Easy School Fundraisers to Run With Only a Few Volunteers

If your parent group is short on volunteers—or you’re rebuilding after a slow year—you don’t need a huge committee to raise money. The truth is:

Some school fundraisers work incredibly well with only a handful of volunteers.

You just need easy school fundraisers that are simple, predictable, and low-prep.
Here are the easiest school fundraisers I’ve seen succeed at real schools (yes, even when only 2–4 people were involved).

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What Makes a Fundraiser “Easy”?

From years of running these (often with tiny teams), the easiest fundraisers all have these things in common:

✔ Low volunteer hours

Short shifts, simple tasks, and minimal setup.

✔ Clear purpose

Parents donate more when they understand what the funds support.

✔ No expensive upfront costs

Avoid fundraisers that require large inventory purchases.

✔ Predictable success

Choose ideas with a strong track record—not trendy experiments.

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Easy School Fundraisers to Run This Year

1. Penny Wars

One of the highest-earning low-effort fundraisers.

Why it works:

• Kids LOVE it
• Teachers handle collection
• Volunteers only count money. It might be worth getting a coin counter/sorter for this type of fundraiser if you plan on doing it year after year. (Amazon)
• No purchasing or inventory

Add bonus days (“Double Points Day!”) to boost excitement.

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2. Restaurant Dine-Out Nights

Very little work, consistent earnings. These are passive fundraisers that are easier than any other. Promoting it is the hardest part.

How it works:

• Partner with a local restaurant
• Families dine in or order takeout
• School receives 10–30% of sales

Your job is just promotion.

Restaurants That Will Give You a Percentage of Sales:

• Panera
• Papa John’s
• Panda Express
• Mountain Mike’s Pizza
• California Pizza Kitchen
• Chipotle
• Chik-Fil-A
• Texas Roadhouse
• …and more!

Contact locally owned small restaurants too! It’s a great way to connect with the community.

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3. Fun Run / Jog-A-Thon

Shockingly easy when you follow a simple timeline.

Why it works:

• Clear purpose
• Good community involvement
• No product sales
• Strong donation potential

This fundraiser builds school spirit while raising money.

You might also like: How to Run a Successful Fun Run (Even If You’ve Never Done One Before)

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4. Spirit Wear Sales

A perfect low-touch fundraiser.

Steps:

• Upload designs
• Partner with print-on-demand vendors (Printful is one I’ve worked with for years.)
• Promote during back-to-school
• Receive a portion of proceeds

No inventory. No order sorting.

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5. Candy Grams or Holiday Grams

Small items, big impact.

Why it’s easy:

• Students deliver
• Low-cost supplies
• Simple ordering process
• High participation

Holiday grams are especially popular before breaks.

Follow this link to all of my Candy Gram fundraiser templates on Etsy.

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6. Silent Auction (Smaller Version)

You don’t need a gala to run a silent auction.

Easy version:

• Collect donations from local businesses
• Photograph items
• Host online bidding
• Distribute digital certificates or pickup packages

Minimal setup—maximum return.

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7. Read-a-Thon

A quiet, academic-friendly fundraiser.

Benefits:

• Kids read more
• Families donate easily
• Teachers support it
• No prep or physical items

Platforms automate most of the process.

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8. Bake Sale or Treat Table

Works best when tied to an event.

Why it’s easy:

• Volunteers donate baked goods
• You sell before/after school events
• Simple cash or QR code donations

You only need one or two people to run the table.

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How to Choose the Right Easy School Fundraiser

Ask:

• How many volunteers do we actually have?
• When is our busy season?
• What do families respond to?
• What made money in past years?
• Do we want sales, donations, or events?

Pick no more than 2–3 major fundraisers per year to avoid burnout.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Taking on too many fundraisers
• Chasing “new” ideas that require lots of prep
• Forgetting to communicate the purpose of the fundraiser
• Not celebrating the results
• Relying on the same volunteers every time

Here’s a post on Volunteer Recruitment that you’ll like if you’re not sure how to recruit more volunteers without sounding like you’re begging.

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These easy school fundraisers are simple, reliable, and doable even with a tiny team. Choose one or two, keep communication clear, and focus on fun—not perfection.

Ready to plan something fun? How to Run a Successful Fun Run (Even If You’ve Never Done One Before)