How to Host a Bingo Night Fundraiser for Your School (That Everyone Will Want to Join In)

Ready to raise money and bring the fun? 🎉 We’ll show you how to plan a Bingo Night fundraiser that’s easy to run, gets the whole community involved, and helps your school meet its goals! #BingoNight #SchoolFundraiser #FamilyFun

Looking for a school fundraiser that’s low-stress, easy to plan, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser? Bingo Night checks all the boxes. It’s family-friendly, budget-friendly, and full of fun energy—and it brings in a tidy little profit for your PTA or school club, too.

The beauty of bingo is that it’s great for all ages, requires very little prep compared to a big carnival or gala, and gives you plenty of ways to add on extras like snacks, raffles, and prizes. Whether you’re planning a cozy school gym night or a full-blown themed event, Bingo Night is a classic for a reason.

Here’s everything you need to pull off a school Bingo Night fundraiser that’s organized, exciting, and (most importantly) fun for everyone who walks through the door.

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💡 What Is a Bingo Night Fundraiser?

A Bingo Night Fundraiser is a school event where families and friends come together to play rounds of bingo for small prizes—all while raising money for your school or PTA group. It’s usually ticketed (with a per-person or per-family fee), and includes several rounds of bingo, fun prizes, and a few fundraising extras like snacks or raffle tickets.

You can run it in the school cafeteria, gym, or even outdoors if the weather’s nice. With some printed cards, a bingo caller, a prize table, and a few helpers—you’re in business!

Whether you’re fundraising for new classroom supplies, playground equipment, or your next big PTA goal, bingo is an easy win that brings your school community together for a night of laughter, cheering, and the occasional “BINGO!” yelled at full volume by a seven-year-old.

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📅 Planning the Event

The great thing about Bingo Night is that it scales up or down depending on what your school needs—so you can keep it cozy or go all-out. Either way, a little prep makes all the difference.

🗓️ Pick a Date That Works

• Avoid conflicts with school holidays, sports events, or big community happenings
• Friday or Saturday nights tend to draw bigger family crowds
• Want a calmer vibe? Try a Sunday afternoon matinee-style bingo

🏫 Choose a Venue

• Most schools host it in the cafeteria or gym—just make sure you’ve got enough tables and chairs
• If you’re tight on space, try partnering with a local community center or church hall

🎨 Pick a Theme (Optional, but Fun!)

Themes aren’t required, but they can make your bingo night extra special! Some fun ideas:

• Classic Bingo Night
• Pajama Bingo (comfy + cozy!)
• Glow-in-the-Dark Bingo (great for older kids!)
• Holiday-themed (Valentine’s, Halloween, Winter Bingo, etc.)

🎯 Set Your Fundraising Goals

Decide how much you hope to raise and where the funds will go. This helps with pricing, promotions, and deciding how many extras to include (like a raffle, concessions, or merchandise).

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Decide on the Structure

• Family-style? One ticket covers a family, includes several bingo cards, and maybe a snack
• Per person pricing? Great for older-kid or adult-friendly events
• Will you sell extra cards during the night? How many rounds will you play?

Once these key decisions are made, the rest comes together easily—and your team will know exactly what kind of Bingo Night you’re planning for.

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🎟️ How to Sell Tickets and Price the Event

Pricing your Bingo Night just right means more families attend and more funds roll in. Keep it affordable and fun, but don’t be afraid to offer add-ons that help boost your total!

💵 Ticket Options:

• $5 per person – includes entry and 1 bingo card
• $15 per family – great for events aimed at K–5 families
• $20 bundle – entry, 3 cards, and a snack voucher

You can also sell extra cards on the night for $1–$2 each so eager players can boost their chances in bonus rounds.

🎟️ How to Sell Tickets:

• Pre-sale via backpack flyers – send home order forms with payment envelopes
• Online sales – use a platform your PTA already uses (like Cheddar Up, MemberHub, or even Google Forms + PayPal)
• At the door – have a check-in table with change and a card reader if possible

💡 Pro Tip: Offer an early bird bonus, like “Buy by Monday and get one free extra card!” to encourage pre-orders and help you plan ahead.

🧾 What to Include with a Ticket:

• Number of bingo cards
• A snack ticket or raffle ticket (optional)
• A chance to win door prizes
• Seating for the whole evening of fun!

Clear pricing helps parents say “yes!” faster, especially when they know what they’re getting for their money.

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🖨️ Supplies You’ll Need

You don’t need a lot of fancy gear to run a successful Bingo Night—just a few basic supplies and some helping hands to keep things moving.

🎱 Bingo Essentials:

• Bingo cards – Reusable ones work great, or print-and-go versions for a themed night
• Dabbers or markers – You can buy bingo daubers in bulk, use chips or coins, or let families bring their own
• Caller board & balls – Borrow from another PTA group or pick up an inexpensive bingo set online
• Microphone or PA system – So everyone can hear the numbers being called (especially helpful in a noisy gym!)

🪑 Setup Supplies:

• Tables and chairs for guests
• A check-in table for ticket sales and pre-orders
• Prize table with clearly labeled rewards
• Raffle table (if you’re including a 50/50 or prize raffle)
• Concessions area with signage and pricing

🧍‍♀️ Volunteers:

• 2–3 at check-in
• 2+ to sell snacks or raffle tickets
• 1 bingo caller + 1 spotter/helper
• A few floaters for handing out prizes and helping during intermission

💡 Pro Tip: Have extras of everything—cards, pens, tape, snacks, and patience. Someone always forgets a dauber or loses their card mid-round!

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🎁 Prize Ideas That Don’t Break the Budget

You don’t need to hand out $50 gift cards to get kids (and parents!) excited about yelling “BINGO!” The trick is to offer a mix of fun, practical, and just plain silly prizes that feel rewarding without breaking the PTA bank.

🧒 For Kids:

• Mini fidget toys, slime, or squishies
• Glow sticks or bracelets
• Book fair gift certificates
• Art supplies or stickers
• “Extra Recess Pass” or “Principal’s Chair for a Day” (big hit!)
• Small themed gift baskets (donated by class reps or families)

👨‍👩‍👧 For Families or Adults:

• Coffee shop gift cards
• School spirit wear (shirts, hats, water bottles)
• Reusable snack containers or lunch kits
• Pizza night or movie night kits
• Reserved parking spot or front-row assembly seating

🪙 Bonus Prize Ideas:

• Funny “consolation prizes” for the loudest “BINGO!” or best lucky charm
• Themed items for holiday or glow bingo (think candy canes, flashing LED toys, or seasonal mugs)

💡 Pro Tip: Ask local businesses for small donations—many are happy to contribute in exchange for a shoutout in your program or on social media.

Having a prize table helps keep the energy up between rounds and gives kids something to get excited about—especially if you let them pick their prize from the table when they win!

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💵 Ways to Raise More Money

Ticket sales are just the beginning! Bingo Night is the perfect chance to add in a few fun and low-effort fundraising extras that bring in bonus dollars without adding much to your workload.

🎟️ 1. Raffle Table

Set up a separate table for raffle prizes—sell tickets throughout the night and draw a few winners during intermission or at the end.

• Offer prize baskets, gift cards, or donated goodies
• Sell tickets at $1 each or $5 for 6
• Use a “bucket raffle” system so families can choose which prize(s) they want to win

🎱 2. Extra Bingo Cards

Let guests purchase additional cards for certain rounds—especially if you offer a “big prize round.”
💡 Example: “Bonus blackout round cards: $2 each!”

🍕 3. Concession Stand

Keep it simple but tempting:

• Pizza slices
• Popcorn, chips, candy
• Water, juice boxes, lemonade
• Hot chocolate or coffee (especially for chilly-night bingos!)

Set prices to make a small profit on each item—families love having dinner and snacks at events like these.

🧁 4. Dessert Dash or Bake Sale

Ask families to donate baked goods, then sell them by the piece or as take-home bundles. Works especially well if your bingo night lands near a holiday!

➡️ This way for all the bake sale tips you need!

💡 5. Donation Jar or QR Code

Add a “Support Our School” donation station at the check-in table or snack bar—include a QR code for quick mobile donations too.

💡 Pro Tip: Share how the funds will be used. “Every dollar helps us upgrade classroom tech!” makes it feel more meaningful.

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📣 How to Promote Bingo Night

Bingo Night practically sells itself once families know it’s happening—but a little extra hype goes a long way in making sure you fill every seat (and sell out those snacks!).

🏫 Promote Through School Channels:

• Flyers home in backpacks – Include ticket pricing, date, time, and how to pre-order
• School newsletter or PTA emails – Add a bold header like “Family Bingo Night is Back!”
• Morning announcements – A quick shoutout gets kids excited (and they’ll remind their grown-ups!)

📱 Go Big on Social Media:

• Post countdowns: “5 days ‘til Bingo Night!”
• Share prize previews: “You could win THIS!” with a photo of a popular prize
• Post behind-the-scenes sneak peeks of prize prep or snack packing
• Use engaging captions like “Who’s feeling lucky?” or “Don’t miss the best night of the month!”

🧾 Posters & Signs:

• Hang up posters at school entrances, the office, and drop-off/pick-up lines
• Ask local businesses or libraries to post a flyer on their community boards

💡 Pro Tip: Remind families what’s included with their ticket—bingo cards, prizes, maybe even snacks. A great value makes saying yes even easier!

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🎤 Tips for Hosting a Smooth Night

You don’t need a fancy setup to make Bingo Night run like a dream—but these small details can make the night feel organized, fun, and totally stress-free.

🪑 1. Set the Room Up in Advance

• Space out tables and chairs so everyone can see and hear
• Set up clearly labeled stations: check-in, snacks, raffle, and prize table
• Put out cards, pens, and dabbers ahead of time (or hand them out at check-in)

🎤 2. Choose a Confident Bingo Caller

The caller keeps the energy going—so pick someone friendly and clear on the mic (a teacher, principal, or local celebrity is always a hit!). Make sure they:

• Speak slowly and clearly
• Repeat numbers at least twice
• Call out fun reminders like “Two little ducks… 22!” (You can grab a free printable list here!)

🎯 3. Use a Visual for Winning Patterns

Project a slide or hang posters showing the current winning pattern for each round—straight line, four corners, blackout, etc. This cuts down on confusion (and arguments!).

🎁 4. Have Helpers at the Ready

You’ll need floaters to:

• Check and confirm bingo cards
• Hand out prizes
• Help answer questions or calm excited kiddos during the game

🕑 5. Plan for an Intermission

Take a break halfway through for snacks, raffle sales, or a quick announcement about how much has been raised so far.

💡 Pro Tip: Have a few “bonus rounds” or silly prizes at the end—keeps everyone engaged, even if they haven’t won yet!

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💌 Thanking Your Attendees and Volunteers

After the last bingo card is packed away and the final prize has been claimed, don’t forget to do one of the most important things—say thank you. Gratitude keeps your community strong and builds excitement for your next event.

🙌 Thank Everyone Who Came:

• Post a thank-you graphic on social media with a fun photo or total funds raised
• Include a note in your school newsletter like: “Thanks to your support, Bingo Night raised $865 for new library books!”
• Let families know how the money will be used so they see the real impact

🎉 Shout Out Your Volunteers:

• Tag them in posts (with permission), or thank them by name in your PTA email
• Drop off a little treat or printable thank-you card
• Give kids who helped a mini “Bingo Team” badge or certificate—so cute and appreciated!

🛍️ Thank Local Donors:

If any businesses donated prizes or snacks, give them a shoutout too. Tag them online, display their logo at the event, or include them in your thank-you recap post. A little recognition goes a long way for future fundraising partnerships.

💡 Pro Tip: Snap a few group photos during the event and use them in your thank-you posts. Bonus points if you get one of a winner holding a prize with the biggest grin!