At Cheddar Up, we’ve seen thousands of creative fundraising ideas cross our platform, but few spark as much excitement and friendly rivalry as a good old-fashioned penny wars competition.
In this post, we’ll walk through what penny wars are, why they work so well, and how to run one successfully, with a modern twist that makes them even more effective.
What Is Penny Wars?
At its core, penny wars (also called coin wars) is a friendly fundraising competition where teams collect pennies and bills to earn points, while using other coins and cash to sabotage their opponents.
Here’s how it typically works:
Teams:
Classrooms, grade levels, departments, or sports teams each get a collection container (jars, buckets, or envelopes).
Scoring:
One of the best things about this type of fundraiser is that the scoring can be as creative or as simple as you want. Here’s a classic example of how schools set it up:
- Pennies = +1 point each
- Paper bills = big positive points (for example, $1 = +100, $20 = +2000)
- Silver coins = negative points (nickels –5, dimes –10, quarters –25)
But you don’t have to stick to this exact formula. Some groups prefer to keep it simple and score by dollar amount only.
The beauty of penny wars is that while it’s framed as a battle, every team contributes to the same fundraising goal.
Why It Works So Well
The chance to sabotage another class (all in good fun) keeps kids and adults alike coming back every day. Pennies make it easy for anyone to participate, even small donations feel impactful. At Cheddar Up, we’ve seen penny wars raise hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars in just a couple of weeks.
The Challenge: People Don’t Carry Coins Anymore
Here’s the catch: in today’s world, most people don’t have spare change in their pockets. Many parents and relatives want to support, but they simply don’t carry coins or cash. That means classrooms miss out on potential contributions.
The Solution: Hybrid Penny Wars with Cheddar Up
The best penny wars today combine the classic in-class jars with a digital Cheddar Up collection. This hybrid approach preserves the fun of sabotage while ensuring that everyone can participate, no matter what’s in their wallet.
Classic Jars Keep the Fun Alive
Students still get to sneak pennies into their own jar and silver coins into others.
Cheddar Up Expands Participation
Your Cheddar Up collection acts as a set of “digital jars.” Each class or grade gets its own category, making it easy for parents, grandparents, or friends across the country to support their favorite team.
Online = Support or Sabotage
Families can choose whether to give their favorite class a boost or sabotage the competition, all with a quick digital payment. This mirrors the in-person rules and makes the online experience just as engaging.
Bigger Reach, Bigger Impact
By layering Cheddar Up onto penny wars, you unlock support from families who don’t carry coins, alumni who live out of town, and busy parents who prefer digital payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Should Penny Wars Last?
Most penny wars fundraisers run for one to two weeks, long enough to build momentum but short enough to keep interest high.
How Do You Win Penny Wars?
The team with the highest positive point total after sabotage is crowned the winner.
Can Penny Wars Be Run Online?
Yes! A hybrid penny wars using Cheddar Up lets families give online while sabotage happens in person. This combination makes the fundraiser more inclusive and more successful.
Does Sabotage Still Count as a Donation?
Absolutely. Even when you sabotage another team with silver coins, it still contributes to the overall fundraising goal.
Final Thoughts
Penny wars may be rooted in loose change, but today’s most successful competitions embrace a hybrid approach. By keeping jars in classrooms and adding Cheddar Up for online contributions, you’ll raise more money, engage more families, and make participation easier than ever.
Before you go
Set up your hybrid penny wars fundraiser on Cheddar Up today and watch your spare-change fundraiser turn into a major success.
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