The best Fun Run prizes come in three tiers: small individual rewards at set milestones, class rewards for participation, and a whole-school unlock such as pieing the principal when the school hits its goal. Favor experiences over items, ask sponsors to donate prizes, and avoid prizes only top earners can win.
Fun Run incentives work when every student has something reachable to chase and the whole school has one big moment to share. This page covers the prize side; the Fun Run fundraising guide covers the rest of the event.
Announce all three tiers at the kickoff assembly, on the first day of the two-week fundraising window. A prize nobody knows about doesn't motivate anyone.
The three prize tiers
| Tier | Who earns it | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Individual milestones | Each student who reaches a set level | Wristbands, stickers, temporary tattoos, glow gear, a medal at the top level |
| Class rewards | A class that hits a participation or class goal | Extra recess, a pizza or popsicle party, a movie break, out-lapping the principal |
| Whole-school unlocks | Everyone, when the school hits its total | Pie, slime or silly-string the principal, a color blast, a staff costume day |
Individual milestones
Set three to five levels, with the first one low enough that most students reach it in the first few days. Make the rewards cumulative, so a student at the third level keeps the first two prizes.
Add a non-money milestone as well: a sticker for setting up a page, or for sharing it with family. That way every student earns something.
Class rewards
Base class rewards on participation, meaning the share of students with a page or a first donation, rather than class dollars. Every class can win on participation. Dollar totals mostly reward the classes with the most giving families.
Theme the reward where you can. At Laurel Elementary's Leapin' Lions Bubble Run, students who reached the superstar goal had a bubble war with the principal.
Whole-school unlocks
One big unlock at the goal, with one or two smaller unlocks on the way, gives the school a shared finish line. Show progress on a meter in the hallway and on the school page.
Principal stunts schools have used
A principal stunt is the cheapest prize with the biggest pull. These Get Movin' schools used one:
- Carillon Elementary set a $50,000 playground goal and raised over $59,000. The students duct-taped the principal to a wall. (story)
- Crosswind Elementary pied the principal at the awards ceremony when the Turkey Trot goal was met.
- Desert Vista Elementary's principal wore an inflatable turkey costume at drop-off and pick-up during its Turkey Trot.
- Switzer PTO raised $41,700 at its "FunD Run," and the principal worked from the rooftop. (story)
- Hood-Case Elementary students pied the principal after their Color Run.
Get the principal's yes before the kickoff, and put the date and time on the calendar. For more stunts, see funny fundraising rewards and how principals help school fundraising.
Budget rules for prizes
- Experiences before items. Extra recess, a staff costume day and a principal stunt cost almost nothing.
- Ask sponsors to donate prizes. A local business can cover medals or popsicles in exchange for a thank-you on the banner. Our Fun Run sponsor guide shows how to ask.
- Set the prize budget before the tiers. Decide what you can spend, then build the levels to fit. The Fun Run budget page covers the other expense lines.
- Order small items after the first week. Early totals tell you how many students will reach each level.
Keep prizes inclusive
Top-earner-only prizes leave most kids out and single out the families who can give the most. Keep the big rewards for groups, and make sure every individual tier can be reached through sharing and participation.
- Give every runner something on event day, such as a sticker, a wristband or a popsicle.
- Don't post individual student totals in the hallway. Show class and school progress instead.
- Reward effort you can see, such as costumes, laps and cheering, as well as dollars.
Tracking prizes without a spreadsheet
Three tiers across a whole school is a lot to track by hand. The FundHub Incentive Tracker records which students have reached each milestone, and class and school donation meters and instant reports show progress, so you know what to hand out and when to schedule the pie.
Build your prize plan with a coach
Your free Personal Event Coach, a former PTO/PTA volunteer, can help you set milestones that fit your school and your budget.
Frequently asked questions
What are good prizes for a school Fun Run?
Low-cost rewards at set milestones work best for individual students: wristbands, stickers, temporary tattoos, glow gear and medals. Classes respond to extra recess, pizza or popsicle parties and movie breaks. For the whole school, a principal stunt such as a pie in the face or slime at the goal is the strongest draw.
How much should we spend on Fun Run prizes?
Set the prize budget first, then build the tiers to fit it. Keep costs down by choosing experiences over items and asking local businesses to donate prizes in exchange for recognition. Principal stunts, extra recess and staff costume days cost almost nothing and are often the prizes students talk about most.
Should Fun Run prizes go to the top fundraisers?
Not the big ones. Top-earner-only prizes leave most students out and single out families who can give the most. Reward classes for participation, give every student a reachable first milestone, and save the biggest reward for a whole-school unlock everyone shares.
When should we announce the Fun Run incentives?
Announce all three tiers at the kickoff assembly on the first day of the fundraising window, and send them home to parents with the student page link the same day. Remind families of the next milestone during the final 48-hour push.