30+ Fun and Easy Fundraising Ideas for Kids to Raise More

Need a quick and effective family-friendly fundraising project? Read this guide and raise more money with these 30+ fun and easy fundraising ideas for kids.

Getting your kids involved with fundraising helps instill the values of charity and generosity. But, to keep them engaged and raise funds, these fundraising ideas need to be fun and profitable.

While there are plenty of unique fundraising ideas and events that will encourage kids to get in the spirit of giving while having fun raising money for a fantastic cause, there are a few that stand out.

Whether you are trying to fundraise with small children or bring out your own inner child, these 30+ fundraising ideas are sure to make any kid smile. If you’re brainstorming fundraising ideas for your nonprofit organization, school, individual fundraising, or for a larger cause, getting your kids involved can be fun and uplifting for the whole family. So without further ado–let’s dive into our favorite fundraising idea for kids, a shoe drive fundraiser!

Our Favorite Fundraising Idea for Kids

1. Shoe Drive Fundraiser

Shoe drive fundraisers are an ideal way to launch your fundraising strategy while encouraging kids to participate. Kids seem to grow out of shoes overnight, which means you likely have extra pairs lying around and might be wondering what to do with them.

Their outgrown shoes can finally serve a bigger purpose! Donate them to a shoe drive fundraiser and encourage classmates, friends, and family to do the same.

How does this fundraising idea work? Let’s start with the beginning of the fundraiser:

  1. First, call on an organization like Funds2Orgs to start the fundraiser. They will drop off all of the collection supplies to gather as many shoes as you can from the community.
  2. You’ll make calls out to the community to gather their old, gently worn, used, and new shoes for these collection boxes.
  3. Once the fundraiser is over, Funds2Orgs comes to collect the shoes to repurpose them.
  4. You’ll receive a check in the mail depending on the weight of the bulk of shoes you gathered and donated.

Super easy, right? You’re giving new life to your kids’ old shoes while instilling the values of generosity and ecological responsibility for the donations and repurposed shoes.

Not only is this fundraiser super easy, but it’s also incredibly affordable with no out-of-pocket costs and a dedicated coaching team to help you crush your fundraising goals. Our how-to videos, social media templates, and weekly email tips will help you get started on the right foot.
Click here to try out favorite fundraising idea for kids—shoe drive fundraisers

Other Creative Fundraising Ideas for Kids

2. Matching Gift Drive

Matching gifts are a form of corporate philanthropy where companies match donations that their employees make to charitable causes. For example, an employee might donate $50 to their children’s school and their employer could match that gift to offer a total $100 to the school.

Matching gift programs are a very popular corporate philanthropy strategy for companies, but they’re underused by employees, which means it’s up to you to get the word out. During your fundraising campaign, send out newsletters, emails, or social media posts about matching gifts and how someone can look up their eligibility. If you want to go all-in, try investing in a matching gift database like Double the Donation to make it even easier for your community.


A silent auction is one of our top fundraising ideas for kids.

3. Silent Auction

Silent auctions, whether online or in-person, are a great idea for getting kids excited about fundraising.

If you are fundraising for a school, try auctioning off items that students enjoy, such as a school supply basket or a collection of top young adult novels. Or you could auction trips, sports merchandise, or dinner certificates for the entire family to enjoy!

Another way to get kids involved in this fundraiser is to encourage them to create the auction items themselves. Parents will love bidding on art projects by their own children!


4. Scavenger Hunt

Encourage kids at a local school, youth camp, or neighborhood group to sign up for and help plan a scavenger hunt. You can charge admissions for families or ask that they volunteer to help with event planning. To keep kids involved, consider trying out these strategies:

Scavenger hunts is a top option for fundraising ideas for kids.

  • Pick an engaging, kid-friendly theme like “finding lost pirate treasure”
  • Hide items in a walkable and safe area like a local park or around neighborhoods
  • Create fun clues and riddles
  • Give out hints when necessary
  • Check-in to make sure kids are on the right track
  • Get the whole family involved in finding clues

Scavenger hunts can be a perfect Saturday activity that can be fun for kids (and adults) of all ages. Consider having an indoor backup plan in case your outdoor scavenger hunt gets rained out, or host a hybrid indoor-outdoor scavenger hunt event.


A popcorn sale fundraiser is a great fundraising idea for kids.5. Popcorn Fundraisers

Raise money and provide something for everyone with this popular fundraiser.

If you’re looking for a family-friendly fundraiser for your school, church or other organization, look no further than popcorn fundraising. Selling delicious snacks to your community in exchange for donations is a great way to earn money for any cause!

Get started with a personalized web store from ABC Fundraising and start selling popcorn to anyone and everyone throughout your community—grandparents, family friends, colleagues, etc. After all, who doesn’t love ordering gourmet snacks that, as a bonus, support a great cause?


Crowdfunding is one of our top fundraising ideas for kids.

6. Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is a flexible online fundraising solution in which you collect many small donations from a broad audience, making it ideal for kids without an income to participate. You can easily pair it with events as well such as a-thon events and Fun Runs. Or, you can keep it simple and opt to fundraise for personal causes all online. 

Use a crowdfunding platform that allows you to customize your page with a photo of your child or your family; then, write a short description of your cause. Market your campaign on social media to appeal to your online network for donations. You’ll be amazed at how many gifts come flowing in!


A bake sale is delicious and fun option for fundraising ideas for kids.

7. Bake Sale

Bake sales are a classic fundraiser for kids that can raise a surprising amount of cash when you have access to the right resources.

First, you need an excellent product. Do you have a famous chocolate chip cookie recipe? Are your brownies out of this world? Dig into some of the old favorite recipes. Maybe this is when you tell your kids about age-old family baking secrets!

Second, you need some of the cutest sales and delivery workers around. Luckily, you already have access to that! Kids will love bringing these amazing goods to neighbors and friends.


8. Movie Night

Families sitting in a park watching a film, which is an example of a fundraising idea for kids.

Gather family, friends, neighbors, and classmates to participate in a fun movie night complete with a large screen, popcorn, and fun movie-themed snacks and decorations. To take this to the next level, you could host it outside and let kids sleep in tents for the night.

Or rent a pool for the afternoon and host a fun swim-up movie night. Monetize the event by charging admission or requiring that some families help you set-up and clean up the event to get in. That way, all parties can have fun and share the work equally. Before selecting a film, you can send out a survey of top picks to gauge interest and find a movie that will provide the largest turnout.


Trivia night is one of our top fundraising ideas for kids

9. Trivia Night

Trivia nights are a perfect and educational way to get kids involved with your next fundraising event. Ask questions about popular television shows, books, and pop culture. Include a kids category to ask about kids’ favorite movies or sports teams!

Sell tickets and invite the whole community to attend. If you host the event at a local restaurant, you can always ask if they’d be willing to share a cut of the profits for your cause so you can earn a little extra cash.

Bonus! You can also ask the host if you can include a shoe drive collection box, which is located in the corner of the event. Then encourage people to bring their old, gently worn, used, and new shoes to donate during the event.


A talent show is one of our top fundraising ideas for kids to show off their talent and draw large crowds.

10. Talent Show

Host a talent show to let kids show off their incredible skills to the world!

All you need for this kids fundraiser is a stage and some incredible performers. Sell tickets to family members so they can come to watch their kids wow the crowd.

To make some extra cash during this event, try selling concessions or fun, branded merchandise to and audience members.


A 5K race is one of our top fundraising ideas for kids to promote healthy living and raise funds.

11. 5K Race

These handy fundraisers encourage kids and adults alike to get out and be active while raising money for an incredible cause. They are easy to host and be done most seasons out of the year as long as you have a reliable route in place.

In addition to raising money and encouraging a healthy lifestyle, you’ll also be helping kids burn off some of their seemingly never-ending energy, making in a go-to idea for after school, weekend, or holiday fundraising.

Bonus! You can run a shoe drive fundraiser alongside your 5K raise and request that participants bring their new and gently used running shoes to donate before the event.


A family picture day is one of our top fundraising ideas for kids and the whole family.

12. Family Picture Day

It can be a real hassle to take a good picture of the entire family. Between kids squirming and finding someone to take the picture, most families do without it. Hosting a family picture day will give families these keepsake photos while raising money for a great cause!

Offer a professional photo shoot for your supporters to come and get a group or individual picture. You can then sell these pictures to them in the form of framed or wallet-sized photos, custom mugs, or any other personalized item.

All you need for this fundraising idea for kids is a good camera and a location to take the photos. It’s that easy!


 An art auction is one of our top fundraising ideas for kids.

13. Art Auction

An art auction is a perfect fundraiser to show off kids’ creative abilities!

Encourage kids in an art class to create paintings or pottery. Then, set up an art gallery to show off their work. Invite family and friends to come along and bid on their child’s artistic creation.

Make it an event by combining this fundraiser with others (like a scavenger hunt). Also, try investing in mobile bidding auction software so families can bid while enjoying other activities. And don’t forget your shoe collection drop-off location at the event.


A class cookbook is one of our top fundraising ideas for kids to bring in new recipes for the whole community to try.

14. Class Cookbook

A class cookbook is not only a great fundraiser for kids but a perfect resource for meals that will be treasured for years to come.

Ask every kid in a class, team, or other group to bring in their favorite recipe to compile in a cookbook. All you have to do is have it printed and make copies to sell to the families.

For more fun, make it a themed cookbook for the holiday season. Who doesn’t like to try new holiday cookie recipes?


Field day is one of our top fundraising ideas for kids and families wanting to experience competitive day of fun.

15. Field Day

Field day is a classic sports fundraising event that kids everywhere look forward to each year.

Set up games and activities outside for everyone to enjoy. Some of these games may include tug-of-war, kickball, a water balloon toss, a three-legged race, and other fun activities. Charge a small admission fee or ask for gently used sneakers from families to run a shoe drive fundraiser alongside your field day event.

Don’t forget to make a rain plan for this event! Check out the website for your local community center. Depending on their availability, you may be able to reserve the center for your event.

Click here to try out favorite fundraising idea for kids—shoe drive fundraisers!


Hosting a carnival is one of our top fundraising ideas for kids, community members, and families.

16. Carnival

A carnival is a perfect way to get everyone together for a day of family fun. Plus you can combine multiple fundraisers for one big event!

Make sure you provide plenty of games for all ages during this event. From rides to guessing games, silent auctions to shoe drive fundraisers, and everything in between, your kids are bound to have a blast at the event.

Carnivals are also perfect for schools. Gather kids of all ages to come out and enjoy a fun night filled with family, games, friends, and fun!


Pictures with Santa is one of our top fundraising ideas for kids.

17. Pictures with Santa

How often have you gone to the mall during the holiday season and seen kids lined up for their 30-second photo shoot with the big guy? But, the mall can be incredibly overwhelming.

You can host your own pictures with Santa event for a better experience for the kids, plus some extra funds for you!

All you need for this event is to get a great camera and some of Santa’s finest helpers. Try including a holiday cookie-baking contest at this event. Who’s a better judge than Santa to find the best milk and cookies in town?


Help-O-Ween is one of our top fundraising ideas for kids.

18. Help-O-Ween

Get your kids excited for the Halloween season and the season of giving!

Instead of asking for candy, encourage your kids to explain your cause to each family they visit on Halloween and ask for spare change instead. Not only will this collect funds for your cause, but it also instills a charitable spirit in the kids.

In addition to raising money, your kids will be spreading the word of your incredible mission to the entire community.


Rubber duck races are one of our top fundraising ideas for kids.

19. Rubber Duck Race

Get your supporters in the competitive mood with a rubber duck race.

Competitions are one of the top ways to get people involved in your fundraising efforts, and it’s just as exciting as other fundraising ideas for kids! What cuter competition is there than rubber ducks?

Gather enough rubber ducks for everyone who wants to join the race, then number each one. Supporters submit a small registration fee to enter the competition, then cheer their numbered duck to the finish line! Remember to provide a small prize for the race winner.


Valentine candygrams are one of our top fundraising ideas for kids to spread kindness and raise funds.

20. Valentine Candygrams

Valentine’s Day candygrams are the perfect way to show that special someone you care.

People can buy a candygram valentine (a piece of candy and small love note) to support your cause. This token of love is then delivered to the recipient. Try offering an alternative to a monetary donation: if kids would instead donate a pair of shoes for the candygram, you can add it to your shoe drive fundraiser.

For a super cute spin on this fundraising idea, ask kids to deliver the valentines! You can also get kids involved by hosting this fundraiser at your local elementary school.


Used booksale is a fun and educational fundraising idea for kids.

21. Used Book Sale

How many required reading books do kids purchase, read, and then never touch again? A used book sale is a perfect fundraising idea for kids that will repurpose this old reading material for other children to enjoy.

Encourage kids to donate the old books that they may have outgrown or don’t read anymore. Then, resell these books to other kids. The donation pile is bound to be full of fun books or future required readings that other parents can get for a great deal.


Penny wars are one of our top fundraising ideas for kids to raise funds and learn the value of money.

22. Penny Wars

Penny wars are a perfect kids fundraiser idea to make the most of the natural competitive spirit we develop at a young age.

Split the kids into teams or encourage competition between different elementary school classes. Kids put pennies and other coins in the jar for their team. Every cent collected is a point toward that team.

The twist is that dollars are negative points. Kids can put dollars in the jars for their competitors to subtract 100 points for that team. Whoever has the most points at the end of the fundraiser, wins! Don’t forget to provide a small prize (like a pizza party) for the winning team.


A read-a-thon is one of our top fundraising-ideas for kids.

23. Read-a-Thon

A read-a-thon is one of our top fundraising ideas for kids because it encourages kids to spend the day reading with their friends or classmates.

The fundraiser works like this: Kids ask parents, teachers, friends, and family to sponsor their efforts in the read-a-thon. Kids collect donations for however many minutes or pages they read. Remember to give a prize to the child who reads the most during the event!

This event is often used as an effective and profitable fundraiser for schools, but it can certainly be applied for any organization or cause.


A dodgeball tournament is one of our top fundraising ideas for kids.

24. Dodgeball Tournament

A dodgeball tournament is a fun and exciting way to get adults and kids alike out and about for your fundraising cause.

Require some participation or spectator fee for the tournament. Kids and adults alike will love throwing these soft balls at their family and friends. Remember to offer a prize for the winner of the competition!

Try adding a concession stand at the tournament and putting a shoe drive fundraising collection box in the corner during the competition for some extra earnings.


 A family game night is one of our top fundraising ideas for kids, families, and community members to have fun and raise funds.

25. Family Game Night

Pull out your favorite classic board games because it’s time for a family game night.

Encourage all families invited to the event to bring their favorite board games. Then, charge a small admissions fee per family to play.

Don’t forget to show appreciation for everyone for coming to the event. Make sure to offer a small prize for the winner of the tournament. It could be a trophy or a gift card to a local restaurant for dinner after the event.


Hat or PJ day is one of our top fundraising ideas for kids.

26. Hat or PJ Day

Hat or PJ day is a perfect fundraiser for schools, church youth groups, or any other group that may have a dress code. This fundraiser is entirely free to run. All you need to do is ask kids to pay a small fee to wear a silly hat or their pajamas to school or Sunday service.

Kids have fun wearing the previously forbidden clothing, while you raise money for an incredible cause. Send out promotion ahead of time to make sure kids don’t miss the opportunity to dress up.


Parents’ night out is one of our top fundraising ideas for kids.

27. Parents’ Night Out

Sometimes parents need a break. The Parents’ Night Out fundraiser gives them the chance to go out on a date night, get some errands finished, or take a staycation.

Essentially parents’ night out is like group babysitting. Recruit volunteers to watch children while their parents take a night off. As a top school fundraising event, it’s easy to promote and you’ll have parents ready to sign up in no time. 

Kids love this idea because they get to hang out with their friends. Parents love this idea because they get a well-deserved break for the evening. Plus, by charging a small fee to watch the children, your cause raises money. Everyone wins!


Soup delivery is one of our top fundraising ideas for kids.

28. Soup Delivery

On a cold day, nothing tastes better than a hot cup of your favorite soup.

Did you know this delicious soup can help you raise money too? Gather a group of people together to make a huge batch of soup that you can provide to family and friends. Then, gather volunteers (we suggest the cutest volunteers in town—your kids!) to deliver the soup.

Ask for a small contribution in exchange for the soup delivery. You can either ask for a small fee for the soup or open the payment up to another donation type: trade soup in exchange for a pair of shoes for your shoe drive fundraiser.


Selling cookie dough is one of our top fundraising ideas for kids to drive revenue while selling delicious sweet treats.

29. Cookie Dough

Cookie dough fundraisers are one of the most delicious fundraising ideas around.

Purchase cookie dough from a wholesale provider, then sell it to your community members. Ask your kids to bring the order form to their school or youth group to expand your network even further.

This fundraising idea is especially effective during the holiday season when everyone wants to make batches on batches of holiday cookies.


Restaurant night is one of our top fundraising ideas for kids.]

30. Restaurant Night

When was the last time your whole family was able to sit down to a special family dinner? Between the craziness of the kids’ schedules, this time is priceless. Now, imagine you can take this time and help support a great cause!

Many restaurants offer a “restaurant night” to nonprofits and other causes. Chains like Chipotle, Moe’s, Zaxby’s, Panera Bread can partner with the cause and agrees to donate a portion of the profits for a single evening to the nonprofit. Don’t forget to ask local restaurants if they’d like to participate to support small businesses and get the community together.

This unique fundraising idea allows families to spend quality time together while contributing to a great cause.


Cupcake wars are one of our top fundraising ideas for kids to enjoy decorating their cupcakes and compete for the top winning spot.

31. Cupcake Wars

Cupcake wars are a great fundraising idea for all the sweets lovers in your family.

Charge a small admission fee to enter the competition. Set up age groups so everyone is competing with others roughly their same age. Then, let the games begin!

Set cupcakes in front of everyone and give them a certain amount of time to decorate that cupcake for the competition. An unbiased volunteer judge passes a verdict to find the best cupcake designer for each age group. Finally, everyone enjoys their sweet treats.


32. Sports Team Competition

Up the fundraising ante with a sports team competition. Invite your community to show up and show out for a fun-filled day of sports. You can group family and friends randomly, have each family compete against each other, place grade levels against each other, or randomly draw teams to ensure fairness. Host a sports team competition as a fundraising idea for kids.

Consider rotating sports like:

  • Basketball
  • Volleyball
  • Soccer
  • Pickleball
  • Tennis
  • Hockey

Have a dedicated judge in place, and you can invite other community members to act as coaches to rally each team to victory! Not to mention, you can host a peer-to-peer fundraiser and have other community members pledge their support based on individual teams.


Fundraising Ideas for Kids Conclusion + Additional Resources

Running a kid-friendly fundraiser is a simple and fun way to raise support and get the whole family involved. As you plan your fundraising event, don’t limit yourself to just one fundraiser at a time. Instead, consider combining fundraisers to maximize support and get the most fun out of your plans.

For instance, you could pair a shoe drive fundraiser with any sports-related event or host a peer-to-peer fundraising opportunity during competitive events to incentivize teams. Assemble a small planning committee early to make sure all elements of the fundraiser are a go. Then, set off to raise money for a cause that matters to you—you’ve got this!

Interested in learning more about all things fundraising? Check out our dedicated fundraising resources below:

Click here to try out favorite fundraising idea for kids—shoe drive fundraisers!

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