If you’re looking for school fundraising ideas that deliver real results—without the stress—this blog is for you. Whether you’re planning for fall, organizing a spring push, or building a year-round strategy, combining product fundraisers with no-sell donation options is one of the smartest ways to raise more and engage more supporters.
At Midland Fundraising, we’ve helped thousands of schools, PTOs, teams, and clubs exceed their goals with fun, flexible, and high-profit fundraisers. This guide includes 25 proven ideas—some you can run without selling a single thing—and others with mouthwatering products supporters love.
Let’s dive in.
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Product fundraisers are still one of the most trusted ways to raise funds—especially in the fall. When families are already spending on seasonal items, you can offer them something they love while earning up to 50% profit for your school or team.
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Best for: Elementary schools, sports teams, PTOs, and holiday timing
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Why it works: Cookie dough is a proven winner—it’s freezer-friendly, family-friendly, and perfect for holiday baking. Midland’s cookie dough fundraiser includes flavors that appeal to all ages and comes pre-portioned for easy baking.
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How to boost profits: Run it mid-September to early November, pair with a school-wide challenge, and promote your online ordering link.
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Best for: Middle schools, fall festivals, or community-wide efforts
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Why it works: Popcorn and chocolate are impulse buys with gifting potential. Supporters love having snack-ready items or small treats to share.
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How to use it: Launch before Halloween or Thanksgiving, set up a tasting station at an event, or offer themed bundles.
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Best for: Clubs, classrooms, and holiday shoppers
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Why it works: These gift-ready totes are reusable, eco-conscious, and easy to promote. They’re especially popular in November and December.
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Smart strategies: Bundle with other giftable items or offer incentives like a free tote for top earners.
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Best for: Large schools or mixed-age groups
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Why it works: Catalogs offer variety—snacks, home goods, decor, and more—which increases participation across different demographics.
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Tips for success: Distribute both print and digital versions. Highlight “Top 5 Items” in your newsletter or kickoff video.
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Best for: Schools with community partnerships
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Why it works: Collaborate with a local farm or nursery to earn a portion of fall sales. A great way to build local relationships.
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How to set it up: Schedule a school night or weekend and have your PTO help promote it.
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Best for: Classrooms and clubs
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Why it works: Baked goods are a classic fundraiser, but adding pre-ordering or holiday packaging can increase your reach.
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Pro tip: Use a Google Form or online store for pre-orders and bundle items for maximum profit.
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Best for: PTOs and end-of-year fundraising
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Why it works: Everyone needs gift wrap in December, and it’s an easy item to stock and sell.
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Sell more by: Creating themed gift sets and offering pickup options at your holiday event.
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Best for: Middle and high school groups
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Why it works: These are higher-ticket items that are easy to promote during colder months.
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Boost results: Showcase samples at parent night or post short videos of the scents on social media.
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Best for: Choirs, bands, or staff-led fundraisers
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Why it works: A cozy, consumable product that’s perfect for early mornings and winter gifting.
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Maximize reach: Offer teacher bundles and promote as “gifts for grandparents.”
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Best for: Small schools or private academies
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Why it works: Partner with a local business and receive a share of each sale your group drives.
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Tip: Look for local honey, donuts, or handmade crafts—it builds community and raises money.
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Donation-based fundraisers are exploding in popularity. They’re 100% profit, quick to launch, and don’t require handling any inventory. Perfect for groups with limited volunteers or young students.
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Best for: Elementary schools or classrooms
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Why it works: Promotes literacy and allows students to raise money by doing something educational.
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How to run it: Track reading minutes over two weeks and collect pledges per minute or book. Offer fun bookmarks or badges as prizes.
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Best for: All grade levels
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Why it works: A healthy and social event with broad community appeal. Easy to set up and fun for students.
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Success tips: Create classroom teams, set a goal for laps, and track pledges per lap or flat donations.
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Best for: Middle schoolers or after-school clubs
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Why it works: High-energy and fun. Great for groups that want to add music, glow sticks, or themes.
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Add value: Sell refreshments and invite families to attend.
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Best for: Schoolwide goals
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Why it works: Students love to see their principal do something silly if a goal is met—like get slimed, duct-taped to a wall, or wear a costume.
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Execution tip: Tie the goal to class participation or donation milestones.
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Best for: Tech-savvy schools and social networks
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Why it works: Simple, fast, and contact-free. Just share a link or QR code and watch donations roll in.
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Tip: Include the link in your email footer and all parent communications.
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Best for: Competitive elementary classrooms
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Why it works: Kids bring in loose change, and classes compete to win. It’s low-effort and surprisingly profitable.
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Helpful tip: Use clear jars and track progress publicly.
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Best for: PE classes or spring field days
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Why it works: Turns a normal school day into something unforgettable—while raising funds with entry fees or pledges.
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Boost buzz: Use paint powder, music, and signage to create excitement.
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Best for: Schools needing classroom support
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Why it works: Parents, alumni, or businesses can sponsor a class and get a thank-you shoutout, poster, or visit.
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Execute with: Personalized thank-you cards from students.
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Best for: Remote-friendly schools or winter months
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Why it works: Students upload their talent videos, and supporters “vote” with donations.
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Extra engagement: Offer fun categories like “Best Pet Trick” or “Best Sibling Cameo.”
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Best for: Any school during themed weeks
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Why it works: Tie donations to daily dress-up themes, like pajama day or hat day.
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Tips: Let classes compete for extra recess or a pizza party.
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Hybrid fundraising gives you flexibility and wider reach. Not everyone wants to sell, and not everyone wants to donate—so why not offer both?
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Run a read-a-thon, but offer cookie dough or tote bags as prizes for top readers. Simple to set up and encourages friendly competition.
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Split your campaign into two tracks. Families can either donate or sell—or both! Works well when you want quick upfront donations and strong product sales.
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Pair a fun fitness-based fundraiser with an online product store from Midland. Track pledges and orders through your dashboard.
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Host a fall carnival or open house and set up a table with your fundraiser catalogs or QR codes. It’s a great way to reach families who prefer to browse in person.
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Let students choose their path: donate, sell, or participate in a challenge. Everyone can earn prizes based on total impact, not just one method.
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Hybrid fundraising gives your community options—and that means better participation. Some families love buying products; others prefer to donate and be done. With Midland Fundraising, you can run both simultaneously using our digital tools, text-to-share links, and custom dashboards.
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You don’t have to choose one or the other—you can have the best of both.
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At Midland Fundraising, we specialize in high-profit, low-stress fundraisers for schools, teams, and organizations of all sizes. Whether you’re interested in cookie dough, a walk-a-thon, or a donation-only campaign, we’ll help you run a campaign that’s fun, easy, and successful.
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👉 Start your fundraiser today or reach out to our team to build a custom plan!
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