Best Fundraising Products for Australian Schools in 2026

Picking the right product for your school fundraiser is the single biggest decision you'll make. Choose something parents actually want and your students will sell out in a week. Choose something nobody asked for and you'll be chasing up order forms until the end of term.

Here's what's working for Australian schools in 2026, with realistic margins and no fluff.

Cadbury Chocolate

Chocolate is still the number one fundraising product in Australia, and Cadbury runs the show. The brand recognition does the selling for you. Kids hand over a box, parents see Cadbury, and the bars move fast.

• Typical margin: Around 40%, which translates to roughly $6,000 for a 250-student school running a solid campaign.
• Why it works: Everyone knows and trusts Cadbury. The price points are low enough that people buy without thinking too hard. Bars, blocks, and seasonal boxes all perform well.
• Watch out for: Healthy eating policies. Schools in NSW, QLD, and VIC are increasingly discouraging confectionery fundraisers, so check your school's policy before committing.

If chocolate is allowed at your school, it's hard to beat Cadbury for sheer ease and return.

Billy G's Cookie Dough

Billy G's has become the go-to cookie dough brand for Australian school fundraisers. It's made in Queensland with over 80% Australian ingredients, which parents appreciate.

• Typical margin: About $4 profit per tub.
• Why it works: Families actually use it. A tub of cookie dough sits in the freezer and gets pulled out whenever someone wants a quick batch of biscuits. It's practical, not just a novelty.
• Best timing: Cookie dough sells best in the cooler months. Terms 2 and 3 are your sweet spot.

Billy G's handles the logistics well, and the ordering process is straightforward. This is a reliable pick for any primary or secondary school.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

Krispy Kreme runs a dedicated school fundraising program, and it's popular for a reason. The brand sells itself and the doughnuts don't last long enough to go stale.

• Typical margin: Varies by state and order size, but margins sit in the 30-40% range.
• Why it works: Krispy Kreme is a treat brand. People get excited about it. Order forms fill up quickly because everyone already knows what they're getting.
• Watch out for: Availability depends on your location. If you're regional, check delivery options before you commit. Same healthy eating policy warnings as chocolate apply here.

Bakers Delight Seasonal Packs

Bakers Delight offers seasonal fundraising packs tied to specific times of year. Hot cross bun packs before Easter and Christmas treat packs in Term 4 are the two big ones.

• Typical margin: Margins vary by pack, but the seasonal angle means urgency is built in.
• Why it works: People are already buying hot cross buns or Christmas baked goods. Your fundraiser just becomes where they buy them from. That's a much easier sell than asking someone to buy something extra.
• Best timing: Easter for hot cross buns (order early in Term 1), Christmas for treat packs (Term 4).

The seasonal window is narrow, so get your orders locked in early.

Sunscreen (Pro Block)

Sunscreen is the dark horse of school fundraising. Pro Block runs a popular program, and the sell is dead simple: every family in Australia needs sunscreen.

• Why it works: It's something people buy anyway. Parents don't have to think about whether they want it. Terms 3 and 4 are ideal timing because summer is on the way.
• Best timing: Late Term 3 through Term 4, when families are already thinking about sun protection for holidays and weekend sport.

Sunscreen fundraisers won't generate the same excitement as chocolate, but the conversion rate is high because it's a no-brainer purchase.

Eco-Friendly Products

There's a clear trend towards environmentally friendly fundraising products, and a few options are gaining traction in Australian schools.

• Sow 'n Sow seed cards: Plantable greeting cards embedded with seeds. Great for Mother's Day or end-of-year gifts.
• Bamboo products: Reusable cutlery sets, straws, and lunch accessories. Margins vary by supplier.
• Jolly Soles socks: Bright, fun designs that kids and parents actually want to wear. Practical and a bit different.

These products tend to do well in schools where the parent community is environmentally conscious. They stand out from the usual chocolate boxes, which can work in your favour if families are tired of the same old thing.

Tea Towels with Student Artwork

This one is a classic that keeps coming back. Each student draws a self-portrait or illustration, the artwork gets printed onto tea towels, and families buy them as keepsakes.

• Why it works: The sentimental value is enormous. Grandparents go wild for these. A tea towel with their grandchild's drawing on it? That's an instant sale, often multiple.
• Watch out for: Production lead times can be long, so plan well ahead. You'll also need teacher buy-in to dedicate class time to the artwork.

Tea towels won't raise as much as chocolate or cookie dough per student, but they're low-risk and families genuinely treasure them.

Entertainment Memberships

Entertainment memberships offer discounts on dining, activities, and shopping. Schools earn a commission on each membership sold.

• Typical margin: Around 20% commission per membership.
• Why it works: The concept is solid. Families save money on things they'd do anyway.
• The catch: Popularity has been declining for a few years. With so many discount apps and loyalty programs available now, the value proposition isn't as strong as it used to be. Don't expect huge volumes.

Entertainment memberships can still work as a supplementary fundraiser, but they're unlikely to be your main earner.

What About Fun Runs?

Fun runs and walkathons can raise big money. A 300-student school might pull in anywhere from $20,000 to $90,000. Sounds great on paper.

The problem is the commission. Most fun run companies take around 50% of what's raised. So that $40,000 total? Your school keeps $20,000 and the company pockets the rest. That's a lot of money leaving your community.

Product fundraisers are smaller in total, but you keep a much bigger share. A typical product fundraiser raises $2,000 to $8,000 for a 300-400 student school, and most of that goes straight to your cause.

Online Ordering Makes a Huge Difference

Here's a number worth paying attention to: schools that use online ordering average about $130 per student in sales. Schools still using paper order forms and cash? About $20 per student.

That's not a small difference. Online ordering removes friction. Parents can share a link, pay instantly, and you don't have to chase up envelopes of coins. If your fundraising supplier offers an online option, use it.

Seasonal Planning

Timing matters more than most schools realise. Here's a rough guide:

• Terms 1-2 (Autumn/Winter): Cookie dough, chocolate, and warm comfort food products.
• Terms 3-4 (Spring/Summer): Sunscreen, outdoor products, and anything families need for the warmer months.
• Term 4 specifically: Christmas-themed products from Bakers Delight and seasonal Cadbury boxes.

Matching your product to the season gives you a natural reason to buy, which always outsells a generic ask.

Running Your Product Fundraiser with Raised

If you're setting up a product fundraiser for your school, Raised makes the online ordering and payment side simple. Parents get a link, choose what they want, and pay online. You skip the spreadsheets and cash handling.

Raised charges a 5% fee that's paid by the donor, so your school keeps 100% of the funds raised. Whether you're selling cookie dough, chocolate, or tea towels, it's a straightforward way to run the money side of things while you focus on the products.