Five Top Fundraiser Ideas for Schools in Wisconsin: What Works Best (and Why Pies Lead the Way)

Raising money for school programs, sports teams, or club activities in Wisconsin isn’t always easy. Between cold weather, busy schedules, and stiff competition, it’s crucial to pick a fundraiser that appeals to your buyers, is profitable, and excites your team. Whether you’re in Mayville, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Madison, or anywhere in between, having a well-planned campaign can make all the difference. In this post, we’ll explore some of the most effective fundraising ideas for Wisconsin schools and explain why a pie fundraiser, especially from a trusted local baker like Sweet Pea’s, often leads the pack.

Five Key Criteria for a Successful Wisconsin School Fundraiser

A successful non-profit fundraising campaign in the Midwest is going to deliver on these top points.

Support for local economy — partner with a local maker, and you increase local buy-in.  We aren't trendy in the Midwest. We've always believed in putting our money back into our communities. Offering locally made products as your fundraiser resonates deeply with buyers because they are contributing to their community in multiple ways.

Seasonal timing — shoot for pick-up or delivery before a holiday like Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas. Friends and family will be excited to support local and make their holiday feasts easier.

Profit margin & cost predictability — choose items with strong profit margins to make the best use of your team's time and energy. You'll motivate them to sell again in your next campaign

Ease of fulfillment/ 2-hour delivery radius — local pickup or delivery helps eliminate risks associated with package shipping and reduces travel and shipping costs.

Community engagement — people are more likely to support causes that feel local and trustworthy. A fundraiser that uses local products helps build stronger connections between the supporting organization, local businesses, and community members.

Five Top Fundraiser Ideas for Wisconsin Schools

Here are several tried-and-true fundraising methods you might have tried.  We've listed a few pros and cons for each:

Product presales (e.g., pies, candles, wrapping paper)

• Pros: high profit potential, easy to pre-collect money, no returns, strong local interest
• Cons: requires coordination for distribution, seasonal demand, may require refrigeration
• Why pies shine: Pies are consumable, seasonal, and comforting — perfect for holiday fundraising in the spring and fall.

School events (fun runs, carnivals, talent shows)

• Pros: community building, opportunities for sponsorships
  
• Cons: higher overhead, weather risk, more volunteers needed

Service-based fundraisers (car washes, bake sales, face painting)

• Pros: low cost, strong community involvement
• Cons: low per-unit return, limited reach, weather-dependent, safety risks associated with food-borne illness and equipment

Partnership with local businesses

• Pros: can tap into existing customer base, sponsorship funds
• Cons: less profit per transaction, limited control over messaging

Subscription or membership models (e.g., school magazines, coupon books)

• Pros: recurring revenue, long-term connections
• Cons: more complex admin, less immediate payout, high minimums to make profits

Top Five Reasons Why Pie Fundraisers Often Outperform Others in Wisconsin

1. We love family gatherings! Wisconsin fall, winter, and spring holidays create demand for baked goods and comfort food and create justification for splurging on higher-calorie items.
2. We support our community. Local, scratch-made pies build trust and provide a strong, unique marketing message..
3. Pies hit that "treat yourself" sweet spot in our budget. With a lower price point than other fundraiser items, like mattresses or knives, pies sell. They are tangible, desirable, and seasonal. Plus, people are more willing to spend on them when they are made locally.
4. The Freshness Factor - Shoppers in the Midwest connect locally produced items with higher quality, freshness, and value. A local product can be perceived as superior to a generic, mass-produced item, which translates into motivated sellers and happy buyers. 
5. We deliver - no really, we do! Local producers (like Sweet Pea’s) can offer pick-up/delivery, reducing logistics headaches.

Five Tips for Making Any School Fundraiser Successful in Wisconsin

Plan around seasons: Start pie fundraising presales a few months before holidays like Easter and Thanskgiving or Christmas; schedule delivery about a month before holidays.

Use clear, localized messaging: “Support your school by ordering community-made pies from Mayville’s own Sweet Pea’s.” We'll even create social posts and flyers with your logo on them for you!

Offer incentives and prizes: Most school sellers respond well to tiered prizes (10 pies sold = free pie, etc.). We'll help you create a successful incentive program for your fundraiser by offering discounted gift cards to our local pie and ice cream shop, too.

Promote everywhere: Share order forms through school newsletters, social media, local news, booster groups. Use our professionally created advertising materials to get your message accross.

Make distribution easy: Coordinate pickup days, delivery routes, or central drop-off points to boost turnout.

Pies made in Mayville, Wisconsin, are the fundraisers that sell themselves. What are you waiting for?  Let's make dough together!
If you’re looking for a dependable, high-profit, low-hassle fundraiser for your Wisconsin school, sports-club, or non-profit organization, Sweet Pea’s Pies is here to help. Our locally-made pies, flexible presale system, and delivery or pickup options make your fundraiser easy to run — and more successful. Get started today by visiting our Fundraising FAQ and Contact page.