Remember when the school fundraiser meant cheese and sausage or a variety of candles? The old standbys still work but aren't always allowed. The once popular fall carnival, spaghetti night, or door-to-door sales of classic stuff you can find at a dollar store, are fading fast. No one wants to send the kids door to door. Sure, the scouts still set up outside of stores, but it isn't as easy for regular kids, and the incentives for winning aren't so coveted anymore. What's an underfunded school to do? Get with the times and fundraise online. These fundraising websites for schools will help you meet goals with less stress.
Don’t Just Pick a Platform — Pick One That Performs for Schools
You’ve explored the best fundraising sites for schools. Now launch your auction on a platform made for education—transparent, supportive, and built to raise more.
Launch Your School AuctionFirst, make sure you make it mobile friendly, so people can donate from anywhere on their phone. The easier it is to do, the more people will do it! Just about any online fundraising site is prepped and ready for mobile technology. While you might not be getting any younger, elementary parents are. If you want to reach them, you have to go where they are. Sure, nostalgia still works, but technology works better. We've written a few posts on the best online fundraising sites, donation tips, and even ways to volunteer online. In this post, we're focusing on the best fundraising websites for schools. Since it is a list of the best, we've shared some of old-fashioned ways to fundraise too. Good luck!
Some of the Best Fundraising Websites for Schools
Create a classroom project at
DonorsChoose.org. This process is free for teachers, and allows you to set up your own fundraising page for classroom supplies, projects, and other school needs.
Try a charity mall approach with eScrip.com. Families and communities can support your school or classroom simply by shopping on this site!
Create a donation page on AdoptAClassroom.org to help outfit classrooms with the items every teacher needs. You can always go with a more generic site like GoFundMe, too, but this school-specific fundraising website is ideal for teachers.
BigEventFundraising.com is a traditional brochure fundraiser, with candy, flowers, and popcorn you can sell. This fundraising website for schools might look a little old school (See what we did there?) but it is one of the most trusted sources of fundraising products.
Facebook. That's right, Facebook is your best friend when it comes to fundraising. You can make your own Facebook fundraiser manually, it's a pretty straightforward process, or you can get a quote from a company a that specializes in maximizing social media fundraising, like GoodUnited.io.
Host a shoe drive with Funds2Org.com: raise money by asking parents and the community for new or gently used shoes. The best part is, these shoes go to developing countries. Not only does this redistribute the global footwear wealth, so to speak, it also creates jobs for those folks who resell them.
Upload kids' art to a site like Artsonia, where family can admire their creativity and more importantly, they can order keepsakes like mugs, t-shirts, mousepads and lots more, customized with their child's art! 20% of each purchase goes back to your school!
No surprise here, CharityAuctionsToday is a great resource for online fundraising. We can help you host an online-only auction or help you manage a silent auction at an in-person event. And even better, folks can donate through your auction page, without bidding on anything. Learn how to start an online auction for charity.
The best part about using fundraising websites for schools is you don't have to choose just one! Host a live event, sell shopping discount coupon cards, do a Facebook fundraiser, and have an online fundraising auction all at the same time. Be sure to leave links and mention your other fundraising endeavors on each platform.
Meeting school and classroom budgets can be a real challenge: the NEA reports that a staggering 94% of teachers spend their own money stocking their classrooms. Use these new tools alongside traditional backpack drives, classroom auction projects, and other traditional fundraisers to help bridge the gap so that students have everything they need to succeed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are fundraising sites for schools?
They’re online platforms that help schools, PTAs/PTOs, and boosters raise money through donation pages, auctions, ticketing, peer-to-peer campaigns, and product sales—with built-in payments, tracking, and reporting.
Which fundraiser types do school platforms typically support?
- Donation pages and crowdfunding
- Silent/live auctions and raffles (where permitted)
- Events: galas, fun runs, read-a-thons, concerts
- Peer-to-peer student/team pages
- Ticketing, merch, and classroom wishlist drives
Why use a fundraising site instead of DIY forms and spreadsheets?
- Faster setup and mobile checkout
- Outbid/closing alerts, leaderboards, and QR codes
- Automatic receipts, reporting, and safer payment handling
What features should schools look for in a platform?
- Mobile-first pages with Apple/Google Pay
- Team/class pages and shareable student links
- Ticketing + check-in, auctions, paddle raise, text-to-give
- Reporting, donor exports, and basic CRM integrations
- Permissions/roles for staff, teachers, and volunteers
How do we compare fees and the true cost of a fundraising site? (General information)
- List all costs: platform, processing, add-ons, and optional “donor covers fees.”
- Estimate net: expected revenue minus all fees and labor.
- Pilot once before annual commitments.
General information, not financial advice.
Do PTAs/PTOs have different requirements than districts? (General information)
PTAs/PTOs often choose quicker, flexible tools; districts may require vendor approvals, contracts, or specific payment routing and reporting formats. Confirm procurement and finance rules first. General information only.
What payment options and payout schedules should we expect? (General information)
- Cards + wallets (Apple/Google Pay) and ACH where available
- Payouts to school/PTA bank accounts on a set cadence
- Downloadable reports for reconciliation
General information, not financial advice.
How should we handle student data and privacy on fundraising sites? (General information)
Limit personal info, use initials where possible, and follow school/district privacy policies. Obtain necessary permissions for images and communications. General information, not legal advice.
How do we ensure the platform is accessible for families? (General information)
- High-contrast text, large buttons, keyboard navigability
- Alt text for images and captions on videos
- Translated pages or multilingual options where helpful
General information, not legal advice.
Can we match the site to our school brand and mascot?
Most platforms let you upload logos, colors, and banners, and customize copy. Some offer custom domains or vanity URLs for easier sharing.
Why is a mobile-first experience essential for school fundraising?
Parents give on phones between activities—mobile pages with wallet pay and short forms reduce friction and increase completed gifts.
How do we drive participation once the site is live?
- Send a launch email + texts (with consent) and backpack flyers with QR.
- Give classes/team pages and a share kit (images, captions, short link).
- Post progress updates and countdowns to the deadline.
Which integrations matter for schools and boosters? (General information)
Look for CSV exports and direct syncs to donor management/CRM, accounting, and email tools. At minimum, export donor/gift data with source codes for audits. General information only.
What security or compliance factors should we confirm? (General information)
- HTTPS, reputable payment processors, and admin 2FA
- Clear privacy policy and data retention practices
- Documented refund/chargeback procedures
General information, not legal advice.
Do we own our donor data and can we export it later? (General information)
Choose platforms that state you own your supporter data and allow full exports (contacts, gifts, item sales). Confirm formats and any limits. General information only.
How long does it take to set up a school fundraising site?
- Account + branding: same day
- Items/tickets/pages: 1–3 days depending on content
- Testing and approvals: 1–2 days
Can we switch platforms mid-year without losing momentum? (General information)
Yes—export contacts/items, import to the new site, redirect short links, and communicate the change. Run a brief overlap period if needed. General information only.
How do districts manage multiple schools or programs on one platform? (General information)
Use subaccounts or separate campaigns per school, assign roles, and standardize reporting fields (school, program, fiscal code). General information only.
Which KPIs show our school fundraising site is performing well?
- Total raised vs. goal and net after fees
- Donor count, average gift, and % mobile wallet usage
- Participation by class/team and repeat donor rate
What common mistakes should schools avoid, and is there a quick checklist?
- Avoid: long forms, unclear pickup/shipping terms, no mobile wallets, buried CTAs.
- Checklist: brand the page → add wallets/QR → set suggested amounts → create class/team pages → share kit to families → test on 3 phones → launch → post updates → thank donors.
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