Primary School P&C Fundraising Ideas 2026
Practical ideas for Australian P&C committees — sorted by school term, with realistic effort estimates and earning potential for schools of 200–600 students.
Written for volunteer P&C committees running events with small teams and limited time.
Aurvio yearly subscribers can opt in to support your school's P&F
Parents on Aurvio's yearly plan ($39.99/year) can opt in to donate $4.00 per family to your school's P&F each year — entirely optional, processed quarterly by our team. Ask your P&C treasurer to register your school's banking details at [email protected].
Term 1 (Feb–Apr)
Back-to-school trivia night
Families are newly reconnected after the holidays and keen to socialise. Book the school hall, charge $20–25/head, add a silent auction and a raffle. Use a free platform like Kahoot or Jackbox for the trivia.
Tips:
- ✓Set a cap of 20 tables to keep it manageable
- ✓Sell sponsorship packages to local businesses for table naming rights
- ✓Run it on a Friday night in Week 4–5
School Colour Run
Students gather sponsorship pledges and run through coloured powder stations. Parents love watching, kids love participating, and the per-student sponsorship adds up fast.
Tips:
- ✓Use a digital pledge platform like Everyday Hero or school-specific fundraising apps
- ✓Order coloured powder in bulk from a party supply wholesaler
- ✓Combine with a sausage sizzle and market stalls
Term 2 (Apr–Jul)
Book Fair
Partner with Scholastic Australia or similar to run a week-long book fair. Low effort for the P&C — the supplier provides stock, point-of-sale materials and collects unsold inventory. P&C earns 20–25% commission or books credit.
Tips:
- ✓Schedule during a busy school week — not exam periods or excursion weeks
- ✓Encourage teachers to wish-list books for the classroom
- ✓Add a "parent evening" session for families who work during school hours
Mothers Day Stall
Students buy small gifts for their carers. Source from an Australian gift stall supplier (several cater specifically to schools). Staff the stall during lunch over 2–3 days so every class gets a turn.
Tips:
- ✓Price gifts at $2, $5 and $10 for all budgets
- ✓Wrap items in tissue for a gift-ready feel
- ✓Accept cash and card (use Square or similar)
Term 3 (Jul–Sep)
School Disco
Run separate discos for junior (F–2) and senior (3–6) students during the school day. Entry by gold coin, sell glow sticks and snacks, hire a school-friendly DJ or use a playlist on Spotify.
Tips:
- ✓Keep it during school hours to maximise participation — no childcare logistics for parents
- ✓Use the school gym or covered outdoor area
- ✓Sell a photo booth experience for $5 extra
Community Market Day
A weekend market on school grounds. Rent stalls to community vendors, run food stalls internally, add rides or activities for children. Creates a community event that builds school culture.
Tips:
- ✓Apply for a food handler permit if serving hot food
- ✓Advertise on local Facebook community groups 4 weeks ahead
- ✓Partner with the local council for event support
Term 4 (Oct–Dec)
Christmas Hamper Raffle
Ask each class to contribute themed hamper items (class of 25 × a $5 item = $125 per hamper). Sell raffle tickets for $2 each. Digital raffle tools like RafflePal make ticket sales and draws easy.
Tips:
- ✓Assign hamper themes to classes — "Movie Night", "Aussie BBQ", "Pamper Package"
- ✓Display hampers in the school foyer the week before the draw
- ✓Sell tickets at school drop-off and pick-up, and online
End-of-year Fun Fair
The big end-of-year event. Game stalls, food trucks, a dunk tank, jumping castle, face painting. Families are in a celebratory mood and spending is highest. Combine with a talent show or concert.
Tips:
- ✓Sell wristbands for unlimited rides vs. per-ride tokens
- ✓Involve Year 6 students — it's their last year, they love helping
- ✓Book food trucks early (they fill up for December events)
Digital fundraising approaches
Cash handling is declining. More 2026 families prefer digital payment options — and these tools reduce volunteer workload significantly.
Digital pledge campaigns
Platforms like Everyday Hero, Tiltify or school-specific tools let parents share fundraising links on social media. No cash handling, automatic receipting, and grandparents can donate from interstate.
QR code donations
Add a QR code to school newsletters, signage and events linking to a dedicated donation page (PayPal, Stripe, or bank transfer). Many parents prefer tapping to carrying cash.
App-based loyalty fundraising
Some Australian apps (e.g. Spriggy Schools) let families earn a percentage of everyday purchases for their school. Low effort for the P&C once set up.
Support your school while kids learn
On Aurvio's yearly plan, parents can opt in to donate $4.00/year to their school's P&F — entirely optional, selected from My Account. Tell other parents — every opt-in adds to the school's quarterly payout.
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