Host a family game night
Gamewright, the manufacturer of Slamwich, The Scrambled States of America and other fun educational games, gives schools 50% of the products you end up selling. Instead of a boring catalog to shop from, the company sends you all the tools you need to hold a fun night, when you can play and then sell the games. Add extra oomph by selling pizza, beverages, candy and snacks. These games nights are pretty easy to organize and a great way to raise money while having a good time.

Organize a walk, dance or read-a-thons
Just like any other walk-a-thon, kids get people to pay them for walking (or more likely running) around. When I was young, you had to go door-to-door to solicit sponsors, but today kids can reach out to potential supporters online (all those far-flung relatives, your old college roommates, etc.). This can also be adapted to different activities: Try a dance-a-thon in the school gym, a weekend bike-a-thon around your local park or my personal favorite, a read-a-thon!

Create a kids' art contest
Most children love to draw and design. Harness that energy with a school-wide contest, and then have the winning design printed on something you can sell. At my son's school we did a T-shirt and designated a special day when all the students would wear them to school. You could also print up hats, coffee mugs or tote bags.

Throw an all-ages party
Why should the kids have all the fun? Host a family disco bash in the school gym, decorate and get a deejay (or your iPod) to play some cool tunes. Theme it around a festive holiday like Valentine's Day or Cinco de Mayo for inspiration. Funny props, Polaroid photo booths and glow necklaces will make it a night to remember.

Compile a cookbook
Ask families to submit their favorite recipes and print up a book to buy. The kids can even hand-write the recipes, to give it a bit of personality. Lay the cookbook out on a computer and self-publish it or partner with an outside vendor who agrees to print it at a reduced rate.

Serve a lavish diner
Skip the pizza and transform the cafeteria into a fine dining establishment for an evening. Have the kids prepare a meal (with some adult help of course) and then cook and serve it to the parents (and clean up afterward). If your school has no cooking facilities or the kitchen is off-limits to non-staff, see if you can find a local restaurant that will donate its space during off-hours.

Launch a babysitting service
One Friday night a month, host a date night when parents can leave their kids at school and go out on the town. A few parent volunteers will keep the children entertained with a movie, games and a pizza dinner.

Want more fundraising advice? Read our list of 10 important tips for school fundraising.