Running a preschool means more than just nurturing young minds—it often requires creative ways to raise extra funds. Whether you’re supporting classroom supplies, planning enrichment activities, or saving for a big event, the right preschool fundraising ideas can make all the difference. From classic bake sales to imaginative walk-a-thons and art auctions, there are countless ways to get families involved while boosting your budget.
In this article, we’ve rounded up some of the most effective and easy-to-organize fundraising ideas for preschools. These ideas are fun, family-friendly, and proven to inspire both participation and generosity—helping you strengthen your school community while reaching your fundraising goals.
Short answer: The most popular preschool fundraising ideas are bake sales, car washes, read-a-thons, plays and concerts, yard sales, walk-a-thons, coin drives, talent shows, silent auctions, trivia nights, art calendars, garden produce sales, and family cooking lessons. The easiest to launch are coin drives, bake sales, and read-a-thons, because they need almost no upfront spending and can be organized in one to three weeks. Most preschools run two to four fundraisers a year, planned with a clear purpose, a dollar goal, a budget, and a date that avoids competing events.
On this page
- How to start a preschool fundraiser in 7 steps
- Compare 13 preschool fundraising ideas at a glance
- 13 preschool fundraising ideas that engage families
- How much money can a preschool fundraiser raise?
- How to thank your donors (and what the IRS requires)
- Frequently asked questions
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Photo credit: Canva
How to start a preschool fundraiser in 7 steps
To start a preschool fundraiser, define the purpose of the money you’re raising, set a specific dollar goal and deadline, choose a date that avoids competing events, build a budget that covers materials and promotion, pick a venue, promote the event to families and local businesses, and assign volunteer roles before the day arrives. Taking the time to plan each step is what separates a profitable fundraiser from one that is poorly organized and poorly attended.
Step 1. Determine your purpose
Fundraisers can be used to support various causes, so it’s important to be clear about why you’re raising money. Here are some common reasons for hosting a fundraiser:
- To supplement your preschool’s operating budget
- To pay for special projects or activities not covered by the budget
- To build community and support for your preschool
- To create a sense of buy-in and ownership for the school among families and other members of the community
Step 2. Set a goal
Once you’ve determined the purpose of your fundraiser, it’s time to set a goal. This will help focus your efforts and ensure you can track your progress. For example, maybe your goal is to raise $5,000 to buy new furniture for your program.
Be realistic in setting your goal and make sure that it’s achievable. It’s also important to set a deadline for reaching your goal, as this will assist in retaining everyone’s interest, motivation, and focus.
Step 3. Choose a date
It’s important to choose a date for your fundraiser that will work well for everyone involved. Consider the schedules of families, staff, and volunteers when choosing a date.
In addition, avoid scheduling your fundraiser too close to other events or holidays that could compete for attention.
Step 4. Create a budget
Track your spending using a budget, ensuring that your fundraiser is profitable. When creating your budget, include the cost of materials, advertising, and any other necessary expenses.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to set aside some of the proceeds from your fundraiser to cover any unexpected costs.
Step 5. Choose a venue
The venue will depend on the type of event you’re planning. Some common venues for fundraisers include:
- Your facility
- A local park or recreation center
- A restaurant or other local business
Step 6. Promote your event
Once you’ve got everything planned, it’s time to start promoting your event. This will help ensure that people know about it and can participate. There are several ways to promote your fundraiser, including:
- Putting up flyers around the community
- Sending out emails or including it in your newsletter
- Posting about it on social media
- Asking local businesses to participate or donate prizes for a raffle or auction
When approaching potential donors, be sure to have a clear and concise pitch prepared. Explain what your fundraiser is for and why their support is important. With a tool like brightwheel’s childcare app, you can boost teacher productivity and improve communication with families. This easy-to-use app allows you to communicate with families individually or message your entire program with details on important announcements or upcoming events.
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Step 7. Execute your event
Execution will involve putting all your planning into action and ensuring everything runs smoothly. Some considerations for carrying out your event include:
- Making sure that all volunteers are aware of their roles and responsibilities
- Setting up the venue in advance
- Making sure that all activities are running smoothly
- Having a plan for clean-up
With brightwheel’s Sign-Up feature, you can easily coordinate volunteers and track RSVPs to ensure everyone knows their roles and responsibilities. Real-time tracking and automated reminders help keep your event organized and running smoothly from start to finish.
Compare 13 preschool fundraising ideas at a glance
Use this table to match a fundraiser to the time, money, and volunteer help you actually have. Effort, upfront cost, and lead time are planning estimates for a single-site preschool, not reported results.
| Fundraising idea | Effort to organize | Upfront cost | Lead time | How it raises money |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coin drive | Very low | None | 1 week | Ongoing spare-change donations |
| Bake sale | Low | Low (families donate baked goods) | 2–3 weeks | Per-item sales |
| Car wash | Low | Low (soap, buckets, signage) | 2–3 weeks | Per-car fee or suggested donation |
| Read-a-thon | Low | None | 3–4 weeks | Sponsor pledges per book or minute read |
| Yard sale | Moderate | None (donated items) | 3–4 weeks | Per-item sales of donated goods |
| Walk-a-thon or bike-a-thon | Moderate | Low (water, snacks, route markers) | 4–6 weeks | Sponsor pledges per lap |
| Talent show | Moderate | Low (sound, programs) | 4–6 weeks | Entry fee plus ticket sales |
| Trivia night | Moderate | Low (prizes, printing) | 3–4 weeks | Entry fee per team or per person |
| Cooking lessons | Moderate | Low (ingredients, partner chef) | 4–6 weeks | Per-family class fee |
| Art calendars | Moderate | Moderate (printing costs paid first) | 6–8 weeks before the holidays | Product sales to families and relatives |
| Garden produce and flower sales | Moderate, spread over the season | Low (seeds, soil, containers) | One growing season | Produce and bouquet sales |
| Play or concert | High | Low to moderate (costumes, programs) | 6–8 weeks | Ticket sales |
| Silent auction | High | None (donated items and services) | 6–8 weeks | Winning bids on donated items and services |
13 preschool fundraising ideas that engage families and raise funds
How you fundraise will be based on the type of event you’re planning, your budget, and your goals. Every childcare program is different, so choosing a strategy that will work well for your particular situation is important.
Some common preschool fundraising ideas include:
Bake sale for preschool fundraising
A bake sale is a simple way to raise money for your preschool. Choose a theme such as cupcakes or breakfast sweets, and have each family contribute to the sale. Or see if a local bakery will donate items for you to sell.
This fundraising idea encourages family participation through baking and donating, while also building community by involving local businesses and drawing in neighborhood supporters.
Host a car wash
You’ll need a secure location with good visibility and a water source for a successful car wash. Promote the car wash in advance to ensure a good turnout.
Car washes foster collaboration between families, children, and staff, creating a fun, hands-on way for everyone to pitch in. It’s also a great opportunity to connect with the broader community through signage and social outreach.
Read-a-thon preschool fundraiser
A read-a-thon is a simple yet powerful way to encourage literacy while raising funds for your preschool. Children gather sponsors—typically family and friends—who pledge donations based on how many books or minutes the child reads (or is read to) over a set period.
This fundraiser is especially effective for preschoolers because it encourages family engagement at home. Teachers can support it by sharing book lists, tracking reading logs, and celebrating milestones in class. At the end, host a “reading celebration day” where students wear pajamas, bring their favorite books, and enjoy a special storytime.
Sell tickets to a play or concert
Many families love watching their children perform on stage, and they’ll gladly do it for a small fee. Plan for the children to put on a play or concert at your facility. Sell tickets to family, friends, and other community members.
This idea sparks creativity in students and provides a memorable experience for families.
Have a yard sale
A yard sale is an excellent method to clear out clutter and raise funds simultaneously. Invite families and staff to donate items that they no longer need or use. You can also ask local businesses to donate any excess stock to your cause. Be sure to advertise in advance and have plenty of volunteers to help set up, clean up, and run the sale.
Participate in a walk-a-thon or bike-a-thon preschool fundraiser
A walk-a-thon gets people moving and raises funds at the same time. Have children and families collect pledges for how many times they promise to ride or walk around your neighborhood, park, or a track. Promote the walk-a-thon in advance and have plenty of water and snacks available for participants.
Host a coin drive
Place a container or jar near your classroom door and collect spare change from children and families at your program. You can also ask local businesses in your community if you can place collection jars at their location to collect spare coins or donations from customers.
This low-effort fundraiser makes it easy for all families to contribute, teaches children the value of small donations, and builds community partnerships when local shops join in.
Photo credit: Canva
Put on a talent show
Allow your children (and staff!) to showcase their talents while raising money for your program. Charge a small fee for entry and let children put on their own show!
Organize a silent auction
Ask local businesses or families to donate various items or services for a silent auction. The event can be hosted at your program as a stand-alone event or at the same time as another event, such as an open house. All funds raised can benefit your program.
This idea strengthens school-community connections and gives families an opportunity to contribute through donations, bidding, or volunteering—all while supporting local businesses.
Host a trivia night
A trivia night can be a great way for families to interact with each other and raise money for your program. Participants can pay a small entry fee or make a donation to compete. Have a variety of trivia topics to choose from and prizes available for the winners.
Trivia nights foster friendly competition, teamwork, and family engagement in a relaxed, social setting—perfect for building bonds across your school community.
Create and sell art calendars
Use digital images of the children’s art and crafts activities throughout the year to create art calendars. Then, print a wall and desk version to sell to families. This is an excellent idea to execute before the holidays, and they make great gifts for grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other family members.
Grow and sell food and flowers
Plant a vegetable and herb garden with the children, and sell the produce at your event or local farmer’s market. Start with simple vegetables like cucumbers, lettuce, and herbs. Gardening projects promote hands-on learning and eco-awareness, and teach children the importance of growing their own food. If flowers are blooming in the garden, collect bouquets for sale too.
Host cooking lessons
Families can always use simple recipes to prepare quick, healthy meals for their children throughout the week. Collaborate with a local chef or restaurant to teach families how to cook these meals for a fee. Host the lessons at your facility or an offsite location, depending on your needs and budget.
Cooking classes encourage family involvement, offer a valuable life skill, and build relationships with local culinary businesses. It’s also a great way to bring families together outside the classroom.
How much money can a preschool fundraiser raise?
The amount a preschool fundraiser raises depends on three things you control: how many families participate, how much each participating family contributes, and how much you spend to run the event. Rather than guessing, estimate your total before you commit to a date by multiplying participation by an average contribution and subtracting your costs.
Here’s how that math works for a bake sale at a program with 40 enrolled families:
- Participation: 30 of 40 families each donate 6 baked items = 180 items to sell
- Average price: 180 items at $2 each = $360 gross
- Costs: $30 for signage, bags, and serving supplies (ingredients are donated)
- Estimated net: $360 − $30 = $330
Pledge-based fundraisers like read-a-thons and walk-a-thons are usually the easiest to scale, because each child can recruit sponsors beyond your enrolled families. Product fundraisers like art calendars carry the most risk, because you pay printing costs before you collect any revenue—so pre-sell first and print to order whenever you can.
How to thank your donors (and what the IRS requires)
After you have received donations from your fundraiser, it’s important to send out thank you letters. This shows your donors that their contributions are appreciated and helps build relationships for future fundraising efforts.
When writing a thank you letter, remember to:
- Thank the donor by name. This helps to create a personal connection with the donor.
- Include the amount of the donation. This will show your donors that you recognize their individual contribution.
- Indicate how the donation will be used. Remind donors that their money is going to a good cause and reiterate your fundraiser or event.
- Express your gratitude. Show appreciation for their specific gift.
- Include a personal note. Acknowledge any special contribution the donor may have made such as volunteering their time in addition to a monetary donation.
- Sign the letter. End on a personal and sincere note.
If your program is a tax-exempt organization, your thank you letter often doubles as the donor’s tax record, and two IRS thresholds decide what it has to say. A donor claiming a deduction of $250 or more must obtain a contemporaneous written acknowledgment from your organization, according to the IRS guidance on written acknowledgments. Separately, a charitable organization must provide a written disclosure statement to a donor who makes a quid pro quo contribution over $75—meaning the donor received goods or services, such as an auction item or event admission, in exchange for part of the payment—per the IRS rules on substantiation and disclosure requirements. In that case the statement must include a good faith estimate of the value of what the donor received.
While there are plenty of sample thank you letters for donations to use as a guide, the most important thing to remember is to be genuine and show appreciation for the donation. Once you’ve completed writing your letters of gratitude, send them out as soon as possible. You don’t want to wait too long, or the donor may forget about their contribution. The sooner you can thank your donors, the better.
Frequently asked questions
Here are some common questions and answers on planning a successful fundraiser for your preschool.
What are the best fundraising ideas for preschools?
The best preschool fundraising ideas are fun, simple to organize, and encourage family involvement. Popular options include bake sales, read-a-thons, walk-a-thons, talent shows, and yard sales. These ideas combine creativity with community participation to raise funds effectively.
How can we raise money for a preschool quickly?
To raise money quickly, choose low-effort fundraisers like coin drives, bake sales, or car washes. These events require minimal setup, engage families right away, and can be launched with little or no cost. Promoting the event through parent newsletters and social media can boost participation.
What is the easiest preschool fundraiser to organize?
A coin drive is the easiest preschool fundraiser to organize because it needs no venue, no volunteers on the day, and no upfront spending—just a labeled jar by each classroom door and a start and end date. Bake sales and read-a-thons are the next easiest, and both can be planned in two to four weeks.
How much money can a preschool fundraiser raise?
The amount depends on how many families participate, how much each one contributes, and what you spend to run the event, so estimate it before you commit. For example, a bake sale at a 40-family program where 30 families each donate 6 items priced at $2 would gross $360 and net about $330 after $30 in supplies. Pledge-based fundraisers like read-a-thons and walk-a-thons can raise more because children recruit sponsors beyond your enrolled families.
Do preschools have to pay taxes on fundraiser money?
It depends on how your program is organized and what kind of fundraiser you run, because income from an activity unrelated to a tax-exempt organization’s purpose can be taxable as unrelated business income. Always verify with your accountant or tax advisor to ensure you comply with all federal and state tax laws.
Do donors need a receipt for a preschool fundraiser donation?
For a tax-exempt program, a donor claiming a deduction of $250 or more must obtain a contemporaneous written acknowledgment from your organization. You must also give a written disclosure statement to any donor whose quid pro quo contribution exceeds $75, including a good faith estimate of the value of the goods or services they received.
Should we involve the children in our fundraising efforts?
Absolutely! It’s important for children to play an active role in your fundraising efforts. There are many activities that they can do to help such as decorating collection jars or signs for your event, showing off their skills at a talent show, participating in a walk- or bike-a-thon, or donating items to a yard sale.
How do we ask for donations?
You can ask for donations in several ways, including in-person, at events, over the phone, via a website, email, or your newsletter. Remember to provide details about your fundraiser, what the money will be used for, and who the donation supports. You can also offer alternative options for people to help your cause in different ways such as donating event supplies or volunteering their time.
How can I make my fundraiser fun?
One way is to involve the children in the planning and execution of the event, which gives them a sense of involvement and builds their enthusiasm about participating. Another way to make your fundraiser fun is by choosing an activity that people enjoy, such as a bake sale or a raffle with prizes that people will want to win.
How can I involve families that can’t make a monetary donation?
Invite families to donate items that can be used for the fundraiser, such as baked goods or prizes. You can also ask them to volunteer their time to help with the event. This could include setting up, manning a booth, or helping to clean up after the event. A family that cannot make a monetary donation can still be a valuable part of your fundraiser.
How often should a preschool host fundraisers?
Preschools often host 2–4 fundraisers per year, depending on budget needs and community interest. Spacing out events seasonally—such as a fall read-a-thon, a winter art calendar sale, and a spring walk-a-thon—helps prevent fatigue and keeps engagement high.
Final thoughts
With the right planning, any of these preschool fundraising ideas can bring joy to your children, families, and staff—while generating the extra resources your program needs to thrive. The key is choosing ideas that fit your community, involve families meaningfully, and align with your school’s mission.
From low-effort fundraisers like read-a-thons to creative events like preschool talent shows or art sales, you have plenty of opportunities to engage your families and raise support. Start with just one idea and build momentum—your next great fundraiser could become an annual tradition!
Brightwheel is an all-in-one childcare management software that saves time and simplifies operations for early education providers. From billing and parent communication to curriculum and admissions, it combines everything you need in one easy-to-use platform. Trusted by millions of educators and families and backed by a dedicated support team, brightwheel strengthens family connections and ensures seamless operations with reliable performance and robust security. Brightwheel saves each admin and staff member 20 hours per month of administrative work, and 95% of admins and staff report that brightwheel improves communication with families—the same channel you’ll use to promote your next fundraiser. With brightwheel, you’ll spend less time on admin, more time with children.
