6min read · by KindRise’s founder, a Brooklyn resident
School and PTA Fundraising: A Practical Guide
School and PTA fundraising has a built-in advantage: a tight, motivated community of parents, teachers, grandparents, and neighbors who all want the kids to succeed. The trick is making it easy to give and clear where the money goes.
Start with a specific goal
"Help the school" is vague; "$8,000 for new library books and a fall field trip for every 3rd grader" is fundable. Name what the money buys and which kids it helps — specific asks consistently outraise general ones.
Put it on one online page
Skip the cash envelopes and order forms. A single online donation page lets every family share the same link with relatives and friends, and funds land directly in the PTA's account. Keep fees low so more reaches the classroom.
Ideas that still work
- Annual fund / direct ask: often the single most effective approach — just ask families to give what they can
- Read-a-thon or fun run: kids collect per-book or per-lap pledges
- Spring auction: local businesses and parents donate items and experiences
- Spirit wear: sell branded shirts and totes alongside the donation link
- Matching gifts: ask a local employer or parent to match for 24 hours
Share through school channels
Class parent lists, backpack mail, the PTA newsletter, school social media, and the marquee out front all reach families fast. Post progress updates to build momentum toward the goal.
Running a team or club instead? See youth sports fundraising. Local to Brooklyn? Browse neighborhood guides.
Ready to start? Launch a donation page on KindRise in minutes — with a free AI-generated banner and low, transparent fees, so more of every dollar reaches your cause.
KindRise is a small, independent project, not a faceless platform. Email support@gokindrise.com and a real person reads it, helps directly, and often builds the features people ask for.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best school fundraising ideas?
The most reliable are a direct annual-fund ask, a read-a-thon or fun run with per-task pledges, a spring auction, and spirit-wear sales — all promoted through one shared online donation page.
How can a PTA keep more of what it raises?
Use a platform with a low, transparent platform fee, offer a 'donor covers fees' option, and encourage slightly larger gifts since the flat per-transaction fee hurts small donations most.