Mother's Day and Father's Day Fundraisers: Gift Ideas Families Will Buy

These holidays fall in spring, a stretch of the school year when families are tired of fundraisers and most other campaigns have ended. A gift sale feels different from another request for money, because families are choosing a present, not writing a donation check. That difference is what makes it one of the more welcome spring fundraisers a school can run.

Big Fundraising Ideas has supported school fundraising programs since 1999. This guide covers what schools can sell, how to price gifts for young buyers, how to keep the sale welcoming for every child, and how to time it. For more on the season, see effective spring fundraising tips.

What a School Can Sell

• Flowers and Plants: The classic Mother's Day gift. A spring flowers fundraiser handles the ordering, and an online flower store lets relatives order too. See selling flowers for a school fundraiser for the details.
• Small Gifts and Keepsakes: Themed items that fit a child's budget. See spring Smencils for a low-cost, non-food option you can sell at school.
• Student-made Cards and Crafts: The lowest-cost option. Students make a card or small craft in class and take it home, with families donating a small amount to the school.
• Gift Baskets and Bundles: A basket of themed items assembled by parent volunteers, sold by pre-order or raffled.
• Treats: Boxed candy bars or packaged sweets, which pair well with a card as a simple gift.

Pricing Gifts for Young Buyers

1. Offer a Low Entry Price: Include at least a few items a child can buy with pocket money, even if it means a simple card or a single small item.
2. Add a Middle Tier and a Premium Tier: Families who want to spend more can move up to a larger item, while every child can still take part.
3. Price in Round Numbers: This keeps a classroom shop moving and avoids the need for change.
4. Let Parents Pre-order for the Child: A pre-order form lets a family buy a gift for themselves without spoiling the surprise, or add extra items for a grandparent.
5. Set the Order Deadline Before the Holiday: Build in time for delivery and for handling a late order.

Keeping the Sale Welcoming for Every Child

• Use an Inclusive Name: Many schools call the sale Gifts for Someone Special, or run both holidays as a single Spring Gift Shop.
• Invite Gifts for Any Special Adult: A grandparent, aunt, guardian, or mentor should feel just as welcome as a mother or father.
• Offer a Free Option: A classroom card-making activity means no child has to leave without something to give.
• Keep the Tone Gentle: The sale should never imply that a child has to buy a gift to take part in the holiday.

Timing: When to Start and How to Handle Father's Day

• Start Three to Four Weeks Before Mother's Day: This gives you time to collect pre-orders, receive the products, and deliver them before the holiday. Learn how long a school fundraiser should run for the general principle.
• Run One Combined Campaign if School Ends Early: If the school year closes before Father's Day, a single Spring Gift Shop in May covers both holidays and avoids running two separate sales.
• Run them Separately if the Calendar Allows: A school that runs into mid-June can hold a smaller Father's Day sale after Mother's Day.
• Confirm the Delivery Method Early: Decide whether gifts go home with students or are picked up at school, and tell families in advance.

Choosing the Right Format

Combining a Gift Sale With a Larger Campaign

A scratch card fundraiser or discount card fundraiser can run alongside the sale, giving families a second, low-pressure way to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can a school sell for Mother's Day?

Flowers and plants are a classic choice, along with small keepsakes, student-made cards, gift baskets, and packaged treats. Offer a range of price points so every child can afford something.

How do you run a Mother's Day gift sale at school?

Choose your gifts and price points, set an order deadline before the holiday, offer either a pre-order form or a classroom gift shop, and plan how gifts will get home. Start three to four weeks ahead.

What are good Father's Day fundraiser ideas?

The same formats work for Father's Day: small keepsakes, student-made cards, gift baskets, and treats. If your school year ends before the holiday, run a single combined Spring Gift Shop in May.

When should a school start a Mother's Day fundraiser?

Start about three to four weeks before Mother's Day to allow time to collect orders, receive products, and deliver them before the day. Confirm the schedule with your principal first.

What price should Mother's Day gifts be for kids to buy?

Offer at least a few items a child can afford with pocket money, plus middle- and premium-priced options for families who want to spend more. Round-number prices keep a classroom shop moving.

How do you keep the sale inclusive for kids without a mom or dad?

Use a broader name, such as Gifts for Someone Special or Welcome Gifts for Any Special Adult, and offer a free card-making option so every child has something to give.

Do we need to run separate sales for each holiday?

Not necessarily. Many schools run one combined Spring Gift Shop, especially when the school year ends before Father's Day. Run two separate sales only if your calendar has room.

Can a Mother's Day sale support a larger fundraiser?

Yes. A gift sale reaches families in a positive mood, so it is a good time to introduce a scratch card or discount card fundraiser alongside it, keeping the ask low-pressure.

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.