Easy Fundraising Ideas for Schools, Teams & PTO Groups
Raise more money with simple fundraisers that earn 40%–50% profit—no upfront costs or minimums.
Trusted by schools, teams & organizations nationwide since 2002
Easy Fundraising Ideas That Help Schools, Teams & PTO/PTA Groups Raise More Money
Earn 40%–50% profit fast with easy, no-risk fundraisers your supporters actually want to buy—no upfront costs, no minimums, and flexible options including online, cashless, and traditional selling.
Takes less than a minute — no commitment at all
Talk to Deb 860-384-3691
Fundraising Programs Groups Trust Year After Year
Schools, PTA groups, booster clubs, sports teams, and organizations across the U.S. continue to choose Best-Fundraising-Ideas.com year after year because our fundraising programs are simple to run, profitable, and designed to help groups raise more money with less work.
When you work with Best-Fundraising-Ideas.com, you'll work directly with an experienced fundraising professional dedicated to helping your group succeed. With more than 24 years of fundraising experience, we'll guide you through the process, answer your questions, and help make your fundraiser as simple and successful as possible from start to finish.
Simple, Flexible & Profitable Fundraising
Earn
40% - 50%
Profit
Online, Cashless & In-Person Options
No Upfront Costs or Minimums
Easy to Run & Proven to Work
30+ Easy Fundraising Ideas
The first step to a successful fundraiser is choosing the fundraising option that works best for your group. Most schools, teams, PTA groups, booster clubs, and other organizations choose one of these four fundraising options based on their goals, timeline, and preferred selling method.
Brochure Fundraisers
Best for: Traditional in-person selling
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Sell using a printed fundraising brochure
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Collect orders and payments in person
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Great for local supporters and community-based selling
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Ideal for groups that prefer not to sell online
100% Online Fundraisers
(Virtual Fundraising)
Best for: Simple setup with no product handling
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Sell completely online
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No inventory or product handling
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No collecting money
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Orders ship directly to supporters
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Perfect for busy groups
Cashless
Fundraisers
Best for: In-person selling without cash
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Sell in person with a simple flyer or QR code
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Customers order online and pay by credit card
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No collecting cash or checks
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Supporters can choose ship-to-home or group delivery
Hybrid
Fundraisers
(Best of Both Worlds)
Best for: Maximum sales and participation
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Combine in-person brochure selling with online selling
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Reach more supporters locally and nationwide
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Increase total sales and participation
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Supporters can choose ship-to-home or group delivery
Once you decide how to run your fundraiser, the next step is choosing what to sell—such as candle fundraisers or online fundraising.
Easy Fundraising Ideas for Schools, Teams & PTO Groups That Actually Work
Looking for easy fundraising ideas for schools, teams, PTO groups, and booster clubs? The most successful fundraisers are simple to run, profitable, and easy for families and supporters to participate in. Our online, cashless, and brochure fundraising programs help groups raise more money while earning 40%–50% profit with no upfront costs or minimums.
Free information. No pressure.
Just helpful fundraising advice.
Once you choose how you want to run your fundraiser, the next step is selecting the right program. Popular options include candle fundraiser programs for schools and teams, cookie dough fundraisers, and seasonal programs like Winter Wonderland.
Not sure which fundraiser is right for your group? We'll help you choose the best option based on your goals, timeline, and supporters.
How Brochure Fundraisers Help You Raise More
While online fundraising is convenient, groups that sell in person often raise more because they create direct, personal connections with supporters. Asking face-to-face makes it easier for supporters to say yes and increases overall participation.
Why Many Groups Still Use Brochure Fundraisers
Brochure fundraisers give participants a simple way to sell in person using a flyer or catalog, making it easier to reach friends, family, and local supporters. This approach consistently leads to stronger engagement compared to relying only on emails, texts, or social media.
The most successful fundraisers combine brochure sales with online fundraising, allowing groups to maximize both local support and extended reach.
Popular brochure fundraiser categories include candles, cookie dough, seasonal gift programs, and other product-based fundraisers.
Online Fundraising Programs That Help Groups Raise More With Less Work
Online fundraising gives schools, PTA groups, booster clubs, sports teams, and other organizations a simple way to raise money while reaching supporters both locally and nationwide.
Many groups combine brochure selling with online fundraising to increase participation and overall sales. Others prefer fully virtual or cashless fundraising options that eliminate the need to collect cash, handle product delivery, or manage paper order forms.
Whether your group chooses online-only, cashless, hybrid, or traditional brochure fundraising, supporters can easily shop and share through text, email, and social media.
GLOW Candles Fundraising
A year-round candle fundraiser featuring coconut and soy blend candles, wax melts, room sprays, and essential oils. This program works especially well online and can also be combined with brochure sales to increase participation and results.
Support My School (Seasonal Gift Fundraising Store)
A seasonal fundraising store featuring holiday gifts, spring collections, gourmet treats, and popular fundraising products supporters enjoy purchasing during peak buying seasons.
Needs Your Support (Flexible Fundraising Store with the Most Variety)
A flexible online fundraising store featuring a wide variety of gift items, gourmet foods, and seasonal fundraising products, giving groups more options to match their audience and fundraising goals.
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Earn 40% profit
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Multiple fundraising categories available
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Great for schools and community organizations
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Easy online purchasing and sharing
Why Groups Choose Online & Cashless Fundraising
• Sell completely online or combine with brochure sales
• Accept secure online payments without handling cash
• Offer ship-to-home or group delivery options
• Reduce time spent collecting orders and payments
• Reach supporters locally and nationwide
Choose the Right Fundraiser for Your Group
Here are some of the most popular fundraisers. These are the programs groups choose most often because they’re easy to run and consistently help raise more money.
GLOW Candle Fundraiser
A year-round fundraiser featuring candles, wax melts, room sprays, and essential oils. A simple option that works well for both in-person and online selling.
Why Groups Choose This Fundraiser
Support My School (Seasonal Gift Fundraising Store)
A seasonal fundraiser featuring gift items, chocolates, baked goods, and gourmet treats. Ideal for fall and holiday fundraising.
Why Groups Choose This Fundraiser
Cookie Dough Fundraisers
A classic fundraiser featuring brand-name cookie dough and baked goods that are easy to sell and widely recognized by supporters.
Why Groups Choose This Fundraiser
Popcorn Fundraisers
A classic fundraiser featuring brand-name cookie dough and baked goods that are easy to sell and widely recognized by supporters.
Why Groups Choose This Fundraiser
• Unique snack options supporters enjoy
• Simple order-taking and delivery
• Works well for shorter fundraising timelines
• Easy to manage
• Earn 40% profit
Not sure which fundraiser to choose?
We can help you pick the best option for your group.
When Is the Best Time to Start a Fundraiser?
Fundraisers that start earlier in the fall—especially in August and September—tend to perform the best. Starting early helps increase participation, avoid competition, and gives your group more time to sell.
As the season progresses, more groups begin fundraising, which can lead to lower participation and “fundraiser fatigue” among supporters. By November and December, schedules get busier, and results often decline.
If you’re planning a holiday fundraiser, timing is especially important. Many programs require time for order collection, processing, and delivery, so getting started early can make a big difference.
Best Months to Start
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August–September: Best time to start — highest participation and sales
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October: Still a good time — start as early as possible
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November: More competition — shorter selling window
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December: Limited time — lower participation
Our #1 Recommended Fundraiser
GLOW Scented Candle Fundraiser —
Top-Performing Candle Fundraiser
The GLOW Scented Candle Fundraiser is one of the most effective ways for schools, teams, and organizations to raise money. It delivers strong demand, repeat sales, and flexible selling options designed to help your group raise more money with less effort.
This candle fundraiser can be run as a brochure, online, cashless, app-based, or hybrid fundraiser—giving your group the flexibility to choose what works best.
Run Your Fundraiser Your Way
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Featuring Otis Spunkmeyer® Cookie Dough
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A familiar and trusted product
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Easy for participants to sell
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Consistent results across many groups
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Earn 40% profit
Why This Fundraiser Delivers Strong Results
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High demand
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Repeat sales
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Easy to run
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A GLOW fundraiser becomes an annual tradition for many groups
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Earn 40%–50% profit
We help elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, PTA groups, booster clubs, cheer teams, dance teams, sports teams, nonprofits, and other organizations raise more money with fundraising programs that are easy to run and profitable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fundraising
What are the best fundraising ideas for schools?
The best fundraising ideas for schools are programs that are easy to run and profitable. Options like candle fundraisers, cookie dough fundraisers, and online fundraising are popular because they are simple to manage and appeal to a wide range of supporters, making them a strong choice for many groups.
What are the best fundraising ideas for PTO groups?
Fundraisers that are simple to run, popular with families and supporters, and capable of generating strong results are often the best fit for PTA groups, parent-teacher organizations, and other school fundraising groups. Popular options include candle fundraisers, cookie dough fundraisers, holiday gift fundraisers, and online fundraising programs that make it easy for parents, friends, and supporters to purchase and share.
What are the best fundraisers for cheer and dance teams?
The best fundraisers for cheer and dance teams are easy to manage and simple to share with supporters. Popular options include candle fundraisers, cookie dough fundraisers, and online fundraising programs that can be promoted through text, email, and social media.
What is the best candle fundraiser for schools and teams?
The best candle fundraiser for schools and teams offers high-quality products, strong profit margins, and flexible selling options. GLOW Scented Candles are a top choice because they are easy to sell in person or online and consistently earn 40%–50% profit.
What are easy fundraising ideas for small groups?
Easy fundraising ideas for small groups are programs that require minimal coordination and are simple to manage. Options like online fundraising, candle fundraisers, and hybrid fundraisers work well because they are easy to set up and can reach supporters both locally and beyond.
How much profit can our group earn from a fundraiser?
Most groups earn 40%–50% profit, depending on the program and level of participation. Fundraisers like candle fundraisers, cookie dough fundraisers, and online fundraising stores are designed to maximize earnings while remaining simple to run.
What is the easiest fundraiser to run?
The easiest fundraisers to run are online fundraising and hybrid fundraisers because they simplify ordering, payments, and sharing. These options reduce the need to handle cash or manage product distribution, making them ideal for busy groups.
Can we combine brochure and online fundraising?
Yes. Many groups use a hybrid approach that combines brochure sales with online fundraising. This allows you to sell in person while also reaching friends and family outside your local area.
Do your fundraisers have upfront costs or minimums?
No. Our fundraising programs have no upfront costs and no minimum order requirements, making it easy for groups to get started without financial risk.
What groups can use these fundraising programs?
These fundraising programs work well for schools, sports teams, cheer teams, dance groups, PTA organizations, booster clubs, nonprofits, and other community groups looking for simple and effective ways to raise money through online fundraising.
Start Your Fundraiser Today — It’s Free & Easy
Run a high-profit fundraiser your group will actually enjoy. We’ll make it simple to get started and help you reach your goal.
We help schools, PTA groups, booster clubs, and other school fundraising groups choose the right fundraiser based on their goals, timeline, and supporters.
Get started when you're ready — we're here to help
Talk to Deb → 860-384-3691
Have questions? We’re happy to walk you through everything.
Hours:
Mon–Fri: 9 AM – 8 PM EST
Sat–Sun: 11 AM – 6 PM EST