It goes without saying that kids (and all humans!) need water, and providing them with access to water fountains and bottle-refilling stations is a goal that parents can get behind. For school parent committees looking to invest in a hydration station, our friends at the Fundraising Directory have compiled a list of five creative and community-driven fundraising ideas to help you reach your target.

1. Host a “Water Warrior” Fun Run

Organise a themed fun run to encourage kids to celebrate the importance of hydration and staying active. Create a “Water Warrior” challenge where participants can dress up in blue or water-themed costumes, and parents or local businesses can sponsor students per lap they complete. Include fun activities, such as water balloons or spray stations, to keep it exciting. Reward participants with certificates or small prizes and make hydration the star of the day.

2. Reusable Bottle Drive with Custom Designs

Team up with a local supplier to create custom reusable water bottles featuring your school’s logo or a student-designed graphic. Sell these as a fundraiser, promoting them as a sustainable and practical alternative to single-use bottles. Bonus: They’ll be perfect for filling up at the new water station once it’s installed!

3. “Quench the Thirst” Raffle

Host a raffle with water-themed prizes, such as hydration packs, reusable water bottles, or vouchers for local swimming lessons or water parks. Add a twist by including student-made crafts, like water-themed artwork or small plant pots with messages about water conservation. Promote the raffle widely to parents and the local community to maximise ticket sales.

4. Water Awareness Day with a Gold Coin Donation

Educate the school community about the importance of water and hydration with a dedicated Water Awareness Day. Include fun activities like water taste tests, hydration challenges, or science experiments demonstrating how water benefits the body. Ask students to bring a gold coin donation to participate, and let them know the funds are going toward their very own water refill station.

5. “Fill the Bottle” Classroom Challenge

Turn fundraising into a friendly competition between classes with a “Fill the Bottle” challenge. Place large, clear bottles in each classroom and encourage students to fill them with coins over a set time period. The class that raises the most money wins a special reward, like a free dress day, extra recess, or a pizza party. Maintain a visual tracker to indicate how close the school is to achieving its goal.

Tips for Success:

• Get the kids involved. Let students help promote the fundraiser through posters, announcements, or even a skit at assembly.

• Engage local businesses. See if local companies can sponsor part of the cost or donate prizes.

• Celebrate milestones. Share progress updates and celebrate when you hit fundraising goals to keep everyone motivated. Extra tip – have a large black and white poster printed of your hydration station with increments marked on it (like a thermometer), and colour it in as the funds are raised. Having this visual reminder will keep everyone focused on the goal and create a real sense of

By combining creativity and community spirit, your school can have a lot of fun raising the funds needed for a new hydration station!

This article is brought to you by the Fundraising Directory.

The Fundraising Directory publishes fundraising ideas, how-to articles, a comprehensive supplier directory, current grant opportunities as well as a helpful toolbox full of editable templates so Australian volunteers don’t have to reinvent the wheel.