Short answer: The fundraisers that work best for homeschool groups use what co-ops have, flexible schedules and close-knit families, and don't need what they lack: a building or a district. Good choices are a used curriculum and book sale, a simple annual dues-plus-donation ask, a walk or fun run families can share with relatives, a talent show or performance night, a science or history fair with an entry donation, and service-for-donation days. First, open a group bank account with an EIN and decide whether the group needs nonprofit status.
Homeschooling is a sizable part of American education. NCES estimates that about 3.4% of K–12 students were homeschooled in 2022–23, and 5.2% received instruction at home when students enrolled full time in virtual schools are counted. Many of those families belong to co-ops, support groups or enrichment programs that share classes, field trips, curriculum and space, and most of the general school fundraising ideas assume a building and a PTA these groups don't have.
Those groups need money too: rent for a church hall or community center, science supplies, curriculum sets, field trip buses, graduation ceremonies, scholarships for families who can't pay dues. But they fundraise without the things schools take for granted. There's no PTA structure, no principal to approve events, no school building and often no formal legal entity. This guide covers both the setup and the ideas.
Set up before you collect
Many co-ops start as informal groups of families. That works until money changes hands. Before your first fundraiser, decide these four things:
| Decision | Why it matters | What most groups do |
|---|---|---|
| A group bank account | Money held in a parent's personal account mixes funds and creates tax and trust problems. | Open an account in the group's name with two signers who aren't related. |
| An EIN | Many banks require one to open an account in an organization's name. The IRS charges no fee for one. | Apply directly with the IRS once the group has a name and officers. |
| A legal form | Nonprofit corporations are formed under state law, separately from federal tax exemption. An informal association can leave members exposed if something goes wrong. | Larger or longer-running co-ops often form a nonprofit corporation under state law and adopt simple bylaws. Ask an insurance agent about general liability coverage for the group and its events; an informal association often has none. |
| Tax-exempt status | Gifts are tax-deductible for donors only if the group qualifies as a charity under federal tax law. | Groups with gross receipts normally $5,000 or less aren't required to apply to the IRS. That exception only removes the need to apply: the group still has to be organized and operated for a charitable or educational purpose for gifts to be deductible. |
Education is one of the charitable purposes federal tax law recognizes, which is why many co-ops can qualify as educational organizations. Whether yours does depends on how it's organized and what it does; a tax professional can tell you. The IRS notes that many small organizations apply for recognition anyway, because recognition assures donors that their gifts are deductible. Until your status is settled, call payments what they are, dues, fees or gifts to the group, and don't promise deductions. The new-group setup guide walks through the bank account, EIN and annual filings in more detail.
Ideas that work for homeschool groups
1. A used curriculum and book sale
Homeschool families own shelves of curriculum their children have outgrown. A consignment sale raises money and saves families money at the same time. A common setup is for sellers to keep 70 to 80% of each sale and the co-op to keep 20 to 30%; donated items count entirely toward the co-op. Hold it before fall planning season, and invite families from outside the co-op.
Make intake simple: each seller gets a number, prices every item on a tag with that number, and drops items off the evening before. Price used sets at about half of new or less, and books at a flat price by type. Cashiers record the seller number and price for each sale, so the treasurer can pay each seller by check within two weeks. Unsold items go home with the seller or, if marked "donate," to a library sale.
2. A talent show, play or concert
Co-ops with drama, music or speech classes can turn the end-of-term performance into a ticketed or donation-based evening for families and grandparents. A bake table adds a little. Skip the raffle unless you've checked your state's charitable gaming rules, which often require a license or limit who may hold one. For a play or for recorded music, check performance rights before you sell tickets: ticketed and recorded performances often need permission or a license.
3. A science, history or art fair
Students present projects to visitors who make a donation to attend, vote for favorites with coins, or bid on student art. It shows off what students have learned and reaches relatives who are curious about homeschooling.
4. Service-for-donation days
Students rake leaves, wash windows, pull weeds or help with moving for neighbors and church members who donate in return. It suits co-ops that value service learning. Keep adults with every group of students and agree on the work in advance. The service day planning guide covers insurance questions, tools and crew sizes.
5. Dues plus an optional donation
The simplest and most reliable source. Set dues to cover the essentials, then add an optional donation line for a scholarship fund or a specific project, such as microscopes or a field trip. Families who can give more often do when the purpose is clear.
6. A walk, fun run or bike ride
Children of every age take part together, siblings included, and each family shares one link with grandparents and friends. It needs a park or track and a few volunteers. The homeschool walk-a-thon guide covers holding one in a public park.
7. Local business and church support
The church or community center that hosts the co-op may waive or reduce rent, and local businesses often sponsor a specific item, such as a science kit or field trip bus. A short sponsorship letter helps; see the sponsorship letter templates.
When you hold an event on a church or community center's property, its own policies apply on top of the law. A host may ban raffles or games of chance, restrict food from home kitchens, or ask for a certificate of insurance from outside groups. Ask for the facility policy before you plan.
What to avoid
- Cash in envelopes. Even in a small group, two people count cash and both sign a count sheet before anyone takes it home. The cash handling guide has a count sheet.
- Product sales with minimum orders. A co-op of 25 families may not reach a vendor's minimum.
- Too many asks of the same families. Co-op families already give time every week. Plan one or two fundraisers a year and say so.
Setting a goal
Example A co-op of 30 families needs $4,500 for next year's rent increase and science supplies. Dues cover the base budget. A curriculum sale keeping 20% of $5,000 in consigned sales, plus $400 of donated books sold outright, adds $1,400. The optional donation line on dues brings in $1,080 from 18 families giving $60. A spring fun run where 15 families each gather $90 from relatives adds $1,350, and the host church agrees to absorb $670 of the rent increase. The goal calculator and the fundraiser finder help you test your own numbers.
Sources
- Higher percentage of K–12 students are receiving academic instruction at home, Institute of Education Sciences (NCES) (accessed 2026-10-30)
- Organizations not required to file Form 1023, Internal Revenue Service (accessed 2026-10-30)
- Get an employer identification number, Internal Revenue Service (accessed 2026-10-30)
- Before applying for tax-exempt status, Internal Revenue Service (accessed 2026-10-30)
Frequently asked questions
How can a homeschool co-op raise money?
Through dues with an optional donation line, a used curriculum and book sale, performances and project fairs, service days, local sponsors and an event relatives can support, such as a walk or fun run. Open a group bank account with an EIN before collecting anything.
Does a homeschool co-op need to be a nonprofit?
Not to exist, but forming a nonprofit corporation under state law can protect members, and gifts are deductible only if the group qualifies as a charity. Groups with gross receipts normally $5,000 or less aren't required to apply to the IRS. Ask a tax professional what fits your group.
Are donations to a homeschool group tax-deductible?
Only if the group qualifies as a charitable organization under federal tax law. Dues and fees paid for a family's own classes generally aren't donations. Don't describe gifts as deductible until a tax professional confirms your status.
What is an easy fundraiser for a small homeschool group?
A used curriculum sale. Families already own the inventory, the co-op keeps a share of each sale, and buyers save money. An optional donation line on the yearly dues form is even easier and often raises as much. If families want an event, a project fair or a short walk in a local park works with a few volunteers.