Traditional fundraising in New Zealand schools often means bake sales, sausage sizzles, and raffles - well-intentioned, but often labour-intensive with modest returns. What if something as routine as lunchtime could help raise funds all year round?
Many schools are finding that offering an organised lunch programme - where a portion of each order supports the school - is a surprisingly effective alternative. Instead of relying on weekend baking or gold coin donations, families simply order lunch, and the school receives a rebate of 10%. It's fundraising built into an everyday habit.
Organised lunch programmes turn lunchtime into a low-effort revenue stream. Parents order and pay online, students receive a nutritious meal, and the school gets a share of the revenue. Because the system runs continuously, it offers schools a steady income without the need for repeat planning or volunteer rosters.
Some schools have seen additional benefits beyond lunch revenue. When lunch orders are managed through a single payment platform, it encourages families to take care of other school payments - like donations or sports fees - at the same time.
Unlike a sausage sizzle (which might raise around $1,000 per event), a lunch fundraiser operates in the background with minimal effort. It doesn’t depend on sunny weather, a room full of volunteers, or a calendar packed with bake sale dates. It’s simply there, every week - meeting a real need for parents and generating consistent funds for the school.
Even better, it reduces the stress for school staff and parents alike. Everything’s handled digitally, orders arrive labelled and ready, and there’s no need to manage loose change or lunch slips.
Examples of potential annual returns:
And this doesn’t factor in the indirect financial benefits of better parent engagement with online payments.
What makes this approach work isn’t flashy marketing or gimmicks - it’s that it quietly fits into daily life. Parents want convenience. Schools want dependable income. And students need nutritious meals. Fundraising through school lunches supports all three.
Discover how schools across New Zealand are turning lunchtime into a low-effort, high-impact fundraising tool. By simply offering organised lunch orders, schools can generate reliable income year-round - no sausage sizzles required.
