10 PTA & PTO Fundraiser Ideas That Work
We run the Slice the Price Card, a Domino’s pizza card fundraiser, so of course it’s #1 on our list! All 10 ideas are favorites that PTAs and PTOs have used for years. Most groups run several in a school year. That is usually one big event and a few small ones.
- Slice the Price Card sale. Each student shares a personal link. Supporters buy a $20 Domino’s card that gives a free large pizza with the purchase of a large at participating Domino’s. Your group keeps $10 of every card. There is no upfront cost, nothing to store, and no catalog to sort. That matters when the volunteers are parents with day jobs.
- Fun run or walk-a-thon. Students collect pledges and then run laps during the school day. It may be the highest-earning event of the year at an elementary school, and it asks families to give rather than to buy.
- Read-a-thon. Students collect pledges per minute or book read. Teachers may back it more readily than a sales fundraiser, since it ties to what they are already doing.
- Restaurant spirit nights. A local restaurant gives your school a share of one evening’s sales. It is low effort and you can repeat it monthly. What you make depends on how many families come.
- Fall festival or carnival. Games, food, and a bounce house on a Saturday. It may take more volunteers than anything else on this list, so decide early whether you have them.
- Direct-give drive. Ask families for a donation outright instead of selling them something. Name the goal, like a playground or field trip buses. Apart from any processing fees, the money stays with the school.
- Spirit wear store. School shirts, hoodies, and hats sold online year-round. Run the store on preorder or print-on-demand so the PTA never fronts the cost.
- Class art auction. Each class makes one piece of art together and families bid on their child’s. It costs almost nothing, and parents may well bid against each other for the keepsake.
- Book fair. A familiar event that supports reading and brings families into the building. The school’s share of each sale may be smaller than what a direct-give drive brings in.
- Shopping reward programs. Grocery and store programs give a percentage back to your school. They run in the background. The amounts tend to be small, so they may work better as an extra than as a plan.
Here’s why we think you’ll love the Slice the Price Card fundraiser!
A School Fundraiser Your Whole PTA Can Get Behind
Your PTA or PTO does the work of ten people on a volunteer schedule. The Slice the Price Card gives you a fundraiser that runs itself: a $20 Domino's pizza card families actually want, with your group keeping $10 of every one sold.
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How the Slice the Price Card program works
The Slice the Price Card is a Domino’s Pizza fundraiser. It has helped groups raise money since 1999. Your supporters buy a $20 card, and the card sells itself. It gets them a free large pizza when they buy a large pizza at menu price. It works at participating Domino’s stores until the card expires.
- Zero upfront cost. There is no cost to your group, ever, no minimum order, and no leftover inventory, because cards are only sent out once they are sold. The program is risk-free.
- 50% profit. Cards sell for $20 and your group keeps $10 of every card sold.
- Sell online, on paper, or both. We set up a free online store. Supporters can buy from anywhere, and we ship the cards to them. You can also use printed order forms. Groups that use both usually sell more cards than groups that only sell online.
- Runs two weeks. A short sale keeps everyone focused. We find it gets the best results.
- A specialist helps the whole way. Your Fundraising Specialist sets it up with you. They send your materials and check in with you.
- Free prize programs. You can add prize and T-shirt programs that reward sellers. They work great for schools and younger sellers.
Cards are good for 6 months to 1 year, based on when your fundraiser starts. The expiration date is printed on every card.
Why it’s perfect for PTA and PTO groups
No inventory, no hassle. You are running this with volunteers, not staff. There is no stock to track, no cookie dough to chill, and nothing to count out by classroom. Sellers sign up online and get their own share link. Orders are tracked for you on a live dashboard. So a board of busy parents can keep up with it.
Funds what matters. It pays for things your budget never quite covers. Think classroom supply stipends, the fall festival, playground shade sails, teacher appreciation week, and field trip buses. One two-week sale at typical numbers raises around $1,500. A school-wide push can raise far more.
Built for all grades. The Prize Program is built for a school sale with all grades. Every child who takes part earns a prize. Everything is sorted by grade and teacher for handout day. There is a teacher incentive too, plus an option to plant trees instead of taking a prize. That keeps younger grades excited. Your volunteers get no extra sorting work.
Zero financial risk. You pay nothing to start. There is no minimum. You never hold leftover stock, because cards are only sent out once they are sold. A PTA budget has to be approved at a meeting. “No cost, no risk” is an easy yes.
What your group can earn
Your group keeps $10 for every $20 card sold — a full 50% profit with no upfront cost. There is no minimum and no maximum number of cards.
The math is simple:
Participants × Cards per participant × $10 = Your profit
10 participants selling 15 cards each
$1,500
25 participants selling 15 cards each
$3,750
50 participants selling 20 cards each
$10,000
100 participants selling 20 cards each
$20,000
Most groups raise around $1,500. Larger or highly motivated groups have raised $10,000+. Our largest fundraiser raised about $21,450. A fundraiser needs at least 5 participants. These numbers are only a guide for setting goals. Real results depend on how many people sell and how hard they work.
Why Elementary Schools Choose Pizza Card Fundraisers
Elementary school fundraisers need to be simple for volunteers. They need to be safe for kids. They need to work for every family. The Slice the Price Card does all three. Parents buy a $20 Domino's pizza card their family will use. The school keeps $10 per card sold (50% profit). The whole fundraiser can run online, with no door-to-door selling.
How a Pizza Card Fundraiser Compares
| Pizza Card (STP) | Bake Sale | Catalog Sale | Walk-a-thon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Profit Margin | 50% | Varies | 25-30% | Varies |
| Upfront Cost | $0 | Ingredients | $0 | $0 |
| Setup Time | About a week | Days | Weeks | Weeks |
| Parent Effort | Share a link | Bake + staff | Collect orders | Pledge tracking |
| Kid Safety | No door-to-door | On-site | Often door-to-door | On-site |
| Leftover Inventory | None | Waste | None | N/A |
Numbers for other fundraiser types are typical. They vary by program.
PTA and PTO fundraiser questions
Slice the Price Card Works for Every Group
See how the program fits other groups too:
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