Virtual & Hybrid Fundraising Ideas for Schools & PTAs

Looking for fresh fundraising strategies that reach families both near and far? Virtual and hybrid fundraisers make it easy to boost donations, engage supporters, and simplify event management — all while saving your volunteers time. Whether you’re planning a fully online fundraiser or adding digital features to your in-person event, these ideas will help your school, PTA, or nonprofit hit its fundraising goals with less stress and more success.

Get Your Fundraising On

Whether you want to host an all-virtual fundraiser or supplement your in-person event with online options for communication, donations, and self-management for participants — we’ve got some great fundraiser ideas to kick off your best fundraising season yet!  

• Auctions: Ask local businesses for auction-item donations in exchange for marketing, or have participants make items to be auctioned off (like student-made art and crafts). Use an online auction platform like Double the Donation to set up online bidding.
  

• A-thons: Take pledges per-lap, per-hour, per-word, per-whatever makes sense for your fundraiser.   

  • Bike-a-thon  

  • Dance-a-thon  

  • Jog-a-thon  

  • Book-a-thon  

  • Serve-a-thon   

  • Skip-a-thon  

  • Spell-a-thon  

  • Sport-a-thon  

  • Walk-a-thon  

• Events: Ask an instructor to donate her or his time and ask attendees for donations to participate.   

  • Cooking class  

  • Fitness class  

  • Craft session (think knitting, crocheting, a seasonally-themed craft, etc.)  

  • Movie night  

  • Painting or drawing class  

• Competitions: Ask viewers of the competitive event to make donations on behalf of their favorite player or participant (bet on who will win, donate when a certain milestone is achieved, pay to initiate an action, etc.) and give a prize to the participant that collects the most.   

  • Online gaming tournament  

  • Online trivia  

  • Virtual talent show  

  • Virtual dares (who can do the most?)  

• Raffles: Use an online raffle manager like Raffall. Ask local organizations and businesses to donate prizes for your raffle in exchange for promoting them as sponsors.  

• Sweepstakes: Think “trip giveaway” (who doesn’t like to travel?) for the prize and request donations for entries. Check out ViralSweep for an affordable and intuitive option.  

• Online product fundraisers: Set up an online storefront on a platform like Springly or Shopify to sell your merchandise. 

About the Author

   

Diana Schlott

Customer Champion & Content Creator

Diana is a SignUp co-founder and content creator of how-to user guides, YouTube videos, and Idea Center content on fundraising, mentoring, and business management. More about Diana →