How to Quickly Set Up Your Teacher Appreciation Week Wishlist 

Teachers deserve to be celebrated every day. Teacher Appreciation Week falls in May every year. During this dedicated moment, schools can rally their community to celebrate their staff.   

Celebrate these heroes with a wishlist fulfillment fundraiser during Teacher Appreciation Week! With just one hour, you can create and share a personal campaign. This campaign supports teachers and makes them feel appreciated and empowered. Rewarding your teachers’ hard work can be as easy as 1-2-3!      

Teacher Wishlist Setup in Just 3 Steps  

1. Start by gathering the basic supplies, classroom upgrades, books, and more that teachers want (and let’s be real, NEED) but where the budget just isn’t there. Make sure every teacher, support staff, and enrichment classroom is represented. Gather photos of items on their wishlists.     

2. Create a separate entry for each wishlist item on your online fundraising platform. If you’re using GiveSmart, log in to your admin site, choose “Items” at the top, select “+New Item,” and quickly add each item with just a few clicks.     

3. Fill out the needed information for each wishlist item. Most of the information you need depends on the item itself, and there are just a few setup steps when using GiveSmart. Make sure you choose “Donate” as your type and set the price type to “Donation Levels.” Doing both things ensures the best setup for a wishlist. After you are done adding items, your list will appear in the items tab on your page. 

Did you know 83% of students say a teacher has boosted their self-esteem and confidence? Our classrooms are far more than places where reading, writing, and arithmetic are taught. Support those heroes who do far more than their job on paper, each and every day.   

Teacher Appreciation Fundraiser Examples and Resources 

With teachers spending around $895 each year out of pocket on classroom supplies, there will always be a need for fresh, easy fundraising ideas. Check out the K–12 school fundraising examples and resources for inspiration (including wishlist fundraisers). 

K-12 Fundraising Examples 

No two schools are the same, and neither are their fundraisers. From read-a-thons and wishlists to galas and dance competitions, these real schools found creative ways to celebrate their teachers and raise the funds their communities needed. Take a look at what’s possible and find the approach that feels right for your K-12 school. 

• Burlingame Community Education Foundation, Read-A-Thon: Schools compete, students read, and the whole community rallies behind them. It’s a high-energy fundraiser that fills the funding gaps public dollars can’t reach, including teacher salaries and classroom programs that make a real difference. 

• Covenant Preparatory School, Wishlist:  From $25 student snacks to $1,000 cafeteria flooring, every item on this wishlist represents something a teacher or student genuinely needs. Donors can pick what speaks to them and know exactly where their money is going. 

• Escuela de Guadalupe, Teacher Appreciation: A generous foundation match helped this campaign blow past its goal. Families could give online, drop off a check, or donate items — whatever worked best for them. Simple, flexible, and incredibly effective. 

• Faithful Shepherd Catholic School, Dancing with the Stars:  Teachers and community members hit the dance floor to raise money for the school,  and supporters joined the fun from home by bidding on auction items, buying cocktail kits, or making a donation. Equal parts fundraiser and entertainment. 

• Fordham Preparatory School, Gala:  Parents, alumni, and sponsors came together to celebrate Fordham Prep’s faculty and raise money for professional development. The virtual format meant anyone could attend, with auction items, a raffle, and donation options for every budget. 

• St. Philip Neri School, Auction:  Signed hockey sticks, restaurant gift cards, yoga bundles, beauty baskets, this auction had something for everyone. Supporters could bid, buy raffle tickets, grab a sponsorship, or simply donate. A little something for every kind of community member. 

K-12 Fundraising and Donor Management Resources 

Whether your community rallies around a read-a-thon, a silent auction, or a teacher appreciation wishlist, the best fundraiser is the one that feels right for your school. The blogs, guides, and success stories below are packed with real ideas from real schools, so you can stop guessing and start planning. 

• Blog, Proven Fundraising Ideas offers school-centered options, from stuffie sleepovers and parents’ night out to battle of the bands and cupcake wars. There’s a school fundraiser here for every grade level, budget, and community. Whether you’re looking for a one-day event or something to run all year long, the right idea is in here somewhere. 

• Blog, Charity Sports Events Guide: Ideas, Planning Tips & Fundraising Strategies offers tips for fun runs and walkathons that get the whole family involved, to golf tournaments with silent auctions and volleyball days that pack in players and spectators alike, there’s a charity sports event for every school’s size, budget, and community.  

• Blog, School Fundraising Ideas & Strategies shares fun ways to support your school, including a read-a-thon, a parents’ night out, a teacher wishlist, or a full-blown gala. This guide covers everything a school needs to fundraise smarter all year long,  from getting the kids excited to keeping the parents engaged and the community involved. 

• Blog, Silent Auction Guide: Ideas, Setup Tips, & Fundraising Strategies shares ideas from “Principal for a Day” and student artwork to parking spots, sports passes, and dress-down days. The best school auction items don’t have to cost a thing. The ideas that get the most bids are usually the ones that feel personal, fun, and unique to your school community. 

• Success Story, The Elmbrook Education Foundation has been selling out every event and raising $925K+ since making the switch to GiveSmart, and their small staff spends event night building donor relationships, not troubleshooting behind a laptop. Ten-plus years in, they’d make the same call again. 
   

• Success Story, Montana School Boards Association stopped hunting for data and started walking into legislative sessions with real answers. Real-time reports and dashboards put the right information in front of 1,450+ members, making it easier to advocate, legislate, and actually move the needle. 

• Success Story, St. Augustine High School had never done a day of giving before. They added a live donation thermometer, text-to-donate, and a friendly Young Alumni Challenge, and raised $250,634.  

• Success Story, St. Anthony Catholic School used to rebuild every fundraiser from the ground up. Now they have one streamlined system, and scored a $5,000 donation within 24 hours of their very first campaign launch. A great partner changes everything. 

• Success Story, The Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford put a live fundraising thermometer on stage at their annual gala, and raised $13,000 in the first 30 minutes. When donors can see their names light up in real time, generosity has a way of spreading fast. 

Teachers show up for their students every single day, often spending their own money. A wishlist fundraiser is a simple, meaningful way your school community can show up for them.  

With the right platform, you can have your campaign up and running in under an hour. No complicated setup. Just a list of real needs, a community that cares, and a little bit of momentum to get started.  

GiveSmart makes it easy to build, share, and manage your Teacher Appreciation Week wishlist, letting you spend less time on logistics and more time celebrating the people who make your school great.