Every parent teacher association reaches the same point in the term: the committee needs fresh PTA fundraising ideas that will actually get families involved. Whether you’re after tried-and-tested classics or something to shake up this year’s calendar, here are 50 ideas UK PTAs use to raise real money. For the full general list, see our main guide to school fundraising ideas.
Reliable PTA Money Raising Ideas
- Cake sale
- Quiz night
- Non-uniform day
- Summer fete or fayre
- Winter fair
- Raffle or tombola
- Christmas cards from children’s artwork
- Sponsored readathon
- Sponsored silence
- Talent show
- Disco or silent disco
- Clothes swap
- Second-hand uniform sale
- Car boot sale
- Bag pack at a local supermarket
Planning an event with multiple stalls? See our full list of fundraising stall ideas for fetes and fayres.
Good PTA Fundraising Ideas With Higher Returns
- Artwork keepsake fundraisers. Tea towels, tote bags, mugs and cards made from children’s own drawings tend to have among the highest commission rates of any PTA fundraiser, often 20 to 30%.
- Name label schemes
- Fashion show with a partnered clothing seller
- Silent or live auction of donated items and experiences
- Match funding from local businesses
- 100 club or membership lottery
- Crowdfunding page for a specific project
Easy PTA Fundraising Ideas for Busy Committees
- Online shopping affiliate schemes
- Recycling schemes for ink cartridges, batteries and electronics
- Product fundraisers families order online with no cash handling
- Grant applications through school funding databases
- Local business sponsorship for a specific facility
Seasonal PTA Fundraising Ideas
- Christmas jumper day
- Santa’s grotto
- Easter egg hunt
- Halloween disco
- Valentine’s post box and card sale
- Mother’s Day and Father’s Day gift stalls
- Summer fete with a bouncy castle
- Autumn fair
Christmas is the busiest fundraising season of the year. See our full Christmas fundraising guide for registration deadlines.
Games and Fun Day Ideas for PTA Events
- Guess the sweets in the jar
- Guess the baby photo
- Sponge the teacher
- Face painting
- Coconut shy
- Hook a duck
- Teacher vs pupil sports challenge
- Colour run
- Matchbox challenge
- Photo booth with props
Looking for something more unusual? See our quirky and unique fundraising ideas guide.
Choosing the Right Mix for Your PTA
Most successful PTAs don’t rely on a single fundraiser. A typical school year might combine one or two big events, such as a summer fete and a Christmas fair, with a steady background product fundraiser that runs with minimal admin, plus a passive scheme like online shopping affiliates ticking along in the background. This spreads the fundraising load across the year rather than relying on one big push. If cash, raffles or donations are involved anywhere in your calendar, check the Gambling Commission guidance on raffles and lotteries and GOV.UK Gift Aid guidance.
A Great PTA Fundraiser to Add This Term
Good Dream Design turns children’s artwork into tea towels, tote bags, mugs, coasters and cards, with commission rates up to 30% for schools that register early. No cash handling, no stock to manage, and production is handled entirely in-house in the UK.
Register your school to start a fundraising project today.