The Best Promotional Items for School Fundraisers (That People Actually Want to Buy)
Volunteers distribute branded swag bags and promotional items during a school fundraising event to boost engagement and school spirit.
Back-to-school season isn't just for students anymore. For brands and employers, it's a prime opportunity to energize teams, boost brand awareness, and engage customers through smart, sustainable swag strategies. With a surge in fall hiring, hybrid work shifts, and educational partnerships, there are more touchpoints than ever to get promotional merchandise into the right hands.
In this guide, we’ll cover how to align back-to-school merchandising with sustainability, marketing strategy, employee recognition, and customer experience while making sure your logo and message leave a lasting impression.
Why Back-to-School Season Matters for Branding
The return-to-routine mindset that comes with August and September offers a clean slate for advertising campaigns and brand positioning. People are open to organization, new gear, and updated tools. This includes:
Employers rolling out onboarding kits for new hires
Colleges and high schools kicking off fall events, fundraising, and spirit campaigns
Companies preparing team incentive programs or corporate giveaways
A seasonal campaign that blends functionality with thoughtful merchandising reinforces your unique selling proposition while giving your target audience something they’ll actually use. Whether it’s a branded backpack, laser-engraved water bottle, or custom stationery set, school-season swag is a cost-effective way to build brand loyalty, generate positive feedback, and support your customer experience goals. Incorporating promotional items like tote bags, branded mugs, drawstring bags, or even school-specific promo pens can maximize impact.
Sustainable Swag That Supports Brand Equity
Eco-conscious back-to-school products do more than lower your carbon footprint, they elevate your brand equity and reflect your commitment to values. Today’s consumers and employees care about sustainability and ethical business practices. Choosing environmentally friendly promotional merchandise positions your company as a thoughtful, modern organization.
Consider these options for sustainable swag:
Recycled cotton or polyester tote bags, pencil cases, and backpacks
Bamboo stylus pens, rulers, and mechanical pencils with logo engraving
Stainless steel or silicone-lid water bottles and branded mugs
Organic cotton T-shirts, hoodies, and polos with embroidery or screen printing
Notebooks made with post-consumer recycled paper and soy-based ink
Pair these with low-impact packaging like seed paper tags or kraft mailers. Add QR codes on labels to highlight your sustainability practices and supply chain transparency. Promotional items with logo that promote your brand while reinforcing eco values create long-term customer trust and brand awareness.
Back-to-School Merch That Gets Used Daily
Apparel & Accessories
Cotton T-shirts, branded polos, and sweatshirts for school events or fundraisers
Embroidered bucket hats or pride-themed apparel for inclusive representation
Lightweight branded jackets or hoodies for team gear or student giveaways
Stationery & School Supplies
Notebooks, sticky notes, and homework planners with your logo
Promotional pens, stylus tools, and promotional pens with logo in bulk
Custom pencil cases, branded erasers, and personalized folders
Branded stationery like memo pads, stickers, and business cards
Drinkware & Lunch Essentials
Stainless steel bottles, bamboo mugs, and reusable tumblers
Branded bento boxes, coolers, koozies, and insulated lunch totes
Silicone straws, microfiber cleaning cloths, and promotional mugs with logo
Tech Tools for Study or Work
USB flash drives, charging kits, and power banks
Headphones, webcam covers, and cable organizers
Laptop sleeves, desk pads, and bottle openers as practical gear
These product categories support behavior-based marketing: the more useful your swag is, the more often it's seen and appreciated. School giveaways, fundraising merchandise, and promotional products with logos can create engagement beyond the classroom.
Internal Campaigns That Support Employee Engagement
Back-to-school season is a perfect opportunity for HR and operations teams to re-engage employees through creative swag drops. Recognition programs, gamification, and branded gifts can help reduce turnover, increase morale, and drive productivity.
Onboarding Kits: Include promotional pens, backpacks, branded notebooks, and stainless steel bottles to welcome new hires and support retention.
Remote Work Essentials: From USB hubs to branded mugs, offering functional gear that reinforces company culture boosts motivation.
Employee Recognition Drops: Surprise your workforce with custom hoodies, tote bags, or branded hats to celebrate back-to-school season or quarterly wins.
Incorporate corporate social responsibility by matching swag campaigns with donation pages that benefit local schools or charities.
Community & Education Partnerships
Aligning with local schools, sports teams, or educational foundations reinforces your role in the community while giving your promotional merchandise additional visibility.
Sponsorships & Signage: Provide drawstring bags, event signage, or silicone wristbands for school competitions like dunk tanks, concerts, or battle of the bands.
Fundraising Merchandise: Sell or donate custom swag like notebooks, polos, branded coasters, or keychains at school events, picnics, or auctions.
Matched Donations: Donate one item for every purchase on your swag store—such as caps, custom pens, or reusable water bottles.
Whether it’s fundraising gear for elementary students or concert-ready hoodies for college events, branded school swag can generate both goodwill and ROI.
Marketing Your Back-to-School Campaign
Promotion Essentials
Launch a campaign with a targeted landing page and digital signage
Promote using influencer marketing, native advertising, and email campaigns
Use social media to showcase items in use—e.g., tote bags, mugs, or stylus tools
Include promo codes or coupons to incentivize first-time purchases
ROI & Performance Tracking
Track KPIs such as campaign clicks, coupon redemption, and referral metrics
Monitor brand mentions and product visibility through analytics and software tools
Use digital dashboards and marketing software to evaluate cost per item, ROI, and reach
Tools like Google Trends, HubSpot, or Qualtrics can also provide insights into brand perception, user behavior, and long-term loyalty.
Final Thoughts
Back-to-school is more than a seasonal moment—it’s an opportunity to fuel your mission, support local communities, and showcase your brand with creativity and care. Promotional items with logo, especially when environmentally friendly and purpose-driven, deliver powerful touchpoints that influence both reputation and return on investment.
Whether your goal is to drive visibility, celebrate educators, or fund school events, the right mix of promotional items—pens, tote bags, branded mugs, and tech tools—can leave a lasting impression.
Contact HighVolve to create a custom swag strategy that meets your fundraising goals and branding vision. From inventory planning and screen printing to print-on-demand solutions, we’ll help you build a merch campaign that wins.
FAQ: Swag for School Fundraisers
What’s the best type of swag for school fundraisers?
Items like promotional pens, tote bags, notebooks, mugs, and water bottles with logos are popular and useful across all age groups.
How can I ensure swag sales benefit the fundraiser?
Offer exclusive items, use print-on-demand for low inventory risk, and set up digital donation pages with upsells and bundled pricing.
Can branded swag align with school values?
Yes—choose items that reflect school spirit, sustainability, and equity. Co-branded gear with mascots or color palettes helps unify campaigns.
Is it possible to use swag for both fundraising and promotion?
Absolutely. Fundraiser swag promotes your brand while generating revenue. Promotional bags, drawstrings, and tech accessories offer dual value.
What makes branded school merchandise successful?
High-quality design, functional use, and meaningful branding. Combine logo placement with storytelling, community alignment, and custom packaging.
What’s an easy swag item to start with?
Promo pens with logo are budget-friendly and easy to distribute. They can be paired with stationery sets or tote bags for added value.
Where can I buy custom promotional items for school fundraisers?
HighVolve Swag Stores give you the opportunity to order branded merchandise like tote bags, mugs, and promotional pens from trusted swag vendors or through a company swag store with print-on-demand options. Reach out to us today to learn more about how to build a swag store!
How are custom promotional items printed?
Custom items are typically decorated using screen printing, embroidery, heat transfer, or laser engraving—depending on the product type and desired finish.
What are good fundraiser ideas for schools?
Selling promotional merchandise like water bottles, hoodies, or drawstring bags with the school logo is a great way to raise money while boosting school spirit and brand awareness.
What’s a fun and creative school fundraiser idea?
Combining a school event like a dunk tank or talent show with swag sales (t-shirts, wristbands, or branded mugs) creates a memorable experience while driving donations.
