Project what a fundraiser will actually net before your PTO commits to it. Enter attendance, price, vendor split, and costs for a fun run, spirit night, book fair, auction, or carnival.
Projected net for this event
$2,500
Gross: $5,000 · Vendor cut: $2,500 · Costs: $0
That works out to $10 net per family.
The numbers above are editable starting points chosen to be plausible for a first pass, not researched averages for your area. Change every field to match your own event before you rely on the total.
Why project net before you commit
A fundraiser that grosses a large number can still leave a PTO with very little once a vendor takes its cut and fixed costs come out. Running the numbers ahead of a board vote answers the question that actually matters: what lands in the account afterward.
Vendor splits vary by vendor and contract, so treat the vendor field as a placeholder to confirm with a signed agreement, not a fixed rule. The same goes for costs: a venue fee, insurance, or supplies can change the total more than attendance does.
Planning a book fair? Read the book fair guide for the steps that go with these numbers.
Estimate what your school fundraiser will actually net. Enter attendance, ticket price, vendor split, and costs for fun runs, spirit nights, book fairs, auctions, and carnivals.
