Developing great school fundraising ideas can be frustrating and if not done well your efforts may fall short of your intended goals.
Finding new and creative ways to raise money will invigorate everyone involved and substantially increase the potential of your drive to raise money for a good cause.
What to do:

• When given a chance to express themselves, kids are great resources of ideas.
  Gather the kids in your school and encourage them to voice ideas.
  Make it fun.
  
• Include students, parents, volunteers, teachers, civic leaders, local heroes/celebrities to help with your school fundraising.
  Alumni are also great resources.
  Oftentimes people will help if you just ask.
  
• A good rule of thumb is to limit the number of fundraisers you have in one year.
  One for each season should be considered the maximum number.
  Days, weeks, months and years fly by, especially for the parents.
  If you're asking too often they may begin to resent giving.
  
• Set goals and create incentives that promote participation.
  
• Encourage different people to volunteer throughout the year.
  If the same people are involved every time they will lose interest and your efforts will fail.
  
• Get the word out in as many ways as possible: word of mouth, advertising, Internet, online fundraising platforms, etc.
  If an event requires attendance from the community they need to know.
  
• Plan ahead.
  If you choose to sell something make sure it is ordered at least six-week in advance.
  Anything that has to be shipped will inevitably experience some sort of delay.
  

Now you have an idea of what to do to hold a successful school fundraiser.
What's just as important is what not to do.
Making the mistake of following the advice above but not below will decrease your chances of success.
What not to do:

• Repeat, repeat, repeat.
  Do not saturate your donors with the same school fundraiser over and over again.
  If the same kid shows up on my doorstep with the same candy bar each month I would begin to avoid any knock on the door.
  Keep your ideas fresh.
  Engage your donors in new and unique ways and they will reward you with continued support.
  
• Don't hold school fundraisers that require a lot of participation by the parents.
  If you decide to have a dunk pool don't ask one of the father's to build whole thing himself.
  Hold a workshop and get kids and parents involved.
  They all pitch in and learn new skills.
  
• School fundraising ideas that require kids to pay money to participate result in some kids being left out.
  You want everyone involved.
  If some kids are excluded the whole basis for your fundraiser is lost.
  Do not hold events that don't include everyone.
  
• If a rival school is scheduling a fundraiser do not schedule yours the same day.
  Also, do not hold the same fundraising drives.
  Keep it unique.
  People love new.
  

Laying the groundwork to develop great school fundraising ideas will increase the probability of raising money for years to come.