & coordination
Time to Implement3–4 weeks
Expenses Required$$ (plastic flamingos, signs, insurance cards)
Volunteers Needed6–8 (wranglers, delivery, coordination)
Ideal ForNeighborhood pranks, family fun

All you’ll need for this event are some flamingos (get them on amazon or from Walmart if they have them) and some flamingo wranglers (a group of volunteers). Once you have everything collected, your bird wranglers can place the flock in an area that’s easy for the family to see with a note either dropped off at their door or placed on the flock somewhere. The note should read something like:

“Congrats you’ve been FLOCKED! We can persuade the birds to move on for a $10 donation, but for a $15 donation you can tell the birds where to FLOCK to next! Our bird wranglers can be reached at (insert phone number here). Passing is an option as well! Just give us a call at that number and we’ll come shoo the birds away for free.”

Patrons can even purchase Flamingo Insurance for $10, which prevents their yard from being selected as a landing place for the birds. Some schools do “sneaky flocking”, where the wranglers try to sneak the birds onto the yard without the family noticing until the note is delivered. Feel free to get silly with it! 

Funny Photo Contest

Ease of ImplementationEasy – simple submission process with optional photobooth
Time to Implement1–2 weeks
Expenses Required$ (prize item; optional props or photobooth setup)
Volunteers Needed2–4 (submission management, judging, promotion)
Ideal ForIndoor events, spirit weeks, social media–friendly fundraisers, all grade levels

This contest can just be selfies or your club can put together an event with a photobooth. Either way, the photo that people pick as the funniest one wins and gets a prize!

Stand Up Comedy Night

Ease of ImplementationEasy – simple AV setup and low logistical complexity
Time to Implement2–3 weeks
Expenses Required$–$$ (microphone/speaker rental if not donated, setup, signage, small prize)
Volunteers Needed3–5 (emcee support, ticketing, seating, cleanup)
Ideal ForCommunity nights, school assemblies, drama clubs, family-friendly events

Have a few of your community’s comedians take the stage during a comedy show! You can also give your young new talent a chance by only having high school and middle school students showcasing their best material. Either way, collect an entry fee from the audience for them to watch the show.

crowd with their cands up

Crazy Clothes Day

Ease of ImplementationEasy – no setup required beyond promotion
Time to Implement1 week
Expenses Required$ (prize or small incentives, optional signage)
Volunteers Needed1–2 (donation collection, promotion)
Ideal ForSpirit weeks, elementary and middle schools, classroom competitions

Collect a flat fee from the students to wear crazy clothes or wear their clothes in a funny way! Backwards, upside down, inside out, or a completely silly outfit are welcome!

Crazy Hair Day

Ease of ImplementationEasy – no setup required beyond promotion
Time to Implement1 week
Expenses Required$ (prize or small incentives, optional signage and photo backdrop)
Volunteers Needed1–2 (donation collection, promotion)
Ideal ForSpirit weeks, elementary schools, classroom competitions, low-effort fundraisers

Collect a flat fee from the students to wear their hair in silly ways! 

Frozen Hair

Ease of ImplementationModerate – requires cold weather, hot tub access, and safety considerations
Time to Implement2–3 weeks
Expenses Required$$ (hot tub access, towels, safety supplies, prize)
Volunteers Needed4–6 (supervision, registration, photography, judging)
Ideal ForWinter events, ski/resort communities, high schools, novelty fundraisers

For this event, you’ll need a cold day and a hot tub. Have everyone that wants to participate register and pay a registration fee. Then let them dunk their heads under water and arrange their hair in silly styles before it freezes into place. Make sure to have a photographer on standby to snag the photos so the judges can pick the winner!

ice in water

Dunk Tank

Ease of ImplementationModerate – requires dunk tank rental, water source, and safety staff
Time to Implement3–4 weeks
Expenses Required$$ (tank rental, water, signage, towels)
Volunteers Needed6–8 (setup, ticketing, line management, safety monitors)
Ideal ForCarnivals, field days, block parties, large outdoor events

Sign a prominent figure up to take the seat on the dunk tank at your next big event!

Crab Race

Ease of ImplementationEasy – simple race structure with minimal equipment
Time to Implement1–2 weeks
Expenses Required$ (cones or markers, small prizes)
Volunteers Needed2–4 (line management, timing, prize distribution)
Ideal ForField days, PE classes, community events, younger students

Accept a flat fee to participate and challenge your students to a crab walking race!

Lady Free Fashion Show

Ease of ImplementationEasy – clothes can be borrowed from friends/family
Time to Implement3–5 weeks
Expenses Required$$ (venue, decorations, sound system)
Volunteers Needed8–10 (setup, admissions, backstage help)
Ideal ForFamilies, add-ons for larger events, high schools

Grab some of your favorite dudes and put on a fashion show with all womens attire. Charge a flat fee to watch the show and let the laughs roll in.

Cow Patty Squares

Ease of ImplementationModerate – requires access to a pasture and coordinating with a livestock owner
Time to Implement3–4 weeks
Expenses Required$–$$ (field grid materials, prize, signage)
Volunteers Needed3–5 (grid setup, ticket sales, event oversight)
Ideal ForRural communities, agricultural programs, fall festivals, unique outdoor events

For this silly event, you’ll need a cow, a pasture, and a piece of poster board. Break the field down into equal squares and cut the posterboard down to look the same as the field. Take bets on where the cow will drop his “patty” and whoever guesses right wins half of the earnings from the activity!

cow in field

Comedy Roast

Ease of ImplementationEasy – simple AV setup and low logistical complexity
Time to Implement2–3 weeks
Expenses Required$–$$ (microphone/speaker rental if not donated, setup, signage)
Volunteers Needed3–5 (emcee support, ticketing, seating, cleanup)
Ideal ForCommunity nights, school assemblies, drama clubs, family-friendly events

Pick a popular person in the community and have the comedians of the community come up and roast them. Charge your audience a flat fee to come watch the show!

Ease of ImplementationEasy – low-cost, high-engagement activity with simple materials
Time to Implement1–2 weeks
Expenses Required$ (note cards, markers, small prizes if desired)
Volunteers Needed2–4 (card management, roaming facilitators, donation collection)
Ideal ForSchool carnivals, pep rallies, spirit weeks, indoor or outdoor events

Write some wacky actions on a notecard and approach patrons to pull a card and read it. Once they read it, let them know that they can either donate a certain dollar amount or do the dare on the card!

Missile Practice

Ease of ImplementationEasy – fun, straightforward setup with minimal equipment
Time to Implement1–2 weeks
Expenses Required$ (water balloons, water access, buckets, towel for the volunteer)
Volunteers Needed3–5 (water balloon filling, sales, line management, safety oversight)
Ideal ForSummer events, field days, block parties, high-energy outdoor fundraisers

Talk to a popular person in your school or community and ask them to be a walking water balloon target for a few hours during the event. Then sell full water balloons to kids!

24 funny fundraising ideas Pinterest photo

Darian Shimy

Darian Shimy is the founder and CEO of FutureFund Technology, a fundraising and selling platform for K-12 school groups. He has 25+ years in web-based technologies, managing engineering teams, and building products.

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