Kids' art fundraiser

Also called: Children's art on calendars, cards and gifts

Turn children’s drawings into calendars, cards, tea towels or gifts. Take paid orders and keep the margin after supplier costs.

Typically raises

$1,000

$300–3,000 per campaignest.

About $133 per organiser hour

Based on one school's artwork order

Is it right for us?

Money: $500–2,000
Work: An afternoon
Helpers: 1–2 people
Lead time: 1–2 months
Red tape: None

Common: parents expect the art calendar order form each year

People: 1-2 coordinators plus teachers
Organiser time: 5-10 hours (estimate)
Lead time: Run in Term 3 for pre-Christmas delivery (estimate; Havelock North Primary runs it in Term 3)
Up-front cost: Nothing up front. None; parents order online
Risk: None.

Suits: Kindy or early learning, Primary or intermediate school

When: Winter (Jun–Aug), Spring (Sep–Nov), Christmas

How big a job: An afternoon, 1–2 people

How it works

The scorecard and money example describe one version of this fundraiser. Other versions have different costs, helpers and results. Choose a version below before making your budget.

The money, as an example sum

Nothing to pay up front, and the typical result for one school's artwork order is about $1,000 per campaign.

From the typical figure on this page. Your result will differ.

Where the money figure comes from

Estimate. Programmes pay a percentage of sales (The Online Printer: 'school gets % of sales'); example retail prices: calendar $17.50, greeting cards $16 (Mt Eden Normal Primary PTA).

Last checked October 2026. Ran this? Tell us what you raised and we’ll use real results to improve the figures.

Ways to run it

Calendars and cards: Collect artwork using the supplier’s template. Confirm proofs, paid orders and delivery dates.
Keepsake tea towels with every child's drawing: Print all the children's self-portraits onto one tea towel design and pre-sell it to families.

Step by step

Choose a supplier and confirm the school's percentage in writing.
Teachers run an art lesson.
Supplier scans art and issues each child a code.
Send proofs home.
Families order online by the cutoff.
Bulk delivery to school.

Plan your chosen version

These notes come from the October 2026 research. Figures describe separate examples, not extra money to add to the headline amount.

Keepsake tea towels with every child's drawing

Print all the children's self-portraits onto one tea towel design and pre-sell it to families.

Separate example: $1,200 per campaign after costs (estimate). one school, 50-375 towels

Estimate: teatowels.co.nz charges $6.00 + GST each at 100+ (1 colour), and a NZ school sold at $15 each or $20 for two; about $8 margin per towel incl. GST on 50-375 towels (estimate).

Helpers: 1-3. Lead time: 3-4 weeks plus artwork collection (Australian supplier guidance; estimate for NZ). Cash risk: Medium if you print more than pre-sold.

Get supplier quote and minimums.
Collect drawings on template paper.
Approve the proof.
Pre-sell with payment.
Order the pre-sold number plus a small buffer.
Distribute and sell spares at a gala.

Rules to check for this version

Consent for children's names on the design.

Tips for this version

Fundraisers get free freight to one NZ address from teatowels.co.nz.
Cotton Supply says a $15 sale price can return over 100% on smaller orders.

Watch out for

Ordering on hope rather than pre-sales.

Sources: teatowels.co.nz, cottonsupply.co.nz, hail.to

Getting the word out

Even a well-run plan fails if nobody hears about it. There are two asks, and the first one goes out first.

Ask for help: Members to pass the order form to family, friends and workmates.
Ask people to buy: People to order before the cut-off.
When to start: Ask for helpers first, as soon as the date is set. Start the public ask about 3–4 weeks out, and book newsletter and paper notices before that: small newsletters close early.

Where to put it

Asking people yourselfMost yeses come from someone asking directly. Give every member a short message they can send to family and workmates.
Email lists and group chatsYour members’ email list and the class, team or church group chats. Short, with one date or one link.
School, club and church newslettersYour own newsletter is free and read by the families most likely to say yes. Check when it closes.
Local Facebook pages and community groupsPost in your town’s community page and local groups (check their rules), and share from your group’s own page.

The full guide to getting the word out: every channel from flyers to the evening news, with lead times and costs.

What you’ll need

Place: Not neededNone needed
Landowner’s permission: Not needed
Council permit: Not needed
Food rules: Not neededNo food sold
Alcohol: Not neededNo alcohol sold
Gambling rules: Not neededNot gambling

Get family consent for any child names or photos used. No other permits.

What you can get donated

None needed.

Tips

The Online Printer issues each student a unique code that stays valid through their time at the school.

Watch out for

Late orders miss the bulk price (The Online Printer).