5 Smart School Fundraising Ideas to Consider for Fall 2022

Effective methods to raise funds for your school this fall.

Fundraising is year-round, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take advantage of the changing seasons. With fall approaching, it’s time to start brainstorming your next seasonal campaign. After all, fall is when most schools have their largest and most successful sales campaigns.

Look no further if you’re looking for proven school fundraising ideas for the fall that work. This article discusses why seasonal fundraising works and five specific types that you might want to consider for fall 2022.

Why Seasonal Fundraising Works

Seasonal fundraising works for schools. Taking full advantage of this time of year can make a huge difference in the success of your school’s raise. It’s an easy way to theme your campaigns. For instance, you may choose a winter holiday theme and a summer beach theme. Seasonal fundraising also motivates people to get excited about your events and sales. Most people enjoy the changing of the seasons and everything it brings. Tap into that with your raise!

5 Types of Fall Season School Fundraisers

Fall offers a plethora of fun options for school fundraising. Below are five practical and effective ideas geared toward the fall season. Use the following list to help you develop an idea that suits your school’s strengths, style, and needs.

1. Product Fundraisers

There are plenty of fall-themed school fundraising catalogs you can use to raise capital. Common fall products include decorations, fall and Halloween-themed clothing, candles, costumes, fall flowers, and baked goods. Be sure to start your fall product fundraiser early in the season! This ensures that you reach your community before they’ve begun purchasing their decorations and other favorite fall items.

2. Events and Festivals

Hosting events and festivals is a great way to tackle your best school fundraisers, especially during the fall season. Craft fairs, DIY costume workshops, fall wreath-making workshops, bonfires, cook-offs, and pumpkin carving events are all great options. You may also choose to host a fall festival or harvest dance. Activities at the festival can include bobbing for apples, pumpkin carving, hayrides, cookouts, trunk-or-treating, and more. See tips and more here.

Another option is to partner with a local orchard or farm to host an apple-picking event. Proceeds can be split between the school and the partnering organization.

3. Food and Candy

Food fundraising ideas for schools are popular year-round. Still, the fall season offers many other fun options, such as candy bars, caramel apples, dry soup mixes, pumpkin bars, spice mixes, vegetable ferments, and more. To raise even more funding, take your school fundraiser online in addition to selling in person.

4. Costume Contest

Everyone loves a good costume contest. Charge contestants a small fee to enter the competition and ask local businesses to donate goods, services, and coupons for the prizes. This fundraising idea can work as a standalone event or be used with a fall festival, harvest dance, or Halloween event.

5. Online Fundraising

Every list of school fundraising ideas needs to include online fundraising. There is no way to get around it in today’s culture. You can still keep your fall theme going online. One way to do this is to decorate your online donation page. Choose autumn colors such as auburn, gold, and green. Using imagery such as leaves, pumpkins, baskets of veggies, trees with colorful leaves, etc., you can host digital costume contests, DIY workshops, and more using a live streaming platform.

Author Bio

Clay Boggess has been designing fundraising programs for schools and various nonprofit organizations throughout the US since 1999. He’s helped administrators, teachers, and outside support entities such as PTAs and PTOs raise millions of dollars. Clay is an owner and partner at Big Fundraising Ideas.