FUNDRAISING

How One Teacher Raised $7,000 for Student Travel: 6 Fundraising Tips That Actually Work

Erin P. | July 16, 2025

For Christina—a high school history teacher, second-time Group Leader, and longtime student council advisor—fundraising for her EF trip was a chance to rally her community and show her students what’s possible. With a little creativity, strong partnerships, and a lot of heart, she helped her group raise over $7,000 and made their dream of exploring Europe a reality. Curious how she did it? She shares her go-to strategies and biggest lessons with us below.

1. Start with your school’s internal funding sources

Christina’s tip: Look at school resources first. Ask around. You never know what’s already available.

Before organizing a single fundraiser, Christina went to her school’s specialist high skills major program, which donates money to senior student causes. She asked what they could contribute and walked away with $2,000.

2. Go big early, then wind down with passive fundraising

Christina’s tip: Get the big lifting done early. Save your energy by finishing with something low effort but consistent.

Active fundraisers can be a lot of work, so Christina recommends front-loading the effort and easing off near the end of the year.

What worked for her:

A Krispy Kreme pre-order sale: Bought boxes for $8, sold them for $20, and involved students in the pickup and distribution.
A “glass turkey” raffle: Families donated bottles of liquor to fill a cooler, then sold raffle tickets ($10 each or 3 for $20). This one brought in thousands of dollars. Students don’t handle any alcohol, they just sell raffle tickets to adults.

3. Partner with local businesses for weekly income

Christina’s tip: If a vendor wants to work with your school, see if you can negotiate a better cut and build a recurring schedule. You give to the community, and they give back.

Here’s where things got smart and sustainable. Christina partnered with Chatime, a local bubble tea shop that wanted more access to the school. They agreed to come in every Friday for four months and gave her group a larger fundraising cut.

The result? A reliable, passive stream of money that covered the final stretch.

4. Use existing events and school culture to your advantage

Christina says: The glass turkey has become a yearly go-to fundraising choice. Now it’s part of the school’s culture. Even school administrators give it a thumbs up.

Christina also serves as a student council advisor, which helped when it came time to organize. But even if you’re not already plugged into student leadership, she suggests piggybacking off events your school already runs, or creating one that can become an annual tradition.

5. Don’t underestimate the learning before the trip

Christina says: Having students help with distribution or sales—like handing out donuts—helps build confidence and social skills before even leaving for the airport.

Fundraising isn’t just about money; it’s a powerful way to build community and give students ownership of their experience.

6. Ask for help, even if it feels awkward

Fundraising can be uncomfortable, especially when asking for donations or support. But Christina says it’s worth pushing past the hesitation.

Christina’s tip: Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You might hit moments where it seems like the tour won’t happen, but keep reaching out. Support is out there, and it can make all the difference for your students.

Christina’s final thoughts

Find what works for your community. Start with something big, like a glass turkey raffle, and add on from there. If you can do passive fundraising, do it. It’ll change everything.

“There’s so much value in student travel. It helps you grow and learn in so many ways that you wouldn’t in the classroom. I just really wanted to bring that to the kids.”

Want more fundraising ideas?

We’re sharing real stories from teachers across Canada who made student travel possible.

Check out our blog, 40 Proven Ideas to Raise Money for a School Trip, for inspiration.

See fundraising inspo