Set a Fun Run goal by naming the project, pricing it, and adding event costs to get a total. Divide that total by the number of students you expect to set up pages to get a per-student target, then check it against the $140 average raised per student fundraising page on FundHub.
Why the goal comes first
A specific goal gives families a reason to give and gives you a number to plan around. "New playground equipment" raises more than "support our school."
Set the goal before you pick a date or prizes; the full Fun Run guide walks through what comes next.
The goal math: project, total, per-student target
- Name the project. One thing families can picture: playground equipment, classroom technology, field trips.
- Set the total. Price the project, then add event costs that sponsors won't cover. Your Fun Run budget gives you those costs.
- Estimate participation. Start with enrollment, then estimate how many students will have a page with at least one donation. Use last year's number if you have one.
- Find the per-student target. Divide the total by participating students.
- Sanity-check. Compare your target with the $140 average raised per student fundraising page on FundHub. Far above it, and you need more participation, more sponsors or a smaller first phase.
To run your own numbers, use our Fun Run calculator.
A real example: Carillon Elementary
Carillon Elementary set a $50,000 goal for a new playground and raised over $59,000 with its Fun Run. Students celebrated by duct-taping the principal to a wall.
The goal worked because it was concrete and the reward was public. Read more in how principals help schools hit their goals.
Build a milestone unlock ladder
Break the total into school-wide milestones, each with a reward the whole school earns together. Milestones keep giving steady through the two-week window instead of bunching at the end.
| Milestone | Example unlock |
|---|---|
| 25% of goal | Crazy hair day or a staff dance video |
| 50% of goal | Extra recess for every class |
| 75% of goal | Silly-string or pie a teacher |
| 100% of goal | The big one: the principal's stunt, revealed at kickoff |
Keep unlocks whole-school or class-level so every student shares in them. See Fun Run prizes and incentives for more.
Make the goal public
Announce the goal and the top unlock at the kickoff assembly. Then show progress everywhere: a hallway thermometer, the school newsletter, and a live meter online.
FundHub shows donation meters for each student, class and the whole school, and updates them as gifts come in. Count only money received; pledges collected after the run don't move the meter until they are paid.
Set your goal with a coach
A free Personal Event Coach, a former PTO/PTA volunteer, can help you set a goal your families will reach.
Frequently asked questions
How do you set a fundraising goal for a school Fun Run?
Name one project, price it, and add event costs that sponsors won't cover. Divide the total by the number of students you expect to fundraise to get a per-student target, then compare that target with the $140 average raised per student fundraising page on FundHub before you announce it.
How much should each student raise in a Fun Run?
Work it out from your goal: divide the total by the number of students you expect to set up pages. FundHub reports a $140 average raised per student fundraising page, which is a useful check. If your target is far above it, plan for more participation or more sponsor support.
What are good Fun Run milestone rewards?
Whole-school rewards at set percentages of the goal: crazy hair day, extra recess, pie or silly-string a teacher, and a principal stunt at 100%. Keep them shared by the whole school or a class so every student benefits, rather than prizes for top earners only.