How to Raise Big Without Spending Big!
When you’re trying to raise donations for your school, the last thing you want is for event costs to eat into your profits. Fundraising is about maximizing donations for your school, but if too much of what you raise goes back into running the event itself, it can feel like taking two steps forward and one step back. If you have a tight budget, then every dollar counts, especially when it’s raised through the hard work of students, parents, and volunteers.
That’s why it’s so important to find ways to host successful events that keep upfront costs low. By using a mobile donation platform that doubles as a complete event planning tool, your school can keep 95-97% of the profits while managing every aspect of the fundraiser in one place.
Ready to make your next fundraiser a hit without breaking the bank? Here are 7 budget-friendly tips that will help your school meet its goals without overspending.
#1: Do It Yourself!
Why give away 50% of your hard-earned donations to an outside company when you can manage the event yourself? Running your own Athon-style event (Fun Run, Walk-Athon, Dance-Athon, etc.) allows you to keep more of the money raised.
All it takes is a bit of planning, a team of dedicated volunteers, and a reliable online platform to manage digital donations.
With Get Movin’, you don’t have to go it alone. You get a personal coach who is a former PTO/A volunteer, bringing both experience and empathy to the table. They understand the challenges and goals of parent-led fundraisers and can guide you through the process with tips and insights from someone who’s been there before.
Parents and community members care about transparency—they want to know their donations are going directly to the school’s needs, not administrative costs. A DIY approach, supported by an experienced coach, ensures that the majority of what’s raised stays with your school while giving you the tools and guidance to make your event a success!
With a little creativity, you can put together a fun and professional-looking track without overspending:
- DIY Boundaries: Use inexpensive materials like wooden 2x2s and staple stringed flags to create a vibrant, easy-to-set-up track. These materials can be found at any local hardware store and give your event a polished look.
- Use What’s Already Available: Schools often have a lot of what you need already. Check with your PE teacher to borrow cones, flags, and other markers that can define your course.
- Traffic Cones: Cones are a versatile way to outline your track. They can be arranged in a large rectangle or oval to create a course that’s perfect for students to walk or run around. Since cones are reusable, they’re a great investment for annual events.
Why does this matter? A well-marked course helps keep students safe and organized, ensuring a smooth event that parents and kids will remember. And when you’re not spending big on setup, more of the funds raised go directly to your school!
#3: Be Your Own DJ
Music is key to keeping the energy high during a fundraising event, but that doesn’t mean you need to hire a professional DJ. Why not create your own 40-minute playlist? With a phone, a speaker, and an aux cable or Bluetooth connection, you can set the tone for the event without any extra cost.
Plus, when you make the playlist yourself, you can tailor the music to your students’ favorite tunes, making the event feel more personalized and fun. Reuse the playlist for different groups of students as they take their turns on the course. This simple tip saves money while keeping the event lively, ensuring kids stay excited and engaged. By the way, when you use FundHub, you get access to our pre-made Fun Run and Read-Athon playlists on Spotify!
#4: Use Spirit Signs
Involving families in the fundraising process is a great way to build community, and Spirit Signs are an easy way to do that while staying within budget:
- Sell half a blank posterboard for $5 to families during the donation period.
- Families decorate the posterboard together at home, adding their own creative touch.
- The decorated signs are displayed around the event course!
#5: Use Free, Experience-Based Incentives
Kids love incentives, but they don’t always have to be expensive. Instead of splurging on electronics or merchandise, think about experience-based rewards that create lasting memories without a big price tag. These types of incentives keep students motivated and make the fundraising process even more fun:
- Principal for a Day: The top student fundraiser gets to be the “Principal for a Day,” offering a fun, behind-the-scenes experience that makes them feel special.
- Slime the Principal / Teacher: If the school reaches its donation goal, students get to slime the principal—a classic activity that never fails to get kids excited.
- Pie the Principal: A timeless favorite that’s easy to set up and always a hit with students. A good alternative is a dunk tank!
- Class Dance Party: The class that raises the most money gets a dance party during recess or lunch, complete with their favorite tunes.
- VIP Lunch Table: Top fundraisers get to eat lunch at a special table with a friend, complete with decorations and maybe even a visit from the principal. You could event get it catered by a local restaurant or fast food franchise!
- Extra Recess: Hit the school’s goal and everyone wins an extra recess! Simple but effective, kids will love the chance to play a bit longer.
These incentives are not only affordable but create moments that kids will talk about for weeks, making your event memorable without stretching the budget. For even more ideas, check out our downloadable list of 100+ incentive ideas to keep your students engaged and excited!
#6: Use Digital Promotions
Printing and distributing flyers can get expensive fast, especially when you factor in the time it takes to create and distribute them. Instead, promote your event digitally. Over 50% of donations come from social media, so make sure you’re using our FREE social media templates accessible on FundHub!
Going digital means you reach more people without the added cost of paper, ink, or volunteer hours. And with custom graphics or videos, you can make your posts look professional and engaging. It’s a win-win: save money and reach more donors where they’re already spending their time online.
#7: Use a Mobile Donation Platform
Perhaps the most effective way to save time and money is to use a mobile donation platform that also functions as an event planning tool. FundHub streamlines everything from setting up your event page to managing donations, tracking progress, and keeping everyone updated. It simplifies the work for volunteers and ensures 95-97% of the donations stay with your school.
Take the guesswork out of organizing and running the event, leaving you more time to focus on what matters most—engaging with students, families, and the community. And when your tools are simple to use, more parents and teachers will feel confident getting involved, which helps the whole event run smoother!
School Example: Rascal Run
Check out this amazing video from Charles Haskell Elementary in Edmond, OK, to see how they pulled off an incredible fundraiser with their Rascal Run. The best part? They kept costs low and still raised OVER $36,000 for their school!