Top Ideas for School Fundraisers in 2024 (Updated 2026)

Looking for fundraising ideas that actually work for New Zealand schools? You're in the right place. We've compiled the most comprehensive guide to school fundraising in NZ, covering everything from traditional pie sales to modern online platforms.

This guide is based on real results from schools across the country, with detailed insights into what works, what doesn't, and how much you can realistically expect to raise. Whether you're planning your first fundraiser or looking to improve on last year's results, you'll find proven strategies here.

What Makes a Great School Fundraiser?

Before diving into specific ideas, let's understand what separates successful fundraisers from disappointing ones. The best school fundraisers share these characteristics:

1. Value for Supporters - People are more likely to participate when they receive something useful, delicious, or meaningful in return. Pure donation requests work, but product-based fundraisers typically achieve higher participation rates.

2. Easy to Execute - Complicated fundraisers with lots of paperwork, manual tracking, or complex logistics burn out volunteers and limit participation. The simpler your process, the better your results.

3. Good Profit Margins - Aim for fundraisers that return at least 30-40% profit. Some specialty products achieve 50-60% margins, while lower-margin items require higher volumes to reach your goals.

4. Community Appeal - Choose products or events that genuinely appeal to your school community. A wine fundraiser might work brilliantly at one school but flop at another depending on your parent demographics.

5. Timing - School fundraisers compete with busy family schedules, sports commitments, and other school events. Plan around school terms and avoid December when families face holiday expenses.

The Top School Fundraising Ideas for NZ Schools

1. Pie Fundraisers - The NZ Favourite

Expected Revenue: $1,500 - $5,000 Profit Margin: 35-45% Best For: Primary and intermediate schools, sports teams Difficulty: Easy

Pie fundraisers are the undisputed champion of NZ school fundraising, and for good reason. Kiwis love their pies, making them an easy sell to families who are already buying pies regularly. The convenience of frozen pies means supporters can stock up, and the products actually deliver quality that families appreciate.

Top Suppliers:

• Oxford Pies - North Island favourite with wide variety, reliable delivery, and strong profit margins
• Marlow Pies - South Island's trusted family pie brand with proven fundraising success
• Dad's Pies - Premium gourmet pies that command higher prices and margins
• Doughboys Bakery - Christchurch-based with online ordering and generous profit sharing

Why Pie Fundraisers Work:

• Families already buy pies regularly, so it's an easy yes
• Frozen products mean no waste and flexible timing
• Broad appeal across demographics
• Repeat customers year after year
• Simple to execute with online ordering systems

Pro Tips:

• Order forms showing pictures of pies significantly boost sales
• Promote family pack deals to increase average order size
• Run during school terms 2 or 3 when families are in routine
• Combine with online ordering to capture grandparents and extended family

For a detailed comparison of all pie fundraiser suppliers, check out our guide to fundraising pies in New Zealand.

2. Cookie Dough Fundraisers

Expected Revenue: $1,000 - $3,000 Profit Margin: 40-50% Best For: All school types, especially primary Difficulty: Easy

Cookie dough fundraisers combine novelty with nostalgia. Kids love being involved in baking, and parents appreciate the activity value beyond just the cookies themselves.

Top Option:

• Cookie Time - New Zealand's iconic cookie brand with frozen cookie dough that lets families bake fresh cookies at home

Why Cookie Dough Works:

• Strong brand recognition (Cookie Time is beloved in NZ)
• Activity element makes it more than just food
• Excellent profit margins
• Frozen product means no pressure on timing
• Kids can genuinely help with selling

Pro Tips:

• Emphasize the "baking with kids" angle in promotional materials
• Offer variety packs to increase order values
• Cookie dough sells particularly well in winter months
• Great for smaller schools as minimum orders are manageable

3. Chocolate Fundraisers

Expected Revenue: $800 - $2,500 Profit Margin: 35-45% Best For: Quick fundraisers, event-based sales Difficulty: Easy to Medium

Chocolate fundraisers come in many forms - from simple chocolate bar sales to premium chocolate boxes. They work particularly well around Easter and winter months when people crave chocolate.

Why Chocolate Fundraisers Work:

• Universal appeal across all ages
• Impulse purchase item (easier to sell)
• Works well for both order forms and direct sales
• Can be combined with events
• Premium options available for higher margins

Best Timing:

• Easter season (March-April)
• Winter months (June-August)
• Before school holidays as treats for travel

For a complete guide to running a chocolate fundraiser, see our how to start a chocolate fundraiser guide.

4. Wine Fundraisers

Expected Revenue: $2,000 - $6,000 Profit Margin: 30-40% Best For: High schools, parent-focused events Difficulty: Medium

Wine fundraisers target parents directly and can achieve impressive results with the right community. They work particularly well when combined with school events or sold online to capture extended family.

Top Suppliers:

• Booster Wine Group - Established fundraising program with quality NZ wines
• Alana Wines - Premium wine selection with good margins

Why Wine Fundraisers Work:

• Higher average order values ($100-200 per order)
• Appeals to parents who appreciate quality wine
• Gift-giving opportunities (Father's Day, Christmas)
• Can be sold online to reach wider audience
• Works brilliantly alongside school events

Pro Tips:

• Focus on quality over quantity - premium wines sell better
• Offer mixed cases to appeal to different tastes
• Promote gift boxes for special occasions
• Online ordering is essential for wine fundraisers
• Combine with parent evening events for tastings

5. Online Fundraising Platforms

Expected Revenue: $3,000 - $15,000+ Profit Margin: 90-100% (donations) Best For: All schools, especially tech-savvy communities Difficulty: Easy to Medium

Modern online fundraising platforms have revolutionized school fundraising by eliminating paperwork, tracking everything digitally, and making it easy for extended family to contribute from anywhere in the country.

Top Platforms:

• Raised - Purpose-built for schools with product fundraising integration
• Givealittle - NZ's most popular donation platform
• PledgeMe - Good for project-specific campaigns

Why Online Platforms Work:

• Reaches grandparents and extended family nationwide
• No paperwork or manual tracking
• Built-in social sharing increases reach
• Runs alongside other fundraisers
• Captures people who want to donate without buying products

Pro Tips:

• Set up before your product fundraiser to capture both audiences
• Share compelling stories about what funds will achieve
• Regular updates keep momentum going
• Photo and video content dramatically increases donations
• Make it mobile-friendly (most people will donate on phones)

For a detailed comparison of platforms, see our online fundraising platforms NZ guide.

6. School Fun Runs

Expected Revenue: $2,000 - $8,000 Profit Margin: 90-100% (sponsorships) Best For: Active school communities, primary schools Difficulty: Medium to Hard

A School Fun Run combines fitness, fun, and fundraising. Students get sponsored per lap or for completing the run, creating healthy competition while raising significant funds.

Why Fun Runs Work:

• Gets whole school involved
• Promotes health and fitness alongside fundraising
• Creates memorable community event
• Higher engagement from students
• Sponsorship model means higher returns

Challenges:

• Requires significant organization and volunteers
• Weather dependent
• Need to manage sponsorship collection
• Safety planning essential

Pro Tips:

• Use online platforms to collect and track sponsorships
• Combine with existing sports day to reduce organization burden
• Offer prizes for top fundraisers to boost competition
• Have a rain date planned
• Get local businesses to sponsor water stations

7. Specialty Food Fundraisers

Standing out with unique products can reduce competition fatigue if your community has done multiple pie fundraisers. These specialty options offer something different while maintaining strong margins:

Premium Spices:

• Pepper Me - Premium spice products with exceptional profit margins (50-60%), appeals to foodie parents

Staple Products:

• Westgold Butter - Quality NZ butter everyone uses regularly, easy repeat sales
• Jones Family Farm - Delicious cheese products from a trusted family farm

Healthy Options:

• Nothing Naughty - Healthy snack options for health-conscious families
• My Noke - Eco-friendly vermicast for gardeners

Artisan Bakery:

• Loaf - Premium artisan bread for foodie communities

Why Specialty Foods Work:

• Differentiation from standard fundraisers
• Often higher profit margins
• Appeals to specific demographics
• Less competition from other schools
• Premium positioning justifies higher prices

8. Eco-Friendly Fundraisers

Expected Revenue: $800 - $2,500 Profit Margin: 35-50% Best For: Environmentally-focused schools Difficulty: Easy to Medium

Sustainability-focused families increasingly want their purchasing to align with their values. Eco-friendly fundraisers tap into this market while teaching students about environmental responsibility.

Top Options:

• Ecostore - Household cleaning products families use regularly
• Good Change - Eco-friendly household items with strong environmental credentials
• My Noke - Organic vermicast for gardeners, unique and sustainable

Why Eco-Friendly Fundraisers Work:

• Aligns with school environmental programs
• Appeals to environmentally-conscious parents
• Educational component for students
• Products people use regularly (sustainable repeat purchases)
• Premium positioning allows for good margins

Pro Tips:

• Connect to existing school environmental initiatives
• Highlight environmental benefits in marketing
• Have student environmental leaders champion the fundraiser
• Time with Earth Day or environmental awareness events
• Use digital order forms to minimize paper waste

9. Practical Product Fundraisers

Sometimes the best fundraisers offer products families actually need and will use. These practical options generate reliable sales:

Garden Supplies:

• Kings Seeds - Garden seeds (brilliant for spring fundraisers)

School Merchandise:

• Teatowels - Custom school tea towels (great keepsake item)

Clothing:

• Jolly Soles - Quality socks everyone needs

Why Practical Products Work:

• Guaranteed use (not treating or discretionary)
• Can be sold year after year
• Lower resistance to purchase
• Often become collectibles (tea towels, school merchandise)
• Reasonable prices mean broader accessibility

10. Event-Based Fundraising

Beyond product sales, event-based fundraisers create community engagement while raising funds:

Donut Days: For one-off events with high impact, partner with donut suppliers for special sale days:

• Krispy Kreme - Iconic brand that sells itself, great for morning tea events
• Fresha Donuts - Fresh, local donuts with good margins
• The Donut Factory - Gourmet donut options for premium positioning

School Discos and Movie Nights: Classic school events that combine fun with fundraising through ticket sales and concessions.

Trivia Nights: Parent-focused events that raise funds through team entry fees, raffles, and auction items.

Galas and Fairs: Major annual events requiring significant organization but capable of raising $10,000+.

How to Choose the Right Fundraiser for Your School

With so many options, how do you choose? Consider these factors:

1. School Size and Type

Small Schools (under 100 students):

• Avoid fundraisers with high minimum orders
• Focus on online platforms that reach extended family
• Choose products with broad appeal
• Consider combining with neighboring schools
• Best options: Online platforms, cookie dough, eco-friendly products

Medium Schools (100-300 students):

• Can handle most fundraiser types
• Good candidate for pie fundraisers
• Can run multiple fundraisers annually
• Best options: Pies, wine, chocolate, fun runs

Large Schools (300+ students):

• Can negotiate better terms with suppliers
• Capable of major events (galas, fun runs)
• Can run specialized fundraisers for different year groups
• Best options: All types, especially high-volume products

2. Community Demographics

Affluent Areas:

• Premium products work well (specialty foods, wine)
• Higher average order values expected
• Less price sensitivity
• Consider higher-margin specialty items

Mixed Demographics:

• Stick with broadly appealing products
• Offer products at various price points
• Focus on value for money
• Pie fundraisers work brilliantly

Budget-Conscious Communities:

• Emphasize practical products families need anyway
• Lower price points increase participation
• Donation-based online fundraising may be challenging
• Focus on staple products (butter, pies, seeds)

3. Previous Fundraiser History

First-Time Fundraisers:

• Start simple with proven options
• Avoid complex events requiring major organization
• Use suppliers with strong support
• Best first fundraisers: Pies, cookie dough, online platform

Experienced Fundraisers:

• Consider rotation to prevent fatigue
• Try new products to maintain interest
• Can tackle more complex events
• Build on previous successes

Fundraiser Fatigue:

• If same fundraiser run too often, mix it up
• Try different product category
• Take a term off between fundraisers
• Consider combining with school events

4. Organizational Capacity

Limited Volunteers:

• Choose fundraisers with strong supplier support
• Use online ordering to minimize administration
• Avoid events requiring extensive volunteer coordination
• Best options: Supplier-managed product fundraisers

Strong Volunteer Base:

• Can tackle complex events
• Multiple fundraisers throughout year
• Creative combinations possible
• Event-based fundraisers work well

5. Timing Considerations

School Term Timing:

• Term 1 (Feb-Apr): Fresh energy, but families recovering from holiday expenses. Good for launching online platforms.
• Term 2 (May-Jul): Prime fundraising time. Families in routine. Best for pie fundraisers.
• Term 3 (Jul-Sep): Another strong period. Good for wine fundraisers (Father's Day).
• Term 4 (Oct-Dec): Avoid late November onwards due to Christmas expenses. Early term works for eco-friendly products.

Seasonal Opportunities:

• Mother's Day (May) - Premium products, wine, chocolate
• Father's Day (September) - Wine, specialty foods
• Easter (March-April) - Chocolate fundraisers
• Spring (September-November) - Garden seeds, eco-products
• Winter (June-August) - Cookie dough, pies, comfort foods

Keys to Fundraising Success

Regardless of which fundraiser you choose, these principles drive success:

1. Set Clear, Specific Goals

"We're raising $3,000 for new sports equipment" motivates better than "helping the school." People want to know:

• Exactly how much you need
• What it will fund
• When you need it by
• How close you are to the goal

2. Choose Products Your Community Actually Wants

The best fundraiser is one where supporters are excited to buy, not buying out of obligation. Test the idea with your parent community before committing.

3. Make Ordering Easy

Online ordering isn't optional anymore - it's expected. Platforms like Raised eliminate paperwork, track everything automatically, and make it easy for extended family nationwide to participate.

4. Communicate Regularly

Keep momentum with updates:

• Launch announcement with clear goals
• Mid-campaign progress update
• Final push reminder
• Achievement announcement
• Thank you message

5. Support Your Sellers

Provide students and parents with:

• Clear product information
• Sample scripts or email templates
• Tips for successful selling
• Recognition for top sellers
• Regular encouragement

6. Thank Your Supporters

Recognition encourages future participation:

• Personal thank you notes from students
• Public acknowledgment in school newsletter
• Photos showing what funds achieved
• Early notice of next fundraiser
• Special recognition for top supporters

7. Learn and Improve

After each fundraiser:

• Survey participants about what worked
• Track metrics (participation rate, average order value)
• Document lessons learned
• Adjust process for next time
• Build on successful elements

Common Fundraising Mistakes to Avoid

Learn from others' experiences and avoid these pitfalls:

1. Running Too Many Fundraisers

The Problem: Fundraiser fatigue sets in when schools ask too frequently. Supporters feel overwhelmed and participation drops.

The Solution: Space fundraisers at least a full school term apart. Quality over quantity - one well-executed fundraiser per term is better than multiple rushed ones.

2. Poor Communication

The Problem: Supporters don't know what they're funding, when orders close, or how much has been raised.

The Solution: Over-communicate. Send launch emails, reminders, progress updates, and thank you messages. Use newsletters, social media, and parent apps.

3. Choosing Products Your Community Doesn't Want

The Problem: Your school runs a fundraiser for a product no one is excited about, resulting in low participation and disappointing results.

The Solution: Survey your community before selecting a fundraiser. Ask what products they'd actually buy. Test smaller before committing to large minimums.

4. Complicated Processes

The Problem: Manual order forms, cash collection, spreadsheet tracking, and complex distribution systems overwhelm volunteers and limit participation.

The Solution: Use online ordering systems that automate tracking, payment collection, and reporting. Make it as easy as possible for both sellers and buyers.

5. No Clear Goal or Purpose

The Problem: "General school fundraising" doesn't inspire the same support as specific, tangible goals.

The Solution: Connect fundraising to specific projects. Show exactly what the money will fund and how it benefits students. Include photos or drawings of what you're working toward.

6. Forgetting to Thank Supporters

The Problem: People who supported your fundraiser feel unappreciated and are less likely to participate next time.

The Solution: Send personal thank you notes from students. Share photos of what their support achieved. Recognize top supporters publicly. Build relationships, not just transactions.

7. Poor Timing

The Problem: Running fundraisers when families face other financial pressures (December, school holidays) or when too busy to focus (end of term).

The Solution: Plan fundraising calendar at start of year. Avoid December, school holidays, and the last two weeks of terms. Terms 2 and 3 are prime fundraising periods.

Fundraising Ideas by Revenue Potential

Still deciding? Here's a quick reference by expected revenue:

$500-$1,500 (Good for Small Schools):

• Chocolate fundraisers
• Eco-friendly products
• Practical products (seeds, socks)
• Tea towels

$1,500-$3,000 (Medium Revenue):

• Cookie dough fundraisers
• Specialty food products
• Donut events
• Small online campaigns

$3,000-$6,000 (Strong Performers):

• Pie fundraisers
• Wine fundraisers
• Online fundraising platforms
• Fun runs

$6,000-$15,000+ (Major Fundraisers):

• Multiple combined fundraisers
• Major online campaigns
• School galas and fairs
• Large-scale fun runs

Getting Started with Your School Fundraiser

Ready to launch your fundraiser? Follow these steps:

Step 1: Assess Your Situation

• Review your school size, community demographics, and volunteer capacity
• Check previous fundraiser history and results
• Survey parents about product preferences
• Set realistic revenue goals

Step 2: Choose Your Fundraiser

• Browse our complete directory of fundraising ideas
• Filter by category, difficulty, and estimated revenue
• Read detailed supplier information
• Compare options that match your criteria

Step 3: Get Organized

• Form fundraising committee
• Set clear timeline with specific dates
• Organize required resources and volunteers
• Plan communication strategy
• Set up online ordering system

Step 4: Launch and Promote

• Announce fundraiser to school community
• Provide selling resources to students and parents
• Create promotional materials
• Launch social media campaign
• Send regular reminders

Step 5: Execute and Track

• Monitor progress against goals
• Send progress updates to maintain momentum
• Support sellers with encouragement and tips
• Solve problems quickly
• Celebrate milestones

Step 6: Close and Thank

• Final push reminder before close date
• Process final orders
• Coordinate product distribution
• Thank all participants personally
• Share results and what was achieved
• Document lessons learned

Resources to Help You Succeed

Explore our comprehensive guides to learn more:

• Fundraising Ideas NZ 2026 Ultimate Guide - Deep dive into everything fundraising
• How to Fundraise in NZ - Step-by-step implementation guide
• Fundraising Pies NZ - Complete comparison of pie fundraisers
• Chocolate Fundraiser Guide - Detailed chocolate fundraising strategies
• Online Fundraising Platforms - Compare digital fundraising tools
• Complete Fundraising Directory - Browse all 100+ fundraising options

The Bottom Line

The best school fundraiser is one that matches your school's community, capacity, and goals. Don't feel pressured to copy what other schools do - choose what will work for YOUR school.

Start with something manageable, execute it well, and build from there. Consistent, well-run fundraisers build supporter loyalty that pays dividends for years to come.

Focus on providing genuine value to supporters, make the process as easy as possible, communicate clearly and regularly, and always thank participants. Follow these principles, and your fundraising efforts will succeed.

Ready to choose your fundraiser? Browse our complete directory of 100+ fundraising ideas for NZ schools and find the perfect match for your school today.