Grade schools, middle schools, and high schools coast to coast have fundraisers involving their students. Hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters have brought schoolchildren together in an effort to help their communities.

However, schools also have a need to raise money for their own purposes. The PTA or PTO will initiate projects that are parent-run, student-run, or a combination of the two.

Schoolchildren today raise more than $1.7 billion by selling items to friends, family, and neighbors. On average, an organization supporting a school can raise $2,500 through a product fundraiser, and some groups raise as much as $10,000 per fundraiser. Research shows that nine out of ten parents of school-age children support these fundraisers. Many will buy to support their own children or children of colleagues, relatives, or friends. The best way to get kids involved in social action is to engage them. For this reason, it is important to come up with venues that will entice kids, particularly teens.

Teachers and a parent activist at one high school teamed up to run Fi(red) Up for Fashion, a charity fashion show that raised $5,000 for the Global Fund, an organization that provides resources to fight AIDS, HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria in Africa. Teams of students and teachers (and their young children) signed up for the chance to participate in fashion shows. Local boutiques donated outfits and a local television sportscaster gave his time as the evening's master of ceremonies, giving the show press coverage, not to mention a professional edge. The event also featured food and live music from the school's musicians. Students had the chance to have fun, support a cause, and learn about fundraising through the event.