The sale of magazines is a common PTO fundraiser but also discourages, and in some districts prohibits, door-to-door sales tactics due to the potential harm caused to students. Candy sales are another of the country's most-used fundraising idea. Often an order form is sent home with students from school requiring each to contact friends, neighbors and family members to support the school by purchasing these types of items. When orders are submitted, the company ships the items to school representatives which are then sorted and given to each student for distribution.
Sometimes, school organizations participate in fundraisers for national or local charitable causes such as the March of Dimes, the United Way or the American Red Cross. A 5-kilometer walk is an appropriate option and can be completed during recess. Students are encouraged to walk or run around their schoolyard after gathering a promised donation per lap from family and friends, who pay their money after the event has taken place. Other fundraising activities for these types of organizations involve a simple donation of money through the gathering of loose change.
School-sponsored sports teams, clubs and musical groups participate in fundraisers to raise money for transportation, equipment and events. Car washes; product sales like candles, fruit, wrapping paper or small gifts; and theatrical events are often sponsored by organizations within the school. It is possible for activity-related fundraisers to partake in the same types of fundraisers as the PTO, but may not be organized at the same time to avoid placing too much strain and responsibility on the students.
There are those unfortunate tragic incidents that happen to individuals in the community or directly related to the school that rouse others to form a fundraising effort in their honor. Vehicle accidents, home fires and unforeseen acts of nature may persuade school organizations to rally in collecting funds to be given to those who may have accumulated hospital bills, need the basic necessities lost due to tragedy or require adequate shelter. At an Oregon high school in 2009, a teacher was released from his musical instruction position due to budget cuts and the students sponsored a musical concert to collect funds to keep his position intact.