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.
You may also like:
How to Organize a Group Gift the Easy Way: Ultimate Guide
Teacher gifts, coaches gifts, holiday gifts, thank-you gifts, end-of-year gifts, shower gifts, and so on. The group gift list is endless! If you’re wondering how to organize a group gift without getting a headache, you’ve made it to the right place.
If you’ve ever tried to plan a group gift, you know the real challenge is wrangling people. It’s the awkward Venmo requests, the “did you pay yet?” follow-ups, and the mystery of what happened to that extra $14.
The good news? A little structure up front makes a world of difference when you’re ready to start planning for that special group gift.
Below you’ll find a step-by-step guide that will help you coordinate a group gift from start to finish, including group gift giving etiquette, copy-paste scripts, a deadline strategy, and a plan for leftover funds.A group gift is a single present that is purchased by a group of friends, family, and other contributors.
For instance, a group of friends might decide to come together to purchase an expensive stroller from their bestie’s baby shower registry. Normally, one friend wouldn’t be able to afford the gift on their own. But if 3 friends chip in together, it makes the present achievable.
Unleash the Colors: How to Host a Color Run Fundraiser
A color run fundraiser combines the thrill of a fun run with bursts of bright color along the way. Participants start in white and make their way through a course filled with “color stations,” where volunteers toss powder or spray safe, water-based paint so everyone finishes covered head to toe in color.
But it’s more than just a fun event. A color run is a powerful way to raise money from multiple angles. You can collect registration fees, sell extras like t-shirts or color kits, bring in local sponsors, and tap into peer-to-peer fundraising to reach even more supporters.
Even better, it’s easy to organize everything in one place. With a simple collection page, you can manage sign-ups, track payments, and keep donations flowing without the usual hassle.
To get started, there are two great setup options: a standard fundraiser template for straightforward, all-in-one collecting, or a peer-to-peer template that lets participants create their own pages and boost your total even further.
7 Best Online Fundraising Platforms for Your Organization
The best fundraising websites are built to make your life easier. They help you set up a fundraising page, share it with your community, and collect money online without the need for endless spreadsheets or constant follow-up.
Here’s the truth: Not every platform fits every organization. Whether you’re a PTA treasurer raising money for a senior trip or you’re a growing nonprofit ready to level up your fundraising, the fundraising website you choose matters.
In this guide, we’ll walk through what online fundraising websites are, why organizers use them, and what to look for when choosing one. Let’s dive right in! An online fundraising website is a tool that helps you organize fundraising events, collect donations online, and track the success of your campaigns. Think of it as the go-to online place where people can learn about and give to your cause.
The best online fundraising platforms go beyond just payment processing. They allow you to communicate with your team and your donors, manage events, set up peer-to-peer fundraisers, and more.
From coordinating with volunteers to tracking donations, it’s no secret that having the right tool on your side can save time and reduce stress!
How to Host a Trunk or Treat Fundraiser
Planning a trunk or treat fundraiser for your PTA, church, or nonprofit? This step-by-step guide walks through the whole process, from setting admission and pricing trunk spots to collecting sign ups and running the event day. You can set it all up online, and this template gets you started in minutes. A trunk or treat fundraiser is a Halloween event where kids collect candy from decorated car trunks in a parking lot, while the host organization raises money through admission, trunk-spot fees, and concessions. Instead of going door to door, families walk from car to car in a designated parking area, collecting treats from creatively decorated trunks. Each participant, often called a trunker, decorates their vehicle with fun, spooky, or themed displays.
Schools, churches, PTAs, and nonprofits typically host trunk or treat fundraisers in mid- to late October. Because the whole event happens in one contained parking area rather than across a neighborhood, it’s a safe, weather-flexible way to bring the community together and support the organization.
Tags:
