If you’ve ever walked away from a school fundraiser feeling tired, stretched thin, or wondering whether all the effort was worth it, you’re not alone. We recently surveyed forty‑three fundraising coordinators, PTA members, and school councils across Canada to understand what’s working, and what’s not, in school fundraising today.
The results reveal a clear picture of what school communities are experiencing and what they’re looking for in their next fundraiser. If you’re planning a fundraiser this year, these insights will help you choose an option that’s easier, more profitable, and far more aligned with what families want.
1. Fundraising Feels Exhausting for Most Volunteers
Sixty‑five percent of respondents described their last school fundraiser as exhausting or chaotic. Another twenty‑one percent said it was “fine, but not worth repeating.”
This tells us something important: fundraising isn’t just a logistical challenge, it’s an emotional one. Volunteers are tired. Families are tired. And the return on effort often feels too low to justify the stress.
Communities are ready for low‑effort fundraisers that feel lighter, calmer, and easier to run, without sacrificing profit.
2. The Biggest Fundraising Challenges Schools Face
When we asked what made fundraising hardest, four challenges stood out: not enough volunteers, low profit, low family participation, and too much administrative work.
This points to a classic capacity‑and‑clarity problem. Councils are stretched thin, families are disengaged, profit is diluted, and admin work is overwhelming. These challenges aren’t about effort, they’re about structure.
Successful fundraisers today are the ones that reduce friction, respect families’ time, require minimal volunteer hours, and feel meaningful rather than transactional.
3. Confidence in Planning the Next Fundraiser Is Low
More than half of respondents said they feel overwhelmed or not confident planning their next fundraiser, and only nine percent feel very confident.
Most councils don’t want to repeat past mistakes or take on something heavy. They need clarity, guidance, and a low‑risk path forward, not another fundraiser that adds to the decision fatigue.
4. What Families and Volunteers Want in a Fundraiser
When we asked what matters most to school communities, four priorities rose to the top: high profit, no pressure on families, low effort for organizers, and meaningful, community‑building experiences.
This is a rare alignment. Communities want strong profit, but not at the cost of pressure or burnout. They want something purposeful, not transactional. The best fundraisers raise real money, don’t pressure families, don’t drain volunteers, and feel aligned with the school’s values.
5. Schools Need Fundraisers They Can Launch Quickly
Sixty‑five percent of respondents want to run a fundraiser within the next month, and only seven percent are waiting until next school year.
There is immediate demand for fundraisers that can launch quickly and run smoothly. Schools need options that can be activated in minutes, require no setup, don’t rely on volunteer capacity, and deliver meaningful profit fast.
What Schools Can Do Next: Practical, High‑Impact Recommendations
These insights aren’t just interesting, they’re actionable. Here’s how to use them to choose a better fundraiser this year.
First, lead with emotional relief. One of the strongest messages you can share with your community is simple: “Most schools told us their last fundraiser felt exhausting or chaotic. It doesn’t have to be that way.” This resonates because it’s true.
Next, choose a model that is both low‑lift and high‑profit. Your community’s top priorities — high profit, low effort, and no pressure — should guide every decision you make.
It also helps to use strategic principles when evaluating options. The most successful fundraisers share four traits: stakeholder clarity, reduced friction, values‑aligned participation, and low‑lift activation. When these elements come together, participation rises, profit increases, and the experience feels better for everyone involved.
(Learn more about Fundraising Strategy in our Learning Series HERE)
Speed matters too. With so many schools needing to run something quickly, fundraisers that promise fast activation and minimal setup have a major advantage.
Communication plays a role as well. Different challenges require different kinds of support:
- Overwhelmed teams need reassurance — they want to know fundraising doesn’t have to feel heavy.
- Low‑profit teams need clarity — they need to understand where profit is lost and how to choose higher‑return options.
- Volunteer‑short teams need relief — they’re looking for models that don’t rely on people they don’t have.
- Low‑participation teams need meaning — families show up when the fundraiser feels relevant and aligned with their values.
One message will never fit all, and tailoring your communication to each group builds trust, confidence, and momentum.
Participation also increases when families understand why the fundraiser matters, how it supports the school, and why it’s simple and pressure‑free. When the items feel useful, relevant, or connected to something bigger than a transaction, families are far more likely to participate.
The Bottom Line: What Schools Want in 2026
Your community is telling a very consistent story. They’re tired. They’re under‑resourced. They want profit without pressure. They want something meaningful. And they want it soon.
The good news is that fundraisers can feel lighter, kinder, and more successful when they’re designed with real families and real volunteers in mind. If you’re looking for a fundraiser that checks all the boxes, aligns with your values, and respects your community’s time, you’re exactly who we built Easy Peasy Tees for.